The Cinque Terre is one of Italy’s most iconic coastal hikes, connecting five colorful villages by cliffside trails overlooking the Mediterranean. Here’s exactly how to hike the Cinque Terre from Riomaggiore to Monterosso, including trail closures, ticket costs, one-way rules, and what to expect in 2026.
We hiked the entire route as a family. Our kids, ages 9 and 11 at the time, walked from Riomaggiore to Monterosso in one long, hot, unforgettable July day. Since then, trail access, fees, and regulations have changed, so this guide includes updated information to help you plan your hike with confidence.
If you are planning a bigger Italy trip, don’t miss our complete Italy Travel Guide, which links to all of our Italy itineraries, city guides, and hiking destinations across the country.
Hiking the Cinque Terre: At a Glance
ROUTE | Riomaggiore → Manarola → Corniglia → Vernazza → Monterosso
DISTANCE | ~ 11 km (6.8 miles)
TIME | 4 to 6 hours (not including time in the towns)
DIFFICULTY | Easy to moderate
REQUIRED | Cinque Terre Card (or Treno Card)
CLOSURES COMMON | Check status before hiking
PROPER FOOTWEAR REQUIRED | Fines enforced
February 2026 Update: Added updated pricing, new sections on trail updates and how to plan your hike, and added new photos.
Before You Start: Important Trail Updates for 2026
Trail conditions in the Cinque Terre change frequently due to landslides and maintenance. Always check the official park updates before starting your hike. Here are the key things to know right now:
Via dell’Amore (Riomaggiore →Manarola)
- Reopened in 2024
- Timed-entry system in place
- Additional €10 fee (not included with Cinque Terre Card)
- One-way only (Riomaggiore to Manarola)
- Advance reservations recommended
Manarola → Corniglia Section
- This section has experienced repeated closures in recent years due to landslides.
- If closed, hikers must take the train or hike the higher alternate route via Volastra (more strenuous).
One-Way Rule (Monterosso ↔ Vernazza)
- During peak spring weekends and holidays, this section may operate one-way (Monterosso to Vernazza) between 9 am and 2 pm.
Footwear Enforcement
- Flip flops, sandals, and smooth-soled shoes are banned.
- Fines start at €50.
- Sturdy walking or hiking shoes are required.
Because closures are common, flexibility is key. When we hiked it, sections were unexpectedly closed due to a rockslide and we had to adapt mid-hike.
What is the Blue Trail?
The Blue Trail (Sentiero Azzurro) is an 11 km coastal path connecting all five villages of the Cinque Terre:
- Riomaggiore
- Manarola
- Corniglia
- Vernazza
- Monterosso al Mare
Some sections are relatively flat and paved (when open), while others climb steep stone staircases through vineyards and along dramatic coastal cliffs.
The full hike takes about 5 to 6 hours of moving time, but most people spend a full day exploring the towns, stopping for coffee, gelato, lunch, and photos along the way.
Cinque Terre Blue Trail Overview
| Section | Distance | Difficulty | Average Time | Notes |
| Riomaggiore → Manarola (Via dell’Amore) | 1.5 km (0.9 mi) | Easy (flat, paved) | 20–30 min | Timed entry + additional fee required. One-way only (Riomaggiore → Manarola). |
| Manarola → Corniglia | 3 km (1.8 mi) | Moderate | 1 hour | Prone to closures due to landslides. Alternate high route via Volastra is more strenuous. |
| Corniglia → Vernazza | 4 km (2.5 mi) | Moderate | 1.5 hours | One of the prettiest sections. Limited shade in summer. |
| Vernazza → Monterosso | 3.5 km (2.2 mi) | Moderate to Strenuous | 1.5–2 hours | Often considered the hardest stretch. May operate one-way (Monterosso → Vernazza) on select high-traffic dates. |
Is Hiking the Cinque Terre Worth It?
Yes, if you enjoy active travel and want more than just train-hopping between villages.
