Travel tips · Cinque Terre · Italy
Cinque Terre travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bruno Rijsman, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
For centuries the people of the Cinque Terre farmed vines and olives on terraces carved from almost vertical slopes and fished the sea below. Until the railway arrived in the 1870s, the villages were reached mainly by sea or mule track, and they keep a close-knit, practical character beneath the summer crowds.
Key facts
- Language
- Italian
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink; carry a refillable bottle on the trails, where…
- Emergency
- 112 (European emergency number)
Things to know
- Hike in proper shoes; flip-flops on the trails are dangerous, and walkers in unsuitable footwear can be fined.
- Cover up away from the beach; walking through the villages in swimwear is frowned upon.
- Stay on marked paths and never climb on the dry-stone walls that hold up the terraces.
- Keep noise down at night; the villages are residential and sound carries in the narrow lanes.
- On crowded summer trains, take backpacks off and let passengers off before boarding.
- Book Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path) ahead: Buy a Cinque Terre Card (Trekking or Treno) online or at park offices before walking; staff check cards at the trailheads.
- Stay in La Spezia or Levanto, where hotels cost much less than in the villages and trains take only a few minutes.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected and a coperto is often charged; rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is appreciated.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buongiorno | Good morning / hello |
| Grazie | Thank you |
| Il conto, per favore | The bill, please |
| Un biglietto per Vernazza | A ticket to Vernazza |
| Dov'è il sentiero? | Where is the trail? |
| Una fetta di focaccia | A slice of focaccia |
What to wear
Bring walking shoes with good grip, a sun hat and a light layer; casual clothing is fine everywhere.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink; carry a refillable bottle on the trails, where there are few places to buy water.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- Mobile coverage is good in the villages but patchy on some trails and in rail tunnels; EU roaming applies to European SIM cards.
- Time zone
- Europe/Rome
Trails are steep, narrow and slippery after rain: wear proper shoes, carry water and check the national park's trail status, as paths close after storms. Pickpockets operate on crowded trains and platforms in summer.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Italy's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Cinque Terre?
Tipping is not expected and a coperto is often charged; rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is appreciated.
+Can you drink the tap water in Cinque Terre?
Tap water is safe to drink; carry a refillable bottle on the trails, where there are few places to buy water.
+What plugs are used in Cinque Terre?
Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Cinque Terre?
Italian.