Booking choice: The coach day with a Monterosso boat ride, from $163 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Nothing in the Cinque Terre is flat. Stations sit in tunnels or below the villages, streets are stepped, and the trails are rocky. What you wear on your feet matters more than anything else in your bag.
This list is for a long day trip from Milan: about 3 hours each way, then a few hours of walking in the villages.
The quick answer
Wear closed trainers or walking shoes with a good grip: flip-flops, open sandals and smooth soles are banned on the trails, with fines up to €2,500. Add a hat, sunglasses, water and a light layer, and pack swimwear from June to September. Carry ID if you buy a Cinque Terre Card, which is in your name.
What shoes should you wear in the Cinque Terre?
Comfortable closed shoes with grip: trainers for the villages, walking shoes if you will hike.
Guests on the most-booked coach day put it simply: wear comfortable shoes and be ready for walking and steep declines. Corniglia alone sits about 380 steps above its station, and stone steps get slippery when wet.
Are flip-flops and sandals banned?
On the trails, yes. Flip-flops, open or backless sandals and smooth-soled shoes are banned, with fines that can reach €2,500.
Typical fines are reported at €50 to €100, and rangers check in peak season. In the villages themselves sandals are allowed, but they are hard work on the steps. Trail details are in the hiking guide.
Long day, one booking: the coach day with a boat ride cancels free up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the coach day with a Monterosso boat rideShould you bring a swimsuit?
Yes, from June to September. Monterosso has the only big sandy beach, and elsewhere people swim off the rocks.
Guests suggest packing your swimwear and a light towel. Wear it under your clothes to save changing time. Water shoes help on the rocks.
Swim stops from the boat when the sea is calm, and all five villages from the water in 3 hours.
Explore the 3-hour boat tour from MonterossoWhat should you wear in summer?
Light, breathable clothes, a hat and sunglasses. July and August reach 25 to 30 °C, and there is little shade on the trails.
Tour operators recommend a hat and sunglasses too. Carry a refillable bottle and sun cream.
What should you wear in spring and autumn?
Layers. March and April are around 15 °C, and May, June, September and early October are warm by day and cooler on the boat.
A light jacket earns its place on the ferry and the early train. Winter rarely drops below 10 °C, but it can rain: bring a waterproof, and expect the boats to stop after 1 November.
Travelling in shoulder season? The coach day swaps the boat for the train when the sea is rough.
Check dates for the coach day with a Monterosso boat rideWhat should you pack for a day trip from Milan?
A small backpack, not a suitcase: water, sun protection, a layer, swimwear in summer, ID, and your train or tour tickets.
- Closed shoes with grip (worn, not packed)
- Hat, sunglasses and sun cream
- Refillable water bottle
- Light jacket or layer
- Swimsuit and a small towel in summer
- ID for the named Cinque Terre Card
- Phone, charged, with your train tickets
- Something for motion sickness if the sea is choppy
Is the ferry rough?
It can be. Guests report a difficult ride for some on choppy days, and the ferry is cancelled when the sea is too rough.
If you get seasick, take your usual remedy before boarding, or skip the boat and use the train, which takes about 5 minutes between villages. Tours with a boat leg switch to the train when the boat does not run. See boat or train in the one-day plan.
Fancy the sea anyway? The coach day ends with a boat from Monterosso along the coast, weather permitting.
Check dates for the coach day with a Monterosso boat rideDo you need anything special for a coach tour?
Just an early start and patience: coach pickups begin around 6:00, and guests report long hours on the bus.
Bring headphones or earplugs for the ride and a snack, since food is not included. The most-booked coach day, from $163 (3.9 from 565 reviews), stops for coffee and toilet breaks on the way, guests report. If you would rather avoid the bus, see Milan to the Cinque Terre by train.
Manarola, a local train to Monterosso and a boat along the coast to La Spezia when the sea allows, with a guide and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Explore the coach day with a Monterosso boat rideFrequently asked questions
Can I wear sandals in the Cinque Terre?
In the villages, yes, but not on the trails: flip-flops, open sandals and smooth soles are banned there, with fines up to €2,500.
Is there a dress code in the Cinque Terre?
There is no dress code in the villages, only the footwear rule on the trails. Practical, light clothes and good shoes are what matter.
Do I need hiking boots?
Not for the villages. Trainers with a good tread are fine for the Via dell'Amore and a single trail section; walking shoes help on Monterosso to Vernazza.
What is the weather like in the Cinque Terre?
Warm from May to early October, 25 to 30 °C in July and August, around 15 °C in March and April, and rarely below 10 °C in winter.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Coach Day Trip with Monterosso Boat Ride
- Air-conditioned coach from Largo Cairoli 18 (hotel pickup from 6:00 at selected hotels)
- Professional guide, possibly bilingual
- Local train from Manarola to Monterosso
Budget Coach Day with Limoncino Tasting
- Round-trip GT coach from Piazza IV Novembre, beside Milano Centrale, at 7:00
- Multilingual tour leader and a limoncino tasting
- Free time in Monterosso, Vernazza and Manarola
3-Hour Boat Tour with Swim Stops
All five villages from the water, pesto on board
