The hiking trails of the Cinque Terre
Pedestrian tourism in the Cinque Terre is famous thanks to the many hiking trails in this area of Liguria. The villages of the Cinque Terre are connected by at least two trails: a short one (which is along the sea) and a longer one (which passes through the wooded areas). From the “high” trails, the entire panorama of the coast can be seen and there are also some routes that lead to the beautiful villages that lie beyond the Cinque Terre. All trails are marked on the map.
Conditions of the Cinque Terre hiking trails
Due to rainfall and landslides, the roads near the sea are often closed in winter and early spring, while the pedestrian tracks that run higher up are almost always open. Visit them!
The current condition of the trails (December, 2024) is indicated below, together with the list of the main trails of this National Park.
The information is updated continuously. Upon arrival in the Cinque Terre, go into any tourist center in any train station and pick up a map with the list of trails that are currently open.
The cost for a visit to the Cinque Terre hiking trails
Four short trails connect all the villages of the Cinque Terre from Riomaggiore to Monterosso, but they are paid. Buy the Cinque Terre Card (at the entrance to the trail): the price in 2024 is €7.50 per day (low season only, check prices for your day here). Tickets to walk just a single section are not available. The card also allows you to take the bus to the Park gratis. The Cinque Terre Card for €19.50, apart from the rest, includes the use of the train (you need to validate your ticket for the first time before boarding).
UPDATE: To walk on Via dell'Amore, the shortest of the four sections, you must book online and pay an additional €10 fee on top of the Cinque Terre Card. Read more on this page.
Other trails are free.
From November to around mid-March (there are no precise dates), entry to the Blue (Azzurro) Trail is free (though not officially). This is because, due to the small number of tourists, it is not worthwhile checking tickets due to the cost involved.
The most popular trails in the Cinque Terre and their condition
In the Cinque Terre the most popular is the Sentiero Azzurro (the Blue Trail), and especially the shortest part of it, the Sentiero dell’Amore (path of love). Each section of it is full of tourists. Depending on weather conditions, some parts of the path may be closed, so it is worthwhile knowing which of the trails in the Cinque Terre are the most famous, because the views that open from these tracks are unique.
The Blue Trail
This is the main trail of the Cinque Terre, divided into 4 sections, which connects all five villages with the shortest route possible (green on the map). Even if some stretches of the Sentiero Azzurro are closed, there is always another trail that leads to the nearest location.
Closed sections (December, 2024):
Manarola - Corniglia: should be open from 2026.
Manarola – Volastra – Corniglia
From Manarola to Volastra we recommend that the less daring people take the bus; otherwise, for those who wish, there is a trail that goes up among the vineyards leading to a picturesque view.
The trail is open.
Monterosso – Vernazza (The Way of the Sanctuaries)
The trail which is not along the coast passes by Ligurian sanctuaries; one of them is the oldest in this part of Italy. There are also beautiful views of the wooded slopes.
The trail is open.
The Ring of Riomaggiore
The trail up to the sanctuary of Riomaggiore - Montenero offers an indescribable panorama over the village and the whole Riviera. It would be better to walk in a clockwise direction, so that after Montenero you can descend via the stairway to Riomaggiore.
The trail is open.
Riomaggiore – Porto Venere
A long and colorful trail which takes about 6 hours. If you stop in the Cinque Terre for a while, we advise you to walk this trail.
The trail is open.
Monterosso – Punta Mesco – Levanto
It is an hour’s walk to Punta Mesco and it takes about 4 hours to do the whole trail. Many tourists simply come back from Punta Mesco toward Monterosso, not wanting to go to Levanto, because it takes up about three hours, which is a shame, as the landscapes are really beautiful.
The trail is open.
Difficulty of the Cinque Terre trails
The easiest trail is the Path of Love (between Riomaggiore and Manarola). It is a straight and easy walk with less than 1 km / 0.6 mile on a slope. It is also accessible to the disabled, and there is a dedicated elevator at the entrance.
In general the Cinque Terre trails are not demanding; the only difficulty consists in the change of altitude along the roads that go toward the top of the hills. For this reason a minimum of physical preparation is required.
Wear comfortable shoes, a hat and take water with you. You can replenish water at the fountains which are numerous, and the water is good.
Check the map for the length of the various trails.