Cinque Terre is a bunch of 5 seaside villages in Italy positioned alongside the Ligurian Coast that seem like rising from the cliffs. We’re sure that you simply’ve seen the photographs of Cinque Terre at sundown. It’s an idyllic setting, sitting in your balcony with a glass of wine watching the solar set over the rocky cliffs and pastel coloured buildings.
Who would go to Cinque Terre with an brisk toddler? A number of individuals do, and it is best to too! Cinque Terre is extremely household pleasant and is among the finest journey locations with toddlers. It’s true what they are saying, the Italians actually do love infants and kids.
Once we first began planning our Italy household trip, we knew Cinque Terre can be on our checklist of locations to go. It was prompt to us that it is probably not the most effective place to take our toddlers, however we deliberate to go in any case.
For us the chance to spend every week mountain climbing Cinque Terre with children was simply too good to cross up. We knew we wouldn’t be capable to do the complete hike between all 5 Cinque Terre cities in someday, given we had been travelling with babies, so we compromised.
Our household spent a full week in Cinque Terre and are glad that we did. Climbing between the Cinque Terre cities was so wonderful that we included it in our checklist of finest hikes for toddlers across the globe.
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Nonetheless working in your Italy Itinerary with children? Right here is our 4 week itinerary for Italy with some recommendations for a 2 week Italy Itinerary and a 10-day Italy Itinerary with children.
The place to Keep in Cinque Terre with a Child or Toddler
Determining the place to remain in Cinque Terre with children required somewhat extra analysis since we needed to look into all 5 villages. After lengthy days of mountain climbing Cinque Terre with a toddler and preschooler, we knew we wouldn’t be having wine and late dinners out, so we regarded for an trip dwelling rental condo with easy accessibility to a bigger grocery retailer.
Since we deliberate to spend every morning mountain climbing Cinque Terre, we additionally wished easy accessibility to spots the place the children might play within the afternoons. This meant discovering a Cinque Terre village with a seaside or playgrounds.
For our household trip, Monterosso al Mare was essentially the most kid-friendly Cinque Terre village. Monterosso al Mare is the one Cinque Terre city with a pleasant lengthy stretch of seaside, although additionally, you will discover a small seaside that’s good for youths in Vernazza. The opposite Cinque Terre cities have seashores which can be both rocky or tougher to entry with small children.
We suggest you convey water footwear for everybody within the household. Water footwear are featured in our checklist of toddler seaside necessities, as they’re particularly good for the pebbly seashores in Italy.
Our household visited Cinque Terre in April, so the seaside wasn’t a deal breaker for us in our starting stage, however we did make use of it a number of instances. Understand that a big portion of the seaside in Monterosso is non-public and also you’ll must pay to make use of it within the excessive season, however there are nonetheless free seashores.
Monterosso al Mare is the most important of the Cinque Terre villages and maybe the least charming, nevertheless it was the only option for our household because it has glorious good rail connectivity and easy accessibility to groceries and playgrounds.
As soon as we had determined which of the Cinque Terre cities we wished to remain in, it was only a matter of the supply of flats with 2-3 bedrooms and worth. We discovered a pleasant two-bedroom trip dwelling rental condo within the Monterosso previous city, proper amongst all of the procuring and eating places.
For those who’d choose a family-friendly Cinque Terre lodge, we suggest utilizing Reserving.com. We use them extensively for our household lodge bookings as we actually like their “Prime Picks for Households” search filter.
Discover an amazing place for your loved ones to remain in Cinque Terre on VRBO or Reserving.com.
Practice Transportation in Cinque Terre
Throughout our month-long household trip to Italy, we travelled extensively by practice. After visiting the island of Elba with children, our subsequent cease was Cinque Terre. To get from Elba to Cinque Terre we had a 1 hour ferry journey at 7am, adopted by two trains that took roughly 3.5 hours.
Touring by practice in Italy is nice with children – they might transfer round and had been fairly simple to entertain. As soon as we arrived in Monterosso, we had a 15 minute stroll from the practice station to our rental condo in previous city.
Whereas in Cinque Terre, we bought a number of Cinque Terre Multiservice Rail 2-day playing cards which gave us entry to the Cinque Terre Nationwide Park, in addition to entry to all of the regional trains from Levanto to La Spezia.
We love touring by practice with our youngsters! In actual fact, other than a number of ferry rides, we acquired round on our household journey to Italy completely by practice. We share all the things it’s essential know in our put up on The right way to Journey Italy by Practice with Youngsters.
