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Sunrise 07:30
Sunset 18:45
Sunrise 07:30
Sunset 18:45
Sorted by popularity:
Updated at 10:01 GMT
Sunrise 07:30
Sunset 18:45
Temp feels like:
19ºC (67 ºF)
Length of day:
11h 15m
Pressure:
29" (1002 hpa)
Visibility:
6 miles (10 km)
Wind speed:
20 km/h
In English, Cinque Terre name means "five lands" and the resort area delivers some of the most amazing and scenic landscapes in all of Italy and western Europe. It's a stretch of land and cliffs that reaches for 18 km along the Linguria Riviera. Five villages make up the resort area, including Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Like other coastal Italian towns such as La Spezia and Portofina, the resort enjoys a Mediterranean climate with rainy winters and dry hot summers.
The water temperature of the Ligurian Sea stays warm nearly year round, so you can enjoy swimming and water sports. Even in the heat of the summer, the humidity stays low thanks to the north winds that blow down from the Alpine mountains. The highest recorded humidity in the area reached only 65 percent, making for very pleasant days to enjoy the outdoors.
The most popular time to visit Cinque Terre is mid-March through late October when the weather is warm and the rainfall amounts are low. From November to March, when the rains pick up and the temperatures fall, many hotels and restaurants close for the season. In recent years, tourists have started visiting more and more in the winter months and so local restaurants, bars, and pubs have agreed to have at least one eatery open each day all year round.
Scenic mountains make up the space between the villages and you'll find a number of dry-stone wall vineyards and olive groves to explore. These vineyards provide income for the farmers and wine growers that call the area home and have been the livelihood of the economy for centuries. In 1997, Cinque Terre was given the UNESCO World Heritage Site listing thanks to the commitment of locals to keep the area undisturbed from development and traffic.
Because of the precautions the locals have taken over the years, the area has been spared from environmental destruction and retained its quaint charm. Farmers and wine growers continue to use the monorail mechanisms to transport goods and products. They also utilize boats to reach the cultured terraced hillsides to harvest the grapes.
Cinque Terre has a protected marine area that became a national park in 1999. The train system connects the villages to one another through a series of tunnels. It takes about five minutes to travel from one village to another. Some of the villages have electrical bus systems to get around the town.
Each village has its own distinct flavour and the best way to experience each is by visiting one after the other, spending several hours in each. If you have the time, consider spending a night or two in each village to immerse yourself in what each has to offer. Most of the accommodations come in the form of private villas and inns. You'll find several booking offices in Riomaggiore to help you plan your stay and find vacant rooms.
Spring
During the spring months, the average daily temperature sits between 11°C and 18°C (about 52°F to 64°F), very pleasant temperatures for being outside and sightseeing in the area. The highs get up to 15°C to 22°C (around 59°F to 72°F), inching towards those hot summer days. The lows drop down to 7°C to 14°C (about 45°F to 57°F) but typically, you'll only get these lows at night.
The winter rains are starting to die down, with an average rainfall of 75 mm to 100 mm in March, April, and May. Rains fall on an average of 7 to 8 days each of the months in spring. The days quickly get longer this time of the year, with 6 to 9 hours of daylight each day on average. It's still a little chilly for swimming, with an average sea temperature of 13°C to 17°C (about 55°F to 63°F).
Summer
When summer rolls around, the tourists start coming in full force as the temperatures quickly rise and the rainfall chances drop. July is the hottest month of the year with a daily temperature over 24°C (about 75°F). The other months have an average daily temperature of around 22°C (about 72°F). During the day, the highs get up to 26°C to 28°C (around 79°F to 82°F), great temperatures for hiking and biking from village to village. At night, the lows drop down to 18°C to 22°C (about 64°F to 68°F). Wind speeds during this time average between 5 kph and 8 kph on a daily basis.
During the months of June, July, and August, the Cinque Terre area sees 30 mm to 80 mm of rainfall, falling over 2 to 5 days. Thanks to the drier days, you'll have plenty of opportunities to explore the towns and see the sights of the area. July has the longest days out of the year with 11 hours of daylight each day. June and August get about 10 hours of sunshine each day. The sea temperatures peak in August at 25°C (about 77°F), plenty warm for swimming. The other months have water temperatures between 20°C and 23°C (around 68°F to 73°F).
Autumn
Most of the tourists have gone home by now, making this a quiet time to visit the resort. The Autumn months bring increased rain chances and falling temperatures. The daily average temperature has a fairly large range, between 12°C and 21°C (about 54°F to 70°F), with the lower temperatures coming as the later months turn into winter. Daytime highs get up to 15°C to 25°C (around 59°F to 77°F), while the lows drop down to 9°C to 16°C (about 48°F to 61°F). With calmer winds this time of the year, fog sets in during the month of October, with at least one foggy day each month through the rest of the winter.
October sees more rainfall than any other month with 150 mm falling. The other months have 100 to 110 mm of rain. The number of rainy days for September, October, and November is 6 to 9 and there are 5 to 8 hours of sunshine each day. The sea has started to cool, with average temperatures dropping down to 16°C to 22°C (about 61°F to 72°F).
Winter
The winter months in Cinque Terre mean cold temperatures and steady rain. The average daily temperature is cool but consistent, between 8°C and 9°C (about 46°F to 48°F). January is the coldest month, with lows down to 4°C (around 39°F). The highs get up to 11°C to 12°C (around 52°F to 54°F), still warm enough to be outside during the warmest parts of the day. The lows go down to 4°C to 5°C (about 39°F to 41°F), not quite reaching that freezing mark. Snow is rare, but frost is possible on the coldest mornings.
The rainfall amounts average between 80 mm and 100 mm during the months of December, January, and February. You can expect the rain to fall on 8 to 9 days each month. The days are shorter during this time of the year, with 4 to 5 hours of sunshine on average. For most people, it's too cold to swim, with an average sea temperature of 13°C to 14°C (about 55°F to 57°F).
Weather Hazards
Fortunately, Cinque Terre doesn't experience much extreme or hazardous weather. During the rainy seasons, some flooding can occur that can cause land and mudslides in the mountains. At times, the coastal areas have also flooded, but its rare for that to occur. You can check the local forecast before your trip to see what type of weather you're in store for during your holiday.