Family trip in Cinque Terre

A family trip to Cinque Terre in Italy is a magical change of scenery for those who have travelled a long way! A group of 5 villages, preserved in the Cinque Terre National Park, suspended above the sea on sheer cliffs! Why would you want to build there? To have a spectacular view of the sea?
In any case, they’ve done well to build these pretty villages, which will delight you during your family trip.

>> Our family Guide to Italy

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Can I visit Cinque Terre with my family?

We did this trip with Mini Voyageur 16 months and Mini Voyageuse 8 years old. You have to love hiking for them to enjoy it. The seaside trails are fairly accessible for families.

 How long can we enjoy a trip to Cinque Terre with our children?

From one day (too short) to a week to really enjoy it! And only one walk a day!

We tested a day in Cinque Terre as a family, and it’s feasible just to visit the villages. We had no choice anyway, as the easiest walks were by the sea, and they were all still closed in April 2013. There was no point in us staying any longer.

How long is the flight to Cinque Terre?

Paris – Genoa: 4h flight with a stopover

2h drive from Genoa without using the motorway to enjoy the sublime scenery

>> See our article : Genoa with kids

How do you get around the Cinque Terre National Park with your children?

Taking the train: the easiest way to visit the Cinque Terre with your children

Please note that the train pass (€10/adult), valid for 6 hours during the day, is only valid from Rio Maggiore and La Spezia. There is also a family pass and a 2-day pass.
For more info : http://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en/cinque-terre-card

We had to buy additional tickets to go as far as Deiva Marina (€5/adult, €2.60/child over 2).

On foot between the 5 villages: for the more sporty

For the more robust, each village can be reached from the previous one on foot. Either by the coastal path, or by the paths on the steep slopes. But in that case, plan to sleep in each of the villages to keep the family in good spirits 😀

Visits and activities for children in Cinque Terre

Monterosso: a family stop on the beach

The least typical village in Cinque Terre, because it’s not suspended like the others! But with children, it’s the village with the largest sandy beach for swimming and building sandcastles at the end of the day. The beach is not far from the boat landing stage.

Vernazze for a superb view

The village of Vernazze’s first attraction is its pretty harbour, the point of entry to the village for those arriving by boat. All the clichés of a pretty fishing port to take hundreds of photos for amateurs. But don’t stop there, and climb a little way up the back of the village to reach the pretty viewpoint and admire the Castello Doria. The ruins of this castle can be visited for €2 and offer a great view!
This is a pebble beach only

Corniglia,

Corniglia is not accessible by boat! It’s often a pretty, quieter village! A short climb of around 370 steps, the Lardarina, may discourage children from reaching the town centre!

Manarola , the most incredible village

The most incredible village, with all its houses suspended above the pebble beach. It’s here that a beautiful picnic area with a playground makes it the family’s favourite Cinque Terre village. Children can play and you can enjoy the view!

Rio Maggiore: the most impressive

>> Pour plus de photos: lire aussi notre journée dans les Cinq Terres

Hiking…

A big black spot during our stay, when most of the paths were blocked by huge floods and landslides.
However, several paths should now be accessible again! See our summary below

Eat great Italian gelato whatever the season!

That’s the great thing about Italy – you can eat ice cream even at Christmas! But here in the Cinque Terre, it’s a must-do activity to motivate our children! One ice cream per village for those with a sweet tooth!

Enjoying the Manarola playground with the kids

We didn’t visit all the playgrounds in Cinque Terre as a family, but the one in Manorola is very well located, easy to find and gives you a superb view.

What type of accommodation can I find to visit the 5 Terres?

By camper van:

To visit the Cinque Terre as a family, we stayed at Deiva Marina, which is accessible by a one-way alternating road because you have to pass through a number of very narrow tunnels to get there – and at the end of the road the Fornaci al Mare campsite Address: 19013 Deiva Marina (SP) – Tel. 0187816295 – Fax 0187816295 – Sorry, no website: it was a good address given to us by my father-in-law. There’s a mini-market 200m away on foot to stock up!

>> Tous nos hébergements en Italie testés et approuvés

 What equipment should I take with me when visiting the Cinque Terre?

Baby carrier essential: although I’ve seen a few Italians with pushchairs in the villages, I wouldn’t venture out.

Sun protection: hat, sun cream

When should you take your children on a trip to the 5 Lands?

In spring, it’s great fun and there are lots of people around.

In summer, you’ll be able to enjoy more swimming, but there will certainly be more people.

What budget for a trip with children?

• Camping: between €30 and €50 / night for a pitch with electricity
• Meals: 10 to 12€ per person
• I haven’t done all the sums yet, but I’ll give you a price per day of what we spent very soon!

What documents do I need to travel to Italy with my family?

Valid identity card for French nationals and european citizens, passport for brittish citizens, even for babies

Advice on family walks and hikes in the Cinque Terre National Park:

It’s best to check out the official Cinque Terre website to find out which paths are passable. But even after looking a while, one of the paths we wanted to take turned out to be closed! To access the various paths in the park you need the Cinque Terre Pass, which authorises you to use these paths.

We asked the Tourist Office which hiking trails in Cinque Terre they recommended for families with young children: those by the sea are better, as they climb less than those inland. Following their advice, here are a few ideas for walking times with young children between the different villages:

• Monterosso – Vernazza: allow 2h30 to 3h walk – fairly easy, slightly steep 3km path – the Azurro path is currently open. It now costs €7.5 or is included in the Five Terre Card.
• Vernazza – Corniglia: allow 2 hours as it is flatter – 4km path – €7.5 charge or included in the Cinq Terre Card.
• Corniglia – Manarola: between 30min and 1h – very simple path, 1km walk – a small picnic area before arriving in Manarola, higher than the path, with a play area! Free
• Manarola – Rio Maggiore: between 30min and 45min Via Beccara – very simple trail, 1km walk – The Via dell Amore trail is still closed and is due to reopen in 2024. It takes you through

To find out more: the 5 Terres National Park website, where you’ll find a list of open and closed trails.

What we would have liked to do:

Take the train each day to go to one village and reach the next on foot in the morning and rest by the water in the afternoon. And on the last day, return from Rio Maggiore by boat to see all the villages from the sea. It’s only a postponement, with only a 3-hour drive from home, so we’ll definitely be going back!

Des idées de circuits famille en Italie