view of Cinque terre town from high trail
Packing for Italy

Cinque terre packing list to be comfortable and stylish

Cinque Terre packing list. What to pack for visiting Cinque Terre: travel essentials, hiking essentials, baby travel essentials for families visiting this area with young children

Cinque Terre is an area of Italy of outstanding natural beauty.

Here, you have pretty villages, stunning hikes and beach and boating opportunities, so you need a packing list that caters to all these needs.

This is our packing list for Cinque Terre, for all types of travelers.

How to dress in Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is a relaxed part of Italy, known for hiking trails and fishing village atmosphere more than for glamour unless you go for nearby locations such as stylish Portofino.

However, this is Italy so if you want to be comfortable but also stylish, this is what I recommend you pack.

To blend in with the locals, good style items to pack are:

Linen trousers: they are a great day to night option, they come in many colors and are very popular with local women, so you won’t feel out of place in them

Flat, decorated sandals: sandals are the ideal footwear for visiting Cinque Terre villages in summer. Good walking sandals like Teva are ideal for both day and a relaxed evening drink on the harbor.

You can find here >>> my complete guide to the best shoes for Italy travel

Necklaces and scarves: Italian women adore necklaces and scarves and they are perfect for visitors too as they can dress up a simple outfit in no time.

A large scarf that can double up as a shawl can also be handy for chilly nights

Maxi dresses are also a good option when packing for the Cinque Terre however, do not tackle the trails in them thinking of nice photos!

The hikes in Cinque Terre require proper hiking gear, see below.

What to pack for Cinque Terre in summer: clothing essentials

Summer is hot and sunny in Cinque Terre, so full-on summer gear is in order. Make sure you pack:

  • Summer dresses (any length)
  • Shorts
  • Summer pants – linen trousers are popular with Italian women and perfect for hot, relaxing summer days. They can be dressed up or down and are a great item for day-to-night wear
  • Short sleeve tops/ strappy tops / t-shirts
  • Underwear + socks
  • One light cardigan for late in the evening
  • Light Pajama / nightgown
  • Walking shoes (breathable trainers are perfect)
  • Flip Flops for the beach
  • A nice pair of sandals, ideally with rubber flexible sole for walking
  • Crossbody bag
  • Sun hat

If you are planning on hiking the Cinque Terre trails, then you will need specific gear

Cinque Terre hiking essentials

Cinque Terre trails are real trails and you should only tackle them with proper shoes.

Depending on the ones you are tackling, you will need:

  • Proper walking shoes – please notes fines are in place for ill equipped visitors as wrong gear has caused many rescue missions!
  • Hiking trousers/ shorts
  • Short sleeve tops
  • Hiking or well cushioned socks
  • Well fitting hiking backpack
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Hiking appropriate snacks (fruit, granola bar, stuffed focaccia from the local bakery etc)
  • Sun glasses / sun hat/ sun screen
  • Kids hiking backpack if hiking with baby
  • Phone/ Camera
  • Cash for snacks/ food on arrival
  • Train ticket for the way back
  • First aid kit for hiking injuries

Cinque Terre beach essentials

If planning time on the beach or boating, you will need to pack:

  • Swimsuit
  • Beach towel
  • Sun hat
  • Sunscreen
  • After sun cream
  • Sunglasses
  • Beach bag
  • Water shoes – they are exceptionally handy especially for the kids. The beaches here often have rocks and pebbles and water shoes will go a long way to help kids enjoy them
  • Kindle for beach reading
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Beach toys for the kids
  • Kids floater if needed
  • Beach tent for sun protection
Cinque Terre packing list: woman walking down Cinque Terre path towards village

Cinque Terre packing list: tech and travel gear

From power banks to hairdryers, this is my packing list for technology and electronics:

  • Camera / Phone
  • Charger
  • Extra power bank for charging your phone on the go
  • Italy (or Europe) travel adapter
  • Hairdryer (with adapter)
  • Laptop and laptop back if using
  • Kindle for reading
  • Kids tablet if using
  • Go pro for underwater shots
  • Kids action camera for extra fun
  • Wifi hotspot
  • Lonely Planet Guide
  • Italian phrasebook

Good to know: wifi is available in most hotels and B&Bs but not in all public places or cafes. A personal wifi hot-spot goes a long way to help you stay connected and can save you a fortune in roaming charges.

Best luggage for visiting the Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is a place of narrow alleys and uneven terrain so I always recommend bringing small luggage and opting for a rucksack rather than a large wheelie bag whenever possible.

Luggage I like is:

  • Carry on backpack by Osprey, perfect for a short stay
  • Super lightweight wheelie bag, so you can easily lift it for the occasional step
  • A good cross-body bag that can go day to night.

I adore Gabs bags as they look stylish and are super versatile, some of them going from shopped to satchel in no time. Plus, they are made in Italy so you know you will blend in with the locals!

You can find my full list of favorite luggage for Italy here.

Packing for Cinque Terre: toiletries and personal items

My Cinque Terre packing list of toiletries and personal items includes:

  • Shower gel
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Children shampoo + conditioner if different
  • Deodorant
  • Hydrating cream (body and face)
  • Sun screen and after sun lotions
  • Shaving kit
  • Feminine products
  • Fragrance
  • Brush and comb
  • Hair ties
  • After sun hair lotion
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Floss
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Family first aid kit

Packing for Cinque Terre with toddlers

If you are visiting Cinque Terre with young kids, you may need to add extra items to this list:

  • A good stroller, either lightweight or an all terrain stroller, equipped with sun shade. You can read our tips for using strollers in Italy here.
  • A baby carrier: I recommend you go for a full on hiking one if planning on hitting the trails. Find our recommended baby carriers for Italy here.
  • Diapers, wipes and changing essentials for the first day (you can then buy essentials on location, read where to buy baby essentials in Italy here)
  • A good changing bag that can double up as your day bag (some are quite stylish and don’t look like baby bags. I personally love diaper backpacks, I find them handy and discreet)
  • Beach toys
  • Kids sunglasses
  • Teether
  • A teddy or blanky
  • A portable high chair (although many restaurants provide them)

Cinque Terre packing list for winter

Winter gets pretty cold in Cinque Terre and if you are visiting this time, you will need to wrap up.

From October to March included, you are unlikely to be able to go to the beach (this is sipping coffee bathing the sea rather than bathing time) and most trails will be closed, so my recommendation is to dress for town sightseeing rather than outdoor pursuits and make sure you have rain gear handy

Must have for the Cinque Terre in winter are:

  • Woolen cardigan / sweater
  • Long sleeve tops
  • Long Pants / jeans
  • Comfortable, waterproof walking shoes (winter trainers work well or you can opt for angle boots or even full boots for style)
  • A warm jacket, ideally rain resistant
  • Lightweight travel umbrella
  • Overall rain gear for toddlers so they for rainy days at the playground
  • Rain cover for stroller

I hope you enjoyed this Cinque Terre packing list and it helped you decide what to pack and what to leave home. Safe travel planning!

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Marta Correale is an Italian mama of two. Born and raised in Rome, Marta has a passion for travel and especially enjoys showing off Italy to her kids, who are growing up to love it as much as she does! A classics graduate, teacher of Italian as a second language and family travel blogger, Marta launched Mama Loves Italy as a way to inspire, support and help curious visitors to make the most of a trip to Italy and learn about Italian culture on the way.