Since I love Cinque Terre albeit the merciless Italian summer heat, and I have a soft spot for Italy, I shall fast forward to the time when we were there (all the other cities lain kali eh hehe).
Cinque Terre (pronounced as Chin-kueh Tehr-reh. To apply Italian accent please) which means Five (cinque) lands (Terre is the plural form of Terra which means earth or land). It lies along the Italian Riviera, on the northern side of Italy, somewhere between Pisa and Genoa. Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore are the five breathtaking coastal towns making up the Cinque Terre.
We were there in summer, so it was really really hot. Contrary to popular belief, we still perspired buckets even though the air is dry, just like in humid Singapore. I would suggest spring as the best season for an Italian road trip. The Italian spring is just nice, akin to Switzerland's summer. You can walk around in your t-shirts and you won't feel cold (at least for me, when I was there in spring. I suppose it depends on tolerance level too so do check the weather forecast when you're there).
How to get there?
We drove to Cinque Terre from Florence through Lucca. However, since cars are strictly not allowed in Cinque Terre even for the residents, you have to park far far away. Also, since so many people are heading to the beach especially during the weekends, you're mostly left with no parking. Also note that there are tolls on Italian Autostrada so please provision extra funds for this, depending on where you're travelling from.
So best option is to take the trains. Trains run from major cities like Milan, Florence, Rome and usually require a change at La Spezia. However when buying tickets, you can just buy direct to the Cinque Terre town you would like to stop at and they'll give you a suggested itinerary for where to stop and which trains to take. For a more comprehensive guide on train travel to Cinque Terre, click here.
Important note: When travelling on Italian trains, remember to VALIDATE YOUR TICKETS at the green machines usually on the head of the train berth before you get on the train, or risk getting fined. Ticket checks are frequent so don't risk it.
How to get around?
To get from one town to another, you have 3 choices:
1) By foot
2) By train
3) By boat
Option 1- By foot
We walked, rather, hiked, from Monterosso to Vernazza. It took us about 2 hours and it wasn't an easy route I would say. Alot of steps, uneven ground, and extremely draining, even for us who have been walking alot the entire time we've been staying in Switzerland. And in the merciless summer heat, ohboy, we were so thirsty and completely drenched in sweat. So if you're hiking, remember to prepare bottles of water for the many water breaks (We had to resort to climbing down rocks to get to a precariously-located stream because we needed to refill our bottles even though we brought two 1.5l bottles. Yes, we are camels). However, I would say that hiking is the best way, though not the easiest, to get around because the aerial views are breathtaking and completely worth the torture. And you get to meet so many people from all over the world enroute! Totally worth it. I heard that hiking through all 5 towns will take about 7.5 hours, and that Monterosso to Vernazza is the toughest route. So start at Monterosso so the rest will be a breeze.
Option 2 - By train
Getting around by train is the fastest option. All five towns have their own train stations which will connect you to the other towns. A single ticket costs EUR1.50 to EUR 3 depending on your departure and arrival stations.
Option 3 - By boat
Getting around by boat is a lovely way to see picturesque coastal towns from afar while you feel the seabreeze on your face. Though it is not the cheapest nor fastest way to get around, you shouldn't miss out on the experience. Boats run from all towns except for Corniglia. Tickets are from EUR4.
How many days should we spend at Cinque Terre?
Sadly we didn't manage to cover all 5 towns as we were pressed for time. I think you would require about 2-3 days to cover all 5 towns at a comfortable pace. That way, you'll have time to treat yourself to a dip in the extremely inviting and cold seawaters. Don't forget to bring your bathing suits if you're coming in summer!
There are many pasta and pizza restaurants. Jangan haraplah nak dapat makanan halal kat sini eh. Nonetheless I would recommend San Martino Gastronomia at Via San Martino, 3 at Monterosso. They serve really good seafood salads and seafood pastas at surprisingly cheap prices (our seafood pasta was about EUR 10 and the portion was really generous!). Ask them which ones have alcohol in it and which ones don't so you get a better peace of mind. The owners are extremely friendly too so don't be afraid to ask!
Return train tickets from Firenze Santa Maria Novella to Monterosso - about EUR 40 depending on which train you're taking
Single trip train tickets in Cinque Terre - about EUR 1.50 to EUR 3
Single trip ferry tickets in Cinque Terre - about EUR 4 onwards
Parking in the Cinque Terre - about EUR 25/day
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