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How hard is the hike from Riomaggiore to Manarola?

531 Riomaggiore - Manarola (via Beccara)
  • Forward time: 1 hour.
  • Return time: 1 hour/s.
  • Difficulty Level: EE - For expert hikers.
  • Length: 1.470 km.
  • Difference in height: 202m.




The difficulty of the hike from Riomaggiore to Manarola depends on which path you take. The world-famous Via dell'Amore (Path of Love) is a very easy, flat, 900-meter paved walkway that hugs the cliffside; it finally fully reopened in late 2024 after more than a decade of repairs and is accessible to almost everyone, including those with strollers. However, as of 2026, access requires a pre-booked ticket and follows a one-way flow from Riomaggiore to Manarola. If you prefer a more traditional hike, the Beccara Path (n. 531) is the alternative route. This hike is extremely strenuous and difficult; it is a steep, vertical climb involving hundreds of stone steps up the mountainside and a sharp descent into the next village. While it only takes about an hour, it requires good physical fitness and sturdy footwear. For most tourists, the easy Via dell'Amore provides the stunning coastal views they seek without the intense physical exertion of the higher mountain trails.

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Head out on this 1.2-mile point-to-point trail near Riomaggiore, Liguria. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 5 min to complete.

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Over six hundred steps to reach the Corniolo hill which dominates and separates Riomaggiore and Manarola and from which you immediately begin to descend, always vertically and always facing a unique panorama, on terraces, villages, and inlets from the Madonna di Montenero to Punta Mesco.

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Monterosso Al Mare to Vernazza The trail portion between Monterroso Al Mare and Vernazza is the most difficult and challenging of all Cinque Terre trails. There are lots of narrow steps and stairs to hike up and down. You have to climb lots of hills up and down. Remember that you can hike in either direction.

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The most popular of these paths is the Sentiero Azzurro (blue trail) and it shows up as blue on most maps. Although it can be rigorous at times, it is the easiest, most direct route between Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso.

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Vernazza: Located to the north of the Cinque Terre, Vernazza is probably the most beautiful and picturesque fishing village of Cinque Terre, where its colourful houses hang above the sea level on rugged cliffs. It has a charming natural port and an old castle, built to protect the area from pirates.

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You have to skip Corniglia situated on top of a cliff 100 metres above sea level. If you are limited on time, take the train between the villages.

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Vernazza and Manarola are both very beautiful towns, probably the Cinque Terre's two prettiest. There really is no better location - The towns are all very near each other, and very accessible by train, boat or trek. Vernazza is the more popular destination and probably more touristy, so Manarola may better suit you.

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Riomaggiore is the most accessible of the villages, being closer to La Spezia, and it has less of the remote-fishing-village look. Also you may be able to get parking in Monterosso depending on your hotel. It's the only village anyone should consider driving to. La Spezia would be more expensive to park than Levanto.

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Riomaggiore is a village and commune in the province of La Spezia, situated in a small valley in the Liguria region of Italy. It is the first of the Cinque Terre villages one encounters when travelling north from La Spezia.

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Manarola has brightly painted houses, priceless medieval relics and a tiny harbour that features a boat ramp and a swimming hole; to the north, on the way to Corniglia, there's a stunning viewpoint (Punta Bonfiglio) where visitors can enjoy a drink in a bar between the village's cemetery and the sea.

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Manarola has brightly painted houses, priceless medieval relics and a tiny harbour that features a boat ramp and a swimming hole; to the north, on the way to Corniglia, there's a stunning viewpoint (Punta Bonfiglio) where visitors can enjoy a drink in a bar between the village's cemetery and the sea.

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Corniglia is the only one of the five Cinque Terre towns that isn't a fishing town and you need to walk up around 365 steps to get there. That puts most people off and means that Corniglia is the Cinque Terre town with the fewest tourists.

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