10 Things to Do in Cinque Terre in Winter

Cinque Terre is famous for its beaches and landscapes, always surrounded by warmth and omnipresent sunshine, but during the winter, despite the rainy and somewhat cool weather, the region also has many attractions to offer, especially thanks to its delicious gastronomy and the beauty of its historic buildings.

Some of the best things to see and do in Cinque Terre in winter include touring the five villages by train, hiking excursions, discovering the statue of The Giant in Monterosso al Mare, visiting the National Park, enjoying the Aria Festival of classical music and relaxing over a coffee in Riomaggiore's picturesque Piazza Vignaioli. Are you in?

Winter in Cinque Terre tends to be mild, but the weather also turns cold at times and some days are rainy. Therefore, a good alternative to take shelter from the cold is to book a cooking class in Riomaggiore, an ideal plan for lovers of Italian cuisine in which, in addition, you will have the possibility to have lunch or dinner in the home of a local family.

The cuisine of Cinque Terre is notable for its grilled anchovies, risotto, pasta, seafood and pizza. At this meal, which includes a three-course menu, try the local wines, including the Bianco DOC and the sweet wine called Sciacchetra.

In addition, you can visit the restaurants and bars in all the villages, from Riomaggiore to Monterosso al Mare. You can tour them on your own or opt for one of the best food tours in Cinque Terre.

The most important classical music festival in Cinque Terre is held every year in Vernazza. Aria is organised in December and features a wide variety of opera performances, solo concerts and chamber music, making it one of the most popular events with tourists and locals alike. The festival also opens the winter season in the region.

The Aria Festival is famous for the quality of its artists and concerts, but it also includes other events in the calendar such as master classes and lectures, which are of interest to music lovers. The performances do not have a fixed stage, but take place in various locations in Vernazza, the main venue being the Doria Castle.

The festival's shows are free of charge, although tickets must be booked in advance on the official website of the event, which takes place in December, coinciding with the weekend before Christmas.

Details of interest

• Price: admission to the shows is free, although you must book in advance.
• When: every year in December.
• Where: Vernazza, Cinque Terre.

One of the most popular patronal celebrations in Italy, and especially in Sicily, is the feast of Saint Lucy, which begins every 13th December and consists mainly of parades and pilgrimages that last until the end of the month to worship the Christian martyr, a native of Syracuse. In Cinque Terre, this celebration takes place in the churches, and if the weather is suitable it includes a fireworks display in the harbour.

Santa Lucia is one of the most widespread Christian festivals in Italy and is promoted by the Catholic Church because its celebrations include reviews of the Christian faith, masses in honour of the virgin and pilgrim parades, but also family gatherings and the consumption of typical products in the surroundings of the celebration points. In Monterosso al Mare the core of the festivities is in the Church of San Giovanni il Baptista.

In general, the patron saint festivities of Santa Lucia usually last all day, so it might not be compatible with a short stay in the town. If that is your case, here is a list of things you can do to discover Cinque Terre in 2 days.

The epicentre of Christmas in Cinque Terre is in Manarola, the town that is famous for its giant nativity scene, which is considered one of the largest in the world, and for its fireworks displays, which light up the sky from the Cerro delle Tre Croce on Christmas Eve and also to celebrate New Year's Eve.

If you are planning to visit the towns of Cinque Terre during the winter with your family or children, attending the fireworks shows in Manarola can be one of the most interesting plans to get to know a different profile of the town, which, due to the winter weather, loses the appeal of the beaches as its main attraction. Besides, the Cerro de las Tres Cruces is the meeting point of the locals during the festivities.

The fireworks shows in Manarola, which also illuminate the giant crib, are one of the best things to do during the night in Cinque Terre.

Interesting details

• Price: admission to watch the fireworks display is free.
• When: on Christmas Eve each year.
• Where: Manarola, Cinque Terre.

The Cinque Terre National Park is at the heart of the Italian Riviera's villages and hiking trails, including the four sections of the Blue Trail, but also many other walking trails in the region. If you plan to travel in winter, you will be able to walk them in peace and quiet, without a large influx of tourists, to discover not only the local landscapes, but also the flora and fauna.

The Cinque Terre National Park is surrounded by winding roads that reach, in some cases, 600 metres above sea level, so from here you will inevitably get some of the best open views of the sea and the villages of Liguria.

In winter, except on very cold and rainy days, the weather will be your ally, unlike if you visit Cinque Terre in summer, when the heat and the sun can be suffocating.

The statue of the Giant is one of the main attractions of Monterosso al Mare and although only a part of the original work is still standing, it still dazzles visitors with its huge iron and reinforced concrete structure built in 1910 by the artist Arrigo Minerbi from Ferrara.

