Best time to visit · Cinque Terre · Italy
The best time to visit Cinque Terre
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/150594450@N07/, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
The best months for the Cinque Terre are May, June, September and early October, when it is warm enough to swim, the trails are green or golden and crowds are smaller than in July and August. Midsummer is hot and packed, and from November to March many hotels and restaurants close and paths may be shut after storms.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–June and September–October
- Shoulder season
- April and July–August
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 29°C (84°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 12°C (54°F))
- Rainiest month
- November (~10 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February
Seasons
The Cinque Terre have a mild Mediterranean climate: warm, dry summers with highs near 29 °C and cool, wet winters that rarely freeze. Autumn brings the heaviest rain, and storms can close the paths.
March–May
Spring
Wildflowers and fresh green terraces, good hiking temperatures and Easter crowds; the sea is still cool.
June–August
Summer
Hot and very crowded, with the warmest sea; trains and trails are packed around midday.
September–November
Autumn
Warm sea, grape harvest and fewer visitors in September and October, then heavy rain and closures in November.
December–February
Winter
Quiet, mild and partly closed, with the Manarola light nativity and clear days for walking when the paths are open.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12°C | 5°C | 8 | 14°C | 9.2 h | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| February | 13°C | 5°C | 7 | 13°C | 10.4 h | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| March | 15°C | 7°C | 8 | 14°C | 11.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| April | 18°C | 10°C | 9 | 15°C | 13.4 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 22°C | 13°C | 7 | 18°C | 14.7 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| June | 26°C | 17°C | 5 | 22°C | 15.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 29°C | 20°C | 3 | 24°C | 15.2 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 29°C | 20°C | 4 | 25°C | 14 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| September | 25°C | 17°C | 6 | 23°C | 12.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| October | 21°C | 13°C | 9 | 20°C | 10.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 16°C | 9°C | 10 | 18°C | 9.6 h | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 13°C | 6°C | 9 | 15°C | 8.9 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Manarola light nativity (usually until late January) |
| April | Easter holidays (March or April) |
| May | Sagra del Limone — lemon festival in Monterosso (usually May) |
| June | Feast of San Giovanni Battista, Monterosso's patron saint (24 June) |
| July | Feast of Santa Margherita, Vernazza's patron saint (around 20 July) |
| August | Palio del Golfo — rowing regatta in La Spezia (usually the first Sunday of August); Ferragosto public holiday (15 August) |
| September | Grape harvest on the vineyard terraces (usually September) |
| December | Manarola light nativity switched on (usually 8 December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February, and the sights are quietest in January–February and November.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Cinque Terre?
The best months for the Cinque Terre are May, June, September and early October, when it is warm enough to swim, the trails are green or golden and crowds are smaller than in July and August. Midsummer is hot and packed, and from November to March many hotels and restaurants close and paths may be shut after storms.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Cinque Terre?
Usually in January–February. Quiet and mild, with many restaurants and hotels closed; trains still run and Manarola's hillside nativity is lit at night.
+What is the rainiest month in Cinque Terre?
November, with about 10 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Cinque Terre get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 29°C (84°F) and lows of 20°C (68°F).