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Outdoors

Cinque Terre Coastal Trail Hike

You follow the coastal path between two of the five villages, climbing stone steps and mule tracks through olive groves, lemon groves and terraced vineyards held up by dry-stone walls. The high point is Costa Mesorano at about 150 m, and you drop into Vernazza past Castello Doria and the church of Santa Margherita d'Antiochia.

For The Reps · Updated

hike scenery for Cinque Terre Coastal Trail near Liguria coast
Photo: Trail to Levanto, Monterosso Al Mare SP, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy - panoramio by trolvag, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0). Via Wikimedia Commons.
Where
Liguria coast, Italy
Distance
3.7 km one way
Climb
217 m
Time
2 hours to 2 hours 15 minutes one way
Difficulty
Hard

Check before you go: In September 2026 the park closed the Corniglia to Vernazza to Monterosso section while geologists check storm damage. (as of September 30, 2026)

The route

Sentiero Verde Azzurro (SVA 592-4), Monterosso to Vernazza.

The path leaves Monterosso al Mare from Via Corone, above the old town. Trains on the Genoa to La Spezia line stop at all five villages, and a scheduled ferry between Levanto and La Spezia calls at every village except Corniglia.

When to go

The park asks you to walk only in good weather, and it closes sections after storms and landslides, so check its trail notices on the morning you go.

Permits and fees

You need a Cinque Terre Trekking Card for the paid section between Monterosso, Vernazza and Corniglia. A one-day adult card costs €10 on standard days and €15 on peak days; buy it online or at park information points in the train stations.

Before you go

  • Walk one way and take the train back, as every village has a station on the same line.
  • The park times the walk at 2 hours from Vernazza to Monterosso and 2 hours 15 minutes the other way.
  • The Trekking Card also covers the Via dell'Amore between Riomaggiore and Manarola, local park buses and the toilets at the village stations.
  • Wear proper walking shoes; the park says its trails are for experienced walkers in suitable footwear.

What to bring

  • Shoes with grip that you have already worn in
  • At least 1.5 litres of water
  • Food you will actually want to eat
  • A warm or waterproof layer
  • The route, saved offline
  • Sun cream and a hat

Getting ready for it

If your longest walk lately is under two hours, do a few longer walks first, ideally with some climbing and the pack you will carry.

Step-ups and lunges twice a week make the descents much easier on your knees.

Staying safe

  • In September 2026 the park listed the Corniglia to Vernazza to Monterosso section as closed while geologists check storm damage, and a stretch near Via Servano in Monterosso is under a municipal closure order. Check the park website before you travel.
  • Landslides often close parts of the Cinque Terre path network, especially after heavy rain.
  • Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
  • Turn around if the weather turns or the footing gets sketchy. The trail will still be there.

Route details checked September 30, 2026 against parconazionale5terre.it, parconazionale5terre.it, parconazionale5terre.it, parconazionale5terre.it, parconazionale5terre.it, parconazionale5terre.it, en.wikipedia.org and en.wikipedia.org. Rules and closures change, so check before you go.