Most people understand that summer in Cinque Terre can be hot, busy and somewhat hectic. The place is a UNESCO World Heritage site, after all, and most people take their holidays during the school break (perhaps you do too). But does this make summer a bad time to go? Of course not! If you’re keen to experience this wonderful place, and are happy to manage your expectations, you should most definitely go ahead and plan your trip.
Here are some tips to help you make the most of your summer in Cinque Terre:
Get up and go!
Exploring early means you’ll avoid the heat and most of the tourists too. Get up and out before 10am and the place is cooler, fresher and quieter. The other end of the day can be wonderful too, when many of the day trippers have gone back to Florence or are heading to the restaurants for dinner.
Eat later
If you choose to dine after the rest of the visitors, you’re more likely to get a table, plus it leaves you free to do some early evening exploration, which is always a delight. Aim for a 9pm dinner.
Go swimming
Taking a dip in the middle of the day means that you’ll keep cool and stay away from the busyness of the towns themselves. For some reason, many people choose not to swim here, perhaps because the beaches require a little effort to reach, or perhaps because they are rocky rather than sandy. But a refreshing and cooling swim comes highly recommended - and who could resist those crystalline waters?
Discover Hidden Beaches
As mentioned above, some of the beaches are not very obvious, but this is good news if you are keen to find them. Some people don’t even know they are there, which means they remain relatively quiet. For example, the hidden grotto in Vernazza, accessed through a tunnel from town, is a gem of a find.
Choose Corniglia
The middle village of Corniglia takes a little more effort to get to. It is perched on a hill and you need to take a bus or a long staircase to get to it so lots of the tour groups bypass it. However if you don’t mind taking on the challenge of the stairs or jumping on the bus it is a gorgeous village. Thanks to its location, it’s much quieter too.
Visit Portovenere
Just on the edge of the Cinque Terre (and where most of the ferries stop), Portovenere is a pretty town with lots to see. Again, many people bypass it because it is not one of the famous five towns, but it is equally as pretty and well worth a stop.
If you’re strategic about the summer in Cinque Terre and manage your visit well, you will get just as much from your trip as if you were to visit at any other time of the year. Going through a local tour operator is always a good idea as they know all the tips and tricks to avoid the crowds as much as possible. Certainly don’t put a visit off, because summer in Cinque Terre is a truly wonderful experience.
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