Monterosso to Vernazza: Cinque Terre TREKKING Monterosso – Vernazza

Cinque Terre hiking tour Monterosso - Vernazza

The Cinque Terre tour from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza is one of the most beautiful in the entire Cinque Terre national park.

In Monterosso begins the famous blue hiking tour No.2 ("sentiero azzurro") which connects all the five picturesque villages of the Cinque Terre.

The stage Monterosso - Vernazza is the first part and one of the main attractions of the Cinque Terre, which you must see!

If you want you can continue the Cinque Terre hiking tour in Vernazza and walk to the next villages Corniglia, Manarola or Riomaggiore.

Information about the Cinque Terre footpath:

Route: MONTEROSSO - VERNAZZA
Length: 3.5 Km
Height difference: 142 m
Walking time: 2 hours
Level of difficulty: medium
Charges: yes in high season

In October 2011 the hiking trail from Monterosso to Vernazza was partially destroyed from the Cinque Terre storm, but it could be reopened within a short time.

Tour Cinque Terre: begin from Monterosso

We start our Cinque Terre tour from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza at the train station "Stazione Monterosso" which is located directly on the beach promenade (see Monterosso al Mare)

From here you have already a splendid view on the extremely clean and blue sea.

Here begins the Cinque Terre hiking tour "Blue Path - Track 2" in direction east to Vernazza.

We are passing some watchtowers – they were built to protect the village from pirate attacks. First  the trail runs till the end of the promenade and through the tunnel towards Monterosso old town.

After the tunnel you should not cross under the railway bridge, instead take the path made of concrete right next to the coast. So you will pass in front of the Cinque Terre Hotel Porto Roca, which has a wonderful terrace with a nice view over the sea and Monterosso.

Right next to the Cinque Terre Hotel Porto Roca begins the most beautiful footpath of the Cinque Terre - the famous “blue trail".

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Cinque Terre Card: Admission trails + train

In the high season the blue path is not free of charges and you have to pay an admission before you can continue the Cinque Terre hiking tour.

If you buy a day pass of the so-called "Cinque Terre Card", then you can use all Cinque Terre hiking trails.

In addition the same card can be used as Cinque Terre train card. So you can also use the regional Cinque Terre train (2nd class) between Levanto and La Spezia.

Here you can find further information to the Cinque Terre Trains

Tour Cinque Terre: endless stairs...

After the entrance there are steep paths and endless stone stairs which will bring you up to about 140m above sea level.

Especially at the beginning of the trail to Vernazza is very strenuous and it should be completed early in the morning when the temperature is fresh and the stairs are still in the shadow.

Refreshment: Cinque Terre grapes

Sometimes at the hiking trail you can meet an aged inhabitant on the end of another stair. They are offering fresh Vermentino grapes from the vineyards of the Cinque Terre.

This grape is very rare and sweet – so it is perfect for a break.

When we asked the inhabitants when we would reach Vernazza he told us, that there are missing only 40 min... but I think it was a joke ...

Anyway, we have needed more than one hour.

Panorama of Vernazza

After about two hours we reached a view point with a magnificent panorama of Vernazza:

The boats in the harbor of Vernazza, the church, the colorful houses - like a fairyland. From now on the Cinque Terre tour goes downhill to the village.

We reach Vernazza

The village offers a range of small shops (art, wine, ...) and restaurants serving mainly fish dishes.

The trail from Monterosso ends in the middle of the pedestrian street of Vernazza. In the opposite narrow lane you could continue the hiking tour on the trail to Corniglia.

Vernazza further hiking tours

If you still have power, you can continue to hike in the Cinque Terre national park to the next village Corniglia:

• Footpath Vernazza to Corniglia

Vernazza train station: return journey by train

If you have walked enough, you can stop the Cinque Terre hiking tour at the train station "stazione Vernazza" to take the Cinque Terre train.

So you can reach quick and easy all the villages of the Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre Hotels

In our opinion one of the most beautiful hotels in the Cinque Terre is the Porto Roca Monterosso which is located directly on the coast and offers a wonderful panoramic terrace overlooking the sea.

From the hotel you can reach Monterosso beach by a short walk.

In front of the Hotel Porto Roca Monterosso passes the blue hiking trail Monterosso Vernazza.

Thus, this hotel is the perfect starting point for a Cinque Terre hiking tour.

Moreover you can find here many other Cinque Terre Hotels selected by us, where the location, service and price will match:

Cinque Terre Hotels

Cinque Terre hiking

Here you can find the most beautiful Cinque Terre hiking trails:

• Monterosso to Vernazza
• Vernazza to Corniglia
• Corniglia to Manarola (via Volastra)
• Manarola to Riomaggiore - Cinque Terre lovers walk "Via dell Amore"