Hiking trips to Cinque Terre: discover Italy's most beautiful countryside

What are the best hiking trails in Cinque Terre?

Cinque Terre is a delightful coastal area in northwest Italy's Liguria. It consists of five ancient fishing villages - Monterosso al Mare, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore, and Vernazza. The five are connected by a series of trails, making the region a hiker's paradise. The most famous hiking route through Cinque Terre is the Sentiero Azzurro, or Blue Route, which runs along the coast. It's 12 km in total, and passes through all five of the villages. You can finish the entire trail in around six hours, but many hikers prefer to take things more slowly, so they have the opportunity to explore the villages along the way. Some sections of the trail are more challenging than others. The most difficult hike in Cinque Terre is probably the section between Monterosso and Vernazza, which is known for its steep, challenging ascent.

Where should I stay to be close to the best hiking routes in Cinque Terre?

All five villages in the area have their own charms, so it's up to you to decide where to look for holiday lettings in Cinque Terre. You may base your decision on where you plan to start your hiking adventure in Cinque Terre. Many hikers choose to start in the village of Riomaggiore; the route leading out of this settlement is a little bit easier, so it's a good way to ease yourself in before you hit the challenging sections from Monterosso to Vernazza and from Manarola and Corniglia. The five villages of Cinque Terre are all connected by trains, with short journeys between them all; this means that you can comfortably return to your home base at the end of a day's hiking. If you're combining your trip with a family holiday in Cinque Terre, the flat coastal stretches and child-friendly trains between villages make it an excellent destination for younger walkers too.