Earlier this year, I decided to leave my journalist job to go and live in Italy for a few months and it was one of the best decisions that I have ever made.
Throughout my six-month experience, I visited almost every crevice of Italy, leaving me with a deep appreciation and knowledge of my Italian culture.
Most of this knowledge relates to the language but a lot of it relates to how to use the country’s beauty to your advantage, whilst travelling on a budget.
The uncertain decade which is our twenties is an era for self-discovery and curiosity and I think travel shapes a lot of that. But most of us are torn between saving money and building a career or travelling and gaining some life experience.
I think one of my main worries whilst travelling around was trying to enjoy myself whilst keeping an eye on how much I was spending.
In Italy it seems impossible, the food is so tempting, and the country is known for charging people for almost anything.
But let me tell you, there are still many ways to enjoy the beauty of Cinque Terre whilst sticking to a budget.
Whilst I was there, I made the most of Liguria’s cuisine cheaply, I swam in crystal clear waters and drank locally grown fruit smoothies which left a craving for more.
Why visit Cinque Terre?
The UNESCO heritage site contains ancient Italian villages mixed with the jagged and picturesque coastline, rendering it the perfect destination for any sort of traveller.
The coastal scenery features intense, layered views of colourful, vertically overlapped houses.
For someone in their twenties looking to travel and keep it cheap, it may not be the first destination on your list. Italy is known for being pricey. But there are always ways around this.
The thing that surprised me the most about the Cinque Terre was its accessibility for every type of traveller. I think a lot of people may be put off due to its location and the high tourist rates, but there’s more to it than people realise.
As I have said before, and I will say it again. The Ligurian coast is one of the most beautiful across Italy (in my opinion).
It’s got a beautifully crafted mix of both rocky and sandy landscapes alongside some of the bluest waters you will ever see.
Whilst visiting the Cinque Terre for three days I set myself a challenge to make the most out of my environment whilst tightening my purse strings.
Here are some ways you can still enjoy the beauty of Cinque Terre whilst sticking to your budget:
Street food over restaurants
Although there are many fine-dining restaurants across the region, the locally sourced street food is most often the cheapest and yummiest option.
Whilst in Liguria the two delicacies to be tried and tested were born in the region.
This is the pesto and focaccia, with the central ingredient being the Ligurian oil. The soft and moreish toasted focaccia bread alongside a sliver of the perfectly nutty and garlicky pesto will be enough to entice even the fussiest of eaters.
The cheapest and best option we found was from a hidden focacceria in Monterosso, Fornaio Di Monterosso, serving a generous portion of home-grown focaccia and white wine for 7 euros!
I found the best hack for finding the best focaccia in Italy was to go to the bakeries. This is where you will find the true meaning of Italian cuisine.
Another street food classic that you must try is the fritto misto. A mix of fried delicacies sourced from the region, varying from calamari, fish and fries.
The fritto misto is fried to order and served in a cone, offering great vegetarian variations too. A true Italian seaside classic.
In my opinion, the top fritto misto can be found at Tutti Fritti in Riomaggiore, where you can find the best calamari for just 5 euros.
Just adding to this list, when looking for an earthy refreshment you can’t miss out on the lemon granita, made with lemons bigger than your head.
The granita, although a Sicilian special, is the perfect addition to a sunny day exploring Cinque Terre.
The Cinque Terre Treno MS Card
Now this is an option that will not only save you a lot of money but will ensure you have a great trip regardless of your income.
The MS Card will offer you unlimited travel on the train and bus service across the five towns, alongside access to the paid hiking trails.
Getting the train across the towns will cost you 5 euros each way, which can quickly add up as you continue exploring.
The MS card can be bought for 20 euros which will save you a lot in the long run.
Hiking Cinque Terre is the most breathtaking way to experience the coastal villages, overseeing the natural rugged coastline as you immerse yourself in nature.
The hikes themselves range on distance and difficulty levels and
There is always a cheaper alcohol option
Maybe alcohol isn’t on your mind when you are enjoying a trip, but for those who it is, don’t settle for the first price you see.
Most times when you are in Italy, you are paying for a view, and the hidden spots are usually where the magic happens.
Bearing this in mind, the views across the Cinque Terre are still breathtaking from many angles. You would be surprised that being placed on a table under an unoccupied bridge whilst sipping an Aperol spritz will be more exciting than the hustle and bustle.
One example of this is a small, underrated spot in the town of Riomaggiore, Da Aristide, where we ate a burrata-spreaded pesto focaccia with an aperol spritz for just eight euros!
Find accommodation just outside of the Cinque Terre
When I visited, a trip which spanned three days, I stayed in Genova, the capital of the Ligurian region.
Genova is an hour and a half train ride away from Cinque Terre, making it a prime location to stay overnight, whilst keeping your spending low.
Make sure you check the train times, as they can vary, but generally trains will run till late in the evening allowing you to watch the sun go down before you make your way back.
Another great spot to stay would be in the charming town of Levanto, just a stone’s throw away from the towns and a less painful punch to the purse.
Take advantage of the swimming holes
You don’t need to pay 20 euros for the best sunbed in a prime location. Although these are the spots which always drag the tourists in, it always leaves me wondering why people would spend so much money on a bed in the sun.
Forget about that here, because when it comes to the Cinque Terre, all you will need is a towel and your favourite book and you are set.
The region is full of small coves, bursting with deep swimming baths, waiting to be used.
We met locals sprawled across the rocks, who set the day with a picnic and their locally sourced aperitivos. They were simply enjoying all the beauty that the small towns had to offer at very little cost.
To sum it up
So, there you have it. Cinque Terre does not have to be a destination that you leave until later in life because you “can’t afford it”.
By eating from street food vendors and sleeping just outside the city, you can make the trip fit in with your financial needs and take advantage of everything Cinque Terre has to offer.
Alongside this by travelling on a budget you are allowing yourself to immerse fully into the culture of the country you are staying in whilst connecting with the local people.
Travelling in our twenties is so important, it broadens our mind, we can learn about different cultures and cultivate our own personal growth.
We are still discovering who we are, at any stage of our life, your values, long term goals, preferences, and travelling only accelerates that process.
I hope you enjoyed this post!
Leave a comment below if you have recently visited the cinque Terre and recommend your cheap eats to other readers!
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