tuscany_tyke

We are visiting the Cinque Terre in Sept with friends, one of whom uses a wheelchair and are planning a day trip of the coast by boat. Where is the best place to pick up the boat and where would we be best stopping off for lunch - ie the best place to spend some time and with accessible restaurants?

Also how long does the round trip take (excluding lunch )

Any tips appreciated.

Thanks

Jean

This is going to be very tough. I hope somewhere here can give you some useful info.

Is the person completely wheelchair bound or is he/she able to walk short distances? Are you going to be able to push this person in the chair up steep, uneven walkways? Are you staying somewhere along the CT or are you planning this as a day-trip from somewhere else?

CarolJean

Unfortunately, I agree with Jean. The Cinque Terre is not at all wheelchair-friendly. Your friend could not get on the small rocking boats in the smaller villages. Also, the train stations are accessed by long stairways. And the villages are steep. I think I would visit some other location, if I were you. Good luck! CJ

tuscany_tyke

We are staying at a house in the Lunigiana and will have use of a car. No need to use the railways.

Our friend can walk short distances and intention was not to explore on land but view the Cinque Terre from the sea and maybe come ashore for lunch.

DOCK

Hi, we just returned from our second visit to CT. I would have to agree with the others, it is not wheelchair friendly. In order to get onto the ferries the ramps are really narrow and there are at least 3 steps to get onto the deck. If this was doable by private boat then Monterosso would likely be your best option for negotiating a wheelchair. The dockside is concrete and not pebbly and there are only a few stairs to reach street level. I think there is also an access from the dock straight into the tunnel which would avoid stairs altogether an then through the tunnel to old town or continue along the sidewalk to new town. Once off the boat Monterosso, both old and new towns are easily negotiated by wheelchair. My recommendation for lunch would be MIKY(new town, but I do not think opens for lunch, we had 2 suppers there) or Lampara Ciak(old town, across from Enoteca Ciak, the wine store)).Lampara did open for lunch for 3 of the 4 days we were there but was closed on a Wed. at lunch. We had supper here once. Risotto at Ciak is awesome, service slowish, but friendly, more rustic food. Food at MIKY is more of a fine dining experience, wonderful food, great service, awesome desserts.Allow 2 hours for lunch especially if its busy.

The trip itself, Monterosso rountrip by ferry would be at least 2 hours as the ferries stop to allow passengers at least 3 ports, depending on the one you take. From Monterosso to Riomaggiore with stops at Vernazza and Corniglia took us 44 minutes and on the retun the ferry would make 2 stops again.

Using the ferry and a wheelchair would likely be quite difficult , maybe consider a private charter to take you around. I did notice water taxis based in Portofino for private trips to see the CT by boat, its possible you may be able to do this from Monterossso as well. The docks at teh smaller towns are all accessible by many steps and would not be wheelchair friendly, only Monterosso has the smoothest widest and least number of steps. CT continues to be one of our favourite places in the world and hopefully we will be able to do this again. Have fun and if you get to MIKY try Pizza Pasta and any of teh seafood.