Hiking the Sentiero Azzurro [Cinque Terre]

The Sentiero Azzurro, or 'Blue Path', is one of the most famous hiking trails in Italy. It connects the five villages of Cinque Terre over four stages.

We will hike to all five villages in one day, showing you the segments leading to Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

Join us on one of the most beautiful hikes in Italy along the Ligurian coast.

The famous hiking trail Sentiero Azzurro, the 'Blue Path', connects the five villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore in four stages. Here you can find all the attractions of Cinque Terre.

Stage 1: Monterosso - Vernazza: 4.2 kilometers; 200 meters elevation (fee required)

Stage 2: Vernazza - Corniglia: 3.5 kilometers, 160 meters elevation (fee required)

Stage 3: Corniglia - Manarola: 2.5 kilometers, 60 meters elevation

Stage 4: Manarola - Riomaggiore (Via dell'Amore): 1.9 kilometers, 30 meters elevation (fee required)

The first two stages from Monterosso to Vernazza and from Vernazza to Corniglia require a fee from mid-March to early November. Outside this period, the trail is freely accessible.

The Sentiero Azzurro in the Cinque Terre National Park runs relatively smoothly near the shoreline, but the stages from Monterosso to Vernazza and from Vernazza to Corniglia feature a significant elevation profile.

• As of August 2024, alongside the first two stages of the Sentiero Azzurro from Monterosso to Vernazza and to Corniglia, the 'Via dell'Amore' from Manarola to Riomaggiore is also open again. Only the stage from Corniglia to Manarola is expected to remain closed until mid-2025 due to a landslide. Here you will need to detour onto the high path.

The Cinque Terre Trekking Card costs between 7.50 euros and 15 euros per day, depending on the season. Discounts are available for multi-day passes. With the Cinque Terre Trekking Card, you gain access to the stages from Monterosso - Vernazza and Vernazza - Corniglia.

With the Cinque Terre Card Train, you can hike the first two stages and also use the regional trains on the Levanto - Cinque Terre - La Spezia route unlimited. The Cinque Terre Card Train costs between 14.80 euros and 32.50 euros depending on the season. The Cinque Terre Card Train must be validated (stamped) before the first train ride. The cards are only valid until midnight (not 24 hours).

The short stage from Manarola to Riomaggiore, the famous 'Via dell'Amore', costs an additional ten euros! Furthermore, the trail is not freely accessible. A maximum of 400 hikers are allowed on the path per hour. You must book a time slot in advance (every 15 minutes). You can select your time slot here.

Here you will find a detailed tour report with all the information and great images from this hike on the Sentiero Azzurro along the Ligurian coast in Italy. We had to hike the stages from Corniglia to Manarola and then to Riomaggiore on the scenic high path. We will hike through all five villages of Cinque Terre in one day.

Difficulty: Moderate hike

Terrain: Coastal hiking in Italy

Best Time to Visit: Year-round

Dining Options: In the respective villages

Parking: Start in Monterosso or Riomaggiore, alternatively in Levanto or La Spezia and then take the train

Total Trail Length: 18 kilometers

Elevation Gain: 940 meters

Pure Hiking Time: 5:00 hours + individual breaks

We experience the sunrise in Monterosso al Mare. It is the northernmost village of the beautiful five - the Cinque Terre. Five fishing villages are picturesquely located along the Ligurian coast of Italy - and we will show them to you in this article along the hiking trail. The Sentiero Azzurro connects the locations.

Monterosso is the only village in Cinque Terre that has a real sand beach. It gets lively here in the afternoons. Now in the morning, it is just us and the sea.

We set off in the morning for sunrise. The hike is always bustling with activity. That's why we start as early as possible to enjoy the scenery without the hustle and bustle.

Most hikers arrive by train and then start their hike. We have our accommodation in Monterosso and start directly at the promenade in the new district of Fegina.

A large rock separates the new district of Fegina from the old town of Monterosso. You can either walk through the tunnel or, like us, take a small detour with a great view. For that, you climb a few stairs and ascend the rock. We pass by the watchtower Aurora and reach the statue of St. Francis of Assisi. Above us towers the Franciscan monastery.

A detour into the old town of Monterosso al Mare is well worth it, by the way. Stroll a little through the alleys and soak up the atmosphere before the hike really begins. The main attraction in this beautiful little place is the striking striped Church of San Giovanni Battista from the 13th century. The typical stripes can also be found inside.

Stairs lead down beneath a hotel. Here begins the first stage of the Sentiero Azzurro toward Vernazza. We linger here briefly and look back at Monterosso.

Info: The day ticket including train rides costs 18.20 euros per person.

Now the Sentiero Azzurro takes us into the steep vineyards between Monterosso and Vernazza. On narrow paths, we slowly make our way up into the steep slopes. Thanks to the mild microclimate, excellent dry white wine ripens here. Harvesting in the steep slopes is arduous. But the wine is so good that it has been enjoyed since ancient times, as evidenced by wine vessels discovered in excavations in Pompeii.

