Is it worth going to Cinque Terre in winter?

You will see very few people at all in the streets when the tourists leave. Additionally, many of the more touristy restaurants and stores will shut when the season ends. However, if you prefer quiet places and walking around without seeing many people, the winter season is the perfect time for you to visit!



Visiting Cinque Terre in winter (December through February) is a polar opposite experience to the summer, and whether it is "worth it" depends on your preference for solitude over sunshine. The biggest "pro" is the lack of crowds; you can walk the narrow alleys of Vernazza and Manarola without the crushing tourist throngs, and accommodation rates are significantly lower. Winter also offers the chance to see the world’s largest nativity scene (Presepe) illuminated on the hills of Manarola. However, there are notable "cons": many restaurants, boutiques, and boat tours close for the season, and the weather can be damp and chilly (8∘C to 13∘C). The hiking trails are often closed if there has been heavy rain due to landslide risks. For photographers and hikers who enjoy a brisk, atmospheric coastal walk and don't mind a quieter "local" vibe, it is a hidden gem. But if you are looking for the vibrant, sun-drenched "Instagram" version of the Italian Riviera with active nightlife and swimming, winter will likely feel too sleepy and restricted.

People Also Ask

September-October The shoulder season of September to October is the best time to visit Cinque Terre.

MORE DETAILS

Winter in the Cinque Terre Weather is reliably cold but rarely dips below freezing. December and January are among the rainiest months of the year, ranking only behind October and November.

MORE DETAILS

Prices in Cinque Terre in November If you want to visit Cinque Terre at affordable prices perhaps November is the best month of the year for your goal, as accommodations and excursions mark price minimums and adventure or outdoor tours become very affordable.

MORE DETAILS

Shopping and prices The Cinque Terre is not cheap. As everywhere in the world, tourism has raised prices. I often go to the market of La Spezia to shop for food, it's much cheaper than the stores of the villages. In restaurants, you have to expect Western European prices.

MORE DETAILS

Vernazza: Located to the north of the Cinque Terre, Vernazza is probably the most beautiful and picturesque fishing village of Cinque Terre, where its colourful houses hang above the sea level on rugged cliffs. It has a charming natural port and an old castle, built to protect the area from pirates.

MORE DETAILS

La Spezia is one of the best places to stay in the Cinque Terre if you're looking for a larger base, with a cobbled old town, and museums and sights of its own. The first of the towns you reach from La Spezia is Riomaggiore, the largest town, and a great base for walkers.

MORE DETAILS

Overtourism in a fragile area Fabrizia Pecunia, the mayor of Riomaggiore, came up with the new plan for the 3,215- foot-long path to combat overtourism. Last year, about three million tourists visited Cinque Terre, a fragile national park. In contrast, there are fewer than 4,000 residents left in the area.

MORE DETAILS

Overtourism is a growing phenomenon that our own research indicates affects almost 100 destinations around the world so far, but there are few places in Europe where the problem is so clearly visible as Cinque Terre, on Italy's resplendent Ligurian coast.

MORE DETAILS

You can walk the entire route in about six hours, if you take short breaks—although many hikers prefer to spread the route out over a few days at a strolling pace, stopping to enjoy the towns along the way. You can start from either direction (Monterosso, heading south, or Riomaggiore, heading north).

MORE DETAILS

You have to skip Corniglia situated on top of a cliff 100 metres above sea level. If you are limited on time, take the train between the villages.

MORE DETAILS

It's the heart of winter in Italy, and it's cold, wet, and the skies and generally grey. But, if you can handle the weather, Italy in January is a perfect time if you're looking for lower prices and fewer crowds. It's also the best month (along with February) to head to Italy's incredible ski resorts.

MORE DETAILS