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Mobile, Alabama
United States
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$$$
ITINERARY (Full Day)
Monterosso Boat Harbor
Manarola Vineyard Walk
nugget’s Advice
Prepare in advance
Make sure you pack seasickness medication if anyone in your group gets seasick. Pack hats, sunscreen and bottled water, along with bathing suits and towels.
Good to know
The boat rides can get very crowded as the day progresses, so try to catch the ferry first thing in the morning to begin your day. If the boat is too crowded, the train is always another option for transportation. Tickets for the ferry can be bought at the dock.
Recommended day/time
Start your boat journey early in the morning, especially in peak season, to avoid the large crowds. The sun can be brutal in the afternoon.
Recommended time of the year
The ferry does not run throughout the winter. Make sure you check the ferry's website for operating times during your visit. Rough seas can also cancel ferry rides.
Save Money
Children under 6 ride free on the ferry with a paying adult. The villages each have many gelato and sandwich shops. Grab a picnic lunch to enjoy with a view!
About This Day
The Cinque Terre, five unique villages located on Italy's western coast, is the perfect place to visit with your family. Stunning views and unique experiences satisfy the adults, while beaches, hiking and gelato satisfy the kids! We decided to experience Cinque Terre with kids from the water by taking a ferry between the villages. The ferry connects four of the five villages with harbors and provides unique views from the water of the gorgeous, colorful villages and surrounding hillsides. Catch the ferry first thing in the morning, and then spend the day exploring each town. Once you reach Manarola, enjoy a beautiful walk through town and then take the Vineyard Walk around the surrounding hillsides to experience a unique view of the stunning village. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy along the walk and take in the majestic views of the colorful homes built into the cliffside, the steep vineyards surrounding the town, and the stunning, turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Enjoy the perfect day in Cinque Terre with kids!
Monterosso Boat Harbor
, Monterosso al Mare
$$$
The Cinque Terre is a collection of five beautiful villages located on Italy's west coast. The villages are built into the clifflike landscape with colorful homes and castles. The best view of these stunning villages comes from the water! Using the ferry to visit each of the villages allows you the chance to take in the stunning landscape along the coast. The hills are dotted with olive groves and vineyards. The beautiful turquoise waters frame the gorgeous colorful villages climbing the hills. Our kids loved riding on the upper deck of the ferry. The adults also loved this vantage point, as it provided the best view for capturing the villages! When you purchase a pass for the ferry, you can hop on and hop off at any of the stops throughout the day. Just keep the schedule with you to note the boat times and make sure you don't miss the last boat of the day!
DIRECTIONS
You can catch the ferry from any of the boat harbors in four of the five Cinque Terre villages. (Corniglia does not have water access, so the ferry does not stop here.) The ferry also connects the following towns to the Cinque Terre villages: Levanto, Deiva Marina, Moneglia, Portofino, La Spezia, Portovenere and the island of Palmaria. We chose to board the ferry in the morning at the harbor at Monterosso al Mare. The harbor is located on the dock just on the old-town side of the tunnel connecting the old and new towns of Monterosso. The ferry will then travel on to four of the five Cinque Terre villages.
TIP
The ferry can get very crowded as the day progresses, so try to catch the first boat early. Entering and exiting the boat can be challenging for young kids, so make sure you're holding their hands tight! Pack lots of sunscreen, hats, towels and bathing suits for potential beach excursions. If anyone in the group is likely to get seasick, make sure you prepare ahead of time.
Manarola Vineyard Walk
19 Via Belvedere, Manarola
FREE
The Vineyard Walk through Manarola offers a beautiful perspective of the gorgeous Cinque Terre town of Manarola, the surrounding vineyards, and the sparkling, turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea. After walking through town and visiting the beautiful San Lorenzo Church, the Vineyard Walk is a great way to experience the nature of Cinque Terre and capture unique views of the town. The walk is easy to do with children. It is a mostly flat walk with a few stairs, and the edges are protected by a wooden railing. The kids loved walking through the vineyards, climbing the stairs and visiting the playground along the route. I loved the gorgeous scenery and unique views of the city that the hillsides provide.
DIRECTIONS
From the Manarola harbor, walk up the main road of town to Manarola's San Lorenzo Church. Along the way, admire the views down through the town and inside the church. Just a few steps before the church, a wooden railing marks the beginning of the Vineyard Walk. Follow the path up the hillside and through the vineyards, around the town and then back toward the water. The path will circle back around to the harbor.
TIP
Pack sunscreen, hats and water, because there is very little shade on the Vineyard Walk! The trail is a loop, so it will take you back around to the harbor area. While most of the edges are protected by a wooden railing, watch for steep cliffs and uneven steps. There is a playground near the end of the trail that makes a perfect stop for a picnic lunch.
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