Cinque Terre is a protected coastal region in Italy, and the best way to explore it is by hiking through the five picturesque villages perched along the mountains. Using a clear rating system, I share my honest review of the experience, along with firsthand tips.
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🍀 Lukiih’s Verdict
Hiking Cinque Terre is a must-do experience in Italy. The hike was the highlight of my trip.
- The coastal trails pass through exceptionally picturesque villages, breathtaking ocean views, and plunging cliffs.
- The hike is affordable, even after accounting for accommodation, transportation, food, and entrance fees.
- Moderate preparation is required, as you need to check trail closure, buy a hiking card, book accommodations, and pack accordingly.
Planning a trip? Here’s what to know about Italy.
🏆 Where Does It Rank?
Hiking Cinque Terre ranks as the #1 experience I had in Italy. Here’s how it compares to other things I did on my trip:
My Italy itinerary features the above experiences.
✈️ About My Trip
For context on my review, here’s what to know about my trip:
- I finance my trips and don’t receive sponsorship; this review reflects my honest opinions.
- This post has updated 2024 information, but I hiked Cinque Terre in 2022.
- My Italy trip was in May when it was less crowded and expensive.
- Hiking Cinque Terre is a rare experience. I estimate that fewer than 10 comparable hikes exist worldwide. The beauty of the five picturesque villages on coastal cliffs is unparalleled compared to other iconic hikes I’ve done. They’re also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so it’s a protected area that has preserved the traditional way of life.
- The famous Almafi Coast boasts hikes with similar spectacular views. Outside of Italy, there are a few hikes with stunning ocean views, but they lack comparable beautiful villages: Spain’s Camino de Ronda, England’s South West Coast Path, Portugal’s Rota Vicentina, and Australia’s Great Ocean Walk.
- I found hiking through Cinque Terre very fun and delightful. The terrain varies throughout the Blue Trail, making the hike more interesting. The trail also passes through local vineyards, homes, and churches.
- Although not difficult, the Blue Trail requires some stamina, making it more rewarding. It’s 7.5 miles long, takes about six hours, and has some steep portions.
- Some parts of the trail are very narrow, so there can be congestion on the weekends, making it less pleasant.
- The food in the villages wasn’t outstanding, especially compared to how good it was everywhere else I visited in Italy, so that made it less enjoyable.
- As with many hikes, weather conditions on the trail can vary. The trail is next to the ocean, so it can get rainy, windy, and muddy, which I experienced.
The best times to hike are May and October when the weather is pleasant and there are fewer tourists.
Hiking Cinque Terre over two days costs between $150 and $250. I spent $240. Here’s how the costs break down (I last checked prices in May 2024):
- 🏠 Accommodation: $40-$100/night – There are no major hotels in the area. I stayed at two accommodations and paid $88 total by splitting it with two others.
- 🍝 Food: $45/day – Food in the Cinque Terre area is not cheap. I spent $101.
- 🥾 Hiking Card: $28-$65 total – This depends on the type of card you get and the travel season you’re hiking. I paid $35 for the hiking card that includes the trains.
- 🚆 Transportation: $15-$30 total – This assumes you’re coming from Milan. Price varies a bit depending on which train you take. I paid $14.
- 🏰 Attraction: $0-$10 total – The trail features both free and paid attractions. There are many things to do in the villages that will increase your budget, including snorkeling, boat tours, and Italian cooking classes. I spent $2 on one attraction.
If you’re a less experienced hiker and prefer a hassle-free experience that requires less preparation, consider hiring a Cinque Terre hiking guide.
See my Italy trip expenses.
- The trail is straightforward and relatively close to the villages, so you don’t need outstanding hiking skills. The Blue Trail takes at least six hours and has steep portions, so some stamina is helpful. However, you can go slowly and break up the hike by spending more time in each village.
- Cinque Terre is located near La Spezia in northwestern Italy. The hike typically starts in one of the endpoint villages, Monterosso al Mare or Riomaggiore.
- The best way to get there is by Italy’s excellent train infrastructure. The trail can be started in either direction and from any village.
- Getting to Cinque Terre from Florence, the closest major city, takes three hours. If you are in La Spezia, the train ride is only 10 to 30 minutes.
- Driving through Cinque Terre is not recommended because of the winding, narrow roads, and parking limitations and fees.
- A hiking card is required to hike portions of the Blue Trail. If you plan to hike it over two days, book accommodation in advance, as options are limited. Wear appropriate clothes and shoes if you plan to do the entire trail.
The Blue Trail is open year-round but can be randomly closed for maintenance due to bad weather. Check the status of each trail before starting your hike.
How To Guide & Tips
Interested in hiking Cinque Terre after reading my review? Below is a practical how-to guide and firsthand tips.
Which Are the Villages
Cinque Terre, or the “Five Lands,” is famous for its five picturesque villages:
- Monterosso al Mare – the most visited village due to its larger size.
- Vernazza – the most picturesque village with lots of sightseeing.
- Corniglia – the most tranquil village, partially because it’s the most difficult to get to. It’s located on a cliff, unlike the other four villages, which are more accessible.
- Manarol – the village with a postcard-like aesthetic due to the shapes of its buildings on a cliff.
- Riomaggiore – a village renowned for its cliffs and scenic harbor.
How Difficult Is It
The Blue Trail is considered an easy to moderate hike. Most hikers will have no issues with it, but non-hikers may struggle with some parts.
- A guide is not required – Most of the trail is accessible with clearly marked routes.
- Some portions of the trail have steep inclines – See below for details on each trail.
- Rely on the Express Trail – Cinque Terre has a train that stops in every village. You can quickly move between the towns, cut your hike short, and start or stop your hike from any village.
The train runs every 20 minutes and takes about 5 minutes between villages.
How To Buy the Hiking Pass
A Cinque Terre Card is required if you plan to hike the part of the Blue Trail that’s between Monterosso al Mare and Corniglia.
During the off-season, the Blue Trail is free between early November and mid-March, so a card is unnecessary.
You can buy the card at any of the village’s train stations or the official website. I didn’t need to buy the card in advance as there were fewer tourists in May.
There are two types of cards:
- Cinque Terre Trekking Card – This gives you hiking access. You also get Wi-Fi and toilet access at the train stations, which I found useful.
- Cinque Terre Train Card – This gives you the same benefits as the Trekking Card and unlimited rides on the Express train.
The two-day Trekking + Train Card is worth it if you plan to take the train more than three times. I bought this card type because I had to move between villages several times.
Where To Stay
Cinque Terre can be hiked in one day, but part of the charm is visiting the villages, so I recommend staying for one to two nights.
- Book ahead – There are no major hotels in any of the villages, so accommodation is limited.
- Stay in one village if you’re staying multiple nights – The Express train is so easy and convenient that moving your luggage around is not worth the hassle. I stayed at two accommodations in Corniglia and Riomaggiore and wished I had stayed in one location.
- Stay in La Spezia to save money – La Spezia has more affordable options and is an eight-minute train ride from Riomaggiore.
- Corniglia is the most inconvenient village – It’s the only village not next to the waterfront, so you have to climb approximately 400 steps or wait for the shuttle bus, which runs every 15 minutes.
What Are the Trails Like
The Blue Trail is divided into four sections by the five villages.
Trail #1: Monterosso to Vernazza
- 🥾 Length: 2.3 miles
- 💪 Difficulty: Moderate. There are a lot of steep steps on both ends near the villages, but it’s relatively flat otherwise.
- ⏰ Hiking Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- 🍀 Lukiih’s Experience: I hiked this trail starting from Vernazza. The views, especially facing Vernazza, are breathtaking. Due to its proximity to Monterosso, this trail is the most popular, so it was easily the most crowded one.
Trail #2: Vernazza to Corniglia
- 🥾 Length: 2.1 miles
- 💪 Difficulty: Easy to moderate. There is some elevation gain, but the trail is mostly wide and flat with rocky parts.
- ⏰ Duration: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- 🍀 Lukiih’s Experience: I hiked this trail starting from Corniglia and found it similar to trail #1 with fewer tourists. The best views of Vernazza are when you’re approaching it from Corniglia, not Monterosso.
Trail #3: Corniglia to Manarola
- 🥾 Length: 3.6 miles
- 💪 Difficulty: Moderate to challenging. This is the longest portion of the Blue Trail, with narrow paths and elevation gain.
- ⏰ Duration: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- 🍀 Lukiih’s Experience: Corniglia to Manarola has some great views. This trail is the most interesting because the terrain varies as you walk through charming vineyards and olive groves.
Trail #4: Manarola to Riomaggiore
- 🥾 Length: 1 mile
- 💪 Difficulty: Moderate to challenging. The hike near Riomaggiore has steep hills and is the steepest portion of the entire route. Note that there are no handrails.
- ⏰ Duration: 1 hour
- 🍀 Lukiih’s Experience: I hiked this trail starting from Riomaggiore, which is the direction most people recommend. This hike has the steepest incline. Near Manarola, you’ll be rewarded with some of the best views of vineyards that you don’t get to see in other portions of the hike.
How To Store Luggage
If you need to store your luggage before check-in or after check-out, you have a few luggage storage options in Cinque Terre:
- Monterosso al Mare has a tourist information center next to the train station that offers storage, but note that it doesn’t offer overnight storage.
- Vernazza has a STAYLUGGAGE located a two-minute walk from the train station.
- Riomaggiore has a small luggage storage shop right next to its train station.
- Hotels will sometimes be willing to store your luggage for a few hours for a small fee, even if you’re not staying with them. However, almost all of them won’t store luggage overnight.
Since the Express train is convenient (i.e., it only takes five minutes between villages), the best option is to take the train to wherever you want to store your luggage and then take it to wherever you want to hike.
What To Pack
Here is what to pack and wear when hiking through Cinque Terre:
- Athletic or hiking shoes – You can hike the Blue Trail in athletic shoes (my friends and I all wore running shoes, even in the rain).
Appropriate shoes are required by law. Open-toe shoes without a grip (e.g., flip-flops or sandals) are prohibited on the Blue Trail. You can face steep fines if you’re caught.
- Rain jacket – Bring a rain jacket in the spring and fall.
- Reusable water bottle – The villages have public water fountains where you can refill your water bottle instead of buying overpriced bottled water.
- Sunscreen – Wear sunscreen, especially during the summer. A large portion of the trail is exposed with little shade.
- Bug repellent – During the warmer months, mosquitos will come out. I’m a mosquito magnet, so I use this bug-repellent lotion.
- Swimsuit in the summer – When it’s warm enough, remember to bring a swimsuit to enjoy the villages’ beaches.
Italy Trip Planner 2024
To make your travel preparation easier, download the trip planner below. It has destination-specific travel information, itinerary, map, and packing list.
My trip planners are built on Notion, which I use for all my travel planning. I genuinely love this tool and creating an account is free.
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