Info & Booking
Discover the Cinque Terre with this day excursion from Milan. You'll experience one of the most beautiful regions in Italy by boat, train, and on foot. Cinque Terre means “five lands,” and refers to the five perilously perched villages strung along a short stretch of rugged coast in Liguria on the Italian Riviera. Suspended between land and sea, these five villages are a terrestrial paradise, listed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage site.
Available: from April 1 to October 31, on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Languages:
- Mondays and Thursdays: only English
- Fridays: English and Spanish
Departure Time: 7:00 am
Duration: 13 hours
Departure and Drop Off Point: Offices of Zani Viaggi Srl, Foro Bonaparte 76, at the corner with Via Cusani, in Milan
FREE for children under 4 years of age.
The tour is guaranteed with at least 6 booked participants, maximum group size is 50.
Tour price includes:
- Return bus trip
- Tour leader
- Boat trip from Porto Venere to Monterosso
- Train trip from Monterosso to La Spezia
Not included: Personal extras (such as food) and tips.
The Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre stretch of coastline is a National Park, a Protected Marine Area, and is included on UNESCO's World Heritage List. After being placed on a list of sites at risk, the Park Authority began a long term project to revitalize the farming practices that created the characteristic hillside terraces, many of which were falling into disuse. The preservation project also aims at a sustainable level of tourism while maintaining the character and beauty of the region. Despite the number of tourists the plan appears to be succeeding admirably.
There is a real sense of local identity despite the high number of visitors. Restaurants, bars, and accommodations all have an endearingly homespun air about them. At times it feels as though the locals just found a few garden chairs to stick on their terrace, hand-painted a sign, and began serving customers.
The Cinque Terre are (north to south): Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.
Your tour will begin at daybreak, with arrival at the Golfo dei Poeti to visit the delightful village Portovenere, where a boat will take you north along the Cinque Terre to your first stop, Monterosso, northernmost of the Cinque Terre villages. This ancient fishing village is considered “the Pearl of the Cinque Terre.” Enchanting beaches and lush vegetation surround the little town, and you'll have free time to plunge into the crystal sea and enjoy lunch on your own in one of the charming restaurants before a train will take you to Manarola, your second stop.
The tiny harbor of Manarola features a boat ramp and colorful houses tripping down the ravine. It may well be the oldest of the five villages, with the cornerstone of the church of San Lorenzo dating back to 1338.
From Manarola, you'll make our way to Riomaggiore, walking along the famous “Via dell’Amore” (“Lovers’ Lane”). This evocative promenade winds through the rugged, rocky landscape, with sheer cliffs dropping into the sea, offering magnificent vistas. Railway employees in need of a connection between the stations of Riomaggiore and Manarola carved the 1km long path into the rock between 1926 and 1928. Today, the romantic path is safe and accessible for all, including wheelchair users.
Your day in the Cinque Terre will conclude with a short visit to the village of Riomaggiore, which dates back to the early thirteenth century, and is known for its historic character and its wine, produced by the town’s vineyards. The houses of Riomaggiore lean one on the other on small cobbled ways and sheltered paths. Here you'll have free time to explore the vineyards, stroll the piers or climb the Guardiola Tower for the best views of the town and coast.
Another train will take you to La Spezia, where the bus for Milan is waiting for you.
Cancellation Policy
- Once a confirmation code has been assigned to the reservation we can refund the cost of unused tickets minus a service fee (reservation fee and online booking fee) up to 2 business days before the visit.
- No refund is possible for a cancellation less than 48 hours before the visit, and for no-shows.
Before you book
Please note:
- Food is not included in the tour price. You will have time to have lunch on your own in Monterosso, which has plenty of restaurants, bars, and food opportunities. You'll also have time to pick up a snack along the way, and will be back in time for dinner around 7:30 pm in Milan.
- In case of bad weather, the boat may not be able to navigate or some docks may not be accessible for the landing. On such occasions, the itinerary will be subject to change and the boat trip could be cancelled or changed.
IMPORTANT: Immediately after submitting an order, you will receive two emails. The first email contains your order summary (this one you receive immediately after placing your order), the second email confirms your successful payment (one business day after placing the order). In order to receive these two emails, please make sure that you enter your email address correctly and check that antispam or antivirus filters do not block emails from our [email protected] address. Users of AOL, Comcast and Sbcglobal.net need to pay special attention to this, please. Vouchers will also be available, one business day after the request, at your dashboard.