While you can visit the Cinque Terre by train, boat, or bus, hiking gives you something entirely different: panoramic vineyard views, quiet stretches between towns, and that incredibly satisfying feeling of walking into each village from above.
It was hot the day we did this, over 90°F, and there were moments when our kids weren’t sure they could finish. But arriving in Monterosso for a swim in the Mediterranean made every step worth it.
How to Plan Your Cinque Terre Hike
Hiking the Cinque Terre is not complicated, but it does require a little strategy. Trail closures, one-way rules, timed entry tickets, and heat can all impact your day. Here’s exactly how to plan it.
Decide If You Want to Hike All Five Towns
The full Blue Trail from Riomaggiore to Monterosso is about 11 km (6.8 miles) and takes 4 to 6 hours of hiking time, not including stops in each town.
Hike the full route if:
- You enjoy active travel
- You want the best coastal views
- You’re comfortable with stairs and uneven terrain
- You have a full day
Consider hiking only part of it if:
- You’re visiting in peak summer heat
- You’re traveling with limited mobility
- You prefer to train-hop between towns
You can combine hiking and trains easily. That’s what makes Cinque Terre flexible.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Most likely, you will not be able to hike the full trail. We’ve been updating this guide for many years now, and you can see in the long list of comments at the end of this post, there have been a lot of trail closures over the years. There are usually one to two sections that are closed for a landslide or trail maintenance. These can be bypassed by taking a higher hiking route, but you will be adding more distance and elevation gain, so it becomes a tougher, longer hike.
Which Direction is Best?
We recommend hiking Riomaggiore to Monterosso, finishing your day with a swim at Monterosso’s beach. Ending the hike with some beach time and refreshing swim makes the hot hike more tolerable.
This is also the ideal route, since the Riomaggiore to Manarola section (Via dell’Amore) is one-way only, Riomaggiore → Manarola.
One-Way Route Monterosso → Vernazza
During busiest times of the year, the trail between Monterosso and Vernazza is one-way only, starting in Monterosso and ending in Vernazza.
This is enforced from 9 am to 2 pm (so, before 9 am and after 2 pm, the trail can be hiked in both directions).
In 2025 (as of February 27, 2026, the 2026 dates have not been released), the dates were:
- April 19 to 21
- April 25 to 27
- May 1
- May 29
- May 31 to June 2
What to Do If One-Way Rules Are in Effect
Because of crowd-control measures, you may encounter two separate one-way systems that operate in opposite directions.
- The Via dell’Amore (Riomaggiore → Manarola) is permanently one-way and requires a timed-entry ticket with an additional fee.
- On select high-traffic dates, the Monterosso → Vernazza section may also operate one-way between approximately 9 am and 2 pm, allowing hiking only from Monterosso toward Vernazza during those hours.
If that rule is in effect, you can still hike from Riomaggiore to Monterosso, but you will have to plan to reach the Vernazza → Monterosso section after 2 pm, when the one-way restriction is lifted. Since most hikers naturally spend time exploring the villages along the way, this timing adjustment is usually easy to manage.
Always check the official Cinque Terre National Park trail updates before your hike, as rules are date-specific and change seasonally.
Buy the Right Cinque Terre Card
To hike the Blue Trail, you must purchase a Cinque Terre Card.
You have two main options:
Cinque Terre Trekking Card
- Covers trail access only
- Best if you are hiking most of the route
Cinque Terre Treno Card
- Includes unlimited train travel between Levanto and La Spezia
- Includes trail access
- Best for combining hiking and trains
If you plan to skip closed sections by train, the Treno Card is usually worth it.
Important: The Via dell’Amore (Riomaggiore → Manarola) requires an additional timed-entry ticket and fee.
Check Trail Closures Before You Go
Closures due to landslides are common.
The Manarola → Corniglia section has been closed multiple times in recent years. When closed, you must:
- Take the train OR
- Hike the higher alternate route via Volastra (more strenuous)
Check trail status the day before and the morning of your hike.
