Cinque Terre from Firenze is a long day. Two and a half hours by train each way (change at La Spezia Centrale), five Ligurian coast villages linked by an inter-village train and walking paths. May, June, and September are the honest months. August is airless and the villages are packed. If you have three days spare, base yourself in Levanto and treat it as an overnight instead.
The day, roughly
Vernazza (morning)
The set-piece harbour village. Doria castle above the marina, one main street, honest focaccia at Il Pirata delle Cinque Terre. Verdict: the photograph everyone books the trip for. Price band €4 for a slice of focaccia.
Monterosso al Mare (lunch and beach)
The largest of the five with the only real sand beach. Lunch at Ristorante Miky for trofie al pesto and grilled fish. Verdict: the honest swim stop between village hops. Price band €35 to €55 a head.
Manarola (sunset)
The vertical village, best sunset view in the five. Walk out on the Punta Bonfiglio path for the classic postcard. Verdict: 6:30pm to 7:30pm in high season, an hour earlier in May and September. Free.
Practical tips
- Book the 6:52 Firenze SMN to La Spezia. Buy the Cinque Terre Treno Card (€18.20) at La Spezia for the day’s inter-village trains.
- Do not attempt in the first two weeks of August. Trains are standing-only and the villages hit capacity.
- The Sentiero Azzurro coastal path between Vernazza and Corniglia is the honest walk. 90 minutes, €7.50 pass, closed after heavy rain.