Cinque Terre is a collection of five seaside villages on the Northwestern coast of Italy known for its vibrantly-colored houses perched on steep cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Cinque Terre is probably one of the most photographed areas of Italy, and the colorful architecture gives Crayola a run for is money. The coolest part? All five towns of Cinque Terre are connected by hiking trails known as the Blue Trail (Sentiero Azzurro in Italian) with beautiful views of vineyards above and sea below.
When we visited Cinque Terre, hiking between the villages on the Blue Trail was one of our favorite activities and was the perfect way to build up an appetite for a big dinner of pasta and wine!
This article provides all the details about hiking Cinque Terre’s Blue Trail, including hike difficulty, how to find the trailheads, and details about each hike.
Article Contents (click to expand)
- Hiking the Blue Trail in Cinque Terre
- Blue Trail Cinque Terre | Trail Guide
- Blue Trail Cinque Terre | FAQs
- Do I need a permit to hike the Blue Trail?
- When is the best time to hike the Blue Trail?
- How difficult is the Blue Trail?
- How long does it take to hike the Blue Trail?
- What order should I hike the trails?
- How do I get around Cinque Terre?
- Which town should I stay in?
- Are the trails sometimes closed?
- Other Useful Resources
Hiking the Blue Trail in Cinque Terre
Blue Trail | At a Glance
- Hiking distance | 6.9 miles (11 km)
- Elevation gain | 1,719 feet (524 m)
- Estimated time | 5 – 6 hours
- Difficulty | Medium
- Crowd levels | High
- Fees | 7.50 Euro for Cinque Terre Trail Card or 16 Euro for Train Card
- Why you’ll love it | Sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea and the most picturesque coastal villages in Italy.
- Trailhead | Trailheads are easily accessed by foot in either Monterossa and Riomaggiore
- When to go | Possible year-round; best time is during the shoulder seasons of April/May and September/October
Highlights
- Amazing views of the Mediterranean and towns in Cinque Terre
- Trail is just enough of a workout without being too long
- Perfect way to burn some of those calories you know you’ve been consuming in Italy!
- Easy to rest and explore towns along the way
- Can easily be divided into smaller sections with train also connecting towns
Lowlights
- Trail is very popular and crowded, especially during the summer
- Very hot along the trail in the afternoon during the summer
Map of the Blue Trail & Cinque Terre towns
Each of the 5 towns and hiking distances between them are displayed on the map below:
- Monterosso
- Vernazza: from Monterosso: 3.7 km, 2 hr
- Corniglia: from Vernazza: 3.5 km, 2 hr
- Manarola: from Corniglia: 2.7 km, 30 min
- Riomaggiore: from Manorola: 1.3 km, 30 min
All 4 hikes: 11 km, 5-6 hours.
Blue Trail Cinque Terre | Trail Guide
Monterosso to Vernazza
- Hiking distance | 3.7 km (2.3 miles)
- Elevation gain | 764 feet
- Total time | 1.5 – 2 hours
Finding the Trailhead
The trailheads on the Blue Trail can be a little tricky to find. To find the trailhead in Monterosso, head towards the beach and walk south. The trail starts off Via Corone.
Ascent from Monterosso
The hike starts on a stone walkway along the water, featuring awesome views of Monterosso, its beaches, and the rocky coastline with glistening teal waters. The first half mile is the hardest part of the hike, gaining nearly 500 feet of elevation right away.
After a challenging first half mile, the trail starts to level off a good deal. Walking along the sea, high on a cliff, the views are incredible. As you get further into the hike, you’ll pass through beautiful lush vineyards growing on the side of the mountains.
Descent to Vernazza
As you near the end of the trail, the town of Vernazza appears below you in the distance. From here the trail is downhill, leading right into the streets of Vernazza. Meander your way through the narrow streets until you reach the small town’s port and main street.
Vernazza
When you reach Vernazza, spend some time wandering through Vernazza’s maze-like streets to take in all of the colorful houses and views.
Stop into an enoteca for a wine tasting and don’t miss Cinque Terre’s own dessert wine Sciacchetrà , a sweet amber-colored wine that isn’t exported outside of the region. Head out onto the small marina for a perfect photo opportunity looking back at the town.
