Cinque Terre is a real a paradise place to go and it has ideal combination of wandering in wild nature, swimming in sea, and sunbathing on the beach.
Cinque Terre is my favorite place in this amazing world. It has been over two years since I have been there, but I can still smell the fresh air and see the vivid images of the locales in their natural state. The food, the wine, and the view provides for the best feelings one can have. I can't wait to get back there! Not to mention the awesome and really cheap hostel options. Me and my friends practically had our own apartment for a mere 20 euro a night!
If you go to Italy, please make sure you visit Cinque Terre. We stayed in Riomaggiore and it ended up being my favorite of the towns. It seriously changed me forever.
I wouldnt say there is a whole lot to do in Genoa, but the town itself is pretty vast and nice if you just want to do a little exploring. Traveling along the rocky coast is a must, and if you go far enough, the rocks turn into large flat stones that people sunbathe on in the summer. The water is amazing in color, although I would not recommend swimming. Genoa has a lot of festivals in the summer too, if you can time it right. And you must try the foccacia, they're famous for it.
I have been to the Cinque Terre two times and I cannot get enough. Hope to return next year.
Cinque Terre is AWESOME. The trains between the five cities stop running early, around 12 am, so you should stay in a town where the night scene suits you. The five cities are Riomaggiore, Manorola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Moneterosso. Monterosso is the biggest and has the best beach. They are all very tiny. We stayed in Riomaggiore, which we loved. If you can't find a hostel, ask around about rooms once you are there. We stayed with an old family that rented out rooms. It was very pleasant and clean and we were treated well. Don't miss the hike!
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