Best time to visit Cinque Terre

May to June and September. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.

May to June and September

May, June and September give warm days, open trails and manageable crowds; early October is also named. July and August are the most crowded.

“The best time to visit the Cinque Terre is May or September.” tripsavvy.com
“The sweet spot is the shoulder season: May, June, September and early October.” victoriavanderberg.com
“spring and autumn are the recommended seasons because of the ideal weather with mild temperatures” beautifuliguria.com

4 of the 8 travel guides we read name these months.

Cinque Terre month by month

Average high and low in La Spezia, and days with rain

January53°F / 42°F · 9 rainy daysChecking fares…Coldest month, wet (about 5.5 inches of rain), and one of the quietest; many hotels, restaurants and shops are closed.La Befana is celebrated on January 6.Weather can be quite cold in December and January; bring warm clothes and expect some rain.
February55°F / 43°F · 9 rainy daysChecking fares…A degree or two warmer and drier than January; trails nearly deserted.Carnevale starts in mid to late February in most years, with seasonal desserts.Usually nice and sunny in February and March; mimosa is the first flower to bloom.
March58°F / 47°F · 10 rainy daysChecking fares…Still cold and relatively wet, about four inches of rain; trails a little busier.Cherry blossom and other fruit trees bloom; the tourist season starts mid-March.Hiking season is listed from March to June.
April66°F / 52°F · 10 rainy daysChecking fares…Spring is green and flowering with temperatures around 18 to 24C; sea still cool.Early April is a tranquil time within spring, with no queues.Easter falls in March or April and is quiet; most businesses close Easter Sunday and Monday.
Best timeMay72°F / 58°F · 6 rainy daysChecking fares…May or September is the best time: moderate crowds and mild, sunny weather good for hiking.Monterosso's Lemon Festival is on the third Saturday of May.Vernazza's Madonna di Reggio feast is on the second Sunday of May.
Best timeJune79°F / 65°F · 6 rainy daysChecking fares…Still shoulder season: warm, swimmable sea, busy but not yet at peak.Monterosso stages the Corpus Domini infiorata in June.Trails can be jam-packed in June, July and August.
July84°F / 69°F · 4 rainy daysChecking fares…Hottest months with the warmest sea, but by far the most crowded.Vernazza's feast of Santa Margherita on July 20 ends with fireworks.Seafront location keeps summer cooler than much of Italy.
August84°F / 69°F · 4 rainy daysChecking fares…Peak season; the five villages are packed.Hiking is discouraged unless very fit and going early.Mid-August is Italy's peak vacation period, around the August 15 Ferragosto holiday.
Best timeSeptember78°F / 64°F · 6 rainy daysChecking fares…The summer crush thins after the first week; the sea is still warm and the light turns golden.Called the single best month by one source.Sea is at its most inviting from July into September.
October70°F / 57°F · 10 rainy daysChecking fares…Lovely and quieter in the first half; weather less reliable late in the month and some seasonal services wind down.Swimming is possible, especially in October; late October has no queues.Violent autumn rainstorms can cause flooding, mudslides and trail closures.
November62°F / 50°F · 11 rainy daysChecking fares…Low season starts November 2; many businesses, restaurants and shops close.From November to February the ferries stop running and some hotels and trail sections close.Trails stay open all year; in off-season most are free.
December56°F / 44°F · 12 rainy daysChecking fares…Quite cold, especially December and January; expect some rain and warm clothes.Winter is known for the Presepe, called the biggest and brightest crib in the world.

Weather: La Spezia averages (2004 to 2020 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.

Every date to Pisa from your city

Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

June to August, peaking in July and AugustWarm days and long daylight draw the most visitors; trails and harbours are packed.
Mid-March to November 1The usual tourist season, most crowded in late summer.

Quietest

November 2 to mid-MarchQuiet and cool; the lightest crowds, though many hotels and restaurants close.
November to FebruaryVillages go quiet and moody; ferries stop and trail sections are limited.

Watch for

AutumnViolent rainstorms can cause flooding, mudslides and trail closures.
After autumn rainsRoughly 10-20% of paths can be closed, with alternatives open.
July and AugustVery hot and crowded; start hikes early to avoid the midday heat.
Mid-AugustFerragosto week is the busiest holiday week in Italy.
WinterSome trails close for safety after heavy rain, though alternative trails stay open.

Questions people ask

How many days should you stay in Cinque Terre?: Lonely Planet says most people day-trip but suggests staying three or four days for a real appreciation of the landscapes.
How long does it take to walk the 5 villages of Cinque Terre?: It normally takes 1.5 to 2 hours to hike from one village to the next.

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May to June and September

Cinque Terre month by month

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Questions people ask

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