Where do I start the Cinque Terre walk?

You can start from either direction (Monterosso, heading south, or Riomaggiore, heading north). But here's a tip: Start from Riomaggiore, where the paths are easier and paved, and work your way up to the more challenging trails. That way, you can stop at any time… and head to the nearest train station if you have to!



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If you want a much easier hike, definitely hike from Vernazza to Monterosso (and not vice versa). The trail is much easier and Monterosso has the best beach of all five villages — so you can relax on the beach after your hike! Be sure to bring water and snacks on your hike!

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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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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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Top trails (69)
  • Blue Trail: Vernazza - Monterosso. ...
  • Blue Trail: Monterosso al Mare - Vernazza. ...
  • Blue Trail: Corniglia - Vernazza. ...
  • Blue Trail: Corniglia - Manarola via Volastra. ...
  • Blue Trail: Vernazza - Corniglia. ...
  • Blue Trail, Via Beccara: Manarola - Riomaggiore. ...
  • Blue Trail, Via Beccara: Riomaggiore - Manarola. ...
  • Levanto - Monterosso.


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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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Head out on this 2.3-mile point-to-point trail near Vernazza, Liguria. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 22 min to complete. This is a very popular area for birding and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.

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The easiest village to reach by car is actually Monterosso, which also has the cheapest parking. Manarola and Riomaggiore do have parking lots above their towns, but you will need to walk from there to the center. Corniglia and Vernazza are more difficult to reach by car, due to narrow roads and limited parking space.

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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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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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Cost. Visiting Cinque Terre should be cheaper than the Amalfi Coast. Of course, so much depends on your choices – how you travel around, where and how long you stay, which restaurants you dine at, etc. But in general, the Amalfi Coast is a much more expensive destination than Cinque Terre.

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cinque terre is more rugged and less upscale. portofino is a beuatiful natural park with lots of hikes and things to do - you can take a ferry trip to cinque terre if you wish from there.

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The accommodations are cheaper in La Spezia than if you were to stay in Cinque Terre, and the roads are a lot easier to navigate with luggage! La Spezia makes a great home base for your northern Italy / Cinque Terre adventures!

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