How long does it take to walk across the five towns of Cinque Terre?

You can walk the entire route in about six hours, if you take short breaks?although many hikers prefer to spread the route out over a few days at a strolling pace, stopping to enjoy the towns along the way. You can start from either direction (Monterosso, heading south, or Riomaggiore, heading north).



Walking between all five towns (Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore) via the "Blue Trail" (Sentiero Azzurro) typically takes 5 to 6 hours of actual hiking time. The total distance is roughly 11 kilometers (6.8 miles). However, you should allow a full day (8–10 hours) to account for breaks, photos, and exploring each village. The path between Monterosso and Vernazza is the most demanding, taking about 2 hours due to steep stone stairs. The sections between Riomaggiore and Manarola (the famous Via dell'Amore) and Manarola to Corniglia have historically faced long closures due to landslides; as of 2025/2026, the Via dell'Amore has partially reopened with a reservation system. If these lower coastal paths are closed, hikers must take the "High Path," which is significantly more difficult and adds several hours to the journey. Most travelers prefer to hike 1 or 2 sections and use the local train for the rest.

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Visit some of the villages Choose to visit two or three of the villages, for example Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore. 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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Cover a shorter section of the Cinque Terre hike on a half-day tour that allows you to experience the scenery without walking all day. See Riomaggiore, Manarola, and the village of Groppo as you walk along trails that lead past olive groves and vineyards on the Mediterranean coast.

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Manarola is often the first village that comes to mind when people talk about the Cinque Terre. Along with Vernazza, it is widely regarded as one of the most picturesque and charming villages of the five.

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Shopping and prices The Cinque Terre is not cheap. As everywhere in the world, tourism has raised prices. I often go to the market of La Spezia to shop for food, it's much cheaper than the stores of the villages. In restaurants, you have to expect Western European prices.

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Cinque Terre has a long main season that effectively spans May to October, due to the Liguria region's mild Mediterranean climate. Really the best time to visit Cinque Terre is on the edges of this period, in mid to late April, or mid to late October.

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This town is worth visiting for two to three days. La Spezia is a port city that's located near Cinque Terre. It has a maritime museum and an old town with restaurants and shops. For visitors who choose not to stay in Cinque Terre, it makes a convenient base for exploring the area.

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You can swim in the beautiful blue water of Cinque Terre from May until October. All along the coastal line there are rocky outcrops, harbour quays and sloping pebble beaches covered with eager bodies basking in the sun or enjoying a cooling swim in the clear water.

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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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You definately DO NOT need a guide. If you only have one day, Monterosso is the largest town and this is where you should go. If you plan a full day, I would recommend to hike to the next town (Vernazza). It's about an hour and a half, and sooooo beautiful!

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