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Hiker with blue backpack walking on stone path along Ligurian coast. Stone wall on left, Mediterranean Sea and mountains visible on right.

Walking holiday in Cinque Terre and Liguria

Colourful villages, coastal paths and Mediterranean scenery

7 Days / 6 Nights
Moderate
Hiker with blue backpack walking on stone path along Ligurian coast. Stone wall on left, Mediterranean Sea and mountains visible on right.

The essentials at a glance

Self-guided walking tour along the Ligurian coast exploring Cinque Terre's five colorful villages and Portofino Nature Park. Moderate difficulty with well-marked coastal paths, frequent climbs and descents totaling approximately 62 km over 5 hiking days. Highlights include scenic trails between Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, the historic abbey at San Fruttuoso, elegant Portofino, and Porto Venere at the Gulf of Poets. Accommodation in 3- and 4-star hotels with luggage transfers and train connections included.

Discover one of Italy’s most beautiful coastal regions on a walking holiday through Liguria and the famous Cinque Terre. The journey begins in elegant Santa Margherita Ligure and takes you across the Portofino Peninsula, through peaceful countryside and along dramatic coastal paths overlooking the Ligurian Sea.

Along the way, you will visit secluded bays, historic villages and some of the most iconic places on the Italian Riviera. The five villages of the Cinque Terre – Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore – are among the highlights of the tour, with their colourful houses, terraced vineyards and spectacular setting between steep hillsides and the sea.

The holiday ends near La Spezia with a beautiful panoramic walk towards Porto Venere, where colourful waterfront houses and views across the Gulf of Poets provide a fitting finale.

 

Highlights on this tour
Look forward to a week filled with some of Liguria’s finest scenery. Explore elegant Portofino, walk to the secluded bay of San Fruttuoso, enjoy the beaches around Bonassola and experience magnificent views over Vernazza and the Cinque Terre coastline. You will also have the opportunity to walk the famous Via dell’Amore between Manarola and Riomaggiore.

The route

The walks follow well-marked coastal paths, nature trails, forest tracks and occasional paved sections through towns and villages. The terrain is varied and includes frequent climbs and descents, with some steeper sections along the way. A reasonable level of fitness and sure-footedness are therefore recommended. Thanks to the excellent local train connections, several stages can be shortened or skipped if you prefer an easier day.

See video

Get a visual impression of the tour in Cinque Terre. In the video, you can see some of the highlights from the picturesque coastal trails, colorful villages, and the beautiful Italian landscape that awaits you on the journey.

Aerial view of Cinque Terre village perched on dramatic cliffs above turquoise Mediterranean Sea with yellow overlay circle.

Itinerary

See the day-by-day itinerary below.

Your walking holiday begins in Santa Margherita Ligure, an elegant seaside town set between Portofino and the Gulf of Tigullio. Once a traditional fishing village, the town is now known for its attractive waterfront, colourful buildings and relaxed Riviera atmosphere.

After settling in, you can spend the rest of the day strolling along the promenade, exploring the historic centre or simply enjoying your first views of the Ligurian coast.

Hotel (example): Metropole

A short train journey takes you to Camogli, where today’s walk begins. From here, you climb towards San Rocco di Camogli before entering the beautiful Portofino Nature Park.

The route offers wonderful views across the Ligurian Sea as you make your way to the secluded bay of San Fruttuoso, home to its historic abbey beside the water. From San Fruttuoso, the walk continues along the coast towards Portofino.

With its small harbour, pastel-coloured houses and elegant atmosphere, Portofino is one of the best-known towns on the Italian Riviera. From here, you return to Santa Margherita Ligure.

Hotel (example): Metropole

You begin the day with a train journey to Deiva Marina. From here, the route climbs into the green hills above the coast, where vineyards, woodland and quiet countryside provide a very different side of Liguria.

Following peaceful trails through the hinterland, you first reach the small villages around Framura before continuing towards Bonassola. Its inviting beach makes this a lovely place for a break before the final section of the walk. The route then crosses the coastal hills before descending into Levanto, where you spend the next two nights.

Hotel (example): Garden

Today you enter the famous Cinque Terre. From Levanto, you walk towards Monterosso, the largest and northernmost of the five villages.