Wear Proper Footwear
The park enforces footwear rules. Flip flops, sandals, and smooth-soled shoes are banned.
Wear:
- Trail runners
- Sturdy walking shoes
- Lightweight hiking shoes
Fines can be steep, and more importantly, sections of the trail are steep and rocky.
Plan Your Town Stops Strategically
The five villages are close together, but each requires uphill walking.
A realistic pacing plan:
- Quick harbor stroll in Riomaggiore
- Coffee stop in Manarola
- Short visit in Corniglia
- Lunch in Vernazza
- Swim and relax in Monterosso
Most towns can be explored in 30–60 minutes.
Our Experience Hiking the Cinque Terre (With Kids)
The towns can be visited by bus, boat, train, or by hiking trail. We chose the hiking option.
We did this hike in early July, when one-way rules were not in effect. This was also during a long-term closure for the Via dell’Amore, so we had to bypass that section of the Blue Trail.
Here’s our experience hiking the Cinque Terre when our kids were 11 and 9 years old.
Town #1: Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore
Our day started off very warm, without a cloud in the sky. We chose to start in Riomaggiore, because we wanted to end with a swim in the ocean at Monterosso’s beach. Unfortunately, the first section of trail, the easiest section to Manarola, was closed because of a recent rock slide. This was not a good start to our day.
If this trail is closed, or if you don’t want to pay the additional fee, you have the option to take the train to Manarola or hike a much more difficult trail, the high route, to the next town. Anxious to get started and not thrilled about having to wait 45 minutes for the next train, we chose to hoof it over the mountain.
The trailhead for the high route is located 5 minutes away from the Via dell’More. Click here to see the location of the trailhead on Google Maps. This trail is a succession of stone staircases and steep hill climbs. You climb high and are treated to wonderful views of the coastline.
The trail on top of the mountain took us through vineyards. We were rewarded for our hard work with great views over Riomaggiore and the coastline. Since we were one of the only crazy ones who decided to make this climb, we were almost on our own.
During the descent into Manarola Tim had a wipeout. He turned to look back at Tyler, who was stumbling, and in the process Tim’s foot slipped off of the trail. His weight pitched him off the trail, he fell through some brush and landed on the hillside five feet below the trail. Tim somehow emerged from this without a scratch on him, giving us all a good laugh.
Town #2: Manarola
We safely finished the rest of the hike into Manarola. We bought breakfast at a grocery store, spent a little time exploring the town, and then had to decide what to do about getting to the third town, Corniglia.
Again, the trail was closed. Would we ever get to hike the main Cinque Terre trail?
Once again, we had the option to either hike up and over another mountain, this hike being twice as long as the first one we did, or take the train to Corniglia. We chose the train. We still had a long, hot day in front of us and Kara was already beginning to run out of steam.
Manarola
Town #3: Corniglia
To get from the train station into Corniglia you have to climb this long series of wide steps into town. It still felt like we were hiking even though we had just taken the train!
In Corniglia, we only spent a little bit of time before hiking to the next town, Vernazza.
Town #4: Vernazza
Finally, the trail was open. By now it was over 90 degrees and the sun was incredibly hot.
To get from Corniglia to Vernazza we hiked on dusty, rocky paths, up and down endless stone steps, and through many more vineyards. The views were spectacular. This would have been much more enjoyable if it weren’t so crazy hot. Towards the end of this portion of the hike Kara kept warning us that her feet were going to explode.
Finally, we made it to the most beautiful town of the Cinque Terre, Vernazza (with all feet intact).
Vernazza is beautiful, and it was extremely crowded during the brief period of time we spent there. All of these towns can be explored in less than a half an hour, but be prepared to walk up and down some steep inclines.
We wandered away from the main street through Vernazza and went to Alberto Gelateria for a much needed break. This was the best gelato we had so far, and it was so good that we went back for seconds.
