Cinque Terre Hiking: Complete Trail Guide for 2026

Hiking between the five villages is the reason most people visit Cinque Terre, and it remains the best way to experience this extraordinary coastline. The famous coastal path — the Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail, #2) — connects all five villages along the cliffs, but it’s just one of dozens of marked trails crisscrossing the Cinque Terre National Park. This guide covers every section of the main trail, the best alternative high routes, and everything you need to know about tickets, conditions, and timing.

For a broader hiking guide covering the entire region, see our Liguria hiking guide. For village-specific information, read our complete Cinque Terre travel guide.

The Cinque Terre Card

You need a Cinque Terre Card to access any section of the Sentiero Azzurro. The card comes in two versions:

• Cinque Terre Trekking Card: Trail access only. €7.50/day (adults), €4.50/day (children 4-12).
• Cinque Terre Treno MS Card: Trail access + unlimited train travel between La Spezia and Levanto. €18.20/day (adults), €11.40/day (children). This is the one you want — the train portion alone pays for itself after 2-3 trips.

Buy online at the official Cinque Terre website or at any Cinque Terre Info Point (at every train station). The card also gives you free WiFi at stations and discounted entry to some attractions.

Sentiero Azzurro Section by Section

Working south to north (Monterosso → Riomaggiore, the traditional direction):

Monterosso → Vernazza (3.5 km, 90 min, Challenging)

The most spectacular and most demanding section. The trail climbs steeply out of Monterosso through terraced vineyards, with the Mediterranean glittering below the entire way. Narrow paths, exposed sections with significant drops, and uneven stone steps. Not suitable for anyone with a fear of heights or mobility issues. The approach to Vernazza — with its pastel tower houses and tiny harbour gradually revealing themselves around each bend — is one of the great moments in European hiking. Status: Open year-round. Ticket required.

Vernazza → Corniglia (3 km, 75 min, Moderate)

A gentler section than its predecessor, with wider paths and less dramatic exposure. The trail winds through olive groves and offers beautiful views back toward Vernazza (the photo opportunities looking back are better than looking forward). The final approach climbs to Corniglia’s elevated position, with the village appearing above the sea. Status: Open year-round. Ticket required.

Corniglia → Manarola (3 km, 60 min, Moderate, Reservation Required)

Reopened in 2024 after extensive safety work following years of closure. This section winds through the most dramatic vineyard terraces in Cinque Terre, with the deep blue of the sea contrasting with the green of the vines. The new safety systems mean this section now requires an advance reservation in addition to your Cinque Terre Card during peak periods (April-October). Reservations can be made online at the Cinque Terre National Park website. Status: Open, reservation required in peak season.

Manarola → Riomaggiore / Via dell’Amore (1 km, 25 min, Easy, Reservation Required)

The Via dell’Amore — the most famous section of the trail, a flat paved path carved into the cliff face directly above the sea. The shortest and easiest section, but also the most controlled. Reopened in 2024 after 12 years of closure, it now operates on a timed-entry system with a separate ticket (€10) that you must book in advance. The path itself is spectacular — the engineering feat of carving a walkway into a vertical cliff is as impressive as the views. Status: Open, timed entry ticket required.

Alternative High Trails (No Ticket Required)

If the Sentiero Azzurro is closed, too crowded, or you don’t want to pay for trail access, the high trails through the Cinque Terre National Park are free and often more rewarding:

• Monterosso to Levanto (Trail #1, 6.5 km, 2.5 hours, Moderate): A beautiful ridge trail through pine forest with panoramic views. Far fewer people than the coastal path. Starts from the old town of Monterosso.
• Volastra to Corniglia (Trail #7, 4 km, 1.5 hours, Easy-Moderate): Starting from the hilltop hamlet of Volastra (reachable by bus from Manarola), this trail through vineyards and olive groves offers some of the best views in the park with almost no crowds. Ends in Corniglia.
• Riomaggiore to Portovenere (Trail #1, 12 km, 5 hours, Challenging): The ultimate Cinque Terre hike — a full-day route that connects the Cinque Terre to the Portovenere peninsula. Spectacular views, very few hikers, and a genuine sense of achievement. Start early. The trail ends at Portovenere, where you can take the ferry back.
• Liguria in Winter — experience the Cinque Terre trails in solitude during the magical off-season
• Birdwatching in Liguria — Spot peregrine falcons and blue rock thrushes along the coastal trails
• Rapallo Travel Guide: Castles, Cable Cars and the Authentic Ligurian Riviera (2026) — churches, castles and seaside promenades in Liguria’s elegant gulf town
• Kayaking, SUP & Canoeing in Liguria: The Ultimate Paddler’s Guide

Timing and Crowd Strategy

The Sentiero Azzurro gets crowded — seriously crowded — between 10am and 3pm in peak season. The experience of hiking in a human traffic jam on a narrow cliff path is not the magical Cinque Terre you’ve been promised. The solution is simple: start early. Hit the trail by 7:30am and you’ll have the most popular sections almost to yourself until about 10am, when the day-trippers start arriving. Alternatively, hike in the late afternoon (after 4pm) when the crowds are thinning and the light is golden.

For more ideas on exploring the region, check out our things to do guide and boat tours guide for seeing the coast from the water.