Monterosso al Mare - Vernazza - Corniglia

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Enjoy the best views of the Cinque Terre villages from the hiking trails. Between the sea and the mountains, in the heart of the vineyards, the beauty of these landscapes is well worth the effort!

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.51 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 668 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 658 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 210 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: -1 m
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Photos

Vernazza

Description of the walk

Departure from Monterosso al Mare station.

(S) Head west, cross the village and walk along the beach.

(1) Turn right onto the SVA trail (Sentiero Verde Azzuro, marked in red and white), which you will follow until you reach your destination. Walk through the vineyards and enjoy the magnificent views before reaching the charming village of Vernazza.

(2) Follow Via Ettore Vernazza to Via Visconti.

(3) Descend to the right to the charming little port.

(4) Turn back to the fork you passed earlier, with the SVA trail to Corniglia on your right.

(3) Follow this path and you will reach the village perched on the cliff.

(5) Follow Via Fiescini to the right and cross Piazzetta Clapara.

(6) Continue straight ahead to the end of the village.

(7) Turn around. Walk back up to Piazzetta Clapara.

(6) Turn right and follow the road until the end of the left-hand bend.

(8) Descend the 400 steps on the right that lead to Corniglia station (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 12 m - Monterosso Al Mare station - Gare de Monterosso
  2. 1 : km 0.55 - alt. 34 m - SVA trail
  3. 2 : km 3.81 - alt. 23 m - Entrance to Vernazza
  4. 3 : km 3.89 - alt. 16 m - Return fork
  5. 4 : km 3.99 - alt. 19 m - Port of Vernazza
  6. 5 : km 7.34 - alt. 95 m - Entrance to Corniglia
  7. 6 : km 7.42 - alt. 86 m - Piazzetta Clapara
  8. 7 : km 7.63 - alt. 14 m - Turning point
  9. 8 : km 7.97 - alt. 92 m - Walks
  10. E : km 8.51 - alt. 19 m - Corniglia station

Notes

All the villages of Cinque Terre are accessible by train.

Wear good walking shoes and bring enough water: there are fountains in the villages where you can fill your water bottles.

There is a charge for this trail. In 2022, it will cost €7.50 for Monterosso-Vernazza and €7.50 for Vernazza-Corniglia per hiker. So make sure you bring some cash. You can buy a hiking pass for €7.50 per day or the Cinque Terre Treno Card: train + hiking with the option of 1 to day passes. Information and sales on the website www.parconazionale5terre.it

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 8 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
mars45
mars45

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

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Patrixdemex
Patrixdemex

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Really, a very beautiful hike. It's quite physically demanding, so people who aren't used to hiking in the mountains may find it difficult.
But... it's far too crowded.
And in season, you have to pay.

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User 3031005

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

If you're a bit curious and want to explore the different viewpoints and villages to really get to grips with them, you'll have to add another 200m of ascent, making a total of 875m, but it's well worth it.

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User 17103611

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This route was completed during Ascension weekend. It is very busy, so much so that the authorities make it one-way on busy days, from Monterosso to Vernazza. Check online. There is a charge for using the route during Ascension weekend, which can be paid on site or online. There are checkpoints. The walk is absolutely magnificent with extraordinary views of the sea, but it is also tough with a steep start and numerous steps. Between Vernazza and Corniglia, we found two very nice little bars for a refreshing break (and toilets).

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Raoul Volfoni 41
Raoul Volfoni 41

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike on Monday 13 January in bright sunshine! Six people encountered! Free route at this time of year.
Quite a physically demanding route due to centuries-old steps of varying heights and spacing, both uphill and downhill. Magnificent views.

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Gemelo
Gemelo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike, but be aware that you have to pay to use the trail. Not many people on the trail, but lots in the villages, especially in Corniglia.

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alain83400
alain83400

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The hike to do if you only do one, while waiting for the Via del Amore to reopen. But be careful, the slopes are steep and rocky.

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Marc Despierres
Marc Despierres
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike along the first part of the Cinque Terre trail. This trail is very popular despite the fact that there is an entrance fee. Checks are carried out at the start of each section. There are lots of ascents and descents, so it is physically demanding but not technically difficult. The view of Vernazza on the descent is magnificent.

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