Vernazza to Corniglia
- Hiking distance | 3.5 km (2.1 miles)
- Elevation gain | 690 feet
- Total time | 1.5 – 2 hours
Finding the Trailhead
As you explore Vernazza, keep an eye out for signs pointing to Corniglia. The trail starts out behind the train station off Via Roma. There are small signs through the town pointing you in the right direction, so it feels a little bit like a scavenger hunt.
Ascent from Vernazza
Once again, the hike starts out with a steep climb leaving Vernazza. The trail gains nearly 200 feet over the first quarter mile, levels off briefly, and then resumes a steep climb until 0.7 miles in. From here the trail is relatively flat until you descend towards Corniglia.
As you make your way back up to the trail, the view looking back down over Vernazza’s peninsula is stunning.
Descent Towards Corniglia
After a mile into the hike, you will begin a slow, gradual descent towards Corniglia, and eventually the little town appears perched on a cliff in the distance. The end of the hike comes out on a road behind Corniglia so just keep following the path until you reach the town.
Corniglia
Corniglia is the smallest of the five towns and the only one not directly on the ocean. Take some time to meander through the streets, grab a gelato (the toughest hikes of the day are behind you!) and enjoy the views high above the Mediterranean.
Corniglia to Manarola
- Hiking distance | 2.7 km (1.7 miles)
- Elevation gain | 350 feet
The trail between Corniglia and Manarola is a relatively easy walk along the ocean. In recent years, the trail has frequently been closed due to mudslides, making the path impassible. Unfortunately, the trail was closed when we were there.
Manorola
Manarola is perhaps the most picturesque of the villages, with the colorful homes almost spilling into the ocean. When you think of Cinque Terre, this is probably the town you picture.
There is a popular restaurant, Nessun Dorma, high on the cliff opposite the town, with plenty of outdoor seating and unmatched views of the town, providing the perfect backdrop to a bottle of wine and bruschetta.
Manarola to Riomaggiore
- Hiking distance | 1.3 km (0.8 miles)
- Elevation gain | 180 feet
The trail from Manarola to Riomaggiore is a paved path known as Via D’Amore, or the “Lover’s Lane.” Dating back to the 20th century when construction workers building the railway between Manarola and Riomaggiore needed a way to get between the two towns. It was closed in 2012 when some rocks fell and unfortunately injured a few tourists and just recently re-opened in 2023.
Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore is a great place to grab dinner and drinks after a long day of hiking. We even found a bar here serving a variety of local beers, called Fuori Rotta, which was a welcome change of pace after a week of drinking wine. Don’t get me wrong, we love Italian wine, but nothing beats a cold beer after a hot day of hiking!
Blue Trail Cinque Terre | FAQs
Do I need a permit to hike the Blue Trail?
In order to hike the trails between Corniglia and Vernazza and between Vernazza and Monterrosso, you will need a Cinque Terre Card. There are two different options:
- Cinque Terre Trekking Card: gives you access to the trails only
1 day pass: €7.50
2 day pass: €14.50 - Cinque Terre Train Card: gives you access to the trails and unlimited use of the trains between the towns
1 day pass: €16
2 day pass: €31
So which should you buy? Since each single train ticket cost 4 euro, it makes financial sense to buy the Cinque Terre Train card if you plan to take the train more than twice with a 1 day pass or more than once per day with a 2 day pass. Otherwise, you may want to stick to the Trekking Card.
One additional advantage of the Cinque Terre Train Card, versus buying individual tickets, is that it allows you to skip the ticket lines in the train station, which can save some precious time and make the card worthwhile.
Plan your hike | You can buy Cinque Terre Trekking or Train cards online before you go.
When is the best time to hike the Blue Trail?
The best time to hike the Blue Trail is during the shoulder seasons from April-May and September-October.
The summer months (June-August) are undoubtedly the peak tourist season across Italy, so expect larger crowds and crowded trails. If you hike the Blue Trail during these months, it’s especially important to get an early start.
While you definitely can hike during the late fall, winter, and early spring (November-March), there is a higher chance of colder temperatures, rain, and dark clouds.
