Separate rain from an alert
Light rain and an official weather alert are not the same, but both change the day. Check the National Park and regional alert channels before leaving. During orange or red alerts, access to the path network is forbidden. Never shelter from a serious storm by entering a trail tunnel or exposed coastal path.
Use the railway as a spine
Choose short visits with indoor stops rather than repeated platform changes. Riomaggiore and Monterosso have useful combinations of churches, cafés and town streets. La Spezia is the strongest wet-weather base, with museums, covered services and more room to wait between showers.
Make food the experience
Book a long lunch, taste anchovies or vegetable pies, and learn about local wine from a producer or responsible shop. Keep wet clothing away from other passengers and carry a compact umbrella that does not become dangerous in narrow crowds.
After heavy rain, paths may remain closed even when the sky clears. Check again the following morning rather than assuming sunshine means safe ground.
