We missed these charming little villages off the Italian Riviera coastline on our first trip to Italy three years ago (choosing the Amalfi coast instead), so it was definitely on the list this time around. Now that all is said and done, I will rate Amalfi a little bit higher in terms of both charm and just breathtaking beauty, but Cinque Terre was definitely worth a visit as well.

We stayed in La Spezia, which was convenient to hopping on either the train that runs through the five Cinque Terra towns, or catching a boat to hop from town to town. Unfortunately, although we had sun on our full day to explore this region, the waters were way too rough to allow for boats and ferries to get into the harbors.

La Spezia is not terribly noteworthy, although we did enjoy an evening strolling through the shopping district and watching this rather immense cruise ship pushing out of the harbor. I am really NOT enticed by the call of these massive ships as a way of exploring someplace like the Mediterranean. And I am really not a fan of the large tour groups they drop off for the day in these idyllic places (but I guess I am going to be a part of that on our voyage through the Greek Islands, although on a much smaller ship, so we’ll see how this experience fares and whether that changes my attitude).

We spent time exploring three of the five villages, with our fist stop in Riomaggiore. This town is considered the most ”workaday” (or less tourist driven) of the five towns, and it is fun to amble through the steep climbs to get to the heart of the town.

Stop number two was Vernazza, considered the region’s ‘gem’ with dramatic vistas. It is also the most touristy (especially the shops). We spent a lovely time here watching the incredible tidal action in the harbor…it was very clear why boats were not allowed on the seas or into the harbors on this day! We are not sure what caused such incredible tidal activity since it was not stormy or rainy, but it was clearly not a safe day for boat transport!

We spent the majority of our time in our final stop, Monterosso al Mare. Divided into a really charming old town and a more modern new town, with more of a beachfront vibe, there is a lot to explore including shops and restaurants. I would consider staying here on a future trip!