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Cinque Terre, the five colorful Ligurian cliffside villages that have become iconic images of the Italian coastline, offer visitors a delightful combination of culinary adventures, outdoor activities, and beautiful waterfront scenery. Part of the fun of visiting the Cinque Terre is exploring each of the small towns and discovering the surprising variety of environments and experiences they all offer. Small as they are, they are packed with things to do and see, and to really dive into their offerings, you might consider taking a formal tour. There are many excellent Cinque Terre tours available, each using a variety of transportation options and focusing on several different facets of local life. Would you rather ride a bike? Ride a boat? Spend more time walking and less time shopping? More time eating and less time talking? These great tours give you all of those options and more.
Best Train: Cinque Terre Five Villages Private Train Tour of La Spezia
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The five colorful villages of Cinque Terre are linked by a train, which is a wonderfully easy and picturesque way to jump from one to the other. With your private local guide leading the way, it gets even easier. Starting from the train station in La Spezia, you will proceed one by one through the five villages, with your guide illuminating the history and culture of the region and offering tips for shopping, eating and sightseeing.
Because the tour is private, you are completely flexible: if you want to see as much as possible, you can move quickly. If you like something specific and want to spend a good amount of time exploring, you can certainly do it. Slow lunch? Why not? Quick shopping stops? Of course. You have some control, but you also have a real live expert who makes sure you don’t miss out on anything amazing and that you have the time of your life.
Best Hiking: Private Cinque Terre Trek Tours
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Guided by an American expat who has been living in the Cinque Terre for the better part of two decades, this tour is ideal for lovers of a good walk. Your day will start in the morning at the Riomaggio train station, from where you will begin walking along ancient paths and trails through vineyards, little lesser known villages and several of the larger Cinque Terre villages.
The trails you will take are less known to tourists so you will get stunning views of the villages that most visitors will never be able to see, and when you enter the villages you will have an expert on hand to assist you. you will find the best places to eat, shop and visit.
After visiting Volastra and Manarola entirely on foot, you will take a short train to Vernazza and then back to Monterosso, with a walk through the oldest part of each city. From Monterosso, you will take a ferry back to Riomaggio, where it started, giving you a completely different view of the beautiful villages you previously walked through.
Best Bike: Baie del Levante Electric Bike Tour from Levanto
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If you want to spend some time exploring the little villages that perch in the mountains above Cinque Terre’s most famous coastal towns, consider this electric bike tour, which allows you to get those beautiful views of the bay while visiting some less-seen spots. Exploring this area by car is quite difficult as not all villages allow vehicular traffic and in many cases it is not the most efficient way to get from one to the other.
But the hills are steep, making regular cycling its own challenge. E-bikes, giving you that extra motorized oomph to make it easier to climb hills, are the perfect solution, and this tour takes full advantage of your flexibility. You’ll visit Levanto, Costa, Monte Serro, Setta, Anzo, and Framura before lunch, an abundant variety of Ligurian food, including wine, before taking a slightly different path back to your starting location, this time beyond Bonassola.
It’s another good off-the-beaten-path option that allows you to see part of the region that you probably won’t see on other tours.
Best kayaking: Cinque Terre kayak trip from Monterosso
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Seeing the beautiful Cinque Terre villages splashed with color from the water is a must-do, but there is something especially special about being on a boat that you can propel with your own arms. You don’t need to be a kayak expert for this small-group kayak tour (limit 12) along the rugged Cinque Terre coastline, as the calm coastal waters make it an easy place for beginners to paddle.
You will start your day in Monterosso, where you will board your single or double kayak and set off. Paddling through the sparkling blue waters of the Cinque Terre Marine Protected Area, your guide will help you spot wildlife, from dolphins to cormorants. Your first stop will be at Guvano Beach, past Vernazza, where you’ll rest, eat snacks (bring your own!), And swim or sunbathe for a bit before heading back into the water.
The next town you will arrive at is Corniglia, where you can choose to disembark and spend some time strolling, shopping and sightseeing or, if you wish, you can paddle a bit more along the coast before finally turning around. and returning to Monterosso. It’s not the wildest paddle you’ll ever do, but it’s certainly one of the most beautiful.