The path steeply ascends. Now lemon trees join the vineyards. The air is pleasantly cool, and we are still alone on the trail, fully enjoying the landscape.

We walk over picturesque stone bridges, passing streams. Time and again, we get a view back at Monterosso. That's the beauty of the entire tour: you will frequently see one of the five beautiful places either in front of or behind you. It's becoming almost jungle-like, and suddenly Vernazza appears before us. We can only guess how beautiful this place is.

The view that opens up to us is fantastic. From a rocky outcrop, we admire the beautiful village of Vernazza. After climbing up, we now must descend again toward the village. Vernazza gradually appears through the olive branches. The above view of Vernazza and its small harbor enchants us.

By the way, we always walk past tracks. These are used to transport full containers of grapes during the wine harvest. Here, we also encounter a cat accompanying a farmer. That was such a lovely encounter.

Now we head down the steps toward Vernazza. Slowly we can understand why this hiking trail is so popular and famous - this unique view of the villages can only be seen from the trail.

The further we descend, the more beautiful the view becomes, and the more we fall in love with the sight of Vernazza. The picturesque colorful houses, the turquoise water - we are smitten. At the end, we reach a fantastic viewpoint.

And then someone in the ticket booth is waiting for us to show our day pass for using the trail in the Cinque Terre National Park.

Our trail initially takes us down steps, past colorful house walls and beautifully planted flower pots. At the marketplace, right by the sea, we treat ourselves to breakfast after the first stage. The church tower bells chime 10 o'clock.

Picturesque - there is no other way to describe Vernazza. And somehow, this charming morning has particularly stayed in our hearts, because for us, Vernazza is the prettiest of the five villages. Or maybe not? We can't decide yet.

From the port in Vernazza, we look back toward Monterosso. Today is market day in Vernazza. Laundry flaps in the wind drying in the morning sun. Everything is so peaceful. We climb up to the castle. However, only the large round tower remains, which shapes the town's image. Yet the view from up here of the village is still beautiful.

• Extra Tip: By the way, you can also visit all five villages by taking a small passenger boat - giving you a completely different view of Cinque Terre. The trip costs 30 euros (15 euros for children) for Cinque Terre. One way costs 23 euros (15 euros for children).

The sign now brings us to the second stage of the Sentiero Azzurro - toward Corniglia. Again we face a few flight of stairs. The higher we climb, the more beautiful the view back to Vernazza becomes. Everything here is again very well marked. The higher we ascend, the more vineyards unfold before us. Vineyards as far as the eye can see.

Eventually, we are offered a unique perspective of Vernazza from the other side, with a view of the castle tower and the village. Once again, we pass by a ticket booth, show our day pass, and then continue our ascent up the steps.

The Sentiero Azzurro does not disappoint - the view of the blue sea is always in sight. It's getting quite warm as the sun shines and we keep climbing up the countless steps. But the views are so distracting that we hardly notice the incline. We pass by blooming fruit trees.

Boats are ferrying from one village to another below us on the sea. The tourist machinery is slowly getting rolling this morning. We now reach the small place Prevo. Here is a small bar, which probably has the highest orange juice sales in all of Cinque Terre. Of course, we grab a freshly squeezed orange juice and sit on the small terrace in the village with a splendid sea view.

With the juice in hand, we are already looking at Corniglia - the third village of Cinque Terre. Corniglia is the only village without a port and sea access. The village is located on a plateau. After our refreshment, we head straight for Corniglia. Time and again, we get a good view of it. The path leads over stone bridges and offers great coastal views.

And then suddenly, the colorful houses are close enough to touch. But there's still a little distance to go until we reach the village. By lunchtime, the trail gets crowded. Tourists are walking in both directions. The next checkpoint for tickets is waiting as well. We follow the signs into the village, and then we've arrived in Corniglia. We have now been hiking nearly 10 kilometers.

Colorful houses are lined up next to each other. Laundry is hanging in the wind, and the church stands at the center. By noon, the alleys are filling up - it's bustling here now. We let ourselves wander again. We walk past picturesque doors, colorful flower pots and wander through the winding alleys.

We explore Corniglia a bit longer and then treat ourselves to what is said to be the best ice cream in Cinque Terre at Alberto Gelateria.

Finally, we reach a beautiful viewpoint. From here, we already see the fourth village of Cinque Terre: Manarola.

The last two stages of the Sentiero Azzurro have been closed for some time and will remain so longer still. One section is expected to reopen in 2024.

However, the solution is evident: above the well-known hiking path is the so-called high path. This means a long steep ascent, but even more stunning views. From above, we have a great view of Corniglia.

