Walking in Italy's Cinque Terre - Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Rioma

This guidebook presents 16 graded walks exploring the world-famous Cinque Terre villages of Liguria in Italy. Suitable for beginners and experienced walkers, routes take in the villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola, Corniglia, Riomaggiore, as well as neighbouring Levanto, Campiglia and Porto Venere. It describes the most popular pathways as well as less trodden routes to hidden gems.

Route descriptions and maps for each walk are accompanied by information on how to get around by public transport (train, ferry and bus), with background notes on history, culture, wildlife and flora, and suggestions on where to sleep and what to eat. In short, everything you could possibly need to get the most out of a holiday in this unique corner of the Italian Riviera.

One of the best loved places in Italy, the Cinque Terre are UNESCO World Heritage listed, a string of centuries old fishing villages where colourful houses, terraced fields and vineyards perch on plunging cliffs above a breathtaking coastline. It's a paradise for walkers and food-lovers, who can follow age-old routes constructed by the locals and sample the seafood specialities on offer at harbour-side trattorias.


Seasons: Spring (April to June) and autumn (September and October), avoiding the heat of summer, are the best times for walking but also the busiest. Winter can be magical and quiet - though many accommodation providers and restaurants close and the weather can occasionally be wild and stormy.

Centres: The Cinque Terre villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola, Corniglia, Riomaggiore, as well as neighbouring Levanto, Campiglia and Porto Venere.

Difficulty: The walks in this guide are graded 1-3 and are suitable for beginners through to experienced walkers. Some walks are steep, and long flights of stone steps are often encountered. Quality walking boots or shoes are essential.

Must See: The world-famous paths between charming Cinque Terre villages on spectacular cliff and vineyard routes. The popular Sentiero Verde Azzurro links Monterosso to Vernazza to Corniglia to Manarola to Riomaggiore. A superb higher traverse leads on via Campiglia and on to delightful Portovenere