The train is by far the most convenient way to reach the five lands or Cinque Terre in Italy. Local trains on the Genoa - Rome rail line stop in all five villages. Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore are also accessible by boat from Levanto, La Spezia, Lerici, and Portovenere during the high season (late April through mid September). Monterosso, Vernazza and Riomaggiore can also be reached by passenger ferry from points north - Sestri Levante, Lavagna, Chiavari, Rapallo, Santa Margherita and Portofino - on weekends from May through September and certain weekdays in July and August. Parking is extremely limited. On weekends in spring and fall and throughout the summer season it may be next to impossible to find a spot for even a small car. Family travelers intent on making the journey by road should exit the A12 (Genoa-Livorno) motorway at either Carrodano-Levanto or Brugnato for Vernazza and Monterosso and La Spezia for Riomaggiore e Manarola. The drive to Corniglia, the central village, is never ending from the north and south. The Genoa and Pisa airports are roughly a 1-hour drive to the nearest point in the Cinque Terre.

In the Cinque Terre, trains, boats and footpaths (and more recently bike paths) make it easy and fun to get from place to place. And they are by far the most convenient ways to get around. The train is the quickest way to move about but there is one drawback, no view. The short trips, only 2 minutes from Riomaggiore to Manarola, are nearly all tunnel. Families wishing to visit Corniglia take note, this village is perched high above. The 15-minute walk from the train station is straight up, 365 stairs. The passenger ferries shuttle tourists from village to village hourly from 9:00 to 18:00 during the high season (late April through September) but do not stop in Corniglia and sail by Vernazza when the sea is rough. The most popular hiking trail is the coastal pathway or Sentiero Azzurro, which connects all five lands and offers spectacular views. But a lonely trail this is not, as many as 1800 walkers hike some part of this once mule track on peak season days. Seasoned trekkers will be glad to know that the coastal pathway is not their only choice. The little publicized Via dei Santuari is spectacular. Be sure to check trail openings at the local tourist office before you depart. Heavy rains can affect the coastal path between Monterosso and Corniglia. A trail fee, currently €5.00 per day for adults and €2.5 per day per child, is charged to walkers accessing the Sentiero Azzurro. Access to all other area trails is free of charge. The only way to get to Portovenere (not one of the Cinque Terre) without a car is by foot or boat. There is no other way to describe the 10-hour hike than LONG. Mountain biking on the Sentiero Rosso is increasingly popular. Bikes can be rented from Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre.

The best time for a family vacation in the Cinque Terre is in the spring (April and May) and fall (September and October). It can be excruciatingly hot and extremely crowded from late June through August. There is literally no shade along the coast. Rain could put a damper on a trip from November through February.

There is little reprieve from the sun in the Cinque Terre. You don't need to be on a walk or boat to require protection. Wear hats and sunglasses and apply sunscreen to all exposed areas before you head outside. Remind the children to drink water frequently. If you're heading of the beach, don't forget to pack your water shoes. Most of the swimming areas along this stretch of coast are rock or stone.