Best Time to Visit Cinque Terre, Italy [By Month & Travel Style]

When is the Best Time to Visit Cinque Terre?

The best time to visit Cinque Terre is in April-June or September to early October. These are the best months in terms of weather, prices, and crowds. Temperatures are pleasant, with very little bad weather, and prices are more affordable because it’s outside the peak season.

But the Cinque Terre has also a lot to offer travelers outside these windows, and the best time to go ultimately depends on your priorities and interests. So, find below a breakdown of the best time to go to Cinque Terre by travel purposes: 

Best Overall: June & September

Riomaggiore

The perfect time to travel to Cinque Terre Italy is in June or September. Also called the shoulder seasons, these are the months right before/after summer. Temperatures are still high, and there are way fewer crowds than in the peak seasons.

June and September are great months for hikers and beach lovers. It’s a good option to enjoy and make the most of your trip to Cinque Terre.

Best Time to Go to Cinque Terre for Beach Lovers: July & August

Monterosso

July and August are the perfect time of the year to swim in Cinque Terre. These are the 2 hottest months of the year, with temperatures around 28.5°C / 83.3°F during the day. The perfect weather to go to the beach and lie down on your towel while soaking in the sun! 

If you want to enjoy the beach and swim in the sea, these are definitely the ideal months. But be warned that you will find a lot of tourists at this time of year, especially in the second half of August when the public holidays start in Italy.

Best Time to Hike Cinque Terre: April & October

Manarola

If you want to hike Cinque Terre, you should choose to go in either April or October. All of the crowds have left the Cinque Terre, and you’ll get to enjoy the trails, without having to walk slowly behind a group of tourists that won’t get out of the way. You can even enjoy the greatest viewpoints without the crowds!

The weather is still nice, it’s warm enough to enjoy being outside, and not too hot that you sweat all day.

For hikers, April and October are good months. If you pick October, try to go in the first half of the month. The second half of October is when the rainy season starts and October is when it rains the most.

Cheapest Time to Visit Cinque Terre: April & October

Vernazza

April and October are also the best months for cheap travel. You will find the cheapest prices for flights to the nearby cities (Pisa, Florence, or Milan), and the train prices drop too.

The restaurants and bars are still open, too, which will allow you to make the most out of your time in the Cinque Terre. Some campsites are also still open this time of year.

Cinque Terre Temperature by Month + Events

Find below all the information you need about the weather in Cinque Terre, as well as the events you can attend each month.

Cinque Terre in January

January is the coldest month in the Cinque Terre. It’s also one of the months with the most rain, and some of the trails are closed due to the rain. Not the best moment for hikers, but a great period for cheap travel.

Events:

• Nativity Scene in Manarola: In December and January, the whole hill of Manarola is turned into a massive nativity scene, with 300 characters. They light up at night and create a great scene for all the family.

Cinque Terre in February

Not much better than January, with about the same temperature, but less rain. Some hiking trails are still closed, and there is no specific event in the area in February.

Events: 

• Carnevale: This event usually takes place in mid or late February, depending on Easter’s dates. Although the Cinque Terre’s Carnavale is way less spectacular than others in Italy, you’ll be able to taste special desserts for the event and children playing Carnevale pranks.

Cinque Terre in March

Not much difference between January and February in terms of weather, except for slightly higher temperatures. Part of the hiking trails is still closed. However, the second half of March is when boats start to cruise. You’ll be able to take the ferry and go on boat tours in Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre in April

The temperature picks up in April, and the hiking trails are usually all open. This is the perfect time for hikers to be outdoors and walk the trails of the Cinque Terre in not-too-hot weather, without the crowds. There is still a lot of rain, though.

The water is still way too cold to swim.

Events: 

• Liberation Day: Italy celebrates the end of World War II every year on April 25. You’ll see some processions and a few other manifestations. 

Cinque Terre in May

May is one of the nicest months in Cinque Terre for hikers: it starts to rain less, and temperatures are perfect.

The water temperature is still cold, but it’s hotter than the outside temperature. Not the ideal conditions, but many people still go for a swim in May.

Events: 

• Labor day: Like most countries, Labour Day is on May 1st. You can find some processions in the streets. 
• Sagra dei Limoni in Monterosso: The Sagra dei Limoni, or Lemon Festival, is the perfect place to try many lemon-based foods, such as the limoncino and the lemon pie.
• Mangialonga in Levanto: A moving lunch that goes from hamlet to hamlet in the village of Levanto, with live music, food, and wine.

Cinque Terre in June

June is the perfect month overall in Cinque Terre, but also almost everywhere in Italy. It’s hot outside, the water is warm, there is very little rain, and the crowds haven’t started pouring in just yet.

It’s also interesting to note that the water temperature is usually higher than in July.

Events:

• Corpus Christi in Monterosso: The streets of the village are filled with countless flowers for this occasion. 
• Day of San Giovanni Battista in Monterosso: There is a stunning fireworks on that day. 
• Sagra dell’Acciuga Frita in Monterosso: The Festival of the Fried Anchovy where you can taste this local food. 
• Day of San Pietro and Paolo in Corniglia: Locals make a special Italian treat, the Torta dei Fieschi which is a big traditional cake, and offer it to everyone in the village.

Cinque Terre in July

Like in most European countries, July marks the beginning of the tourist season in Italy and Cinque Terre. July is when it rains the least, and the outside temperature is the hottest of the year. However, all five towns are crowded at this time of year.

