Travel Guides

Walking in Italy's Cinque Terre : Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore

by Gillian Price

Perched above a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage coastline in the Italian Riviera, the five fishing villages of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazzo, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore are connected by a network of cliff and vineyard paths that make the Cinque Terre one of the most iconic walking destinations in Italy. Beyond the famous villages, the surrounding area extends to neighbouring Levanto, Campiglia, and Porto Venere, offering quieter routes well away from the crowds. This Cicerone guidebook describes 16 graded walks ranging from 2 to 14km (1 to 8 miles), all accessible by public transport and completable in 2 to 5 hours. Starting from all five Cinque Terre villages as well as Levanto, Campiglia, and Porto Venere, the routes cover everything from easy coastal paths to steep climbs through vineyards and dramatic cliff-edge terrain. Each route comes with clear descriptions, local history, and notes on plants, wildlife, and regional cuisine to help you explore with confidence and context. The famous Sentiero Verde Azzurro linking all five villages is described in full, alongside a superb higher traverse continuing via Campiglia to Porto Venere. All 16 routes can be combined to create a 3 to 4 day trek, with detailed information on accommodation, refreshments, and public transport to help you plan a straightforward multi-day itinerary by train and ferries. Maps at 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 scales are included for each walk, alongside downloadable GPX files for navigation on paper maps, GPS devices, or smartphone apps. Spring and autumn are ideal walking seasons, though winter offers a quieter, magical experience for flexible travellers.

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