What to Do in the Cinque Terre?

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Day 1
Arrive by train and get settled.

Day 2
Explore Monterosso itself, the beach, the shops, the old center; do some food shopping; most important, stop by the tourist office for maps, train and boat schedules, and walking/hiking information.

Day 3
Take the walk from Monterosso to Vernazza, lunch in Vernazza, and train back to Monterosso.

Day 4
Take the train to La Spezia and rent a car for the day: explore the delightful coastal towns of Lerici and Portovenere.

Day 5
Genoa, with Italy's largest and least gentrified centro storico; this will take an entire day.

Day 6
Train to Manarola - walk back from Manarola to Corniglia, lunch in Corniglia, continue walk to Vernazza, then train back to Monterosso.

Day 7
Relax at home.

Day 8
Rapallo and Santa Margherita by train or boat.

Day 9
Pisa for the day. Don’t just visit the Cathedral Square with the famous Leaning Tower. Most important, take a walk along the Arno.

Day 10
Train to Riomaggiore - walk back from Riomaggiore to Manarola, lunch in Manarola, then train back to Monterosso.

Day 11
Relax at home.

Day 12
Portofino by boat or by train/bus via Santa Margherita.

Day 13
Train to Carrara, rent car for the day to explore the marble quarries; this is fascinating and takes the entire day; you can also visit the artists' community of Pietrasanta.

Day 14
Relax at home wishing you had done even one-quarter of the above schedule.

Arrivederci!