Walk stunning trails between the famous five villages of the Cinque Terre
Enjoy breath-taking views of the emerald-blue Mediterranean Sea
Hike along steep terraced hills of olive groves, vineyards and lemon trees
Discover some of the hidden gems of the Ligurian Riviera, such as Bonassola and Portovenere
Refresh yourself with swims at the excellent beaches of Monterosso and Bonassola
Cinque Terre 6-day walking holiday
Enter the magical land of the Cinque Terre, five unique fishing villages along the Ligurian Coast, known as Italy’s ‘Flower-Riviera’. The villages – Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore – were until recently linked only by mule tracks, which now make for spectacular hiking trails. The walks along the coastal footpaths offer striking views of lush Mediterranean vineyards and blooming wildflowers, while further inland you will find tranquil pine and chestnut forests. Travel by train or boat from Monterosso to the picturesque villages where you can savour the delicious local seafood and pasta while relaxing with a chilled glass of white wine in an outdoor café overlooking the sea.
Apart from the famous five villages, you will also discover some of Liguria’s lesser known coastal gems. You will hike along a panoramic ridge to the colourful medieval town of Portovenere, south of the Cinque Terre. Just north of the Cinque Terre, you will discover charming and beautiful seaside villages such as Bonassola, Levanto and Deiva Marina. In these villages you will find a more relaxed vibe, with less crowds and some excellent swimming beaches.
| 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS | From €650 per person sharing*
*Discounts available for triple rooms. Please enquire for prices. |
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| ACCOMMODATION | You will stay first for three nights in Monterosso, the largest of the Cinque Terre villages. Your last two nights are in Bonassola, a lovely seaside village with a more relaxed vibe. Both Monterosso and Bonassola feature excellent sandy beaches for a refreshing swim, as well as a range of fine restaurants for evening meals.
In both Monterosso and Bonassola we use comfortable 3 star hotels with a friendly family run atmosphere. All the rooms have private bathrooms. A good continental breakfast is served each morning. You can find below the standard hotels of this trip. If a hotel is fully booked, then we will book a similar one for you and inform you about the alternative booked. If all hotels in Bonassola are full then we can also book accommodation in nearby Levanto. All the hotels are centrally located, near to all amenities and local restaurants.
You can also book additional night(s) at any of the hotels along the way. |
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| AVAILABILITY | You can start on any day of the week, subject to availability, between March and October | ||||||||||||||||
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| NOT INCLUDED |
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| DIFFICULTY | The length of the walks varies between 7 and 14 kilometres. You will be out walking between 3 and 7 hours a day, not including breaks. The walks are along well marked footpaths and mule tracks. Although not very long, some of the walks feature steep hills. It can also be tiring walking along the stone steps of diverse sizes. Some of the walks can also be shortened by train / boat.
The park wardens try to keep all of the paths open throughout the year, however heavy rains and summer fires can cause temporary closure of certain stretches, so be sure to check with the park office in Monterosso. This trip is suitable for families with children aged 7 and over. |
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Day 1: Arrive in Monterosso al Mare
Monterosso al Mare is the largest of the five coastal villages known as the Cinque Terre. Get settled into your accommodation and then step outside to take in the beautifully scented air of the Mediterranean Sea. If you arrive early enough, you can take a refreshing swim at the town’s excellent beach. We recommend an al fresco evening meal of delicious seafood and the famous local pasta dish Trofie al Pesto.
Overnight: Monterosso
Day 2: Choice of walks in the Cinque Terre
On your first walking day, you can choose any one of the walks described below. Each option offers stunning views of the classic Cinque Terre landscape.
Before departing for your walk, remember to go to the Park Information Office at Monterosso train station and collect your Cinque Terre Card (included), which gives you access to the trails as well as free train travel between the villages.
WALK A: Walk or public bus to Soviore and walk back to Monterosso via Vernazza.
Distance: 10 km | Ascent: 643 m | Descent: 1098 m | 4 hrs approx.
