Overview
We always enjoy taking part in fun and unmissable activities and tours while we travel, and Cinque Terre has quite a few!
In addition to the top things to see and do in Cinque Terre, there are plenty of fun and authentic experiences that can help you have an even more memorable time. As frequent travelers who love researching and participating in these experiences, we have gotten pretty good at selecting only the best.
In this guide, we list our hand-picked, absolute best tours in Cinque Terre, including a bit of everything: water activities, food-making tours, tastings, informative tours, active experiences, and more.
Our list of the absolute best Cinque Terre tours
All the tours listed have excellent ratings (4.5+) and great reviews from other travelers.
Good to know: No matter which Cinque Terre town the tour starts in, you can easily get there by train in 5-20 minutes. No matter where you stay.
Italy trip
MUST-HAVE ✔
💳 Save money when changing currencies or taking out cash by bringing a backup travel card. Oh, and in case an ATM swallows your card. Yes, it happened to us. 🤦♂️
🔌 Bring a Universal Travel Adapter with fast-charging capabilities (45W and Power Delivery).
📶 Stay online by getting an eSIM. You can get our favorite eSIM at a 10% discount.
1. Boat trip – a unique perspective of the Cinque Terre towns
For a unique perspective of the Cinque Terre coastline, going on a boat trip is a must! You simply can’t get views like these if you’re not on the boat.
We would recommend doing a sunset boat tour like this one, which takes you through all the towns during that gorgeous golden glow. The tour also includes wine and snacks.
Name something more picturesque than sipping wine while on the boat overlooking the Cinque Terre coastline, bathed in the golden sunlight!
Good to know: You can book a group tour (shared with others) or a private tour (just for you). If your budget allows it, we highly recommend the private option. 😊 Check all the options here.
Travel tip: The sunset tour is also a great way to avoid crowds while watching the sunset!
However, if you want to do more swimming, we suggest taking the day tour. It’s equally beautiful, but nicer for swimming – a perfect option if you’re visiting Cinque Terre in summer.
2. Fun pesto-making class (paired with wine tasting)
Learning to prepare authentic Ligurian dishes through a cooking class in Cinque Terre is undoubtedly one of the best experiences to enjoy during a visit to this stunning coastal region of Italy. And the best part – you get to eat everything you make at the end, of course!
The most popular cooking class in Cinque Terre is the iconic pesto-making class. This is usually a short but super fun class, paired with wine tasting as well (win-win). Book here.
There are also longer classes where you can make fresh pasta from scratch or gnocchi with the iconic pesto sauce, and learn a famous Italian dessert, tiramisu (it’s so good, we love it! 😁). Check the class here.
Amazing Balcony Views
Hotel with the Best View in Cinque Terre
3. Wine tasting experience
If you love wine, you can’t go to Cinque Terre and not go wine tasting!
The region is popular for its Cinque Terre DOC (produced using a trio of white grape varieties: native Bosco and Albarola, blended with Vermentino, a grape commonly cultivated in the coastal zones of Liguria, Tuscany, Sardinia, and Corsica) and Sciacchetrà DOC (a sweet dessert wine).
You’ll also notice lots of beautiful vineyards surrounding the villages.
So, for all the wine lovers, join a wine tasting experience, where you will be guided through a selection of local wines, often paired with regional delicacies like olives or focaccia. You’ll learn about the winemaking traditions and techniques that have been passed down through generations, plus tour the vineyards.
This one has excellent reviews, and if you want, you can also pair it with hiking.
4. Kayaking tour
Kayaking is one of the unmissable activities in Cinque Terre. This can be an alternative to a boat tour, though you won’t pass through all the villages, as the distance is simply too great.
Nonetheless, we saw several kayaking groups during our Cinque Terre trip, and they all seemed to have a great time!
You’ll be kayaking from Monterosso to Vernazza, passing through hidden coves, cliffs, and Vernazza’s colorful houses. There’s even a possibility to do a short exploration of Vernazza or swim in one of the coves you pass through.
Spoiler alert: you’ll even be served an aperitif in one of the coves. How cool is that?!
Check out this best-reviewed kayaking tour and reserve your spot today!
Planning an active trip?
Don't risk it without travel insurance
We never travel outside our home countries before getting travel insurance. And sure, we don’t count on anything happening. But it can when you least expect it! 🤕
For example, Arijana twisted her ankle just because she took a wrong step when going down completely normal stairs. 🤦♀️
In those situations (and hopefully nothing worse), travel insurance comes in handy so you don’t have to pay the medical costs.
Plus, since it costs about 3 USD/EUR per day, it’s not a crazy expense, and definitely not something to ignore. 😷
5. E-Bike tour
If you’re up for a challenge and something a bit more different (and active), check out an e-bike tour through Cinque Terre National Park.
You’ll explore the national park by bike, visit an ancient sanctuary, and stop at many stunning viewpoints. Of course, there is also a snack and a glass of wine involved. 🙈
The tour is also suitable for young children; the tour operator offers a trailer that can be attached to the bike. Check more details here.
6. Horse riding experience
Horse riding is another of the best Cinque Terre tours, offering an alternative way to explore the stunning nature of this area.
It’s also the best way to avoid the crowds and enjoy the beautiful nature in peace.
