Italy’s Five Lands: Family Trip to the Cinque Terre

My recent trip to the Cinque Terre may not have been my first, but it was still something uniquely its own.  

About two years ago when I studied abroad in Barcelona, I came to this Italian marvel for a quick weekend getaway. Now, this trip wasn’t one of those that got added to my bucket list because flights were cheap, the Cinque Terre was actually one of the top destinations I wanted to visit during my time abroad.

I had rewatched TV shows, read the entire Cinque Terre section of my Italian guidebook (side note, who does that?!), and created a whole dream board on Pinterest dedicated to this one location.

I think it’s safe to say that I had a little obsession with visiting this piece of Italian coastline well before I even stepped foot in Europe.

After traveling there in October of 2015, I thought that no other destination could top it for me. Even though I feel it’s impossible to compare all of Europe and claim a single favorite destination, the Cinque Terre region seemed to always be the first on my list when people would ask for my suggestions.

I really couldn’t help it. I mean, this region combines all of my favorite characterisitcs in a destination- hiking, vineyards, quaint atmosphere, incredible food, and local wines. What more could you really ask for?

Later in the semester, I traveled to so many incredible places, which made me always wonder if I’d still like the Cinque Terre as much as I did. I had very little travel experience with my first time around, and so that initial impression stood out a lot stronger than it might have if I visited it towards the end of my year-long adventure.

I really wanted to revisit this area again, not only because I knew it was an incredible place, but I also wanted to see if my opinion would change after traveling to so many other places. I finally got the chance to see the Cinque Terre in a different perspective when my family decided to do another Italian getaway, and this time, the five lands had made it on their itinerary.

Related blog post: Beginner’s Guide to Cinque Terre

Our Family Trip to the Cinque Terre

We stayed in Monterosso Al Mare, which is the first of the five towns. We all collectively decided that this is the best town to stay in if you want plenty of dinner options and a good home base. While the other towns along the Cinque Terre may be more picturesque, they are also more secluded and a bit quiet for a party of seven.

We set aside three nights in the Cinque Terre during our trip to Italy. I think this should be the very minimum amount of time you spend here. Although we were able to do everything we wanted to, we still could have easily enjoyed an extra day just hanging out on the beach.

If you are planning on going for just a day or two, try to avoid the weekend as much as possible. We luckily left on a Friday but noticed a surge of tourists sweeping through Monterosso starting in the morning. If you want to make the most out of your short time, try to go midweek to avoid the weekend crowds.

Hiking in Cinque Terre

With a family full of hikers, it was no surprise that we set aside an entire day dedicated to trekking the rocky hillside trails. From Monterosso Al Mare, we made it all the way by foot to the fourth town of Manarola.

If you are starting from Monterosso like we did, face the ocean and start walking all the way to the left. You will eventually see the trail once you walk all the way to the hotel that is situated higher on the hillside.

Monterosso to Vernazza is one of the most famous hikes, while also being one of the most difficult. It took about an hour and a half to walk from one town to the other. With rigid switchbacks and a steep incline, we were all surprised how difficult the hike turned out to be. But as you can also see by this photo to the right, I was not as prepared as I could have been (hence my shoe choice).

We also did the other hikes from Vernazza to Corniglia and from Corniglia to Manarola. Unfortunately, the last two scenic coastal trails were both closed due to landslides and won’t be completed for another couple of years. If you wanted to continue the hike anyways, you can still do it, however, your only option is to do the upper trails.

We had to do the upper trail to get from Corniglia to Manarola. In my opinion, this stretch is one of my favorite sections of the entire Cinque Terre. Although it is quite difficult at the beginning and the end, the middle part winds through vineyards and scenic panoramas.

Here you will rarely bump into tourists. Instead, you’ll be surrounded by peaceful curving trails overlooking the Ligurian Sea, some of my favorite memories of the Cinque Terre.

If you really want to get a good feel for the trails in this region, make sure to do this section of the hike. Trust me, it’s worth it!

Where to Eat in  Cinque Terre

Alright, so I have already exhausted this topic on my “Foods to Eat in Cinque Terre” blog post, but I found a few gems this time around that are worth the mention.

–Da Eraldo

–Pasticceria Laura

–Cantina di Miky

–Belforte

–Nessun Dorma

Regardless of where you choose to eat, I’m sure you will have a tasty experience. Make sure to try the pesto, focaccia bread, and white wine, which are all local products produced right in Cinque Terre.

So now that I’ve revisited the Cinque Terre I bet you’re wondering if my opinion has changed. Well, I can confidently say now that this region is just as captivating as ever and I’m so incredibly thankful that I’ve been able to experience all of it with my incredible family.

Thanks mom and dad for taking us on a trip of a lifetime! You two are the reason I have such a passion for life and new adventures.

And another thank you to Keaton Browning for taking all of these amazing pictures!

Until next time, ciao Italy!