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Hiking in Cinque Terre National Park

Riomaggiore, Italy

4.8/5
based on 10 reviews

Description

Added by Linny Le

Distance: 6.27 miles one-way. Panoramic view over sea and slope. Sight-see 5 charming coastal towns. Catch a sunset by Manarola (pictured). Beautiful olive groves and vineyards. Delicious gelato once you've hiked to town.

The Sentiero Azzuro trail travels from south to north through five coastal towns: Riomaggiore, Manarola (0.68 mi), Corniglia (1.25 mi), Vernazza (2.48 mi), and Monterroso (1.86 mi). The trails are very well-maintained and easy to hike, with beautiful views of the coast, beginning with the romantic La Via dell'Amore trail from Riomaggiore to Manarola.

If you're interested in swimming, the ideal time to visit is mid-May to mid-September – Manarola is a great spot to take a refreshing dip. The hike has little shade, however, and does get quite hot, so for those interested in a cooler hike, come between from mid-March to mid-October. Keep in mind, peak holiday season in Italy is August, so things will be much more expensive than the rest of the year.

For a treat after your hike, stopping at Gelateria Vernazza is highly recommended.

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Features

Photography
Swimming
Hiking
Beach
Picnic Area
Romantic
Scenic

Hiking in Cinque Terre National Park Reviews

Hiked Monterosso to Vernazza yesterday and it was incredible. Perfectly cool temperatures when hitting the trail at 9am. Trail was dry save for a couple muddy spots. We did that stretch then jumped in the water after! Lots of steps which was unique for a hike.

This is a no brainer. Easily one of the most beautiful places in Italy, and quite possibly the world. When you're on this hike, make sure you stop in at one of the many restaurants that overlook the ocean.

This location is absolutely enchanting! Standing, overlooking the sea, eating gelato may be one of my favorite memories of travelling Italy!

I only experienced Manarola and Corniglia, but it was gorgeous and totally worth it. I visited in September and it was still pretty hot outside but I also visited in November and this was definitely not the time to visit (torrential rain and most of the stores/restaurants are closed)!

This place is one of the most beautiful places in the world! It is well worth staying until sunset and strolling through the many towns. Don’t forget to bring a bathing suit if you go here!

My family and I spent one night in Manarola at the end of June. We headed out at about 8am, intending to hike all the way to Monterroso. The portion from Manarola to Corniglia was well maintained and had gorgeous views of the sea and of Manarola. I recommend heading out early in the morning so you can avoid all the crowds. Unfortunately, my sister hit her head on a tree and got a concussion, so we stopped in Corniglia. After a nice breakfast, we decided to train to the other villages. If you do not want to hike the whole trail, you can always take the train or a boat for certain portions of it. I highly recommend the hike, and I wish we could have done more of it!!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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