Cinque Terre: Coastal Walk(Walking Holiday)

4 Days/3 Nights See Options B&B Basis Available Year RoundFrom €250

Admirethe Cinque Terre National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Explore picturesque cliff-hanging coastal villages, vineyards and olive groves.
Savour the flavours of Liguria; pesto, Monterosso anchovies, focaccia and the dry white wines of Cinque Terre.
Relax and enjoy the beach – you are in Italy!

Walking holidays in Cinque Terre, Italy. Quite possibly the most beautiful coastal walk in Europe, on the most magnificent part of the Italian Riviera. The Cinque Terre are five coastal, medieval, villages in the province of La Spezia: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. The coastline, the villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of a national park of the same name. The Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Walking through the National Park, you will discover the coastline as well as the backcountry: villages that cling to the cliffs, tiny sandy beaches and sandy coves as well as terraced fields and extensive woodlands. Given its location on the Mediterranean, only the freshest fish and seafood are good enough for the local cuisine. The anchovies of Monterosso are a local specialty, while the extensive terraced olive groves provide oil for some of the best pesto in Italy.
As this trip is centre based, you will be able to stay in the heart of the National park and explore the area as you wish (see “Cinque Terre Card” below).

To suit everybody’s taste and budget, we have selected 3 types of accommodation (see table of prices below):

Self-catering apartment (2* standard) in Riomaggiore, including breakfast
3* hotel in Monterosso
4* hotel in Monterosso

You can extend your stay by adding as many extra nights in the Cinque Terre as you wish, or nights in Pisa, Genoa, Milan or Rome (depending on your flight schedule).

Maps

Day By Day

Below are the details for each of the walks that we suggest in the Cinque Terre National Park. Depending on which town you stay in (Riomaggiore or Monterosso) and according to your fitness, you can choose which walk you would like to complete. A must is the walk from Riomaggiore to Monterosso, also known as the lovers’ walk. Another worthy trek is from Riomaggiore to Portovenere. Please note that you can use the extremely reliable and frequent trains between towns (see Cinque Terre Card below), so do not feel obliged to spend your days in the town where you are lodging. Walks can be taken in any order.

To the Cinque Terre (Monterosso or Riomaggiore)

Take a train to the Cinque Terre (see “How to get there” below) and check into your accommodation in the town of Monterosso or Riomaggiore (see “Options” below). If you arrive early enough, it would be possible to complete one of the shorter walks or alternatively, you could explore, rest or go for a swim.

Town: Shops, bus, ATM, Internet, pharmacy, pubs, restaurants.
Accommodation: As you decide.

Riomaggiore – Monterosso (4h45, +/- 430m)

This is the famous Via Dell’Amore (Lovers’ Walk). This very picturesque footpath winds along the shore, past the five famous villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. Pass by pretty terraced vineyards and olive groves.This walk varies in difficulty from an easy stroll to a demanding hike, but offers the best views of the bay and spectacular approaches to both Monterosso and Vernazza. If you feel tired, you can also take a train from any station along the way.