The horses are well-trained and well cared for, and everyone who participates in this tour seems to love it.
7. Private tour of Cinque Terre villages
If you’re interested in learning more about Cinque Terre, the region’s history, traditions, and unique characteristics, then this tour is a perfect match for you.
Other travelers especially loved the tour’s authenticity and knowledgeable guide.
Plus, you’ll get to enjoy a private picnic with local snacks and wine while also learning more about the food and wine traditions of Cinque Terre.
This really is one of the most comprehensive tours of Cinque Terre. Reserve your spot in advance.
8. Limoncino tasting with an ICONIC VIEW
One of the great tours in Cinque Terre is a visit to a lemon grove (you’ll notice they’re also quite popular in the region) and enjoying a taste of limoncino, a sweet, lemon-infused liquor (similar to limoncello, which is more popular in Southern Italy), other liquors, and wine.
All of this while having one of the most spectacular views in Cinque Terre.
Our favorite Italy eSIM
Fast Speed and Reliable Signal
Ever since we got phones that support eSIMs, we have been hooked and never looked back. 📶
We always get the best value-for-money eSIM we can, based on reliable signal, fast internet speeds, and coverage across the country. 🌐
Now that eSIM plan prices are more than reasonable compared to regular phone plans (which are more of a hassle to get), we really see no reason not to get one for each trip.
9. Hiking tour
Cinque Terre offers many fantastic hiking trails (see the complete list here), so hiking is one of the best activities in the area.
And while we think you can easily do these on your own, a tour like this one gives you more knowledge about the area and life here, friendly company, and points out the best photo spots (that you may otherwise miss).
One of our favorite hikes in Cinque Terre, maybe even the most underrated one, is from Corniglia to Manarola (read our hiking guide here). There is an option to join a hiking tour on this exact route that also stops at a local winery for wine tasting and snacks (a selection of cheeses and bruschetta).
10. Book a personal photographer
The towns of the Cinque Terre are incredibly picturesque, and there are so many opportunities to capture stunning photos during your trip that are definitely worth framing.
If you need help with capturing these stunning moments, check this experience with a personal photographer.
The session is not long (but still gets you 20 edited photos), which means you’ll still have plenty of time to explore on your own, but you’ll also get these unforgettable memories from someone who already knows all the best spots.
Tips before booking Cinque Terre tours
- Most Cinque Terre tours and activities/experiences last only a few hours, which means you’ll have plenty of time to explore on your own as well. Perfect, if you ask us!
- Check carefully where the meeting location is for your tour, and plan to arrive at least 15 minutes earlier, just in case. We also recommend installing an eSIM (this one is our favorite for Italy), so you can stay in touch with the tour operator if needed (you’re late or can’t find the exact meeting point, etc.).
- Most tours already cover all expenses, but make sure to read the description before booking, just in case.
- When booking Cinque Terre tours, consider those with a small group size. Smaller groups often offer a better, more personal experience, allowing you to interact more with your guide and other travelers. And if your budget allows, opt for private tours. These are perfect for families and groups of friends.
- During the high season (June to September), the most popular tours are likely to be booked out. If you’re short on time, make sure to book the tour you want in advance so you get the date you want! If you book it online, there is usually free cancellation until the day before. So, reserve your favorite now here.
- Always carry at least some euros in cash!
Save money on conversion fees and ATM transactions. Get a Wise card!
Cinque Terre Packing List
Without these things, we could not travel (comfortably or effectively)…
🔌 Universal Travel Adapter with fast-charging capabilities (45W and Power Delivery) – essentially covers us for the whole world.
⚡ We never travel without our 10.000 mAh powerbank, which is perfect for charging our phones multiple times.
💦 Filling up an insulated water bottle for days out exploring is a must.
☀🧴 We always buy a reef-safe sunscreen that applies well.
🤳 Forget selfies, having a phone tripod is the new game (easy to pack, carry around & set up).
🌦 After getting a travel-friendly raincoat (poncho), we never have to worry about staying dry.
🦟 Preventing bites with a DEET-free (picaridin) mosquito repellent is a great idea if you don’t want to cover yourself in poison.
🛄 We pack our stuff smarter with affordable packing cubes.
😎 We are active travelers, so sunglasses don’t survive long. So we bought these cheap polarized sunglasses that are travel-friendly and feel good to wear.
🔊 Countless times, we had trouble with noisy neighbors, loud streets, incredibly loud AC, rattling refrigerators, and more that kept us awake at night. Then, we finally bought some cheap earplugs – done!
📱💔 Slippery phone = broken phone. Get a phone case.
🎒 We love a good belt/crossbody bag, so we don’t always have to carry a backpack (fits our phone, wallet, tissues, candy, etc.).
📸 To capture some cooler photos and videos, a drone is a must (if used wisely). And for active stuff, our action camera – it’s so small and easy to use.
Final Thoughts
Cinque Terre offers plenty of fun, unique activities, and experiences that will make your stay here unforgettable.
Hopefully, this guide with the absolute best tours in Cinque Terre has helped you plan your trip. And let us know which one you chose! 🥰
If you have any questions or updates, feel free to leave a comment below and help fellow travelers.
Continue your Cinque Terre trip planning
Must-read
Hiking
Where to stay
How to visit
