Yes, for walkers. March brings mild afternoons of 59°F (15°C) and rain on seven days.
The month comes before the season’s programs. The 2026 Walking Park excursions only start on May 1, and the Via dell’Amore walk between Riomaggiore and Manarola needs a booking.
At a glance
- Afternoon high: 59°F (15°C)
- Night low: 44°F (7°C)
- Rainy days: 7
- Rainfall: 3 inches (86 mm)
- Daylight on March 15: 11 hours 51 minutes
- Attendance: band A, green, low
What is the weather like in Cinque Terre in March?
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rainy days | Daylight (15th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | 54°F (12°C) | 39°F (4°C) | 3.0 in (77 mm) | 7 | 10 h 28 |
| March | 59°F (15°C) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.4 in (86 mm) | 7 | 11 h 51 |
| April | 64°F (18°C) | 49°F (9°C) | 3.2 in (81 mm) | 7 | 13 h 23 |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
March afternoons reach 59°F (15°C), which suits walking in a light jacket. Nights drop to 44°F (7°C), so mornings and evenings feel cool.
Rain falls on seven days of the month, and the total is 3 inches (86 mm). Keep a waterproof layer in the daypack. Plan the trail days for the dry spells and keep the museum visits for the wet ones.
February is cooler, with a 54°F (12°C) high and a 39°F (4°C) low. April warms to 64°F (18°C) in the afternoon and 49°F (9°C) at night. Rain stays at about seven days in all three months. The real gain comes from the light: daylight grows from 10 hours 28 minutes in mid-February to 11 hours 51 minutes in mid-March, and 13 hours 23 minutes in mid-April.
Where to go in Cinque Terre in March
Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore is the eastern end of the five villages, and it is a municipality of its own. The Via dell’Amore starts here and runs to Manarola. The Trekking Card includes it, with booking required.
Monterosso al Mare
Monterosso is the westernmost village and has the largest accommodation offer of the five. That makes it the easiest base for a quiet month. The trail toward Levanto starts here, and the park also includes Levanto.
Vernazza
Vernazza is crowded by day, but in the evening, when the day-trippers leave, it gains a unique atmosphere. In March, with the lowest attendance band in force, an overnight stay is a good way to see both sides of the village.
Corniglia
Corniglia is a hamlet, while Monterosso, Vernazza and Riomaggiore are municipalities. It is the only one of the five without a boat service. Reach it on foot along the trail or by train.
La Spezia
La Spezia belongs to the park’s territory and is the eastern end of the train line. It has the CAMeC modern art center and several civic museums. With about seven rainy days in March, it is a useful stop when the trails look wet.
What to do in Cinque Terre in March
Walking the Blue Trail between the villages
The Sentiero Azzurro links the villages and is reserved for hill walkers. The Trekking Card gives access to the sections from Corniglia to Vernazza and from Vernazza to Monterosso. A one-day adult card costs €10.00.
March has almost 12 hours of daylight in mid-month, enough for a section or two at an easy pace.
The Via dell’Amore from Riomaggiore to Manarola
The Trekking Card includes the Via dell’Amore visit from Riomaggiore to Manarola, with booking required. Book a slot first, then choose the day.
Booking comes first, so check the forecast before you commit to a date. March has about seven rainy days, and a dry slot makes the walk far more pleasant.
Podere Case Lovara on the Levanto to Monterosso trail
Podere Case Lovara is a FAI property on the Monterosso to Levanto section of the Blue Trail. Admission is free with the Trekking Card.
Levanto sits at the western end of the regional train line, so the trail works as a one-way walk back toward Monterosso. The Cinque Terre Treno MS Card, which includes all the Trekking Card services, also covers the train between Levanto and La Spezia.
La Spezia museums on a rainy day
The Trekking Card includes free admission to CAMeC, the Centre for Modern and Contemporary Art. It also gives reduced admission to the Civic Museums of La Spezia: Amedeo Lia Museum, San Giorgio Castle Archaeological Museum, Museum of the Seal, Palazzina delle Arti, Ethnographic Museum and Diocesan Museum.
The Treno MS Card costs €14.80 for a day, or €26.50 for two days. It allows unlimited second-class travel on regional trains between Levanto and La Spezia. A wet day can be spent in La Spezia and a dry one on the trails, all on the same ticket.
Guided walks in the Walking Park
The park offers guided tours and hikes through the Walking Park, along with nature and poetry trails in the Eugenio Montale and Cinque Terre Literary Park programme. The Cinque Terre Card includes these tours according to schedule.
The 2026 Walking Park programme lists more than 160 excursions, running from May 1 to October 31. March falls before it, so check the schedule before counting on a guide. Groups on guided tours are limited to 15 people.
Is Cinque Terre busy in March?
March sits in band A, the green, low-attendance band. April moves up to band B, yellow, and the red band C is kept for national holidays such as Easter, May 1 and Ferragosto. March is the quiet end of the cycle.
The Cinque Terre have no large hotels. Rooms are b&bs, affittacamere and apartments in historic buildings, almost always run by local families. These places are small, so book early if your dates touch Easter. Monterosso offers the most beds.
The tourist tax was raised from €2 to €3 per night starting in 2025.
What to pack for Cinque Terre in March
March mixes cool mornings, mild afternoons and a fair chance of rain, and the trails are the main activity. Pack for layers and for walking.
- A warm layer for nights of 44°F (7°C) and early starts.
- A light jacket for afternoons of 59°F (15°C).
- A waterproof shell, since about seven days of the month are rainy.
- Shoes with good grip for the paths and the Blue Trail.
- The booking confirmation for the Via dell’Amore, saved on your phone, since booking is required.
What to know before visiting Cinque Terre in March
The train is the best way to reach the Cinque Terre, and boats serve every village except Corniglia. The Cinque Terre Treno MS Card covers unlimited second-class regional trains between Levanto and La Spezia, plus the bus inside the villages. The Trekking Card covers the ATC bus, and the Cinque Terre Card includes local buses for the hamlets, which connect the villages to their upper parts.
The Via dell’Amore visit needs a booking, so arrange it before you arrive.
Is March a good time to visit Cinque Terre?
Yes, especially for walkers who want quiet trails and village evenings without the crowds. March has the lowest attendance band and afternoons mild enough for a day on the paths.
Compared with February, March gains warmth: afternoons rise from 54°F (12°C) to 59°F (15°C), and daylight grows from 10 hours 28 minutes to 11 hours 51 minutes. April warms further and moves to the yellow attendance band, so shifting four weeks later brings more company on the trails. February gives the same rain days with cooler air and shorter days.
For fewer crowds, March is the right month. For guided walks, wait for the May to October programme.
Sources
- parconazionale5terre.it (https://www.parconazionale5terre.it/pdfuff/PN5TRdocumento-466-5.pdf), checked 2026-10-30
- parconazionale5terre.it (https://www.parconazionale5terre.it/page.php?id=533), checked 2026-10-30
- cinqueterre.it (http://www.cinqueterre.it/en/the-cinque-terre/), checked 2026-10-30
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- parconazionale5terre.it (https://www.parconazionale5terre.it/pagina.php?id=148.), checked 2026-10-30
- parconazionale5terre.it (https://www.parconazionale5terre.it/page.php?id=346), checked 2026-10-30
- parconazionale5terre.it (https://www.parconazionale5terre.it/pdf/Piano_azione_5_terre_29-12.pdf), checked 2026-10-30
- parconazionale5terre.it (https://www.parconazionale5terre.it/nov_parcoinforma.php?totalRows_ris=660&chiave=&page=4), checked 2026-10-30