It looks like next year will be a travelling year, I have been asked to attend a conference in Florence in late september next year.....and they are paying ! So the spouse and I thought we might tack something onto the front of it and to the rear. We have been to Florence and Chianti in 2000 (we also managed Venice <lake Como and Rome). We were thinking that we would like to try the Cinque Terre experience say over 4 nights. Advice and recommendations please.

It has been about 10 years since I was there, but I don't thing you need 4 nights to have a Cinque Terra experience. My wife and I walked all 5 towns in one day and, while it was quite a hike, it was certainly doable. A lot of it would depend on in how good of shape you guys are. If I had to spend an overnight in one town of Cinque Terra, it would have been Vernazza hands down. If you want to live it up a bit, do Cinque Terra in one day (or 2) and spend the rest of your time in Portofino or Santa Margarita. Have fun!

Have said this many times before, but our favourite stop in Cinque Terre is Portovenere(not actually one of the 5 villages) It is on the ferry route for the 5 towns and is only a few minutes away. We stay at the Royal Sporting. This has a pool...so if you are there for a few days at right time of year, this is a geat addition. Restaurant is excellent. Our favourite restaurant is Medusa and one near the square....cannot think of the name..but 3 is in it somewhere..will check in my journal.
I think 4 nights is fine...time to wander in the villages. Just remembered..another great place to stay would be the Porto Rocca(not sure if that is correct) in Monterossa...make sure you have a room with a view.

We will be there in the middle of september. Probably be flying into Milan so starting at the northern end sound right ?

My husband and I did something very similar in May. He attended a conference in Florence for four days, then we went to the Cinque Terre for three nights (arrived in the evening on the first day, left very early in the morning on the last day). We did the hike one day and spent the next day on the beach, and that was great for us. We're pretty active, though, so four nights would have been too much for us.

And I know this is an unpopular opinion around here, but we really liked staying in Monterosso. It was convenient to start the hike from it, it was a 5-minute walk to our choice of beautiful beaches, and we could have a few drinks at a really fun bar (Fast) at night.

3 nights in CT is perfect, and unless you really like to veg in a slow-paced spot, I'd agree 4 nights is too many. If it were me, I'd add a night and do 2 nights in Santa Margarita Liguire and 3 in CT. We also liked Monterosso.

Also consider Levanto, which is a small resort town just a 5 minute train ride from Monterosso. Levanto is big enough to offer lots to do, has a great beach, and the hiking from Levanto to Monterosso is perhaps better than the rest of the CT trails.

2 full days is an ideal amount of time. For us that meant 3 nights - arriving in the evening and departing in the morning (like MerryTravel), but if you were arriving early in the day, or leaving late in the day, 2 nights would be fine.

topper

How about fly into Milan, a night in Lucca, two nights Vernazza, morning train to Florence ?

Hi Marko,
The CT is great. We stayed in Vernazza for two nights with Elisabetto Carro. Our room was simple, very clean and had a balcony up some stairs with a spectacular view. She has a website and email= [email protected].
We hiked some of the trails. Food was great. Happy travels.

Mimipam - Do you happen to have the website for the lising you supplied for Vernazza? I tried the e-mail address but it was returned to sender. Thanks!

2 nights lucca ? somewhere really nice ...a bit of luxury...any thoughts.

The website mentioned above is: www.elisabettacarro.it. The e-mail is:
[email protected].
We have reservations for this month, based on advise from this site. Will let you know how things go.

Hi MMM30,
sorry I gave the wrong email address--judy has it right

Marko-My Husband and I spent 3 wonderful nights at Hotel Villa Steno in Monterosso and we highly recommend it to everyone we speak to. It was recommended to us on this site. www.villasteno.com is their website. Lovely room and bathroom, small fridge in the room, wonderful breakfast included, gorgeous patio with ocean view, market right at the bottom of the many steps, internet and laundry service on site, short walk to good beach and restaurants, very helpful and friendly staff. 135 EU/night for Room 18 in July 2005. Have a great trip!

All booked for the end of September at La Grazie! Now I am looking for a Ferry schedule from Portovenere to Monterosso. anyone have a site ?

Hi Marko, try www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it

Here's a nice link to the park system's website - with a list of folks offering lodging:
http://www.parks.it/parco.nazionale....tip-affit.html

excellent maps and profiles for some of the trails - it'll help you get your Italian recognition skills tuned! No English on the trail maps.

I would like to know more details about cinqueterre beachs. Are they big enough to spent a all day long in the beach or tiny and too much crowded? Are they free or should you pay anything to get in?