Vernazza
Town #5: Monterosso al Mar
Finally, it was time for the final hike to Monterosso. This is the most strenuous stretch of the Cinque Terre, another mountainous hike lasting 3.5 km.
It is the hilliest section of the hike, but the views you get along the trail are spectacular.
Fortunately, Kara got her second wind. Two hours later, a very sweaty, tired family of four arrived in Monterosso. It was time for that much deserved swim!
Monterosso
Once in Monterosso we plopped down at the beach for a much needed swim in the ocean. This was the perfect way to end our hike.
Thoughts About the Hike
So, what did we think about the hike? It was a great experience, the views were incredible, and there was something very cool about hiking through the hillside vineyards. Cooler temperatures would have made the hike more enjoyable, but it was July, so it was going to be hot. The heat just made the gelato and the swimming that much more enjoyable.
For anyone who wants to see the Cinque Terre and have an active, adventurous day, hiking the trail is a great option.
As for our favorite town, Monterosso was the winner. Monterosso is the largest of the five towns, and with its two beaches, multitude of water sports, and its wonderful energy, we loved it here. In fact, we spent our second day in Cinque Terre relaxing on the beach and renting the paddle boat/slide that Tyler and Kara loved so much.
Vernazza was the prettiest, Corniglia was the quietest, Manarola had a great harbor, and Riomaggiore was the best place to sit and watch the sunset.
In the past few years, the Cinque Terre has become one of Italy’s most visited destinations. From May through September, the cities and the hiking trails can get very crowded. If you visited or hiked the Cinque Terre during the summer months in recent years, how was your experience? We would love to hear about your experience and it would help future readers know what to expect during their visit. Let us know in the comment section at the end of this article.
One-Day Cinque Terre Hiking Plan
If you want to hike most (or all) of the Blue Trail in one day, this pacing plan works well for first-time visitors and aligns with current trail rules.
Option A: Via dell’Amore Is Open (Timed Entry Begins at 9:00 am)
9:00 am: Start in Riomaggiore (Via dell’Amore timed entry). Walk the paved coastal path to Manarola. This section is flat and easy.
9:30–10:00 am: Manarola. Quick harbor stop for coffee or photos.
10:30–11:30 am: Hike to Corniglia. Hike onward (if open) or take the train if this section is closed.
11:30 – 12:00 pm: Corniglia. Stroll through Corniglia, time for gelato?
12:00 – 1:30 pm: Hike to Vernazza.
1:30–2:30 pm: Vernazza (Lunch Stop). Take a longer break here.
After 2:30 pm: Vernazza → Monterosso. If the Monterosso → Vernazza one-way rule is in effect between 9 am and 2 pm, simply wait until after 2 pm to hike this section. Restrictions are typically lifted then.
4:00 pm: Monterosso. Finish with a swim at the beach.
Option B: You Want an Earlier Start (or Via dell’Amore Is Closed)
If you want to start before 9:00 am:
- Skip Via dell’Amore
- Hike the higher trail Riomaggiore to Manarola (lots of steps but incredible views)
- Take the train from Riomaggiore to Manarola
- Or start directly in Manarola or Corniglia
This allows you to begin hiking earlier, get ahead of the crowds, and gives you more flexibility with timing.
We hiked the higher trail, since the Via dell’Amore was closed during our visit.
The view hiking between Vernazza and Monterosso
What to Book in Advance
Hiking the Cinque Terre doesn’t require a lot of advance reservations, but there are a few important things to plan ahead for, especially in peak season (May through September).
Via dell’Amore Timed Entry (If You Plan to Walk It)
The Via dell’Amore (Riomaggiore → Manarola) requires:
- A timed-entry reservation
- An additional fee
- Advance booking during busy months
Entry begins at 9:00 am and spots can sell out on high-traffic days. If walking this section is important to you, reserve your time slot before arriving.
If you don’t get a reservation, you can take the train between Riomaggiore and Manarola or hike the higher alternate route.
