The Cinque Terre hike is a pearl for hiking enthusiasts, botanists or pleasure lovers. It links five picturesque, dreamy villages dating back to the Middle Ages and lies about 80km south of Genoa. The cliffs on which the villages are built rise majestically from the crystal clear sea and offer a breathtaking view of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The hike leads through terraced vineyards that nestle against the steep cliffs and through fragrant lemon groves. An unforgettable hike awaits you on the Cinque Terre. I found the tour magnificent. Chapeau!
Content
1. Journey
2. Route
3. Accommodation
4. Weather and best time to travel
5. Further information
6. Recommended stages
7. Packing list
8. GPX and map information
9. Conclusion
General information: The Cinque Terre is the name given to a strip of coast of the Italian Riviera, about twelve kilometres long, with a favourable climate, between Punta Mesco and Punta di Montenero, northwest of La Spezia, in the Liguria region. The five villages of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore line up from northwest to southeast. The high mountains, romantic little towns and steeply sloping coastline form a beautiful backdrop for extended walks and makes the Cinque Terre an unforgettable experience.
As always, I recommend my video on the tour:
How to get there
Flight: The best option is to take a flight to Pisa to the Aeroporto Internationale di Pisa Galileo Galilei airport.
Train: Travelling by train is of course also possible. From the airport, you can easily reach the train station in Pisa on foot. From there, take a train to La Spezia. I spent my first night in La Spezial, where there is reasonably cheap accommodation. You can also easily reach the starting point of the hike from there. Bus: The next morning, take the regional bus 11/P to Porto Venere, the starting point of the tour.
Car: If you are travelling by car, I can recommend the car park in Porto Venere.
Tip: If you arrive by car, I can recommend the parking garage in Porto Venere.
Route
On this hike you have to cover 40 km and a good 2000 metres in altitude.
I needed two days for the tour, which is very sporty. For the connoisseur, I would recommend 3-4 days.
Day 1: Porto Venere is the starting point of the hike. It is a medieval village with a small harbour in a fantastic location, which lies directly on the sea. The small harbour is surrounded by many colourfully painted houses. In the main street, called Via Cappelini, you will find small shops, restaurants and many decorated old houses everywhere. Then follow the beautiful coastal path past the fortress and the traditional Italian cemetery. You'll embark on a journey through Italian history and culture as you explore the historic paths that run between the villages. The air is filled with the salty smell of the sea and the aroma of wild herbs growing along the paths. From now on, it's all about you: Hiking with a view of the sea until you reach the picturesque villages of Manarola and Riomaggiore. You can expect pastel-coloured houses, small alleyways and charming little harbours. Riomaggiore and Manarola are about halfway along the route. These are ideal places to spend the first night.
In between, there are always small villages or places to stop for refreshments. You can always take a break to enjoy the breathtaking views and taste the delicacies of the local cuisine. It is a journey that is an experience for all the senses. I found the small wine terraces particularly inviting. Treat yourself to a glass - cheers!
Day 2: The second day is another sweaty day, sometimes uphill, sometimes downhill, along the coast to Monterosso al Mare. From Monterosso to Vernazza, the hiking trail is unfortunately subject to a fee. The old paths high above the sea lead through sunny vineyards and olive groves, as well as along dry stone walls and steep slopes with fantastic views. As there is little shade and you are exposed to the movement of the air all day, I would like to recommend my beloved Piz Buin Mountain sunscreen, specially developed for mountaineers, as well as my ultra-light sun cap and wind blocker!
• Sun cap
"The sun also shines behind the clouds." Quote from Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Wander
In contrast to the gently sloping beaches south of La Spezia, the coast of the Cinque Terre is partly rugged and rocky. The hiking trails are also steep in many places and can only be walked safely with suitable, sturdy footwear.
That's why i would also like to recommend my beloved Salewa trekking shoes because of the challenging mountain trails:
"Only where you have been on foot have you really been". Quote Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Attention: Especially in spring, when the rich vegetation on the mild coastal strip is in full bloom, the hiking trails are very busy.
Train: From Monterroso al Mare you can easily take the train back to Pisa, Genoa or La Spezia.
Tip: From Monterosso al Mare you can extend your hike with the "Via dei Santuari", the historical section from Monterosso to Vernazza. I liked this section very much. Around 120 km of hiking trails lead through the World Heritage Site "Cinque Terre National Park".
Accommodation
Wild camping: Is not allowed on the Cinque Terre and is difficult. Unfortunately, accommodation is not exactly cheap. In Manarola I paid 100 euros for one night.
So on this tour you can only stay in a hotel or flat. I would strongly recommend booking in advance.
You can book a hotel or flat in any city. The best way to do this is with "Booking" or "Airbnb". You can also simply cut your route in half if the stages are too long.
For optimal preparation for any tour, I recommend the workouts on my Youtube channel:
Weather and best time to travel
On Cinque Terre there is often a mix of sun and clouds. Temperatures are pleasantly warm, depending on the time of year. There is hardly a bad time to visit the Cinque Terre. However, I recommend the period from April to June and September to mid-October. In July and August it can get very hot and therefore uncomfortable for walking.
Attention: In winter, however, there might be some snow on the mountains. So check before you start your tour or google for a local webcam.
