Translating as five lands, Cinque Terre, Italy covers five small villages along the coast which form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visiting the towns of Monterosso, Corniglia, Manarola, Vernazza, and Riomaggiore the trail can be covered in the space of one day if you start early enough. However, to do this walk you do require buying a special pass costing 5 Euros which is bought at the train station in any of the villages. You can pay an extra 3 Euros to get a train pass but that destroys the best way to see this part of Italy.

Walking along this coastline shall allow you to experience some breathtaking scenery with your only expenses being the initial pass and any food or drink. The walk between Manarola and Riomaggiore is affectionately referred to as the Lovers Walk while other legs of the Cinque Terre walking trail take you through vineyards and olive orchards so there is always the possibility of you being able to sample some of the produce freshly made. Tours of vineyards with wine tasting can be a memorable experience.

With the stunning views and peaceful setting you could be excused for believing that accommodation would be expensive. However, there are a number of B&B’s and hostels in the area just perfect for the visitor to the area. Or alternatively you can take advantage of various campsites in the area with some next to the beach itself.

Entertainment at nights can be found in the bars and restaurants of the area with several having musicians playing at various times while you have a relaxing drink or a meal. Outside of this you can spend time swimming in the sea or sunbathing on the beaches in the area or you can go fishing on special expeditions. Do not expect a visit to this area to include a party atmosphere as instead it is all about the calmness and serenity of the area.

So your visit to the Cinque Terre area of Italy does not have to break the bank. Instead you can sample gorgeous food, walk along some amazing paths, be entertained and have a comfy bed for much less than you would imagine.