Cinque terre
Cinque Terre is probably one of my favourite places on this earth. It's like a well known hidden gem if that can even be a thing! Well travelled but still rich in Culture. To get the full experience I'd recommend to stay in one of the smaller towns (I'm biased to Corniglia). Anyway Cinque Terre is 5 fishing towns all connected by hiking routes (some of these are now closed due to land slides) and trains. You can't drive between the two towns and the views are spectacular! You could hike from the first village to the last in one day but it would be pretty intense and take you all day! We hiked from one town to the next (e.g. village 1 to village 2 one day and then village 2 to village 3 the next day) and got the train one way which I think was perfect to maintain a chilled holiday as well. The five towns are Monterosso, Vernazza (most popular and busy town), Corniglia (quiet town with the most beautiful beach in my opinion, about a 7 minute walk down step stairs to get to the beach so the access makes it less crowded) , Manarola and Riomaggiore.
Quite hard to write recommendations as you split your time across the 5 towns and they kind of merge to one. But to the best of my memory: Monterosso had two beaches one by the train station that was very busy and organised but still pretty and there is another beach further along that is quieter but not as pretty. Vernazza has a man made beach by the pier. Corniglia has a beautiful beach but there is no sand it's just big rocks that you can jump in the sea from. Manarola is lots of big rocks but there is a ramp you can access the sea from it also gets really busy but I liked it here. Riomaggiore kind of just a fishing port but if you keep walking round you can climb down a path in the rocks and swim from there...
Where to stay:
- Corniglia. There is only one hostel here called Ostello. (food is quite expensive here and isn't amazing but the location is just perfect).
- loads of air bob's we had a really cute one in Corniglia for a couple of days.
What to do:
- Hikes, Monterosso to Vernazza - Takes about 2 hours. Vernaza to Corniglia (easier hike took about an hour and 10). Corniglia to Manarola really nice hike. Manarola to Riomaggiore is shut because of the land slides :(. Photo at one of the hikes 1st on the right.
- HIKING TIPS: If you hike after a certain time (think it's like 4 or 5) you don't have to pay. If you hike in the day you have to pay at different check points so it gets quite expensive. The train is also 4/5 euros for one way so pick your hiking routes wisely! (also why its good to stay in a middle town!)
- Riomaggiore sunset is beautiful, facing the sea go right, sit on the rocks. (Photo 2nd on the right).
- Colourful photo spot in Manarola - Panormaic trail from Manarola is so beaut! To get to the picture spot in Manarola you walk along the trail if you're looking at the sea to the right (theres a path but its blocked off at the end but from there you can see all the pretty colourful buildings).
- Corniglia beach - stunning. Can hire a Kayak and kayak to Guavano beach but becareful of cliff falls!
- Corniglia the wall on the way to the square from the train station (theres a lovely spot to read/chill that over looks the sea in a square just before the actual town square). - Picture 3rd on the right.
- We walked past lots of vineyards on our hikes so could look into that!
Where to eat:
- Pizzeria da ercole (really good pizza in Vernazza - on theright up the hill).
- Mama mia for delicious sea food and pizza. (Riomaggiore).
- Manarola: very good take away pasta (First restaurant/take away cafe you see after the hike - coming down from the church).
- Monterosso: BEST PIZZA EVER - Pizzeria la smorfia.
- Corniglia - Cafe Nuzzigo - such a cute outdoor terrace round the back (on the way to the beach).
Quite hard to write recommendations as you split your time across the 5 towns and they kind of merge to one. But to the best of my memory: Monterosso had two beaches one by the train station that was very busy and organised but still pretty and there is another beach further along that is quieter but not as pretty. Vernazza has a man made beach by the pier. Corniglia has a beautiful beach but there is no sand it's just big rocks that you can jump in the sea from. Manarola is lots of big rocks but there is a ramp you can access the sea from it also gets really busy but I liked it here. Riomaggiore kind of just a fishing port but if you keep walking round you can climb down a path in the rocks and swim from there...
Where to stay:
- Corniglia. There is only one hostel here called Ostello. (food is quite expensive here and isn't amazing but the location is just perfect).
- loads of air bob's we had a really cute one in Corniglia for a couple of days.
What to do:
- Hikes, Monterosso to Vernazza - Takes about 2 hours. Vernaza to Corniglia (easier hike took about an hour and 10). Corniglia to Manarola really nice hike. Manarola to Riomaggiore is shut because of the land slides :(. Photo at one of the hikes 1st on the right.- HIKING TIPS: If you hike after a certain time (think it's like 4 or 5) you don't have to pay. If you hike in the day you have to pay at different check points so it gets quite expensive. The train is also 4/5 euros for one way so pick your hiking routes wisely! (also why its good to stay in a middle town!)
- Riomaggiore sunset is beautiful, facing the sea go right, sit on the rocks. (Photo 2nd on the right).
- Colourful photo spot in Manarola - Panormaic trail from Manarola is so beaut! To get to the picture spot in Manarola you walk along the trail if you're looking at the sea to the right (theres a path but its blocked off at the end but from there you can see all the pretty colourful buildings).- Corniglia beach - stunning. Can hire a Kayak and kayak to Guavano beach but becareful of cliff falls!
- Corniglia the wall on the way to the square from the train station (theres a lovely spot to read/chill that over looks the sea in a square just before the actual town square). - Picture 3rd on the right.
- We walked past lots of vineyards on our hikes so could look into that!
Where to eat:
- Pizzeria da ercole (really good pizza in Vernazza - on theright up the hill).
- Mama mia for delicious sea food and pizza. (Riomaggiore).
- Manarola: very good take away pasta (First restaurant/take away cafe you see after the hike - coming down from the church).
- Monterosso: BEST PIZZA EVER - Pizzeria la smorfia.
- Corniglia - Cafe Nuzzigo - such a cute outdoor terrace round the back (on the way to the beach).
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