Translated as the Five Lands of the Ligurian coast, the villages of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore are linked by the Azure Trail, all jewels in the crown of Cinque Terre National Park. Which is aptly translated as Five Lands. Hiking in the Cinque Terre is one of the most sought-after walking tours in Italy, but knowing where and when to go is vital in order to avoid the crowds.
Here’s our guide to all five towns within the national park, as well as cinque top tips to walking there. One of the most important things to note is that Cinque Terre National Park has 48 trails spanning around 120km, and so walking here is not all about the villages. In fact, the Cinque Terre is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to its array of man-made terraces and dry stone walls, to protect vineyards, olive groves and other pastoral paradises. Many of which you get to stroll through on our walking holidays.
The five villages of Cinque Terre National Park
Monterosso al Mare
This is the mother of the fabulous family of five. Well at least we’re going with that title, as she is the largest, one of the most fertile, located on hills bedecked with lemons, vines and olives, and she’s goddess-like in her beauty. She’s also a multitasker, dividing her love in several directions: her historic centre and new town, which are separated by a tunnel, her beaches (the most extensive in the region) and also towards the elevated landscapes behind her. As Monterosso al Mare, the westernmost of the five, is a popular beach resort, it’s also one of the busiest spots with tourists. Monterosso al Mare’s old town is a magical mix of castle ruins, medieval streets and multi-coloured houses. She’s a beauty and, for our purposes, we’re calling her Monterossa la Madre for now. Any objections on a postcard please!
Vernazza
Vernazza has a strong heart, having been the most badly hit during severe floods and landslides in 2011, although you’d hardly notice that this small community, their pastel houses, cobblestone streets, vineyards and village squares were inundated. They worked to rescue and restore, and now we get to revel in it all once more. Whether you’re enjoying sunset in the main square, joining the passeggiata in its natural harbour, or taking a mindful moment in its 14th-century Santa Margherita d’Antiochia Church, which clings to the rocky coastline that was once ravaged. By storms and pirates. Vernazza has a vitality that is infectious and inspiring, and is a favourite of the five for many an adventurer.
Corniglia
There’s nothing corny about Corniglia, but there is something gloriously cocoon-like about it. Not only because it’s the smallest of the five Cinque Terre villages, but also because it is not as accessible. So you have to walk up 382 steps if you’re ascending to its location of 105m above sea level. Unless you’re on a hiking holiday of course. And then you get to access via a ridge walking trail. What awaits is a headland that’s studded with multi-coloured houses, looking like a charm bracelet with an array of fascinating stories hanging off it. Corny but true.
Manarola
Built around a natural harbour, Manarola is a favourite with keen swimmers who can escape the noise of day trippers, and swim out far enough to look back at the ravishing creation on the rocks. One that is also full of ancient relics, as this is the oldest of the Cinque Terre villages where older local people even still use an historic dialect of Manarolese. Manarola is particularly famous for its dessert wine, Sciacchetrà, which should be drunk after swimming not before, as it’s strong but stunning. And unique to the area. The village is pretty and petite, but man, Manarola gets packed in peak season, especially as it’s connected with nearby Riomaggiore by the Via dell’Amore. Which you will fall in love with, if you go in a quieter season.
Riomaggiore
It’s rocky, it’s got a river running underneath it, it’s home to an iconic red jewel house on the waterfront, and it’s got a ridge that’s made for rambling. When you’ve taken in its typical Cinque Terre wonders of narrow waterfront streets, Romanesque Church of San Giovanni Battista di Riomaggiore and the 13th-century Castello, head up to Colle del Telegrafo, where you can follow the panoramic ridge trail all the way to Porto Venere, passing through the quieter hamlet of Campiglia.
Five tips to walking in Cinque Terre National Park
1. Choose your time wisely
The villages of Cinque Terre National Park experience their peak surge between May and September, including a lot of day trippers from cruise liners, which dock at La Spezia. However, most visitors don’t want to hike for 12km, they just want to walk from the train station to the gelateria, or dip their toes into the Med. The quietest and best time for walking is April and May, as well as October. There will always be visitors, but definitely not as many. Plus the trails are all open during this time. Our hiking holidays on the Cinque Terre are open between March and October and they also take you off the main Azure Trail into more adventurous terrain.
2. Check path and pass news
Check with the local authority for path updates, as sometimes they close certain sections if they get too crowded. Or they may limit walking access to one-way only. This is why you also pay for the Cinque Terre Card, which gives access to the payable trails, limits visitor numbers and goes towards maintaining the paths too. It’s only valid for certain dates, non-transferable to another person or other dates, and we provide one as part of our five day walking holiday.
3. Bring walking poles to the Cinque Terre
Walking poles are highly recommended for the Cinque Terre trails. The hikes feature many steep, rocky steps and uneven descents that can put stress on your joints. However, it’s important to use rubber tips on the poles, to protect the ancient stone paths. Read more in our blog, Do you need hiking poles for walking holidays? If you are flying to Italy and unable to bring them on the flight because of packing restrictions, they are often sold in local shops, particularly in La Spezia town.
4. Travel by train to Cinque Terre National Park
Not only are the villages all linked by a walking trail, they have train stations too, and the Cinque Terre Card that you are given for path access also covers the regional trains. You can also travel to the national park itself by train, nationally and internationally. The main travel hub to connect to the trails is La Spezia Centrale. Read more in our blog, Travel to Italy by train.
5. Read why our hikers love Cinque Terre
“We had a wonderful time hiking the Cinque Terre trails. We opted to go from Corniglia to Manarola on the second day of hiking. Very steep heading out of Corniglia but rewarded with such beautiful views walking through the vineyards. The hotels were excellent and the weather fully cooperated.” Cee, USA on our Hiking the Cinque Terre holiday.”
“Hiking the Cinque Terre was remarkable! Breathtaking views, gorgeous hotel stays, and really clear and easy-to-follow directions. This is the second trip with The Natural Adventure and not our last! Communication was always clear, and this particular trip offered enough variety and options that we were able to make adjustments in real time based on where we wanted to go and the level of difficulty each hike provided. Not only were the hikes amazing, but the stays in both Monterosso and Porto Venere were just breathtaking. I cannot wait to return one day to Porto Venere and spend a week there exploring and enjoying the hospitality of that lovely town.” – Piper, Chicago on our Hiking the Cinque Terre holiday.
“Great walking holiday with The Natural Adventure! Everything was well organised…Best days were the longer walks away from the over-populated shorter walks between the five main villages. The scenery along the Cinque Terre was lovely and we loved Camogli and Bonassola.” – Ellen, New York on our Walking in Liguria: Cinque Terre, Portofino and Porto Venere holiday.
“The organisation of the trip was extremely efficient and smooth. I was a bit apprehensive about doing this walk on my own as an older person, but the clear directions and the ActiveNav app made me feel very comfortable and safe. It was a stunningly beautiful and rewarding experience from start to finish. Some of the walks are quite challenging hikes, but the satisfaction of overcoming obstacles and the exquisite views that opened up below me were reward enough. Thank you for this empowering experience.” – Maz, Johannesburg on our Hiking the Cinque Terre holiday.
