Need Cinque Terre/ Liguria advice
 

Hi..need some advice for an upcoming trip in September. Will be staying by Lucca for 14 days and have a 2 day/1 night trip planned to CT.

Right now the plan is to park in free lot in La Speczia overnight and take train to the first 3 towns (as the trails are closed) and hike the last two trails.

If we were to miss one town due to time, which should it be?

We are staying over night in Santa Margherita and than going to Portofino, San Fruttusco, and Rapallo.

So I am also wondering if it rains, would your advice be to skip CT and Liguria and add on days to our other day trips we have planned? We can cancel our hotel 24 hours in advance with out being penalized.

Thanks for any advice.

Corniglia is one town you could miss and gain time as it is not on the coastal train line but high above it - a shuttle bus goes from the train station to the hill town. Nice place but you could train between the other two and do the final two by foot.

Yes -- definitely cancel your hotel reservation and do something else if it is raining on the coast.

I think when you get to le Cinque Terre you will see that one village is not more of a "must see" than another. People probably leave naming one their "favorite" but that is for quirky accidental reasons and lots of differing opinions. The fun of the Italian Riviera is to enjoy the combination of pretty views and fresh air and quiet and fun hikes or putting your feet up and doing nothing. If you are having a nice time in one town and just want to be there and enjoy that without tearing off to see the next town that is the wise thing to do.

Thanks for the advice!

If it is raining, the trails can become dangerously slippery and the rangers will close them - so yes, if it is raining, it would make sense to skip the Cinque Terre.