Camping in Cinque Terre

Unspoilt landscapes, hiking trails, beaches, harbour life and UNESCO World Heritage Sites characterise camping in the Cinque Terre, the so-called five lands on the Italian Riviera.

Camping in the Cinque Terre

With its location on the Ligurian Riviera, the Cinque Terre National Park is an attractive destination for beach camping. Bizarrely shaped cliffs in front of the azure Mediterranean Sea, pretty bathing spots and picturesque villages on gently rounded mountain slopes characterise the coast in north-west Italy. Whether you are a beach holidaymaker, culture lover or nature lover - the region with its wonderful unspoilt nature leaves nothing to be desired.

The 3 most beautiful campsites in the Cinque Terre

Relax by the sea, hike through the beautiful mountain nature or walk your dog on designated dog beaches: Below we present three campsites in Liguria that could be of interest.

• Camping La Sfinge: This well-kept site near Deiva Marina is located around 45 minutes by car from the Cinque Terre National Park. The main attraction is the child-friendly sandy beach just 3 kilometres away and the unspoilt coastal landscape of cork oak forests.
• SantAnna Camping al Mare: With its short distances to the sea and the mountains, this quiet campsite near Sestri Levante offers a perfect combination for those seeking relaxation, beach holidays and active travellers.
• Campeggio Gianna Golfo dei Poeti: For centuries, the breathtaking view in the village of Tellaro has been a centre of attraction for anyone looking for new inspiration, while the hinterland invites you to go hiking and mountain biking.

How to get there

The unique landscape of the Ligurian National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stretches around 700 kilometres southwest of Munich. The campsites in the Cinque Terre are located at the gates of this impressive cultural landscape, between Genoa and La Spezia.

The Cinque Terre, which has a population of around 7000, has a coastline of 12 kilometres. The main arteries are the A7 motorway to Milan, the E33 to Parma and the E80 to Pisa. Travellers from the north follow the A12 Inntal motorway to Innsbruck and from there the A13 Brenner motorway. From the Austrian-Italian border crossing, continue on the E45 past Bolzano and Verona. If you have more time in your luggage, we recommend a detour to the charming spa town of Merano, Lake Garda or Venice.

Many villages in the region can only be reached via winding roads - with the exception of the car-free centres of Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso al Mare and Riomaggiore. Due to local conditions, visitors park in La Spezia and take the train from there, which stops at each of the five villages.

Destinations in the Cinque Terre

Once you have visited the Riviera, it is easy to go into raptures: colourful house facades on high rocky outcrops, or a dreamlike location right by the sea, surrounded by vineyards, citrus groves and olive groves. What's more, all five villages in this region are connected by a long hiking trail.

Monterosso al Mare

The fishing village is the largest town in the Cinque Terre. What makes it special is that the village consists of two parts that are connected by a hundred metre-long passage through the rocks. On one side is the cosy old town, on the other the newer Fagina district.

Vernazza

Both culturally and scenically, Italy shows its most beautiful side here: the rocky coastal landscape with olive groves, vineyards, flowering cacti and pastel-coloured houses make the settlement one of the most photographed places.

Riomaggiore

The houses stand like colourful building blocks on the green slopes overlooking the sea. Narrow, winding alleyways lead through the town centre, often so narrow that the colourful house walls seem to touch each other. Countless staircases and steps connect the many levels of Riomaggiore. Further up, the houses become fewer - and hikers are rewarded with a breathtaking view over the water.

Top 5 sights

• Castello Doria: In Vernazza, the defence castle with its dominating tower and the Genoese fortifications with the ancient city walls are well worth seeing.
• Moneglia: Two castles watch over the town: the Villafranca and Monleone fortresses, which were built in 1173.
• Church of San Pietro: In Portovenere, the church, surrounded on three sides by water, casts a spell over visitors.
• La Spezia: The most important attractions in the harbour town are the Castello San Giorgio from the 12th century and the museums of archaeology and art.
• Montemarcello-Magra: The Ligurian hinterland in the Montemarcello-Magra Nature Park will delight you with its wild and romantic landscape.

