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Last summer, our family had the amazing opportunity to vacation in France and Italy. We flew into Antibes, France, and traveled by train east along the French and Italian Rivieras, including Monte Carlo. While in northern Italy, we spent five nights exploring a magical area called Cinque Terre. We took some amazing Cinque Terre tours, and I want to share some of the tour options with you in this post.
I will say that spending five days in Cinque Terre gave us ample time to savor this beautiful area and take some tours. I think Cinque Terre deserves much more than a day trip, so consider staying there for a few days during your trip to Italy.
Read my latest post all about the Five Towns of Cinque Terre, Italy!
Are Cinque Terre Tours Right For Me?
Cinque Terre has a lot to do, but like any foreign destination, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and completely miss the best experiences. Taking a Cinque Terre tour is a great way to maximize your time and energy. A local tour guide knows the area and can give you the history, background, and context of what you’re seeing. Booking a tour also cuts down on the stress and cost of trying to organize a group experience on your own, which can be frustrating while on vacation.
We Like Taking Get Your Guide Tours
Our family loves taking Get Your Guide tours and has taken them all over the world. Hands down, the best and most memorable experiences for my family while traveling are always the tours that we take. These tours are educational and immersive and create a unique bonding experience where we do something really fun and rewarding together.
Whether it’s feeding monkeys in Panama City, Panama, or touring the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, we’ve enjoyed every tour. We’ve never regretted booking a tour through Get Your Guide. For first-timers, check out my “Tips For Taking Cinque Terre Tours” section at the bottom of this post.
Where Is Cinque Terre, Italy?
The Cinque Terre is located in northern Italy, about halfway between Genoa and Pisa. The Cinque Terre region is made up of five towns spread out over a coastal area about six miles long. The towns don’t allow vehicular traffic (other than deliveries) and have the feel of remote fishing villages from yesteryear. Their medieval building, narrow winding streets, and colorful houses cascade down the coastal bluffs of the Ligurian Sea and meet quaint fishing marinas bobbing with wood boats.
The Cinque Terre area is one of the most romantic and breathtakingly beautiful areas in southern Europe and is a bucket list travel destination. The best and most convenient way to explore Cinque Terre is by train, which runs between all five towns.
The Cinque Terre Towns
The Cinque Terre region is made up of five towns that you can learn more about here. From north to south, they are Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Wine country occupies the remainder of the area, and a network of incredible hiking trails connects the five towns.
Dotted all across the Cinque Terre are fascinating places like medieval churches and monasteries, ancient castles, vineyards, and gorgeous beaches. Cinque Terre tours are available to help you explore all of this! These Cinque Terre tours will help you unlock the unique personality of this land.
Best Cinque Terre Tours By Town
Next, I’ll cover the best Cinque Terre tours. I’ve arranged the tours by town so you can optimize your itinerary based on where you are staying and where you plan to visit. Each of these Cinque Terre tours is highly rated, with at least 4.5 out of five stars.
Be sure to check the tour webpage for details about any age restrictions, the location of the tour meeting point, and amenities. Some boat tours of Cinque Terre, Italy, start in nearby cities outside of Cinque Terre, like La Spezia, so make sure you read the details! It’s easy to get to La Spezia by train. It’s just one stop past Riomaggiore. Being that it’s a much larger town, it has many larger boats and tour options. If you are not staying in Cinque Terre, you may find it easier to start your Cinque Terre boat tour in La Spezia.
Monterosso al Mare Tours
Monterosso al Mare is the largest, flattest, and most accessible town. Its sandy beach makes it the most resort-like of the five. This city is one of the larger hubs for boat tours in Cinque Terre, Italy. It also offers other activities, like kayaking and a popular e-bike tour. We absolutely loved Monterosso and would recommend staying here if you are visiting Cinque Terre with teenagers.
Monterosso: Cinque Terre Boat Tour And Typical Food Day/Sunset
Cinque Terre: Hybrid Boat Tour With Swimming Stop
From Monterosso To Vernazza: Guided Cinque Terre Kayak Tour
Monterosso al Mare: Cinque Terre National Park E-Bike Tour
Cinque Terre: Sunset Cruise With Aperitif On Board
Vernazza Tours
Vernazza is known for its picturesque harbor and colorful houses clinging to the cliffs. It’s often considered the most beautiful of the five Cinque Terre towns, and it’s a romantic destination for visitors from all over the world. This is where we stayed during our visit to Cinque Terre. We took a small boat tour right from Vernazza, and it was one of my favorite afternoons of our entire three week trip to Europe!
Vernazza: Sunset Cruise With Swimming And Snorkeling
Vernazza: Panoramic Vineyard Trekking Tour With Wine Tasting
Corniglia Tours
Perched high on a cliff, Corniglia offers stunning panoramic views. Unlike the other Cinque Terre towns, it doesn’t have a direct sea connection. Corneglia is a hilltop village with a more isolated feel than the other four towns. It’s a popular destination for day-trippers who don’t mind navigating the hilly terrain, but it’s not a popular home base for most tourists.
There are no Guide Your Guide tours currently originating in Corniglia. However, you can easily access the other towns in Cinque Terre and enjoy their tour offerings.