6 Locations to Go to in Cinque Terre with a Toddler
We had 6 days in our Italy itinerary for our go to to Cinque Terre with children. That is extra time than is often beneficial to allot to visiting Cinque Terre, nevertheless it allowed us to take a while every morning to hike between all 5 Cinque Terre cities and nonetheless give us time to seek out some enjoyable issues to do for our youngsters.
With a lot Cinque Terre mountain climbing deliberate, we knew we’d be carrying our kids for lengthy stretches of time, so we resolve to convey our backpack carriers on the airplane. We had hiked with our toddlers in backpack carriers beforehand and knew they’d be comfy and completely happy in them for 2-3 hours.
This, together with loads of toddler mountain climbing snacks, allowed us to hike between two Cinque Terre villages every morning of our keep.
Cinque Terre Household Photoshoot
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We structured every of our days in Cinque Terre with children very equally. We might begin our day by giving the children somewhat time to play. This was both exploring the streets of a brand new city or taking part in at a playground.
We might then do our deliberate Cinque Terre hike for the day, returning to our condo rental for lunch and a nap for our 19 month previous toddler. We might both give our 3 yr previous some quiet time or take her out for a stroll in Monterosso.
Within the afternoons, we both took them to the Monterosso seaside, a playground or explored a brand new space of city.
We opted to spend nearly all of our time mountain climbing with children in Cinque Terre, however listed here are some enjoyable issues to do with children in every Cinque Terre city (plus a bonus city):
1. Monterosso
Although it is probably not essentially the most charming of the 5 Cinque Terre cities, Monterosso Al Mare could be very family-friendly. In Outdated City Monterosso, there’s a giant playground (which we frequented very often) and streets which can be enjoyable for youths to discover.
The massive sq. overlooking a seaside and the Ligurian Sea is the right place to take pleasure in a day snack or let the children play.
For a enjoyable, quick stroll in Outdated City Monterosso, head as much as Convento dei Cappuccini and the cemetery. Each are located on prime of San Cristoforo Hill, which separates the previous city from the brand new city.
Our children managed to stroll the complete approach up by themselves and all of us loved the nice views of the city and the Ligurian Sea from up there.
In Fegina, the brand new a part of city, there’s a stunning and enjoyable boardwalk alongside the seaside. Our children loved some gelato on the seaside and climbing on the large rocks. We then adopted the boardwalk to the tip to seek out one other toddler-friendly playground close to the seaside.
Monterosso is generally flat, other than the steps as much as the Convent of Cappuccini, and will simply be navigated with a stroller. Take note, the streets of Monterosso get terribly busy within the afternoon, so you’ll need to take care of the crowds when pushing your stroller.
2. Vernazza
Thought-about the most stunning of the 5 Cinque Terre villages, we had been lucky we acquired to see Vernazza from a number of completely different vantage factors as we hiked to it from two completely different instructions. Specifically, we beloved the unbelievable views of Belforte Tower and Andrea Doria Fortress whereas mountain climbing from Corniglia to Vernazza.
We at all times meant on returning to discover the Belforte Tower one afternoon with the children, however we merely ran out of time. Each instances we arrived in Vernazza, it was near lunch time and the streets had been packed, so we didn’t spend a lot time exploring.
Vernazza additionally has a kid-friendly seaside that’s simply accessible with small children.
Learn this put up for much more issues to do in Cinque Terre!
3. Corniglia
On our first morning of mountain climbing in Cinque Terre with children, we began off in Corniglia, the smallest of the 5 villages. After climbing the 377 steps from the Corniglia practice station as much as the city, we discovered it was the right time to let the children discover. The streets of Corniglia had been abandoned and so they had been in a position to run round with out getting in anyone’s approach.
Corniglia is so picturesque and we had been fairly completely happy to have the ability to discover it when the streets had been empty! Simply as everybody was starting to emerge for breakfast, we left to hit the mountain climbing path.
For those who plan to discover Corniglia with a stroller, ensure it’s a light-weight journey stroller. You’ll be glad to have a lightweight one when you find yourself climbing up the a whole lot of stairs from the practice station.
As a result of stairs, a mountain climbing backpack carriers or a toddler provider can be a greater possibility for visiting Corniglia with small children.
4. Manarola
Manarola is just 500 meters from Riomaggiore, and is most certainly the village you’re conversant in if you consider Cinque Terre.