Events:

• Day of Santa Margarita in Vernazza: A procession is held on the evening of July 20th to celebrate the saint patron of Vernazza.
• Festa del Mare in Levanto: This is a big festival that lasts 2 days on July 24-25. A procession walks down the main street of the village, and men carry enormous 100kg crosses (220lbs). Once the procession reaches the sea, locals light up thousands of candles and make them float on the water. You’ll also get to see fireworks, at the end of the day.

Cinque Terre in August

August is the hottest month in Cinque Terre, for both the outside temperature and the water temperature. But it’s also the peak season, the most crowded period, and the most expensive too. August 15th is the start of the public holiday in Italy when everything gets crowded.

Events:

• Day of San Lorenzo in Manarola: A big procession in Manarola that goes from the village to the sea, and blesses the sea. All the local artists come to paint in the village.
• Festa dei Pirati in Vernazza: Festival of the Pirates (no fixed date)
• Festa della Madonna Bianca in Portovenere: the Church of San Pietro and the coastline are illuminated with tons of candles.

Cinque Terre in September

September is, with June, the greatest time of the year to visit. The temperatures are still quite high but less than in the peak season, you can enjoy the beaches and the crowds have started to thin out.

Events:

• Anchovy and Olive Gastronomy Festival in Monterosso: The perfect place to eat some local delicacies! It usually takes place on the 3rd Saturday of September.

Cinque Terre in October

Temperatures start to decrease in October, but they remain warm enough to enjoy the outdoors. The water temperature is higher than the outside temperature, and it’s still an amazing time to swim in the sea.

The rain period starts in the middle of October, and trails begin to close. October is the month with the most rain. If you want to hike, try to come during the first half of the month.

Cinque Terre in November

In November, there is as much rain as in October, and the temperature drops heavily. Not a very good time to visit, but prices do go down by much, which can be interesting if you’re on a budget.

Events: 

• Feast of Saint Martin in Monterosso: A local festival dedicated to husbands who were cheated on by their wives. Expect lots of wine in the streets on November 11!

Cinque Terre in December

And finally December, with the 2nd lowest temperatures after January, and still a lot of rain. Most of the walking trails are closed after the rainy period, so not a good time for visiting or hiking. But there’s a special Christmas atmosphere that may be worth visiting.

Events: 

• Christmas: The Christmas holidays in Italy are from December 24th to the 26th. You’ll be able to see some decorations during this period, but some places can be closed on these days.

Corniglia

What is the Rainiest Month in Cinque Terre? 

The rainiest months are October and November with about 8/30 rainy days and 80mm of rainfall. The rainy season starts in late fall and winter is wet with a lot of wind. If you hate the rain, you should also avoid February. 

How Many Days Do You Need in Cinque Terre?

I would recommend staying 3 days in Cinque Terre to fully discover the area. You can visit each village in about half a day, and then have more time for a hike in one of the five villages, or stay longer in the village you love the most. 

Which Cinque Terre Village is the Best to Stay?

Depending on what you want to do in Cinque Terre, one village will suit you better than another. For example, if you want to hike, you should choose to stay in Manarola.

But for me, the best place to stay whatever you want to do there is definitely Vernazza. This village is located in the heart of the region, so it will be easy for you to reach the other villages. Plus, Vernazza has everything you could need: picturesque streets, beach, lively nightlife… What more could you ask for? 

Read more: Choose the right Cinque Terre village for you!

How to Get Around in Cinque Terre?

There are 3 ways to get around the Cinque Terre: you can walk along the hiking trails crossing the 5 villages, take the train from one village to the other, or take a boat trip.

The train is without a doubt the most convenient, fastest, and most cost-effective way to get around. Each village has its own train station on the Genoa / La Spezia line that crosses Liguria from north to south along the coast. Between each village, you’ll have only 3 minutes of travel!

Get your train tickets on Trenitalia or directly at the station if you have no idea of your schedule.

Where to Swim in the Cinque Terre?

Because the villages stand on rocky promontories, there are very few beaches to land on. The largest sandy beach is Fegina in Monterosso, the only beach town of Cinque Terre. Fegina Beach is easily recognizable with its orange umbrellas and its crowd.

However, there are no less than 16 spots where you can swim in Cinque Terre, with or without a beach! Check them out here.

What to Do Outside the Villages?

There are many things to do in the area besides hiking. If you want to live some unique experiences, here is a short selection of the greatest activities in Cinque Terre that will certainly delight you: 

• A  3-hour kayak excursion to discover the national park from another angle 👉 Book here
• A guided tour of a vineyard and a tasting of local wine served with local specialties 👉 Book here
• A 3-hour cruise ride at sunset to see the villages from the sea illuminated at the golden hour, and the dolphins 👉 Book here
• A private culinary experience in a local’s home, the perfect opportunity to make recipes handed down by authentic Italian moms! 👉 Book here

Final Thoughts

As said above, the best months to visit Cinque Terre are April, May, early June, September, and early October. During these months, the weather is pleasant enough to enjoy the seafront, with fewer tourists than in the high season, and perfect for hiking. Rates are also more budget-friendly.

But if you have no choice but to go in summer, book your trips as early as you can and when there, get up early to start your visits as soon as possible.

Before you leave, here are a few more useful resources to help you plan your upcoming trip:

1. Find everything you need to prepare your trip on this post 👉 Plan your trip to Cinque Terre
2. Top thing to see by village: Manarola, Riomaggiore, Vernazza, Corniglia, and Monterosso  
3. Choose your accommodation thanks to these reviews of the top Cinque Terre hotels

Discover more Cinque Terre guides here.

I hope this post helped you plan your Cinque Terre trip and that you’ll have a blast, regardless of which month you pick to travel there! If you have any questions, ask me in the comments below.

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