Sentiero Azzurro

These hiking trails are among the best things Cinque Terre can offer, in my opinion you won't get the full experience of this wonderful place without them. Remember to have good shoes, water, a hat and of course energy :) (the trail is difficult in some places). Highly recommended!

Sentiero Azzurro is the iconic coastal trail connecting the Cinque Terre villages, and the stretch from Corniglia to Vernazza is especially breathtaking. The path winds through olive groves and stone terraces, with dramatic cliffside views of the Mediterranean below. It’s moderately challenging, well-marked, and ideal for travelers who enjoy scenic hikes. Along the way, you’ll encounter wildflowers, quiet viewpoints, and postcard-worthy vistas. The trail offers a blend of effort and serenity, making it perfect for those seeking both movement and immersion in nature. It’s a must-do for anyone exploring the region.

This was a moderate hike with beautiful views. We hiked at the end of September and it was quite hot with little shade on the half closer to Corniglia. It is slightly easier to go from Corniglia to Vernazza. Do not do this trail if you can't easily hike on uneven rocky terrain.

We walked Vernazza —> Corniglia on 09 August 2025: We started around 3:00 pm. First you need to go up by using the stairs. This is the most difficult part as we were already sweating a lot but we took it as a challenge. Then it becomes interesting to see views of the sea bordering the mountain and after reaching the half of the way you can see the town of Corniglia. Most of the times you walk under the shadow, specially during the second half of the way. There are two or three little bars along the way. The end of the walk was only going down and down so pay attention to your knees. Advice: a hat, water, and sun blocker.

📍 Sentiero Azzurro (Corniglia → Vernazza) – Cinque Terre, Italy 🇮🇹 We hiked the stretch from Corniglia to Vernazza 🥾, and it was absolutely rewarding. The path winds through vineyards 🍇, olive groves 🌿, and terraced hillsides with sweeping views of the Ligurian Sea 🌊. Some sections are narrow and involve stair climbs ⬆️, but the scenery and the approach to Vernazza—with its colorful houses and harbor coming into view 🏡🚤—are breathtaking 📸. Took about 1.5 hours at an easy pace. A highlight of Cinque Terre and well worth the effort. 🙌

Trail Vernazza - Monterosso ca 1.5h, not very easy, requires minimum physical condition. Many people in March, Friday. Beautiful views (!), you can see terasses, viticoulture. Different perspective.

We did the hike between Corniglia and Vernazza. It is a picturesque segment of the Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail), which is part of the Cinque Terre National Park. You need to buy tail pass in order to hike. We bought one day pass for train and trail combine, it even gives you WiFi. The hike itself between 2 check points take us 70 mins. Coastline views almost entire hike. Moderate hike. I enjoy the vineyards, olive trees farm and some of most beautiful views between this 2 cities. It really makes our trip in this area feel very special. Highly recommended.

The Sentiero Azzuro is part of the coastal trail between Monterosso and Riomaggiore which takes you through beautiful scenery and Cinque Terra villages. I walked from Vernazza to Riomaggiore taking in the villages of Corniglia and Manarola. So only the Monterosso to Vernazza section was omitted. It took about 4 hours 30 mins which included time to look around the villages and for numerous photo stops. The first thing to appreciate is that unless you are an experienced hill walker this is not an easy route. It is virtually all ascent and descent with very few level sections. The inclines are also very steep and are mostly man-made rock steps that will test your thighs. The descents are probably worse and will test your knees. You will need to use your hands in a few scramble sections. You will also definitely need proper hiking boots with rubber soles for grip, for ankle support and to save your feet being hammered by the hard rocks. You should also be ok with heights because some narrow sections have no handrail. Despite all this I saw plenty of people in trainers, some in street clothes and some even carrying hand bags. A few were not fit and were clearly regretting setting off. The section between Manarola and Riomaggiore is essentially a giant staircase. The descent has steps that are a little too high and you have to be careful not to over balance as there is not much to hang on to. If you are fit this is a challenging walk with fabulous views. It is well signposted so a map is unnecessary. There are also useful information boards on history, geology, and fauna along the way as well as emergency contact details if you get into trouble. Make sure you study the train timetable for your return journey.