Make your reservation on the viadellamore.info website, which also lists times the Via dell’Amore is open. Prices start at 12.50 euros.
Cinque Terre Card
You must have a Cinque Terre Trekking Card (trail access only) or the Cinque Terre Treno Card (trail access + unlimited train travel between Levanto and La Spezia).
- The Cinque Terre Trekking Card starts at €7.50 per person and goes up to €15 on peak red season days, and covers the hiking trails (this covers the trails from Monterosso to Vernazza and Vernazza to Corniglia; you do not need to pay to hike the other trails).
- The Cinque Terre Treno MS Card starts at €19.50 per person (low season) and goes up to €32.50 per person (peak season); or €49 euros for a family of four and increase substantially for peak season. With the Cinque Terre Treno Card, you can hike, take the bus, and take the trains from Levanto to La Spezia. There are also multi-day passes available.
Here is the link to the website.
These can usually be purchased on arrival at train stations or park offices, but during peak summer weekends, lines can be long. Purchasing in advance can save time.
If you plan to mix hiking and train travel, the Treno Card is usually the better value.
Train Tickets (If Not Using the Treno Card)
If you’re not purchasing the Cinque Terre Treno Card and are visiting during peak season, booking regional train tickets in advance can reduce stress, especially later in the afternoon when platforms get crowded.
When to Visit the Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre is a beautiful travel destination that is best visited during the spring (April into early June) and fall (September through October) seasons. Temperatures are pleasant and crowds are lower than during peak season, which runs from June through August.
The graphs below show the average monthly temperatures and precipitation near the city of La Spezia, which will help you plan your trip.
FAQs About Hiking the Cinque Terre
How hard is the Cinque Terre hike?
The Blue Trail is considered easy to moderate, but it includes long stone staircases, uneven terrain, and exposed sections in the sun. The Vernazza → Monterosso section is typically the most strenuous. No technical hiking skills are required, but good footwear and reasonable fitness are important, especially in summer heat.
How long does it take to hike all five towns?
Hiking the full 11 km (6.8 miles) takes about 4 to 6 hours of walking time. Most visitors spend a full day (8–9 hours total), including breaks for exploring the villages, lunch, and swimming in Monterosso.
Do you need a ticket to hike the Cinque Terre?
Yes. To hike the Blue Trail between Monterosso and Corniglia, you must purchase a Cinque Terre Card. The Cinque Terre Treno Card also includes unlimited regional train travel between Levanto and La Spezia. The Via dell’Amore (Riomaggiore → Manarola) requires a separate timed-entry ticket and additional fee.
Can you hike the Cinque Terre in reverse?
Yes, the Blue Trail can generally be hiked in either direction. However, the Via dell’Amore is permanently one-way (Riomaggiore → Manarola), and on select high-traffic dates, the Monterosso → Vernazza section may temporarily operate one-way between 9 am and 2 pm. Always check official trail updates before your hike.
Is the Cinque Terre hike suitable for kids?
Yes, but it depends on age, fitness, and weather. We hiked the entire route with our kids (ages 9 and 11 at the time). The stairs and summer heat were the biggest challenges. If hiking with children, start early, carry plenty of water, and be prepared to use the train if needed.
What happens if a trail section is closed?
Trail closures due to landslides are common. If a section is closed, you can usually take the train between towns or use a higher alternate route (which may be more strenuous). Always check trail status the day before and the morning of your hike.
More Information for Your Trip to the Cinque Terre
If you’re coming from Florence, consider combining your Cinque Terre visit with a stop in Pisa. See our Pisa Day Trip itinerary for tips on visiting the Leaning Tower and nearby sights. For more budget-conscious planning advice, see our guide to visiting the Cinque Terre on a budget.
If you’re building a bigger trip, start with our Italy Travel Guide, which links to all of our city guides, itineraries, hiking destinations, and practical planning tips.
If you have any questions about hiking the Cinque Terre, or if you want to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below.
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