If you’re dreaming of exploring the stunning coastal beauty of Cinque Terre, a boat tour is an absolute must!
I’ve been there, and trust me, seeing these picturesque villages from the water is an experience like no other.
In this article, I’ll help you decide which Cinque Terre boat tour to book. Whether you’re after a romantic sunset cruise, a full-day adventure, or a private sailboat experience, I’ve got you covered. By the end of this read, you’ll have all the insider tips and options to make your visit Cinque Terre by boat experience truly unforgettable.
Table of Contents
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9 Boat Tours in Cinque Terre
1. Cinque Terre Sunset Boat Tour with Appetizers & Drinks
⭐️ RATING: 4.8/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3.5 hours |📍LOCATION: La Spezia
This is the boat tour I booked for our first night in Cinque Terre, but unfortunately due to heavy rain and wind, it was cancelled. Thankfully, by booking with Get Your Guide, I got a 100% refund.
This tour includes:
- English-speaking captain and host
- Drinks and snacks served on board
“This was amazing experience. From the moment we arrived the staff was friendly and welcoming. During our cruise, Alessandro, Luka, and Julia were fantastic hosts and the sights were picture perfect. Alessandro did a magnificent job captaining the boat and had many interesting details about the scenes as we cruised along the coast.
Swimming outside of Manarola was very refreshing and the food and drinks provided were delicious! Seeing the sunset on the Mediterranean was unforgettable. If you want to see a different view of Cinque Terre, I would recommend this company /tour without hesitation.”
Terry from USA
Best Sunset Boat Tour: Check Prices and Availability!
2. Cinque Terre Private Boat Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.8/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2 hours | 📍LOCATION: Riomaggiore
This tour is perfect for groups of up to 6 people seeking a private experience. Pricing is per group, accommodating up to 6 individuals.
“This cruise was a highlight of a twelve-day adventure — our guide Pepe was warm, charming, knowledgeable, and so much fun! He taught us about the history and culture of Cinque Terre, played beautiful music and found a perfect balance between engaging us and leaving us to enjoy the experience. Everything about this cruise was right — romantic, exhilarating, a total winner. We loved it!”
Dennis from USA
Best for Groups: Check Prices and Availability!
3. Cinque Terre Tour by Boat
⭐️ RATING: 4.3/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 8 hours | 📍LOCATION: La Spezia
Set sail from La Spezia to Cinque Terre by boat and choose your stops – Riomaggiore or Portovenere as the first stop, then Monterosso and Vernazza. I recommend stopping at Riomaggiore (over Portovenere), as it’s one of the five towns in Cinque Terre.
“The sailing was beautiful and the commentary on the boat was informative. There was not much guiding in the towns but that was just fine for us. The biggest plus to this was not dealing with the general ferries.
We had our specified times in the ports with no waits and no crowds to deal with getting on or off the boat and while sailing. Definitely worth it as we watched thousands of people independently dealing with trains and ferries.”
Annette from USA
Most Cost-Effective Boat Tour: Check Prices and Availability!
4. Cinque Terre Sailing Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.3/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 7 hours | 📍LOCATION: La Spezia
Enjoy a full day of sailing along the UNESCO-listed Cinque Terre coastline and through the Gulf of Poets. This tour is limited to 10 people and includes a light lunch.
“This was an amazing way to see Cinque Terre. We really thought that 7 hours seemed like a really long time, but it absolutely flew by because we were having such a blast. The boat was roomy and comfortable, our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable, the food and drinks provided were wonderful.
We got to stop and swim and just couldn’t get enough of it. I wish we could have stayed longer! I went with my husband and our two kids and our two friends. Our 4 y.o. daughter had a great experience. My friend and I were talking all the rest of our trip about how much we’re going to remember that experience forever and just wish it had lasted longer! It was without a doubt an incredible experience for the cost. We cannot recommend this enough!”
Linly from Italy
Best for sailing enthusiasts: Check Prices and Availability!
5. Cinque Terre & Portovenere Boat Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.9/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 8 hours | 📍LOCATION: La Spezia
This Cinque Terre boat tour from La Spezia makes some photo stops along the coast at each of the 5 villages. Time for snorkelling and swimming in hidden coves with two stops to explore both Monterosso al Mare and Portovenere.
“We had the most amazing time with Simone last week! When our hotel concierge realized we needed to pick the boat up in La Speiza, he called Simone and he picked us up in Portovenere, which was on the way! He was an amazing and informative tour guide. His boat is lovely and has a bathroom on board. We swam twice on our voyage and had the best time!!!! I would recommend this tour to anyone. Our kids also loved it!”
Melissa from USA
Hidden gem seekers: Check Prices and Availability!
6. Kayaking Tour in Vernazza Bay with Snorkeling
⭐️ RATING: 4.8/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2 hours | 📍LOCATION: Monterosso
Get out on the water and kayak toward Vernazza to enjoy some snorkelling and return to Monterosso.
“Had so much fun! Highly recommend this one. I will warn, if you’re doing it solo, the kayak is a little unsteady. It was pretty choppy in the water , which made for a sort of tough, but fun ride! The snorkeling was really cool too. Guides were great and very helpful.”
Alli from USA
Made for adventurous: Check Prices and Availability!
7. Hybrid Cinque Terre Boat Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.6/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4-5.5 hours | 📍LOCATION: Monterosso
Set sail on a gorgeous small boat past all of the five villages that make up Cinque Terre for a photo op while sipping on a glass of prosecco. The boat makes a swimming stop along the way.
“Absolutely fantastic, we definitely recommend this trip. The tour guide Roberta and our captain were the best. I loved that it was a small group, very informative and supplied drinks and tasty home made snacks The limenchello at the end was great and funny.. The hosts provided great information about Cinque Terre and the boat was super comfortable and a classy boat. This tour was a highlight to our stay in Cinque Terre.”
Traveller from Austrialia
Made for sightseers: Check Prices and Availability!
Cinque Terre Ferry Boat vs Cinque Terre Boat Tours
There are differences between the two options – whether you take the ferry or an organized group tour by boat.
Cinque Terre Ferry
The Cinque Terre Ferries runs between the five Cinque Terre towns from the end of March to early November.
Frequent ferry services operate between the ports of Levanto, La Spezia, and Portovenere, connecting to the five villages of Cinque Terre. Think of it like a hop-on, hop-off boat Cinque Terre experience. The alternative to getting to/from each of the villages is by train or hiking.
It’s important to note that the ferry route doesn’t include Corniglia, as this particular village lacks direct water access, setting it apart from the other four villages.
Cinque Terre Ferry Prices 2024
- One-day roundtrip Cinque Terre €41 (adults): €15 (child 6-11)
- Afternoon roundtrip Cinque Terre (from 2 pm): €28 (adults) €15 (child 6-11)
- One-way ticket with intermediate stops: €30 (adults) €15 (child 6-11)
- A one-way ticket from/to 4 of the 5 towns: €5
Pro & Cons
Ferries are the most cost-effective option, but they come with drawbacks: long wait times, crowded conditions, and a lack of overall experience. For simply getting from village to village, trains or hiking are better choices.
On the other hand, Cinque Terre boat excursions offer an immersive and personalized experience. With knowledgeable local guides, you’ll learn about the history and culture of each town. However, they have set itineraries and will be more expensive.
As a Holidaymaker
Adding a boat tour to your Cinque Terre itinerary will be the highlight of your trip!
If you are still planning your Italy itinerary, I invite you to visit the Italy section of my website where I have articles about Florence, Tuscany and Rome and this one:
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