10 Things to Do in Cinque Terre in Winter

Cinque Terre is famous for its beaches and landscapes, always surrounded by warmth and an omnipresent sun, 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.

Among the best things to see and do in Cinque Terre in winter are 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 usually maintains mild temperatures, but at times the weather also turns cold 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 stands out for its grilled anchovies, risotto, pasta, seafood and pizza. At this meal, which includes a three-course menu, taste the local wines, among which the Bianco DOC and the sweet wine called Sciacchetra stand out.

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 gastronomic tours in Cinque Terre.

The most important classical music festival in Cinque Terre is held every year in Vernazza. Aria is organized in December and features a wide variety of opera performances, solo concerts and chamber music, making it one of the most popular events among tourists as well as locals. This 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 you will find interesting if you are a music lover. The shows do not have a fixed stage, but take place in various locations in Vernazza, the main venue being the Doria Castle.

The festival shows have free admission, although it is necessary to book tickets 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 St. Lucy, which begins every December 13 and consists mainly of parades and pilgrimages that extend until the end of the month to worship the Christian martyr native of Syracuse. In Cinque Terre, this celebration takes place in churches, and if the weather is suitable, it includes a fireworks display in the harbor.

Santa Lucia is one of the most widespread Christian festivals in Italy and is promoted by the Catholic Church because its festivities include reviews of the Christian faith, masses in honor of the Virgin and pilgrimage parades, but also family gatherings and the consumption of typical products in the vicinity of the celebration points. In Monterosso al Mare the core of the festivities is in the Church of St. John the Baptist.

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 city. If that is your case, here is a list of activities you can do to discover Cinque Terre in 2 days.

The epicenter 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 shows, which light up the sky from the Hill of the Three Crosses during Christmas Eve and also to celebrate the New Year.

If you plan to visit the towns of Cinque Terre during the winter with 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 city, which due to the winter weather loses the resource of the beaches as its main charm. Besides, the Cerro das Três Cruzes is the meeting point of the locals during the festivities.

Enjoy the fireworks shows in Manarola, which also illuminate the giant nativity scene, is one of the best things to do during the night in Cinque Terre.

Interesting details

• Price: the entrance to watch the fireworks show is free of charge.
• When: on Christmas Eve every year.
• Where: Manarola, Cinque Terre.

The Cinque Terre National Park is the core of the Italian Riviera villages and also of the hiking trails, including the four sections of the Blue Trail, but also many other sectors of the region. If you plan to travel in winter, you can 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 meters above sea level, so from there you will be able to contemplate, unfailingly, some of the best views open to the sea and to the villages of Liguria

In winter, except on very cold and rainy days, the weather will become 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 remains standing, it continues to dazzle visitors with its huge iron and reinforced concrete structure that was 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 can also discover the myth that if you manage to spot the Giant behind the rain mantle you will have good luck in the future. This belief refers to the fact that apparently in ancient times, on the current site of the statue, there was a rudimentary lighthouse that kept ships away from the cliffs.

The Giant is also located at one end of the square of Fegina, where you can also visit the only all-sand spa in Cinque Terre.

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

This celebration, which has Christmas roots, seeks 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, during Christmas Eve, the birth of the Baby Jesus in the waters is celebrated, 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 the best kept secrets of Cinque Terre, so if you want to make the most of it during your visit to the village you can also get to know the medieval tower of Belforte, from which you can access one of the cleanest wide panoramas of the Italian Riviera.

Interesting details

• Price: the entrance to observe the subway Christmas is free of charge.
• When: on Christmas Eve each year.
• Where: Vernazza, Cinque Terre.

The best alternative to visit the five villages of Cinque Terre is to use the Express Train, which runs from La Spezia to Levanto through 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 vehicle traffic.

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 comfortably, take shelter from the cold and low temperatures and also enjoy the scenery of 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 can not access the center of the cities. The most recommended option is to combine train travel on your own with some of the best tours of Cinque Terre.

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

Among the trails you can hike is the Blue Trail, which is one of the most famous and consists of four distinct sections that make up a 12-kilometer route. This route is known because it will allow 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 trails, moreover, offer excellent panoramic views, especially when the sun goes down, so walking along one of these routes, always taking the necessary precautions, is one of the best activities to do in Cinque Terre during the night.

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 break while having a coffee in one of the coffee shops in the area, which are very famous for their drinks, but also for their desserts and cakes.

In the cafes of Riomaggiore you can not only rest, but you can also discover the skyline of the square and the neighborhood while you protect yourself from the low temperatures and the wind of the village, which is one of the coldest of the Italian Riviera due to its position 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, you should ideally consume 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.

In addition, winter is also rainy, so I recommend that you do not go out without a raincoat and umbrella to avoid complications in the middle of your tour or excursions in your itinerary.

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

If you are not worried about the cold or rainy days, you can discover with few tourists an area that is usually one of the most visited in Italy, plus you will find better prices on excursions and accommodation.

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

Also, if you want to make extra savings, you can organize an itinerary and book excursions and accommodations 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.
• Coat.
• Warm pants.
• Raincoat.
• Umbrella.
• Thermal socks.
• Waterproof boots.
• Mountain footwear.
• Wool sweaters.
• Waterproof jacket.