If you visit Cinque Terre during the winter, which is one of the rainiest seasons, you may also discover the myth that if you manage to spot the Giant behind the blanket of rain, you will have good luck in the future. This belief refers to the fact that apparently in ancient times, on the present site of the statue, there was a rudimentary lighthouse that kept ships away from the cliffs.

El Gigante is also located at one end of the square of Fegina, where you can also visit the only all-sand bathing resort in Cinque Terre.

One of the most eye-catching winter activities in Cinque Terre is the Vernazza underwater festivities, which are part of an annual event held off the coast of the town and involves a group of divers diving into the sea to place a Christmas tree and a series of decorations on an area of the seabed. The divers also illuminate the installations with underwater lights.

This celebration, which has Christmas roots, aims to spread the importance of the sea in Vernazza for the local economy and tradition and also to show the beauty of the coast. In addition, on Christmas Eve, the birth of the Christ Child is celebrated in the waters, an event in which divers take the figure of the newborn out of the sea and transfer it to the local church for veneration.

Vernazza is one of Cinque Terre's best kept secrets, so if you want to make the most of your visit to the town you can also visit the medieval tower of Belforte, from which you can access one of the cleanest panoramic views on the Italian Riviera.

Interesting details

• Price: admission to see the Underground Christmas is free.
• When: On Christmas Eve each year.
• Where: Vernazza, Cinque Terre.

The best alternative for exploring the five villages of Cinque Terre is to take the Express Train, which runs from La Spezia to Levanto via Corniglia, Vernazza, Manarola, Riomaggiore and Monterosso al Mare. It is not only the cheapest option, but also the most comfortable and fastest and, in some areas, the only alternative, as many areas of the Italian Riviera are restricted to motor vehicles.

If you plan to visit Cinque Terre in winter, you can also use the trains, which offer services every half hour, with a low influx of tourists, so you can travel in comfort, shelter from the cold and low temperatures and also enjoy the scenery along the route, which is very beautiful.

The train ticket has an initial cost of approximately 5 euros, so it will be much less expensive than the bus, which also cannot access the city centres. The best option is to combine train travel on your own with some of the best tours of Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre is noted, among other things, for its hiking trails, which are open all year round and offer beautiful views of the coast and the sea, and although during the winter it can be a little difficult to walk the trails due to the weather, it is worth making the effort and getting to know the cliffs region from its wildest profile.

Among the trails you can follow is the Blue Trail, which is one of the most famous and is made up of four different sections that make up a 12-kilometre route. This route is well known because it allows you to cross the five towns, although you can do some sections separately, such as the Via dell'Amore, which runs along the border between Riomaggiore and Manarola.

Some of the trails also offer excellent panoramic views, especially at sunset, so walking along one of these routes is one of the best things to do in Cinque Terre at night, taking the necessary precautions.

Piazza Vignaioli is one of the most famous and picturesque places in Riomaggiore and during your tour of the town in winter you can take a coffee break in one of the local cafés, which are famous for their drinks, but also for their desserts and cakes.

In Riomaggiore's cafés you can not only relax, but you can also discover the skyline of the square and the neighbourhood while being sheltered from the low temperatures and the wind of the town, which is one of the coldest on the Italian Riviera due to its location at the southern tip of La Spezia.

You can also browse the restaurants in the area and opt for lunch or dinner, but whichever option you choose, ideally you'll want to eat it facing Piazza Vignaioli to breathe in the spirit of Riomaggiore, which is one of the most eclectic places on the Italian Riviera.

Winter is very cold in Cinque Terre, with January and February being the two months with the lowest temperatures in the region, with highs of 12 °C, lows of 5 °C and average temperatures of 7 °C.

Winter is also rainy, so don't go out without a mackintosh and umbrella to avoid complications in the middle of your tour or the excursions on your itinerary.

Winter is part of the low season on the Italian Riviera, so the influx of tourists decreases drastically compared to if you visit Cinque Terre in April or in the summer months, making it an ideal time to discover the region at your leisure.

If you're not worried about the cold or rainy days, you can discover what is often one of the most visited areas in Italy with fewer tourists, and you'll find better prices on excursions and accommodation.

As winter is part of the low season in the city, prices for accommodation and excursions drop significantly, which means that if you're planning a budget trip to Cinque Terre, you'll want to visit the region at this time of year.

Also, if you want to make extra savings, you can organise an itinerary and book excursions and accommodation in advance online, so you'll avoid last-minute price changes or increases.

Winter is the coldest and rainiest time of the year, but nothing will stop you from enjoying the best things to see and do in Cinque Terre. However, I recommend that you include the following in your suitcase:

• Comfortable shoes.
• Thermal T-shirts.
• Warm clothes.
• Warm trousers.
• Mackintosh.
• Umbrella.
• Thermal socks.
• Waterproof boots.
• Mountain footwear.
• Woollen jumpers.
• Waterproof jacket.