5 days in Northwest Italy Itinerary

Made up of five picturesque towns on the Ligurian coast, Cinque Terre is Italy's answer to the French Riviera.

On the 22nd (Fri), hike along Cinque Terre Trails and then hike along Footpath Monterosso - Vernazza. Keep things going the next day: take in the architecture and atmosphere at Convento dei Cappuccini e Chiesa di San Francesco, stroll through Spiaggia di Fegina, and then get into the urban bustle at Vernazza.

For where to stay, ratings, maps, and more tourist information, you can read our Cinque Terre road trip planning site.

Athens, Greece to Cinque Terre is an approximately 5.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of train and bus. You'll gain 1 hour traveling from Athens to Cinque Terre due to the time zone difference. Expect a bit cooler temperatures when traveling from Athens in July; daily highs in Cinque Terre reach 35°C and lows reach 21°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 23rd (Sat) so you can take a train to Genoa.

Once the most important harbor in the Mediterranean Sea, Genoa has a long history as a rich and powerful trade center in northern Italy.

Kick off your visit on the 24th (Sun): observe the fascinating underwater world at Aquarium of Genoa and then tour the pleasant surroundings at Baia del Silenzio. On the next day, appreciate the extensive heritage of Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi a Nervi, stop by Boccadasse, then don't miss a visit to Piazza De Ferrari, and finally appreciate the extensive heritage of Via Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Plan a Genoa trip in moments using our itinerary builder.

Take a train from Cinque Terre to Genoa in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of train and bus. Traveling from Cinque Terre in July, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be a bit warmer in Genoa, with lows of 25°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 25th (Mon) so you can catch the flight back home.