Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre: Cliffs, Pesto and Coastal Rail
A breath of fresh sea air on the Ligurian coast. Begin in historic Genoa sampling genuine basil pesto and olive oil focaccia, then base in La Spezia or Levanto to hike the iconic coastal footpaths and swim in the Cinque Terre villages.
Intercity route legs
Day-by-day itinerary
Genoa Historic Caruggi and Rolli Palaces
GenoaArrive in Genoa. Ride the free public lift to Spianata Castelletto viewpoint. Stroll the UNESCO palaces of Via Garibaldi and eat fresh trofie al pesto.
Train to Ligurian Coast and Monterosso
Cinque TerreTake the regional train to Monterosso. Swim at the sandy beach and hike the coastal trail through lemon groves to Vernazza harbor.
Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore
Cinque TerreUse the Cinque Terre train pass to explore cliff-hanging Corniglia, picturesque Manarola for sunset wine, and Riomaggiore harbor rocks.
Portovenere Ferry or Coastal Walk
Cinque TerreTake the scenic local ferry to medieval Portovenere and Lord Byron’s grotto before connecting by regional rail to Florence, Milan, or Pisa.
✂️ What I Would Cut If Short on Time
Bypass Genoa and head directly to Cinque Terre from Florence or Milan for a 2-day coastal hiking weekend.
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