Top 3 insider tips

• Vernazza: Locals and visitors alike spend balmy evenings in the quaint taverns on Piazza Guglielmo Marconi in Vernazza. Enjoy typical regional specialities while taking in the magnificent views of the coast.
• La Spezia: The pedestrianised Via del Prione in La Spezia is a great place for shopping. Some shops close in the winter months, so a shopping spree is more worthwhile in the summer.
• Islands: There are three islets off the coast of Portovenere: Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto. They are a natural beauty with beautiful beaches, rugged rocks and caves that can be reached by boat.

Activities and excursions

The mountains and sea around the Cinque Terre National Park provide a fantastic backdrop and ideal sporting conditions. Whatever active people want to do, hiking and surfing, swimming and diving are all possible in beautiful surroundings.

Hiking in the Cinque Terre National Park

The individual villages of the Cinque Terre can be reached in 30 to 90 minutes on foot. One of the most beautiful sections is the hike from Vernazza to Corniglia, which offers breathtaking views along narrow paths.

Water sports activities in Liguria

Monterosso al Mare, Bonassola, Sestri Levante and Portofino are exemplary addresses for a camping holiday on the beach with swimming, surfing, diving and many other water sports activities. Canoeists meet up on the mountain rivers Magra and Vara.

City trip to Genoa

The capital of Liguria has the illustrious nickname La Superba, "the proud one". This name is very appropriate, especially for the magnificent boulevards Le Strade Nuove with their patrician houses and palaces. No less attractive are the old town centre, the Columbus House and the aquarium - the latter is one of the largest of its kind in Europe.

Events

The Cinque Terre unite the contrasts between an original and trendy way of life. A visit to the numerous festivals, which mainly take place in the summer months, is a special experience.

May

• Sagra dei limoni: On a weekend in May, everything in Monterosso al Mare revolves around lemons. Locals take part in various competitions, such as who has the biggest lemon.

July

• Festa del Mare: The highlight of the two-day festival is when large crosses are carried along the main road from Levanto to the coast. Once all the participants have reached the shore, thousands of candles are floated on the water to celebrate the sea.

August

• Festa della Madonna Bianca: This is the day of honour of the Madonna Bianca and one of the most important events in the region. In the evening, the rocks of Portovenere and the local church of San Pietro are brightly lit by hundreds of candles.

September

• Sagra delle Acciughe: The anchovy festival in Monterosso al Mare is a centuries-old tradition dedicated to the gifts of the sea. In addition to the tasting, visitors can look forward to an interesting supporting programme.

Gastronomy

The national dish of Liguria is pesto genovese, a flavoursome sauce made from fresh basil, garlic and olive oil. The coastal inhabitants eat pesto with practically everything, pasta, meat or vegetables. Naturally, there is also fish in the region. The different varieties of stockfish in particular could hardly be more varied: braised in tomato sauce or gratinated with potatoes and olives.

The local olive oil is considered by connoisseurs to be the best in the world, as the climate and soil here produce an above-average oil content in the olives. Whatever culinary delicacy is served, a glass of wine, such as Vermentino, Colli di Luni or Sciacchetrà, is an essential accompaniment to the meal.

Best time to travel

The ideal time to travel depends primarily on individual preferences and planned activities. There is no doubt that on warm summer days, swimming and beach life take centre stage. Especially in the months of June to September, water lovers looking for relaxation are drawn to the Ligurian Mediterranean, which is around 21 degrees at this time.

While the air warms up to 29 degrees and above in July and August, the average temperature in the early and late summer is a mild 20 degrees. The pleasant temperatures in spring and autumn are ideal for excursions and hiking tours. Surfers and kiters also enjoy almost perfect wind and wave conditions at the Levanto hotspot.