Walking in Italy's Cinque Terre

Perched above a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage coastline in the Italian Riviera, the five fishing villages of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore are connected by a network of cliff and vineyard paths that make the Cinque Terre one of the most iconic walking destinations in Italy. Beyond the famous villages, the surrounding area extends to neighbouring Levanto, Campiglia, and Porto Venere, offering quieter routes well away from the crowds. All five Cinque Terre villages serve as starting points in this Cicerone guidebook by Gillian Price, which describes 16 graded walks ranging from 2 to 14km (1 to 8 miles) and can be completed in 2 to 5 hours, all accessible by public transport. It combines clear route descriptions with notes on local history, plants, wildlife, and cuisine to help you explore the Cinque Terre with confidence and context. The 16 walks are graded 1 to 3 and cover routes in and around all five Cinque Terre villages as well as Levanto, Campiglia, and Porto Venere, ranging from easy coastal paths to steep climbs through vineyards and cliff-edge terrainThe popular Sentiero Verde Azzurro linking Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore is described in full, alongside a superb higher traverse continuing via Campiglia to Porto VenereAll 16 routes can be combined to create a 3 to 4 day trek across the Cinque Terre, with detailed information on accommodation, refreshments, and public transport, making it straightforward to plan a multi-day itinerary by train and ferriesMaps at 1:50,000 or 1:25,000 are included for each walk alongside GPX files available to download, so you can navigate the ancient paths with confidence, whether on paper or on a GPS device or smartphone appSpring (April to June) and autumn (September and October) are the best seasons for walking, though winter offers a quieter and magical experience for those happy to find some accommodation providers and restaurants closed From the Sentiero Verde Azzurro linking all five villages to the quieter heights above Campiglia and Porto Venere, this guidebook covers the full breadth of walking in the Cinque Terre with maps, GPX downloads, and expert local knowledge for every route.