Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre may have once been sleepy off-the-beaten-path fishing villages, but those days are long gone. Now, the summer months find these five tiny towns absolutely inundated with tourists (mostly from the U.S. and Germany) who love the quaint buildings clinging to cliffsides, the terraced vineyards that climb the hills, and the very do-able hike that connects the five towns. Still, while you won't exactly have the Cinque Terre to yourself anymore, it's still a worthwhile stop on an Italy tour.

Each of the five Cinque Terre villages has a distinct character, so read a little bit about each one before you book yourself a room. The good news is that no matter which Cinque Terre town you decide to call homebase, the others are a short train ride or picturesque hike away. Just remember to bring good hiking or walking shoes - the trail between the villages really isn't meant for flip-flops.