7 best day trips from Cinque Terre

Day trips compared

The day trips

15 km · About 30 minutes by bus from La Spezia

1.Porto Venere and Palmaria

At the tip of the gulf, Porto Venere's tall harbour-front houses lead to the striped Gothic church of San Pietro on a rocky point and the cliffs of Byron's Grotto, with the Doria castle above. Small boats cross the narrow channel to Palmaria island for walks and swims.

Getting there

ATC bus from La Spezia or seasonal ferry from the villages

Best for

Couples, Quiet stays, Families

50 km · About 1.5 hours by train and bus

2.Portofino

Portofino's tiny harbour of pastel houses and yachts is one of Italy's most famous views. Climb to the church of San Giorgio and Castello Brown for views over the bay, or walk the path through the Portofino nature park to the abbey of San Fruttuoso, also reached by boat.

Getting there

Train to Santa Margherita Ligure, then bus or ferry

Best for

Couples, Luxury

25 km · About 30 minutes by bus from La Spezia

3.Lerici and Tellaro

On the eastern side of the Gulf of La Spezia, Lerici has a castle above a sandy bay and a seafront of cafés, while tiny Tellaro, a few kilometres further on, is a fishing village built on rocks above the sea. The area is called the Gulf of Poets after Byron and Shelley, who spent time here.

Getting there

ATC bus from La Spezia or seasonal ferry

Best for

Families, Quiet stays, Couples

85 km · About 1–1.5 hours by train

4.Pisa

Pisa's Piazza dei Miracoli holds the Leaning Tower, the cathedral, the baptistery and the monumental cemetery on one lawn; the rest of the old town along the Arno is calmer and worth a stroll. Tower climbs use timed tickets.

Getting there

Regional or Intercity train from La Spezia

Best for

First-timers, Families, Culture

100 km · About 1.5–2 hours by train

5.Lucca

Lucca is ringed by complete Renaissance walls topped by a tree-lined path that takes about an hour to walk or less to cycle, with the oval Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, built on a Roman amphitheatre, and the tree-topped Torre Guinigi inside.

Getting there

Train via Viareggio or Pisa

Best for

Culture, Families, Quiet stays

90 km · About 1.5 hours by train

6.Genoa

Liguria's capital has one of Europe's largest medieval old towns, a maze of narrow lanes called caruggi, the UNESCO-listed palaces of Via Garibaldi and a large aquarium on the old port that suits families. It is also the home of pesto and focaccia at their most traditional.

Getting there

Regional or Intercity train

Best for

Culture, Food lovers, Families

40 km · About 30–45 minutes by train

7.Sestri Levante

Sestri Levante sits on a narrow isthmus between two bays: the sandy Baia delle Favole and the small Baia del Silenzio, lined with pastel houses and fishing boats, one of the prettiest beaches on the Riviera.

Getting there

Regional train

Best for

Beach, Families, Couples

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• The Cinque Terre Treno card gives unlimited travel on this stretch plus trail access; validate paper single tickets before boarding.
• Small park shuttle buses climb from the villages to hamlets and sanctuaries such as Volastra and up to Corniglia from its station; they are included in the Cinque Terre Card.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask