Cinque Terre Trail hiking guide: route map, stages & where to stay

The Cinque Terre are five old fishing and wine villages on the steep coast of Liguria, between La Spezia and Levanto: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare. Since 1997 they have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Porto Venere and its islands, and since 1999 a national park. Mule tracks and stone stairways link them through terraced vineyards and olive groves. The most famous is the coastal Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail, today path 592, part of the Sentiero Verde Azzurro). This guide follows the full traverse from Porto Venere to Levanto, about 34 km with some 2,200 m of climbing, split into 4 stages of about 8.5 km. You walk from village to village and sleep in guest houses, B&Bs and small hotels.

The route

This guide walks south to north, because the Via dell'Amore can only be walked from Riomaggiore to Manarola. The first day climbs from the harbour of Porto Venere past the Doria castle onto the ridge, with views of the Palmaria and Tino islands, to the hamlet of Campiglia and the Telegrafo pass (about 520 m, the highest point of the walk). From there path 593 drops past the sanctuary of Montenero to Riomaggiore. The second day starts on the Via dell'Amore, the famous cliff walk to Manarola, then climbs through the vineyards on path 506 to Volastra, follows the panoramic path 586 along the terraces to Case Pianca and drops on path 587 into Corniglia, the only village high above the sea. The third day is the best-known part of the Sentiero Azzurro: Corniglia to Vernazza through olive groves and the hamlet of Prevo, then Vernazza to Monterosso on a narrow, often exposed path with the classic view back over Vernazza's harbour. The last day leaves Monterosso from Fegina beach, climbs over the Punta Mesco headland past the ruined hermitage of Sant'Antonio, the FAI farm at Case Lovara and the Rocca Spaccata, and drops into Levanto.

Trail status in 2026

Several sections change status often, so check the park website or an info point (at every station, including La Spezia and Levanto) before each stage.

• Riomaggiore - Manarola (Via dell'Amore): open since 2024 after 12 years of works. Booked entry by 15-minute slot, one way from Riomaggiore to Manarola, included in the Cinque Terre Card. Open 9:00-21:00 until 24 October 2026, then 9:00-18:00 in winter.
• Manarola - Corniglia on the coast: closed since 2012. This guide uses the official high detour through Volastra (506, 586, 587). Path 586 was closed for repairs from November 2025 with a signed detour on the road; a third-party status page listed it as open in October 2026.
• Corniglia - Vernazza - Monterosso: on 10 September 2026 the park closed this section pending geological checks after storms, and in August 2026 Monterosso closed the Servano stretch (the trail now enters town via Via Corone). No reopening notice had been published by mid-October 2026. If it is still closed, the long alternative is the high path via the sanctuaries (Corniglia - Cigoletta - San Bernardino - Vernazza on 587 and 507, and Vernazza - Madonna di Reggio - Soviore - Monterosso), or the train for that day.
• Porto Venere - Riomaggiore and Monterosso - Levanto: open, outside the paid zone.

When to go

The best months are April to June and September to October: mild, green, with the grape harvest in September. July and August are hot and very crowded, and shade is scarce. From late September to November heavy rain can trigger weather alerts; on an orange or red alert all park trails are closed. In winter the trails are quiet and the Via dell'Amore closes at 18:00, but some hotels close and days are short.

How hard is it?

The distances are short, but the walking is slow: thousands of uneven stone steps, steep climbs out of every village and narrow paths with drops to the sea. The park grades Corniglia - Vernazza, Vernazza - Monterosso and the steep path 587 down into Corniglia as EE (for experienced hikers), and the other paths as E. Walking times in this guide allow for that. Start early to avoid heat and crowds, and expect queues at the card checkpoints in high season.

Cinque Terre Card and fees

You need a Cinque Terre Card for the Via dell'Amore and the Sentiero Azzurro between Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. In 2026 the adult Trekking Card costs 10 euro a day (15 euro on peak days), 17 euro for 2 days and 23.50 euro for 3 days (26.70 and 37.50 euro on peak days). The Treno Card adds unlimited regional trains between La Spezia and Levanto and costs 22 to 35 euro a day depending on the season. Buy online at card.parconazionale5terre.it or at the station info points, and book your Via dell'Amore slot. The other paths in this guide are free. Peak days are Easter, holiday weekends and most weekends in May, June and September.

Getting there and away

La Spezia Centrale is on the Genoa - Pisa railway; regional trains to Levanto stop at all five villages, which makes it easy to shorten a day or skip a closed section. Porto Venere is reached from La Spezia by ATC bus or, in spring and summer, by boat. Levanto has trains to La Spezia and Genoa. The nearest airports are Pisa and Genoa. Leave the car at home: parking is scarce and expensive.

Where to sleep

All the villages have rooms to rent (affittacamere), B&Bs and small hotels, but beds are few and fill early from April to October, especially in Corniglia and Vernazza. Book ahead, and remember that many rooms are up long flights of stairs. Wild camping is not allowed in the park; the only campsites on the route are in Levanto. Pack light.

Money and phone signal

Carry some cash for small guest houses and bars; cards work in most hotels and restaurants. Shops, bars and fountains are in every village, but there is nothing between Porto Venere and the Telegrafo apart from Campiglia, and nothing on the Punta Mesco headland. Mobile signal is good in the villages and patchy in some valleys.

What to pack

• Closed hiking shoes with grippy soles: open shoes and smooth soles are forbidden and can be fined
• 1.5 to 2 litres of water, sun hat and sun cream; there is little shade
• A light rain jacket, and a swimsuit for the beaches of Monterosso and Levanto
• Your Cinque Terre Card (on your phone) and Via dell'Amore booking
• A small first-aid kit and snacks

Safety

In an emergency call 112. The nearest 24-hour emergency department for every stage is Sant'Andrea Hospital in La Spezia; Levanto has only a first-aid point. Stone steps are slippery after rain, and landslides close paths after storms, so never walk past a closure sign. Check the Allerta Liguria weather alerts every day: on a yellow alert the park advises against hiking, on orange or red the trails are closed. Do not leave the waymarked paths, which are marked with red and white stripes and the path number.