Cinque Terre & Portofino: Italy Small Group Tour

Detailed itinerary

Meals Included: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Day 1 Florence (D)

Your tour leader/s will meet you at the hotel in the centre of Florence at 1900. There will be introductions and a small talk on the tour. The group will then enjoy dinner in a traditional restaurant.

Day 2 Florence/Portofino/Monterosso al Mare (BD)

After breakfast we journey north west from Florence and Tuscany heading towards the Ligurian Riviera. Before reaching Monterosso and the Cinque Terre, we take in views of the rugged Ligurian coastline and make a stop at the picturesque seaside town of Portofino. There will be some time for travellers to explore the shops and sights of this small but beautiful harbour and have a coffee or a bite to eat at one of the many water side restaurants or bars. Finally, our day ends in the spectacular town of Monterosso al Mare, the northernmost of the five villages of the Cinque Terre, which will be our stay for the next 3 nights. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 3 Cinque Terre (BD)

Today we explore the entire coast of the Cinque Terre by catching the local train from Monterosso to the first of the five towns Riomaggiore. From there we will walk leisurely along the famous Sentiero dell’ Amore (Lover’s Walk) to the village of Manarola where there will be time for you to stop and grab some lunch or coffee. We will also visit the quaint villages of Corniglia and Vernazza before returning to Monterosso for dinner.

Day 4 Monterosso/Portovenere (BD)

After breakfast we will catch a ferry from Monterosso to the beautiful seaside town of Portovenere and its tranquil waters of the Golfo dei Poeti. Upon our return in the afternoon the group will have the opportunity to independently explore further any of the towns along the coast. Otherwise, there will be free time to wander through the many local specialty boutiques in Monterosso before our final dinner in a local restaurant.

Day 5 Monterosso/Pisa/Florence (B)

We leave the Cinque Terre for Florence. On the way we make a special stop to one of Italy’s most famous landmarks: The Leaning Tower of Pisa which is one of several architecturally important structures in the Piazza dei Miracoli. The Leaning Tower is the campanile, or bell tower, of the Cathedral. It is famous for its noticeable lean which has recently had a lot of work done to stop it from falling to the ground. We make our way back to Florence and should arrive in the city by mid-afternoon. The tour ends in Florence.