Trails in Cinque Terre: Map and Status

Cost of Visiting Trails in Cinque Terre

The Blue Trail is a paid trail. To access it, you need to purchase the Cinque Terre Card. You can buy this ticket at the train stations or directly at the entrance to the trail. For more details, read on the “Cinque Terre Card” page. Prices start from 7.50 euros. All other trails are free, but they may require more time and effort.

Map of Hiking Trails in Cinque Terre

The map marks the 5 villages of Cinque Terre (Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore), as well as nearby well-known villages that can be reached on foot: Levanto and Portovenere. The famous Blue Trail is highlighted on the map in blue, while other trails are marked in orange.

Blue Trail in Cinque Terre, Trail Status

The four trails connecting the villages of Cinque Terre are known as the Blue Trail. Let's compare the key characteristics of each of them.

Riomaggiore – Manarola (The Path of Love)

The most famous trail in Cinque Terre. It is the only trail with no steps, making it suitable for strollers and people with limited mobility.

Trail Difficulty: Very easy. Trail Length: 920 meters / 0.57 miles. Walking Time: 20 minutes.

The current condition of the route: closed for a long period. Reason: reconstruction work. It should fully open from August 09, 2024. More info: only the first 200 meters (650 ft) are open (from the Manarola side).

Manarola – Corniglia

This trail runs close to the sea right along a steep slope, which is why the trail is often closed for maintenance after landslides. If you're lucky and the trail is open, be sure to take a walk along it!

Trail Difficulty: Very easy. Trail Length: 2.5 kilometers / 1.5 miles. Walking Time: 45 minutes.

The current condition of the route: closed for a long period. Reason: landslides and instability of the terrain. It should fully open from May 2025. More info: only the first 300 meters (950 ft) are open (from the Manarola side).

Corniglia to Vernazza

From the trail, you'll enjoy a very beautiful view of Corniglia, Vernazza, and San Bernardino (a small village atop the hill). Unlike the previous two trails, this one has stairs as it gains an elevation of 220 meters / 700 feet above sea level. The panoramic views from this height are breathtaking.

Trail Difficulty: Easy. Trail Length: 3.2 km / 2 miles. Walking Time: 1 hour 30 minutes.

The current condition of the route: Open. Opening date: June 06, 2020.

Vernazza to Monterosso

From this trail, you'll have the most beautiful view of Vernazza. This stretch of the Azure Trail is one of the most popular but also one of the most strenuous due to the stairs at the beginning of the trail (in both directions). That's why many tourists only venture onto this trail to capture magnificent panoramic photos of Vernazza from its starting point. The spot where you can see Vernazza from a height is just a 5-minute walk away. For more details about these spots, read our page on “Best Spots for Photos and Videos”.

Trail Difficulty: Easy. Trail Length: 3.3 km / 2 miles. Walking Time: 1 hour 30 minutes.

The current condition of the route: Open. Opening date: June 06, 2020.

Which Trails are the Most Popular and Suitable for Hiking?

All four sections of the Azure Trail are quite popular, with The Way of Love (between Riomaggiore and Manarola) being the most famous. Sometimes, certain trails may be closed for maintenance, so tourists usually visit the ones that are open at the moment. We recommend checking the trail status a week before your trip to stay informed about the latest updates.