Holidays in Cinque Terre, Italy

The tiny, self-contained worlds of Cinque Terre's five perfectly formed villages are utterly enchanting, with a unique, irresistible beauty. The pastel coloured little fishing villages with their pint-sized beaches are the distilled essence of the Mediterranean's appeal - and somehow have avoided succumbing totally to mass tourism, whilst still offering great food (fresh fish and seafood taking pride of place) and drink and a range of great places to stay (including increasing numbers of green options). The hinterland is perfect for exploration on foot, and the warm waters of the Italian riviera are perfect for sailing, swimming and water sports; the five towns are also all connected by train to destinations across Italy and beyond, making it an easily accessible region for visitors. Below we feature some of the best, and greenest, ways to see the Cinque Terre.