Are there any washroom facilities along the walking path? Just in case we get caught short between one of the towns.

I don't remember seeing any when I was there 4 years ago. As our mothers and teachers always told us, "Go before you leave!"

After the hike be sure to check out the views by boat:

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=379

Didnt see any last month, sorry.

Never saw any when I hiked the paths in 2002, 2004, and 2005. The longest stretch between towns is only about an hour and a half though.

Thanks. I guess we can hold it between towns.

Hi Wally,
Which direction are you planning to hike?

Corniglia, the 3rd town, is well known for its wine. If you start at Monterosso and proceed to Vernazza and then Corniglia, you will have done the vast majority of the hiking by the time you reach Corniglia. So a nice long lunch would be a wonderful treat. There is a wonderful restaurant in Corniglia that is very famous among Slow Food fans.

The hikes from Corniglia to Manarola and onto Riomaggiore are all short and pretty easy compared to the other sections. I believe it took less than 30 minutes to get from Corniglia to Manarola and only about 20 minutes to walk from Manarola to Riomaggiore. So no worries about needing a restroom after a big lunch since you'll never be more than a half hour away on these sections of the hike.

Fodorites are really something!

They'll even help you organize your peeing abroad!

Wally,

You can pee behind a bush. Trust me. I live in Liguria.

Was there in May and didn't see any at all!

I seem to recall toilets at the train station in Corniglia, they were the hole in the floor type (squat, ugh). Not many toilets in the whole area, your best bet is a cafe.

Italy is not really known for its public toilets. A real negative in my book.

Kay

Kay,

Where have you been in Italy?

And where outside of Japan did you find cleaner toilets?

Most of us know to go into a bar when we need a facility. (And not to expect much in 2d class on trains.) But that said, I'll put Italy's toilets, apart from Venice, on a par and even exceeding other European country's public toilets, plus the UK and Scotland for cleanliness and availability -- miles ahead of anything I found in New York City when I lived there.

As for finding a squat toilet in the Cinque Terre, I wish someone would tell Rick Steves and maybe he'd take back whatever is was he said that has made several million Americans think that they are going to a resort or amusement park, not an area of working farms bisected by goat tracks.

Actually, I just realized that a lot of first-time tourists to Italy may not realize that if they need a toilet, they should go to a bar.

In some places, like train stations or even museums, you can encounter attendants and a sign asking for a small amount in coin. You don't have to pay it -- it's essentially a tip -- but I admit most people will be embarassed not to.

I have occasionally seen coin boxes on stall doors in some public restrooms, but not often. Still, it's good to have some euro cents on you when you travel.

All that said, Italy's toilets are among the spiffiest I've seen in my travels. In fact, if I have any persistent problem, it's the tendency for bar owners to use flowery-smelling soaps to clean them. But they generally sparkle.

The only exception in my experience has been Venice, which quite understandably has a problem modernizing, and there is probably more demand for American-style flush toilets than the canal system can easily bear.

Hi Zeppole,
we have visited Italy 3 times, one trip was for 5 weeks and we travelled all over. We've been to Siracusa, Taormina, Lipari, Amalfi Coast, Rome, Orvieto, Lucca, San Gimignano, Cinque Terre, Venice, Florence, Sienna, Santa Margherita Ligure and other places I can't think of right now.

Finding a toilet in Italy is a problem in my book. Most bar owners do not want you to use their toilet unless you buy something and often you don't want to have another cup of coffee or a bottle of water, you just want to go to the loo and be on your way. I was actually refused in Venice when I asked to use the toilet because I wasn't a customer. I felt like crying.

Public toilets were very rare on our travels in Italy and yet in other European countries, Malta and Austria spring to mind, public toilets were readily available. I don't mind having to pay, I just want the facilities to be there.

The UK has clean free public toilets all over the place but Italy does not and I would challenge anyone who says any different.

Kay

As Zep stated...."You go to a bar", as in coffee shop/cafe/olden times "7-11"/snack bar/ etc. etc. So being the deductive sleuths on board,(light bulb flashes), we theorize ah, ha, so that is why so many locals grab a coffee, use the toilet and are out on the street in less than 5 minutes, refreshed and relieved. Don't fight tradition!!!!!!

Kay,

This came up in another post so let me make it clear here:

In Italy, unlike other countries where the government maintains public toilets, it is expected that people not at home will use toilets in bars as needed. These *are* the accommodations. That's where everybody goes. I have never been pressured by an Italian bar owner to buy something when I wanted to use the loo. As you surely noted in my post, I did make an exception of Venice when talking about the availability of toilets and the tolerance of shop owners to tolerate passing tourists.

I found the public bathrooms in central London marginally clean at best outside of museums. Other than rural Scotland, I've not traveled other places in the UK, so I can't comment. I've not been in Malta or Austria. But to suggest in a post that Italian toilets are mostly squat toilets or dirty deserves to be challenged because it is untrue!

In another post I suggested to people that if they feel uncomfortable using the loo in an Italian bar gratis -- which is their right -- buying a small lollipop is the answer. I would float out to sea if bought water or coffee every time I used a restroom away from home in Italy.

There is a little cafe/bar between Vernazza and Corniglia (I believe it's closer to Corniglia, but I'm not positive) along the trail that we stopped at both ways that I know has a bathroom. We got a fresh bottle of water and some chocolate bars there while we took a little rest.

I find the toilet facilities in Italy horrid. Southern Italy is much worse. Bring toilet paper and hand cleaner in your purse or pack. We call the sos lane on the autostrada in Napoli "stand or squat" because we see so many people during their business. why aren't there toilet seats?
Wally - I'm glad you asked the question. We are headed to Cinque Terre in two weeks with two children and you never know.

I must add my penny worth.LOL.
I have been to Italy on holiday for the past 10-12 years and cannot bring to mind any 'horrid' toilet experiences! I use bars and restaurant facilities and have never been caught short! The toilets are variable but not that bad. Toilet seats are where germs lurk- much more hygenic to squat!