cinque terre in april: is it worth the hype?
Last April, I finally made it to Cinque Terre after hearing friends rave about it for years. The train ride in was stunning—the sea on one side, colorful houses clinging to the cliffs on the other. But honestly, as soon as we got off at Monterosso, it felt like half of Europe had the same idea. We spent almost 30 minutes just trying to find a spot to sit for lunch, and every little alley was packed with people snapping photos.
I kept wondering: is this what everyone calls 'charming'? Sure, the views are gorgeous, but squeezing through crowds just to get a glimpse of the water made me question if we picked the wrong time to visit. I wanted to stroll, relax, and maybe chat with a local or two, but it felt more like a theme park than a quiet Italian village.
Has anyone else visited Cinque Terre in the spring? Did you find a way to escape the crowds, or is it always this busy? I’m starting to think the postcards might be a little misleading. I’d love to hear if you found any hidden spots or if you felt the same way. Sometimes I wonder if these 'must-see' places are really worth the stress, or if I should stick to lesser-known towns next time.
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