From Monterosso, the route continues along the beautiful coastal trails towards Vernazza. The walk offers superb views across the steep coastline, terraced hillsides and deep-blue Ligurian Sea.

As you approach Vernazza, you are rewarded with one of the most famous views in the Cinque Terre, looking down over the colourful village and its small natural harbour.

Hotel (example): Garden

Your exploration of the Cinque Terre continues from Vernazza. The first destination is Corniglia, the only one of the five villages located high above the sea rather than directly beside the water.

From here, you continue through a landscape shaped by vineyards and traditional dry-stone terraces towards picturesque Manarola. The route then leads towards Riomaggiore, whose colourful houses rise steeply above the small harbour.

Depending on access conditions, you can also experience the famous Via dell’Amore, the historic coastal path connecting Manarola and Riomaggiore. Afterwards, you continue by train to La Spezia, where you stay for the final two nights.

Hotel (example): CDH Hotel

After a short train ride to Riomaggiore, you begin the final walk of the holiday. The trail climbs towards the pilgrimage church of Madonna di Montenero, set high above the village and offering sweeping views across the Ligurian coast.

From here, you continue along a panoramic ridge towards Porto Venere. The route provides beautiful views over the sea and the surrounding coastline before descending towards this atmospheric harbour town at the entrance to the Gulf of Poets.

Porto Venere is known for its colourful waterfront, narrow streets and spectacular seaside setting. Alternatively, you can choose to spend the day walking on the nearby island of Palmaria.

Hotel (example): CDH Hotel

Your walking holiday along the Ligurian coast comes to an end after breakfast. You can begin your journey home or extend your stay and enjoy a little more time in this beautiful part of Italy.

Prices and dates

Prices per person in EUR

The price includes

ACCOMMODATION

  • 6 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels

 

FOOD & DRINKS

  • Breakfast every day

 

HIKING

  • 5 days of hiking (approx. 62 km in total)
  • Detailed descriptions of the carefully selected routes (route maps, route descriptions, information about relevant tourist attractions and important phone numbers – in English)
  • Access to the route in our GPS app, which also works offline (one access per person)
  • Option to receive GPX files for use in your own GPS

TRANSPORT

  • Luggage transfer between the hotels
  • Cinque Terre Treno MS Card for 2 days (including train travel and access to the hiking trails)
  • Train rides Santa Margherita Ligure – Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure – Deiva Marina and La Spezia – Riomaggiore

 

OTHER

GENERAL

  • Transport to/from Italy
  • Handling fee (€25)
  • Travel insurance

 

REQUIRED AND PAID LOCALLY

  • Any tourist taxes at the hotels
  • Bus rides Portofino – Santa Margherita Ligure and Porto Venere – La Spezia (costs approx. EUR 8 per person)

OPTIONAL
The following can be selected in the booking form, when you book the tour.

  • Transfer from/to Pisa and/or Genoa Airport

 

Use the button "Calculate price" on this page to see what the tour will cost with your wanted inclusions.

PARKING
It is possible to park at the first hotel or nearby. Parking cannot be reserved in advance and must be arranged directly with the hotel (expect a cost of approximately €10–20 per day).

Practical information

Here you can get answers to various questions about the trip
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The price is based upon two people sharing. It is also possible travel alone in a single room. Simply choose "1 person" in the booking form and it will automatically add the single room surcharge.

On this tour you will be on your own supplied with maps, route descriptions and luggage transfers. That means that your time is your own and you have plenty of time to enjoy the stages in your own pace.

 

Check the price quickly
You can quickly check the price of your desired trip without having to fill out any forms. Here’s how:

  1. Click on the "Calculate Price" button (you’ll find it in the "Dates and Prices" section) – this will take you to the first pages of the booking form
  2. Select your preferred date, number of people, room distribution, any extra nights, and any available add-ons you may want
  3. See the price


Get a quote
If you would like a flight included, or changes made to the trip, you can request a customized offer by clicking the "Get Quote" button at the top of the page. Remember to describe in detail what changes you would like.

The booking process
When you book the trip, we will begin booking hotels and arranging all the practical aspects of your tour. This process typically takes 5–8 working days, but in some cases it may take longer for certain bookings. If you arrange your own transportation, we recommend waiting until we have confirmed your booking before making any arrangements.

