We took the train from La Spezia where our hotel is to Vernazza. The train was clean and the…read moreeasiest way to get from La Spezia to Cinque Terre. It was raining when we were there so the ferry wasn't an option with the choppy water. Vernazza is beautiful. I think it's my favorite of Cinque Terre. From the train station down to the harbor was a short walk with lots of touristy shops, restaurants, and gelato shops. The buildings are so colorful. Walk down to the harbor to look back at Vernazza to see all the colorful buildings lined up next to each other. It's a gorgeous sight.

Coming from Monterosso on the Blue Trail, this was the first town you come to. Vernazza had the…read moremost breathtaking aerial view with the small harbor and quintessential Italian seaside community feeling to it. We descended down into Vernazza, and I immediately adored its vibe. I loved the tiny stone streets packed with stores and restaurants on either side. There are plenty of places to eat and shop and lots to explore here. We were in for a long day hiking, so we just went and sat by the water in the harbor and watched the kids play and swim. It was picturesque. If we were to return to Cinque Terre, this would definitely be one of the towns to spend more time in.

Monterosso has a medieval historical center which lies on the summit of the hill of San Cristoforo…read more You find the old town through the tunnel from the Train Station. The old town is made up of mainly pedestrian cobblestone streets with narrow crooked lanes lined with shops and restaurants and the brightly colored tower houses that you find in the other towns of the Cinque Terre. The other part of Monterosso is the residential district which spreads along the beach of Fegina. During the 12th and 13th centuries there was an increase in population and families began to move down the hill to be closer to a water supply which was a stream that is no longer there. The part of the village, known as Monterosso Vecchio or Old Monterosso has remained practically intact. In Medieval times, many fortifications were built in this village to protect it from pirate attacks. The remains of these can be found today in the old part of Monterosso, with 3 of the original 13 defense towers are still standing. Torre Aurora (Dawn Tower) separates the old part of the town from the new part and is found on a headland. The remains of the castle of Monterosso is found on the hill of San Cristoforo. Today you can see the remains of the walls, three circular towers and a square tower and these are part of the cemetery of the Church of St Francis. Gayle and I enjoyed the hike up here from Town to see for ourselves.

Though we were staying in Monterosso, we decided to explore all 5 villages, starting with…read moreRiomaggiore first. It's the most southern and has a small harbor and a little beach. We wanted to stay as close to the water as possible to catch the breeze but no such luck. Water was still and it was scorching hot. We had our hand held fans and took shade as much as possible due to heat warnings. Which meant for us to take cutesy pictures on the rocks and admire all the pretty houses that sat along the cliff side hills. This is a really pretty village and quite lively too.

Heading down the Italian Rivera aka Cinque Terre Riomaggiore is the most southern of the 5 towns…read more Very cute and romantic place with loads of charm, restaurants, bars, goods etc. Great hike from Manarola to Riomaggiore and a amazing but physically challenging hike from Riomaggiore to Portovenere. Here are some great links https://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en/riomaggiore https://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en/footpaths-cinqueterre https://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en/cinque-terre-timetable

Tourist Trap! You pay way too much for a 300 meter walkway. Save your money and take the train on…read moreeither side. The officials on each side were very rude. I got the ticket online and they said I need a QR code from my place of stay too. Never was this explained anywhere. Stay away!

During our stay in Riomaggiore, my fiancé took me to Via dell'Amore. It's a beautiful cliffside…read morepath that connects Riomaggiore and Manarola in Cinque Terre National Park. It got it's name 'The Way of Love' because back in the day it provided a connection to separate villages for lovers. It's a very romantic place to take a stroll. They even have an area where you can place a lock, similar to Lover's Bridge in Paris. One of the many beautiful places to see in CT.

Monterosso is the most developed and spacious of the Cinque Terre towns, and you feel it the moment…read moreyou arrive. The beach here is wide and inviting, lined with rentable loungers and umbrellas that make it perfect for a full beach day -- something the steeper villages just can't offer. It still looks beautiful, but there's a more "bustling seaside resort" vibe compared to the others, which honestly gives it its own charm. Along the water you'll find a few striking historic spots, including a restaurant built inside what looks like an old maritime or defensive structure, plus the well-known St. Francis of Assisi statues watching calmly over the sea. If you head uphill, there's an old monastery (or possibly a convent -- either way, centuries of history live up there), and right nearby is an atmospheric ancient cemetery with some incredible ocean views. It's quiet, peaceful, and feels worlds away from the beach crowds below. Down in the center of town, Monterosso becomes lively again with a ton of shops, bars, and restaurants lined through its narrow streets. It's the best place in Cinque Terre if you want a mix of beach time, sightseeing, and easy access to food or drinks without hiking up or down anything too crazy. Monterosso may be the most industrialized of the five, but it's also one of the easiest and most comfortable to enjoy -- a great home base and a town that grows on you fast.

We stayed in Monterosso for two days while visiting the Cinque Terre and found it to be a beautiful…read morelittle town with tons of restaurants and everything any tourist could want. They're really isn't a bad view to be had. The boardwalk in the newer part of town has hotels, restaurants overlooking the ocean, and plenty of bagnos. The train station, parking lot, and the free beach are all right here. Through the tunnel takes you into the older part of town with tons of shops and lots more restaurants. We explored through here a bit while waiting on dinner reservations but I'm sure we could have spent a lot more time. After the old part of town there is a hill you can climb up to a hotel and restaurant that boasts an amazing view at night. Access to the Blue Trail also starts here for anyone hiking between towns.

There are 2 paths to get up and both are straight up small narrow stairways! Meandering past shops,…read morehomes in the cliffside and daily life! You will get your steps in to get to the entrance! The views at the top!!!!!!! Photos do not capture at all. Please know it does cost to enter about 2.5 euro each

It costs €2 per person to enter the castle, and it's totally worth it. You can climb all the way up…read moreto the highest point in the area and oversee the entire village. I think it's totally worth it.

The port was very busy & filled with containers being put on freighters as well as being taken off…read more The blare of machinery & car horns was loud. Endless trains with cargo cars passed through through. The major industry here is manufacturing naval guns & weaponry.

Fun city at the tip of Cinque Terre. Great bars, bistros, restaurants, and clubs…read more Gorgeous beaches with bright blue water. Nice hotels

Our NCL Viva cruise ship docked at the port of Livorno, Italy. This was our first time here on…read morevacation. We took a cruise ship bus up to Lerici, Italy, which is located on a natural bay discovered by the Romans. Lerici is a nice nautical town with lots of boats docked including some very large yachts. We took the rubber boat across to the other side of the bay or to Porto Venere. This was also our first visit to Porto Venere. Porto Venere is a village on the Ligurian coast of northwestern Italy. It's known for Porto Venere Regional Natural Park, a protected area with trails and dive sites. The park encompasses Palmaria Island, dotted with beaches and caves. The Gothic-style Church of St. Peter sits atop a rocky headland. We walked the local streets up to St. Peter, but did not go inside St. Peter. Nearby is the centuries-old Castello Doria, an imposing cliff top fortress with views of the Gulf of Poets. More to come regarding our lunch in Porto Venere before we returned to Lerici on our two rubber boats.