I spent three summer nights in Cinque Terre and choosing the perfect hike was one of my top priorities. Here are all the Cinque Terre hiking tips you need to know for your trip.
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What is the best hike in Cinque Terre?
After researching the best hike, I chose Vernazza to Monterosso because of the stunning scenery and I loved the idea of ending at Monterosso beach. This tends to be recommended as the best hike across multiple forums. Make sure to start this hike in Vernazza because if you start it in Monterosso, you will have to climb more stairs. Plan for the hike to take between 90 and 120 minutes. In order to avoid crowds, start your hike before 10 am.
Cinque Terre Trekking Card
The Cinque Terre Trekking card gives you access to all footpaths and has varying costs based on peak season. It could be 7,50 euro or 15 euro for one day depending on the season.
Cinque Terre Treno Card
The Cinque Terre Treno card gives you access to the hiking trails with unlimited train travel on the Cinque Terre Express trains. The card costs between 19,50 to 32,50 euro for a one day adult pass. The price changes based on peak season. Unless you will be hiking back to where you are staying, I would recommend getting the combo pass. You can buy the pass online or in person at the tourist office at the train station.
Proper Hiking Shoes
Make sure you wear some shoes with traction and grip. Cinque Terre hiking trails can potentially be dangerous with steep drops and there are some areas where you will appreciate having the extra grip. You will be fined if you are not wearing closed toe shoes and honestly you are putting others at risk if you are wearing something like flip flops. They usually check your shoes at the checkpoint before you begin the trail, but I did notice one fool get through with flip flops and he almost fell down the stairs near Monterosso. You can hike in sneakers, but I really recommend actual hiking shoes.
Cinque Terre Hiking Trail Information
You can find more information about the trails on the Parco Nazionale Cinque Terre website as well as buy your Treno or Trekking pass. You need to check for trail closures or any other important information prior to heading out on your hike. You can also get more information from the tourist office at the train station.
Solo Hiking
I started my solo hike a little before 10 am during peak season. The trails were not overly busy, but there were enough people around where I did not feel isolated. There are some steep drops so be mindful if you are hiking alone. There are a few guided hiking tours that you could join below.
What to Bring
Make sure to bring plenty of water, especially if you are hiking in the summer. It was very sunny and hot so it’s easy to become dehydrated. You may also want to bring snacks. I used a small hiking backpack to carry my water and swimwear. Make sure you are wearing sunscreen because you will be in direct sunlight for a good amount of time. Supergoop is my go-to face sunscreen that blurs pores and doesn’t leave a greasy finish. If you are ending your hike in Monterosso, bring some swimwear for the beach. Trust me, that water will be calling your name after your hike. As mentioned earlier, bring some hiking shoes with traction. Here’s a lightweight sneaker style hiking shoe that I love using. Happy hiking!