From another spot, we can already see Manarola. Along the way, we pass another track for transporting wine. It's wilder and more overgrown up here. Moss-covered trees and blooming flowers lie right by the path - the vegetation is really beautiful along the alternative trail.

Soon we come through a garden that belongs to an accommodation with a sunbathing area offering a wonderful view.

Because the ascent is indeed long and steep, and the trail drags on, we thought we would be alone. Wrong. Even though it's the off-season, there are tons of people here. Families with children are actively hiking here as well.

We are now walking directly in the vineyards past the vines. Behind us lies Corniglia. Before us, Manarola is already rising up - the fourth village of Cinque Terre. We glance directly at the steep vineyards.

Finally, we reach the church of Volastra. Here at the church square, many hikers take a break before descending the last meters to Manarola, or to recover from the strenuous ascent from Manarola to Corniglia.

We hike down countless steep steps. Eventually, we arrive at a sign. Straight down leads the path into Manarola. To the right, the panoramic trail branches off in the slope. We opt for the latter (more difficult) option.

The panoramic path lives up to its name. On a small path, we walk above Manarola in the vineyards. The view of the village is truly amazing. From up here, you can especially see how Manarola is encased in the slopes and surrounded by vineyards.

Countless steep stairs now lead us down toward the village. By the way, in our opinion, Manarola shares the top spot with Vernazza as the most beautiful village. We simply cannot decide. The steps are certainly taking their toll on our calves. Later we will climb back up behind the village.

The panoramic trail was definitely worthwhile. The view from up here is priceless. The steps are now taking us toward the cemetery above the town. And then we stand at one of the most beautiful viewpoints of Manarola. The view from the hill opposite the colorful houses is breathtaking.

The hiking trail has effectively dropped us off right at the main photo spot of the village of Manarola. The scene of the colorful houses on the hillside, below the harbor, has been printed on countless postcards. It also looks remarkably picturesque, how the colorful houses cling to the cliffside.

Below our viewpoint is the trendiest bar in Cinque Terre: Nessun Dorma. It's no wonder that the bar is so hyped - it offers incredibly great service, very delicious food, and a fantastic view. We stroll a little more through the picturesque village. Manarola is truly beautiful and worth seeing. If you like, you can also purchase the famous Ligurian pesto here.

For us, the last stage from Manarola to Riomaggiore is still ahead. While before we hiked down the steep vineyards into the village, we now must ascend the same slopes again on the other side.

Our calves burn. The varying heights of the steps ahead will give our legs quite the workout.

During our visit, the Sentiero Azzurro from Manarola to Riomaggiore was closed. So, another stage of the high path was on the agenda. Since August 2024, the cozy path of love (Via dell'Amore) has been opened again. This makes the hike significantly easier. However, the Via dell'Amore costs an additional ten euros, and you must book a time slot in advance!

The last stage was indeed challenging after such a long day. The steps and stairs seemed never-ending. However, we finally reached a plateau. From here, you can already see part of Riomaggiore, the fifth village. However, you can't yet estimate how beautiful the place really is. First, we will be led down countless stairs into the last village of Cinque Terre.

After descending all the many steps, we are faced with colorful house walls. As we emerge at the coast, an Italian flag flutters on a rock in the wind.

We have arrived at the last village of Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore. Of course, we also dive into the last village. There is quite a bit going on here in the evening. We mingle with the countless tourists heading toward the harbor, where the most famous scene awaits us. Colorful houses stacked on top of each other by the sea.

Just before sunset, people sit on the rocks enjoying the sound of the sea, the view, and waiting for the sun to set. We descend right towards the sea over steps and climb over large boulders. The perspective from the water looks spectacular again.

As the sun sets, it bathes the colorful house facades in a beautiful warm light. We wait until it gets dark and the lights come on. It looks enchanting. The hike on the Sentiero Azzurro was truly unique and gave us special perspectives on the famous Cinque Terre.

The stages from Corniglia - Manarola and Manarola - Riomaggiore run easily along the coast and are also not particularly long. No special equipment is needed here. For the stages from Monterosso - Vernazza and Vernazza - Corniglia, you should at least have good hiking shoes (which are even officially required), sun protection, and enough water with you. This also applies to the sweat-inducing high path.

We will return by train to Monterosso, our starting point. We highly recommend using the train because it runs very frequently, making it the easiest way to get from place to place. The train is included in the day ticket of 18.40 euros. You can get off and back on at any station.

We obviously also have a hotel tip for you, perfectly suited for the Sentiero Azzurro hike. Stay in Monterosso at the lovely Hotel Margherita (check prices here*). The accommodation is just a few minutes from the beautiful sand beach in Monterosso. Plus, you can start hiking directly from your hotel.

You can park at the central parking lot in Monterosso. Cost: 25 euros per day.

I hope you enjoyed our hiking report on the Sentiero Azzurro along the Ligurian coast. We were very enthusiastic about the tour and can definitely recommend it.