There are basically three ways to move from one village to another; you either walk, take the train or the boat. The walking trail is 12 kilometers and runs along the coast through all five villages from Riomaggiore in the south to Monterosso in the north.

Historically, you could walk between all five towns (Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore) via the Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail), but current conditions make this a bit more complex. As of 2026, the iconic Via dell'Amore (the flat path between Riomaggiore and Manarola) has finally reopened after years of repairs, but other sections of the lower coastal trail often close due to landslides or maintenance. If the lower trails are closed, you can still "walk" between all the towns using the higher, more strenuous trails that go up into the terraced vineyards. These "Red Trails" are much more demanding, with significant elevation changes, but they are always open and offer better views. For a standard traveler, it is common to walk the easier sections (like Monterosso to Vernazza) and use the Cinque Terre Express train for the segments where the coastal path is blocked or too steep, as the train ride between towns takes only 2 to 5 minutes.