Dates
If you can select a date in the trip calendar (in the booking form), then this is a possible start date. We regularly update our trips with sold-out dates; these dates will then appear in red/grey and cannot be selected.

The flights to/from Pisa or Genoa are not included in the price. You can easily find a suitable flight via a flight booking engine such as Momondo or Skyscanner.

Pisa is the nearest and most accessible airport for Levanto. Check www.pisa-airport.com for the direct flight options that suit you the best. Alternatively you can fly to/from Milan, but train transportation is a little longer to Levanto from there.

The tour from Pisa to Levanto and back from Camogli to Pisa, is most easily done by train. On www.trenitalia.com it is easy to get an overview of times and destinations on the Italian trains (Pisa/Levanto takes about 1.5 hours, Milan/Levanto takes about 3 hours) but since it is difficult to purchase or change tickets online, we recommend that you buy them directly from the ticket machines at the train station.

Notice: we recommend that you book with us and wait for the confirmation before you book your flights.

Get a quote
If you prefer that we handle your flight, then we would be happy to arrange this for you. You simply book a quote below the map on this page and we will return with a quote as soon as possible (usually within 48 working hours). Please note that we add a handling fee of 45 euro to each flight and this means that the flight will be cheaper if you book it yourself.

Local Transportation
The local coastal train line, has frequent departures, and tickets can be purchased directly at the station (2-3 € p.p.).
On days where boats are not operating, it will be possible to take train or busses. There will be more information on this in your walking descriptions for the respective days.

On this walking holiday, you stay in carefully selected 3- and 4-star hotels along the Ligurian coast. Your overnight stays are in Santa Margherita Ligure, Levanto and La Spezia, giving you a pleasant mix of charming coastal towns and convenient access to the walking routes. The hotels provide a comfortable base after each day on the trails.

Breakfast is included every day. Lunch and dinner are not included, giving you the freedom to choose from the many restaurants, cafés and local trattorias along the way. Liguria is known for specialities such as fresh fish and seafood, pesto, focaccia and local wines, so there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the flavours of the region.

This journey has difficulty level 2

Grade 2
Easy hiking on reasonably good trails. The day walks will last 4-6 hours in hilly terrain. Anyone in good physical condition can participate. Your luggage will be transported and you only carry a light daypack. Requires comfortable footwear such as trekking shoes or hiking boots.

Read more about our grading system here.

On this tour, you will receive the following documents:

Upon booking
Immediately after booking this trip, you'll recieve a pre-booking-email where you can get a complete overview of your booking. Once the tour is confirmed you get a confirmation email from us along with practical information about the tour.

One month before departure
You will receive a hotel list and final travel documents.

Upon arrival at the first hotel
You'll receive the welcome pack, which contains everything you need for the trip. There will be route descriptions, maps, luggage tags and specific local vouchers. The documents are in English.
Notice: On some tours it is necessary to either print the documents yourself or to bring them electronically.

We recommend taking out travel insurance that covers at least illness, accident, repatriation, lost holiday, luggage and liability. As a customer, you are responsible for taking out the necessary travel insurance to cover these costs.

Before taking out insurance, you should check whether you are already covered by travel or cancellation insurance through your home insurance company, credit card or similar - please note that there may be differences in insurance coverage.

After booking this trip, you get access to various discount schemes.

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When you book a trip with us, we plant a tree in Kenya.

Bering Travel partners with Growing Trees Network, which has been planting trees in Kenya since 2020 in collaboration with Seniorer uden Grænser (Seniors Without Borders). The trees are planted with small-scale local farmers in the Mount Kenya region, as well as at schools, where the fruit helps supplement students’ diets and is incorporated into their learning.

The trees are planted using the shamba method – a sustainable approach that combines reforestation with agricultural crops. This keeps the soil covered with vegetation throughout the year, helping to prevent nutrient loss and reduce erosion.

The contribution to tree planting comes directly from Bering Travel’s own earnings and is not added to the price of your trip.

This initiative is not intended as a carbon offset for travel, but as a way to make a positive contribution.

Read more

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