As was typical on our Cinque Terre itinerary, our go to to Manarola was early within the morning earlier than most vacationers arrived or emerged from their heat, cozy beds. Sadly, we discovered Manarola was full of car site visitors right now of the day, so it wasn’t as conducive to letting the children discover.
The attractive stroll between Manarola and Corniglia is closed for repairs (anticipated to be full in 2026). Regardless of this closure, we had been nonetheless in a position to stroll a portion of the Through dell’Amore to get the well-known view of Manarola from throughout the harbor.
Although we didn’t go to it, there’s a little park with a playground on this space of Manarola. The view we did get within the morning was properly well worth the time spent on this charming little Cinque Terre village.
5. Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore is the primary Cinque Terre village you’ll attain by practice from the south and is the most important of the 5 villages.
If you arrive in Riomaggiore by practice, you’ll cross via a protracted pedestrian tunnel fantastically embellished with a tile mosaic earlier than you get to the principle avenue. Our children beloved strolling via this tunnel and stating the photographs within the tile.
We did our traditional early morning stroll via Riomaggiore and let the children play earlier than persevering with on with our hike. The primary avenue in Riomaggiore is kind of steep, so that you’ll get a exercise if you’re pushing a stroller.
Remember that the well-known stretch of the SVA from Riomaggiore to Manarola, Through dell’Amore or the Approach of Love, was additionally closed (and is anticipated to stay closed till 2023-2024).
6. Levanto
Although not formally a part of the Cinque Terre, Levanto remains to be value a go to for households. Positioned on the opposite aspect of Punta Mesco from Monterosso, households might even select to keep in Levanto because the practice from Levanto to the Cinque Terre villages is just a 5 minute journey.
Levanto seems to be completely different (not as charming) than the remainder of the Cinque Terre villages, however the streets are nonetheless enjoyable for youths to discover.
One of many essential explanation why you could selected to go to Levanto together with your children, is the lengthy stretch of seaside and a enjoyable boardwalk. Proper behind the seaside, you’ll additionally discover an amazing sq. and nice playground for the children.
If you’re eager to do extra mountain climbing, you may also benefit from the stunning hike between Levanto and Monterosso.
Maybe our favorite a part of visiting Levanto was our household bike journey via a mountain tunnel alongside a transformed seaside rail line. Biking the rail tunnel in Levanto with children was not what I had in thoughts once we deliberate our household journey, nevertheless it was an amazing factor to do with children and a singular expertise properly value doing!
Searching for an itinerary for Italy? This 10-Day Itinerary for Italy contains day-to-day directions for 9 locations in Italy, together with Cinque Terre!
Closing Recommendations on Visiting Cinque Terre with a Toddler
If you end up touring to Cinque Terre with a toddler, be sure you decelerate and take your time. It’s the right place to simply take pleasure in some high quality household time collectively.
For those who plan on mountain climbing Cinque Terre with children, we suggest correct mountain climbing footwear and a good toddler provider for mountain climbing that can maintain each you and your youngster comfy.
Among the Cinque Terre mountain climbing trails are fairly tough, so plan to commerce off on carrying your child if potential. Additionally, don’t overlook loads of snacks and water! We used this hydration pack in our backpack carriers to maintain us all hydrated (our youngsters love consuming from the hose!).
Among the Cinque Terre eating places had excessive chairs, however not all did. Plan to convey your individual moveable excessive chair for journey or maintain your child throughout meals.
We suggest utilizing a backpack or child provider in Cinque Terre as an alternative of a stroller. If you wish to convey your stroller, ensure it’s a light-weight journey stroller and convey a provider as properly.
The Cinque Terre grocery shops had been small, however we had no bother getting milk and diapers. We managed to make our personal meals by cooking at our Monterosso trip dwelling rental.
It might probably get very crowded within the villages of Cinque Terre Nationwide Park. Get out early within the morning to keep away from the crowds if in any respect potential.
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Celine Brewer is the proprietor of Child Can Journey. Not solely does she have years of expertise touring with infants & toddlers, however she’s helped hundreds of thousands of latest mother and father journey with their infants and toddlers for over a decade. Along with writing on her child journey weblog, she has shared her experience on touring with a child or toddler by contributing to articles about touring with a child with the Washington Submit, USA At the moment, the Lonely Planet journal and Being pregnant & New child journal.
Celine additionally writes about household journey on the location FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns together with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her ardour about her dwelling and journey to Banff Nationwide Park and space on their website TravelBanffCanada.com.