Manarola Tours
Manarola is famous for its small harbor, picturesque houses, and tiny piazzas with great seafood restaurants and bakeries. Its rugged rocky marina is a favorite spot for cliff diving and sunbathing. Manarola offers several popular pesto-making and wine-tasting tours but does not currently offer boat tours. We loved watching people jumping off the high rocks and into the refreshing Ligurian Sea!
Cinque Terre: Wine Tasting And Walking Tour
Manarola: Pesto Making Class With Tasting And Wine
Manarola: Authentic Pesto Making Class At Cinque Terre
Riomaggiore Tours
The southernmost village of Riomaggiore is known for its vibrant colors and unique, rugged coastal setting. People flock here to catch spectacular views of the setting sun. Riomaggiore is a busy hub for boat tours in Cinque Terre, Italy. It also offers cooking, wine, and hiking-related tours.
Riomaggiore: Cinque Terre Daytime Cruise With Snorkeling
Riomaggiore: Cinque Terre Sunset Tour With Wine And Focaccia
Riomaggiore: Pasta And Tiramisù Cooking Class
Private Cinque Terre Trekking Tour
Riomaggiore: Vineyard & Wine Cellar Tour With Wine Tasting
6 Tips For Taking Cinque Terre Tours
I wanted to share some practical tips to help make your group’s Cinque Terre tours as enjoyable as possible. And make sure you have the Get Your Guide app downloaded to your phone. We love how easy it is to use while traveling, especially in Europe!
#1 Have Cash For Tipping Your Guide
One key lesson we’ve learned from taking tours is the importance of having cash on hand to tip your guide at the end. Many guides aren’t equipped to accept credit card payments, so it’s best to be prepared. We always carry Euros, as it’s the local currency. While there’s no universal rule for tipping, customs in Europe differ from those in the U.S., and it’s not mandatory. However, a good guideline is to tip around 10% of the total tour price, especially for private tours.
One of my top Tips for International Travel is to order my currency online before my trip!
#2 What To Bring On Your Cinque Terre Tour
Make sure to bring bottled water, as most tours don’t provide it. If you’ll be outdoors in the summer, sunscreen is a must. Packaged snacks can also come in handy, especially for longer Cinque Terre tours. A small bag or backpack is useful for carrying essentials without being cumbersome. We also always bring our favorite portable chargers with us!
#3 What Not to Bring On A Cinque Terre Tour
Avoid bringing large bags, luggage, or bulky items. If you need to bring mobility aids like walkers, folding strollers, or wheelchairs, check with the tour operator in advance to confirm what’s allowed. Cinque Terre private tours are typically more accommodating than group tours.
#4 What To Wear For Your Cinque Terre Tour
We recommend wearing comfortable shoes on all tours. On boat tours, you may get slightly wet or very wet if you’re swimming or snorkeling, so wear sandals or water shoes if you have them. Likewise, dress for the season and the forecast, and remember that summer can be very hot in Italy! I recommend shorts and sandals for most activities. Consider bringing a portable fan to help keep you cool during the hot summer months, and we always travel with our lightweight and quick-drying Dock and Bay towels.
#5 Check The Meeting Point Location
Review the tour description and map to find out where your meeting point is. Be sure the tour leaves from your location or a location you can easily get to. Taking the train between towns is pretty reliable, but be sure to add extra time to get to your tour meeting location. You are responsible for getting to the correct meeting spot. Plan to be there at least 15 minutes early to check in and avoid any last-minute stress.
TIP: I recommend screenshotting the location in advance just in case your cellular service is interrupted en route to your tour.
#6 Read The Cinque Terre Tour Description Carefully
Take the time to read the Cinque Terre tour details on Get Your Guide thoroughly. Pay close attention to the route, key sights, included amenities, tour duration, meeting point, group size, and the type of transportation used. A little planning and attention to detail can help you choose the perfect tour for your group.
Cinque Terre Tours As Part Of Your Italy Vacation Itinerary
We absolutely loved visiting Cinque Terre and consider it a Europe bucket list adventure! Booking some of these Cinque Terre tours felt like it unlocked the beauty and history of the northern Italian coast and gave us insight into this really inspiring place. The culture and spirit of the Cinque Terre revolve around the sea, the vineyards, and the amazing Italian food.
So, my recommendation is to try to touch on all three of those when planning your Cinque Terre tours. Your Italy travel plans won’t be complete without a visit to Cinque Terre. I know you’ll enjoy exploring all of the towns and experiencing their unique personalities and beauty.
Click here to browse all Cinque Terre tours!
More Italy Travel Inspiration
If you are planning a trip to Italy, make sure to check out some of my other Italy travel posts. We always provide first-hand travel tips along with my photography to help you plan the best trip possible! You can browse the entire Italy Travel Section or click any of the links below to go straight to that European travel blog post!
- Visiting Camogli Italy
- Rome Colosseum Tips
- Venice Boat Tours
- Glass Blowing in Murano
- Pantheon Tickets + Tips
- Venice Water Taxi Overview
- St. Peter’s Basilica
- Hyatt Centric Venice Review
- Best Colosseum Tours
- Cats in Rome
PIN Cinque Terre Tours For Later