Italienisches Sprichwort: „Chi va piano va sano e va lontano.“
English: "If you take it slow and easy, you will stay healthy and go far".
More information about the Cinque Terre Trail
Good footwear is compulsory: there is a legal guideline for correct footwear on the Cinque Terre Trail. Anyone who enters the hiking trails in the National Park with inadequate footwear, such as sandals or flip-flops, must reckon with considerable penalties.
Cinque Terre Card: The four main hiking trails in the Cinque Terre National Park are subject to a fee. There are two types of tickets: the Cinque Terre Card Trekking and Cinque Terre Card Treno (including train) which have different validity periods and services. The Cinque Terre Card (day ticket) is available at the entrance to the trails and cost me 7.50 euros. Other tickets, e.g. for only one hiking route, are not available. But with the card you can also use the bus in the park area for free. With the Cinque Terre Card Treno for 16 euros you can also use the train (but you have to stamp the ticket before boarding). There is no charge for the other routes. Here's to the Cinque Terre Card 2019.
Hiking trails app: With the hiking trails app of the National Park Authority you get all the information about the condition of the trails. The app is free of charge.
Ultrarunning event: "Sciacchetrail" is the name of a small ultrarun that leads through the Cinque Terre villages at the beginning of April with 47 km and 2,650 metres of altitude. The special thing about the "Sciacchetrail" is that it is limited to 300 participants: www.sciacchetrail.com. Pay attention to the date of the run, otherwise your hiking adventure is over.
Don't forget to take an emergency bivouac with you. It consists of an emergency blanket that is cold-resistant, a whistle and a mini compass. It should be in your rucksack on every hike anyway.
As the old Scottish saying goes: "There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes!"
Long-distance hiking trails in Europe: 90 routes, all countries
Wild & adventurous: these are the most beautiful long-distance hiking trails in Europe.
Sicherheitshinweise
Auch beim Wandern und Trekking gelten alle Sicherheitsregeln des Bergsports! Die Sicherheitsregeln findest du in der nachstehenden Verlinkung:
Recommended stages for the Cinque Terre Trail
1) Porto Venere to Riomaggiore or Manarola approx. 19 km
2) Manarola to Monterosso al Mare or Levanto approx. 19 or 25km
On the trail you will cross the following peaks and villages:
Porto Venere Village
Grotta di Byron Cave entrance
Monte Muzzerone (325 m) peak
Bocca dei Cavallin (358 m) mountain saddle
Campiglia (389 m) Settlement
Schiara Settlement
Torretto Settlement
Colle del Telegrafo (516 m) mountain saddle
Viewpoint on Riomaggiore Viewpoint
Riomaggiore village
Manarola village
Volastra (340 m) Settlement
Porciana Settlement
Località Lardarina Neighbourhood
Corniglia village
Cinque terre Cornelia Viewpoint
Vernazza village
Monterosso al Mare village
Packing list
Here I recommend the most important hiking equipment that I own, have tested myself and have also bought myself. I pay a lot of attention to the weight and quality of my equipment. The equipment should simply feel good on longer tours and also be light. I can recommend the equipment for women because my wife uses it and it is basically the same as the equipment for men.
Note: Please keep in mind that the packing list is general and you will have to adapt it depending on the season and your needs!
Advertising note: These product links are affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission without you having to pay more. This is for the maintenance of my blog and you support me with my project, for which I am very grateful. Thank you very much!
Clothes
Hiking boots
Hiking shorts
Long hiking pants
Functional shirt
Hybridjacket
Fleece-jacket
Rain jacket
Functional underwear
Hiking socks
Other hiking equipment:
• Sun cap
• Bivouac
Hiking backback (approx. 60 litres or as required)
by EXPED - unfortunately not available on Amazon.
• Backback - Ospray (was my old one and is also good)
Technology and orientation:
• Compass
• Headlamp
• GPS device or GPS watch if necessary
• Binoculars if necessary
Catering:
• Sweets to keep up morale :)
Health & first Aid:
• First Aid (small and light)
• Tape
• Bivouac
• Toilet paper
Other:
• Passport/Insurance certificate
• cash
• Gas cartridge
Film equipment:
• Camera
• Drone
• Tripod
• Clip
GPX and hiking map (Cinque terre hiking trails)
The GPX files are available for download from the following providers.
Outdooractive: https://out.ac/3ukEbB
Here is the route on the map:
Conclusion
The Cinque Terre walking tour is an unforgettable journey through a unique landscape where you can experience the beauty of Italy at first hand. It shows a cross-section of the beautiful landscape of the Cinque Terre National Park. I really enjoyed the tour! Have a great time and good luck ;)
As always, I would be very happy to receive feedback via one of my channels.
You are also welcome to leave me a comment.
Hello, I am Christian, the chief globetrotter of this Site and an enthusiastic adventurer, hiker and filmmaker. I love to explore new paths and inspire people with them, and I love to share my hiking knowledge with you! You can also find my videos on YouTube! On my blog you can find tips for beginners and professionals on the greatest and most beautiful hiking tours there are. I want to encourage people to explore the world as a hiker, whether in the countryside, through the forest or in the mountains. True to the motto: If you haven't hiked, you haven't seen the world,
On my blog, I also write about hiking gear, the right summit training and nature conservation, as well as tips and information about hiking.