Private tours and shore excursions starting from La Spezia and Portovenere

You will be picked up by our car or minivan in La Spezia or Portovenere and transferred to the Cinque Terre, to the village of Manarola. The drive takes about 20 minutes from La Spezia and 30 minutes from Portovenere. You will meet your professional English speaking guide in Manarola. Spend an unforgettable day in the picturesque Cinque Terre villages and appreciate the visit of this fascinating territory.

After the Cinque Terre National Park was declared a UNESCO world heritage site, the villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso have become a destination to be ticked off the bucket list for many travelers. However, our local expert knows how to move around best in the Cinque Terre and which villages to visit at what time of the day.

Your guide will show you some hidden treasures that other travelers won’t see, tell you about the work and life of the locals, the tradition of wine making and the true essence of the local landscape and history. You will discover secret corners and wonderful views by venturing up the stairs and along the tiny, narrow alleys on the sides. A memorable experience off the beaten track. The car will bring you back in the afternoon to La Spezia or Portovenere.

One of the most authentic Cinque Terre experiences with a beautiful hike off the beaten track.

In the morning a private driver will take you from La Spezia or Portovenere to Manarola, where you will meet your professional English speaking hiking guide.

You will hike through pine forests, olive groves and the famous terraced vineyards. The stunning views over the sea and the tiny villages will make you speechless.

In this unique scenery, the famous Cinque Terre wine is produced. Your guide will tell you about the history of wine making in this area, the construction of dry stone walls and the people, who since generations have been struggling with the surrounding conditions and who are so proud of every drop of wine they produce.

Once you reach Corniglia, you will taste these fine wines and enjoy some local snacks like focaccia or vegetable cake. In the afternoon you will catch the train to Riomaggiore, and take the public ferry back to La Spezia or Portovenere. The perfect way to relax and admire the wonderful Cinque Terre coast and the Gulf of Poets from the sea. (In case of rough sea, the boat might not run, and the return will be guaranteed by public transportation as train and bus or taxi.)

Important: please bring good hiking shoes, a hat and sufficient drinking water. To participate in this program, a good fitness level is necessary. The total hiking time is about 2.5 hours.

Meeting point: Porto Venere or La Spezia to Cinque Terre.

You will meet your professional English speaking guide directly at the harbour or in the city of La Spezia and you will start to explore the city together.

La Spezia has been around since prehistoric times. It mainly gained its importance during the Roman era and was severely damaged by bombing in World War II. The best way to visit La Spezia is by walking along its long streets full of local life.

You will start your tour from the Castle of San Giorgio with its archeological museum and the panorama terrace from which you can admire great views of the city, the Gulf of Poets and the distant Apuan Alps. Then you will proceed along the pedestrian Via del Prione where most of the boutiques are situated, to finally reach the heart of the city: the lively marketplace.

After the guided tour, you will enjoy a typical ligurian lunch in one of the best restaurants in town where the creativity meets the traditional Italian cuisine and ingredients.

Supplement: Entrance fee to the Cinque Terre National Park for every weekend (Saturday and Sunday) from March to October, national holiday (Easter, 25/04, 01/05, 02/06, 01/11), for the entire months of July and August 2026: 8 EUR/person.