The first part of this route follows an ancient and very steep cobbled path up to the Soviore Sanctuary. If you want to skip this climb you can take a local bus or taxi to the sanctuary. Stop for a visit to the monastery before starting the walk to Monterosso via Vernazza. From the sanctuary you walk on asphalt road for 1.5 km, and then take a nice panoramic path that slightly descends to the Madonna di Reggio. Continue walking on a stone path down to Vernazza where you take the panoramic coastal path back to Monterosso. To shorten the walk, you can stop in Vernazza and take a train back to Monterosso.
WALK B: Corniglia-Volastra-Riomaggiore-Manarola
Distance: 10 km | Ascent: 742 m | Descent: 361 m | 4 hrs approx.
From Monterosso you take the train to Corniglia, the middle village of the Cinque Terre. Climb the steps to the village, perched high above the sea, then take the steep uphill path towards Volastra and Manarola. Finally, you descend to Riomaggiore, with its colourful cliffside houses tumbling dramatically to the sea. Once you arrive in Riomaggiore, we recommend trying the delicious fried seafood cones ‘fritto misto’. You can either take the train directly back to Monterosso or follow the famous ‘Via dell’Amore’ back to Manarola and take the train from there.
WALK C: Monterosso-Vernazza-Corniglia
Distance: 7 km | Ascent: 482 m | Descent: 404 m | 3 hrs approx.
This route follows the busy coastal hiking trail that connects the five villages of the Cinque Terre. The trail contours the coastline, ascending and descending. Although it includes some steep stone staircases, this route is generally straightforward and easy to follow.
Overnight: Monterosso
Day 3: Riomaggiore to Portovenere
Distance: 13 km | Ascent: 861 m | Descent: 875 m | 6 hrs approx.
Using your Cinque Terre Card once again, a short train ride brings you to Riomaggiore, the southernmost town of the Cinque Terre. You begin your walk by climbing gradually up to the Colle del Telegrafo, before following the panoramic trail along the ridge all the way to Portovenere, passing through the village of Campiglia. Today’s itinerary offers spectacular views along the Cinque Terre coastline and over the impressive cliffs of Portovenere.
Spend some time relaxing at Portovenere’s picturesque harbour before returning by train or by boat to Monterosso.
Overnight: Monterosso
Day 4: Monterosso to Bonassola via Levanto
Distance: 10 km | Ascent: 770 m | Descent: 774 m | 3-4 hrs approx.
Today’s walk is along the coastline following the most popular walking trail in Liguria (n.1). The trail is characterized by spectacular views over the Cinque Terre and the Levante Ligure. You can stop in Levanto to visit the pretty town centre and the Church of Sant’ Andrea. To avoid the second part of the walk along the hills, you can take the train in Levanto or walk on the cycle path towards Bonassola, where you will stay for the next two nights. This is a charming seaside village with a more relaxed vibe than the towns of the Cinque Terre. You can cool down after your walk with a dip in the Mediterranean at Bonassola’s long sandy beach.
Overnight: Bonassola
Day 5: Bonassola to Deiva Marina
Distance: 12.5 km | Ascent: 657 m | Descent: 643 m | 5 hrs approx.
Today you walk through the hills of the eastern Riviera, between Bonassola, Framura and Deiva Marina. The first part of this walk is extremely panoramic with wonderful views over the northern Ligurian coast. Visit the pretty seaside village of Deiva Marina before returning to Bonassola by train.
Overnight: Bonassola
Day 6: Arrivederci Cinque Terre!
The trip and our services end after breakfast. You can depart Bonassola by train and easily reach Pisa, Genoa, Florence or Milan airports.
Getting to Monterosso
Departure from Bonassola
| On departure from Bonassola, you can easily reach the airports of Pisa (PSA), Genova (GOA) or Florence (FLR) by train. | |
| We will send you a pre-departure information pack, which contains detailed public transport information. |
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