Hiking in Cinque Terre is one of the main outdoor activities preferred by tourists, so here you go with our top five tips to start exploring our trails!
1. Shoes
If you are a beginner, the first thing you need to know is that obviously, you can’t go for a hike with flip flops, heels, or even shoes with smooth soles. The best solution would be trekking boots. Here in Liguria, even though some trails are easy, the paths are narrow and frequently bumpy. If you don’t have boots you can go with sneakers or similar being just a bit more careful.
2. Weather
The best period to hike is from March to June and September-October.
Hiking Tips: Cinque Terre in Summer
During summer is also possible to hike and there is plenty of tourists on the trails, but pay attention to the heat. Especially in August is really hot and people usually underestimate the structure of the hiking trails around here.
The Riviera is constituted by a rugged coastline, that’s why our paths are not linear and often quite rough or full of steep steps 😉. This does not mean that during summer you can’t hike, but take water with you, do some breaks and avoid the hottest hours.
Hiking Tips: Cinque Terre in Winter
In winter some of the hiking trails are closed, but you can always check their status before going. Furthermore, the weather is often rainy and windy, provoking landslides on the trails.
3. Difficulty Level
The Cinque Terre National Park and surroundings offer a wide range of trekking trails, from the ones you can do as a beginner to the hardest ones. There are more than 50 paths to explore suitable for all ages and levels.
4. Difference between hiking here or elsewhere
The hiking trails of the Riviera could be compared to mountain trails. As I was saying before, the reason is the structure of the coastline. There are some easy trails and some just for experts, but the main thing you need to know about hiking here is that paths are often narrow…but don’t worry, you’ll be rewarded by the beauty of the panorama.
Tips by Locals:
- If you need some equipment there is a local shop exclusively for trekking in Manarola.
- From the best trails of the Riviera to the ones suitable for kids you have plenty of choices!
So..Take it easy, do it wisely and enjoy!