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Best Sailing: Cinque Terre Day Trip by Sailing Boat from La Spezia
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There is something lovely about taking a sailboat out on the water alongside these coastal fishing villages, following the path of countless generations of locals who would set out in the morning with nets and return in the afternoon with boats full of fish. This isn’t a fishing tour (probably for the better, smell wise), but you can dabble in the ancient art of harnessing the wind to move your little boat.
You will meet your skipper at the port of La Spezia and embark on a seven-hour drive along the Cinque Terre coast. Throughout the day, you will have the opportunity to jump into the water to swim or snorkel and enjoy the pleasant company of your small group (maximum 10) and the crew, who will gladly teach you some navigation tips and help you. with the process
At the edge of the Varnazza coastline, you will drop anchor and enjoy a delicious lunch of local specialties, generally including a selection of cured meats, anchovies, local olives, fresh fruit and bread, all finished with a good shot of local wine. This tour doesn’t stop at any city – it’s a full day at sea, filled with magnificent views and wonderful company.
Best speedboat: Cinque Terre boat tour
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Although a motor boat does not have the romance that a sailboat does, for practical purposes it is a great way to get from city to city while getting that beautiful view from the water. This short, two-hour tour takes off from Vernazza and hugs the coastline up close (something the bigger tour boats can’t do), giving you perfect views of each of the villages as they appear around the curves.
You will have the opportunity to swim and snorkel in the Cinque Terre Marine Protected Area, and depending on the wishes of the group on the ship, you can also dock in one of the perfect towns along the route and disembark for a quick little sightseeing. .
On the way back to Vernazza, you will enjoy a glass (or two) of locally produced wine. Cin-cin!
Best for Foodies: Local Market Tour and Dining Experience at Cesarina’s House
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Meeting and interacting with the locals is one of the big goals of the trip, and yet, especially in heavily touristy regions, it can be strangely difficult to achieve. This tour is fabulous because it allows you to not only learn about Cinque Terre’s famous food and drink products, but also meet a local and understand the culture a little better from the inside. Your guide, a certified Cesarina (a proud coordinated network of Italian home cooks) will meet you at the local food market and show you how Ligurians select the perfect ingredients for the products on display, a true art form in itself.
After about an hour of scouring the market stalls, searching for the perfect plump lemons and salty anchovies from the sea below, you’ll head back to your new local friend’s house, where you’ll help prepare a decadent four-course menu. And then obviously you eat. (True to form, the food serving takes twice as long as any of the other servings.) Along with your meal, you will enjoy local wines and end your experience with a cup of perfect espresso.
Your keepsakes will include not only an official Cesarine apron and a grocery bag, but also new inside knowledge that will allow you to replicate his decadent food (and shopping techniques) in your home.
Best Combo: Cinque Terre Pesto Making Class, Boat Tour and Lunch through La Spezia
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Can’t decide whether to choose a boat tour or a food tour? Are you trying to please multiple people in your group? Are you just looking for the most complete experience you can find? This tour could do the trick for you. You will start the day with a scenic train ride into the heart of the Cinque Terre, where a short, pretty walk will take you to the first experience of your day – a pesto class.
Pesto is one of the iconic dishes of Northern Italy and they are proud of it around here. The class is hands-on – you can even grind the basil and garlic with a mortar (the word “pesto” is related to the word “mortar”). However, all your work will pay off, as once you’re done, you can dig into it, served with local bread, plus cured meats, cheeses, and other delicacies.
After you’ve filled up, it’s just a short ride to the port where you’ll board your boat, taking you on a scenic drive along the coast to Vernazza, where the tour officially ends. However, you can choose to explore Vernazza a bit more or just hop on the train back to La Spezia.
The tour includes a pass to give you access to local walking trails, as well as the train, so you can really spend the rest of the day as you wish.
Our process
Our writers spent 2 hours researching the most popular Cinque Terre tours on the market. Before making their final recommendations, they considered 40 different tours overall, selected options from 40 different brands, and read over 60 user reviews (both positive and negative). All of this research adds to recommendations you can trust.