Therefore, the best time to hike is during the shoulder seasons, when there are fewer crowds but the weather is still nice.
How difficult is the Blue Trail?
The Blue Trail is a moderately difficult hike. If you are a seasoned hiker, it won’t be too much of a challenge.
There are some steep and narrow sections so definitely make sure you are wearing proper hiking attire.
One of the great things about the Blue Trail is that you can rest or end your hike at any of the towns along the way. If you’re feeling tired, hungry, thirsty, or decide you’d rather be drinking wine or eating gelato, you can do all the above at any of the town along the trail.
How long does it take to hike the Blue Trail?
It’s hard to estimate how long the Blue Trail will take because it depends on how much time you spend in each town.
If you hiked straight through without stopping, it would probably take the average hiker about 4 hours. But exploring the small towns along the way is the best part!
You can relax on the beach in Monterosso, enjoy the best gelato in Corniglia, or enjoy a glass of wine in Vernazza. It’s entirely up to you!
Therefore, though you could do it faster, we’d plan on spending a full day hiking the Blue Trail.
What order should I hike the trails?
The most efficient way to hike all 4 sections of the Blue Trail will depend on where you are staying in Cinque Terre, and how many trails you plan to hike in one day.
If you are trying to hike all 4 in one day, our recommended route would be to start in Monterosso and end in Riomaggiore for a few reasons:
- This is the more straightforward way to hike the four trails consecutively without having to retrace your steps or hop on the train mid day
- The trails from Monterosso to Vernazza and Vernazza to Corniglia are the longest, but also the most beautiful. You don’t want to miss these two hikes! Its best to knock them out early just in case you run out of time or energy later in the day.
- That being said, these two trails are also the most popular. They get very crowded later in the day. Getting an early start will allow you to enjoy the nature around you in peace.
If the trails between Riomaggiore, Manorola or Corniglia are closed, it may be best to start in Corniglia and end in Monterosso so you can spend your afternoon relaxing on the beach in Monterosso.
How do I get around Cinque Terre?
The five towns are easy to travel between by train. During the summer months, the train runs every 20 minutes. Depending on which town you are staying in, you will likely need to take the train to avoid hiking the same path twice.
Pro Tip | Make sure you validate your card before boarding the train – in Cinque Terre they check often. If you purchase your card online, you don’t need to validate it.
Which town should I stay in?
Each of the towns has a unique personality, so the best town to stay in depends on what you are looking for. We stayed in Corngilia, and loved it. Remember that no matter where you stay, it is easy to get to any of the other towns.
Monterosso: the largest and most commercialized town. Monterosso features the only real beach of the five towns, so if you are a beach bum this is the town for you! On the other hand, if you want something a little quieter or more private, this is probably not the best option.
Vernazza: the old shipping village. Vernazza features a port and small beachy area. The buildings of Vernazza are built haphazardly on top of each other up the side of the clif, and wandering through the caruggi (narrow lanes) in Vernazza feels like you’re navigating through a maze.
Corniglia: the smallest, quietest and least touristy town. Corgiglia sits perched high on a cliff, and is the only town of the five that isn’t directly on the water. Although we loved staying in Corniglia, it is the most difficult to access. After getting off the train, you’ll have to either take a shuttle or walk up a very steep hill to reach the town. If you are on a budget, this is probably the cheapest place to stay.
Manarola: the second smallest town, and the most picturesque (in my opinion). The view from the cliff looking back at Manarola is probably the most popular image of Cinque Terre. The grapes used to make Cinque Terre’s Sciacchetrà are grown in the area surrounding Manarola, creating a perfect backdrop of grapevines.
Riomaggiore: the party town. Riomaggiore is known for its bustling nightlife. There are plenty of good restaurants here.
Are the trails sometimes closed?
Be aware that sometimes the trails will be closed due to mudslides.
Check the current status of the trails here before you go.
Other Useful Resources
Looking for more to do in Europe? Check out these resources for more inspiration!
If you are planning to visit northern Italy, the Blue Trail in Cinque Terre is a must. Have you hiked the Blue Trail in Cinque Terre? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
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