Sentiero Azzurro — Attraction in Vernazza

The Sentiero Azzuro is part of the coastal trail between Monterosso and Riomaggiore which takes you through beautiful scenery and Cinque Terra villages. I walked from Vernazza to Riomaggiore taking in the villages of Corniglia and Manarola. So only the Monterosso to Vernazza section was omitted. It took about 4 hours 30 mins which included time to look around the villages and for numerous photo stops. The first thing to appreciate is that unless you are an experienced hill walker this is not an easy route. It is virtually all ascent and descent with very few level sections. The inclines are also very steep and are mostly man-made rock steps that will test your thighs. The descents are probably worse and will test your knees. You will need to use your hands in a few scramble sections. You will also definitely need proper hiking boots with rubber soles for grip, for ankle support and to save your feet being hammered by the hard rocks. You should also be ok with heights because some narrow sections have no handrail. Despite all this I saw plenty of people in trainers, some in street clothes and some even carrying hand bags. A few were not fit and were clearly regretting setting off. The section between Manarola and Riomaggiore is essentially a giant staircase. The descent has steps that are a little too high and you have to be careful not to over balance as there is not much to hang on to. If you are fit this is a challenging walk with fabulous views. It is well signposted so a map is unnecessary. There are also useful information boards on history, geology, and fauna along the way as well as emergency contact details if you get into trouble. Make sure you study the train timetable for your...

The Sentiero Azzurro, also known as the Blue Trail or Trail No. 2, is a spectacular coastal hiking route that connects the five charming villages of the Cinque Terre region in Italy: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

The entire trail is approximately 12 km long and can be completed in about 5-6 hours depending on your pace and how often you stop to take in the views. The trail is mostly easy to moderate, with a few steep or rocky sections that require careful footing.

The trail is divided into four main sections, each connecting two villages:

Monterosso to Vernazza: This segment is roughly 3.5 km long and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to hike. It offers beautiful coastal views and passes through terraced vineyards.

Vernazza to Corniglia: This section is about 4 km long and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to complete. It features stunning views of the coastline and the vibrant village of Vernazza.

Corniglia to Manarola: This stretch is 2 km long and takes around 1 hour to hike. It includes some steep steps and offers breathtaking views of the cliffs and sea.

Manarola to Riomaggiore (Via dell'Amore): Currently, this section is closed due to safety reasons, but it is a popular and romantic stretch that is...

This is a very very beautiful hiking trail. You have a nice view over the ocean and the Villages Vernazza and Corniglia for almost the entire trip. There are cacti and agaves as well as other local plant on the side of the road as well. The hard part about this path is that you have to go uphill for the first half of it regardless of which direction you are walking and the stairs are more like 1m high slabs of stone in some places. So I would definitely not recommend this road the people in wheelchairs, families with strollers or anyone else with problems when walking or using stairs since it's basically impossible for you the use it. The stairs on the half closer to Corniglia are a little bit easier to go up in my opinion although I only walked them downhill. Therefore I'd recommend hiking from Corniglia to Vernazza rather then the other way around. We read in the internet that you're supposed to buy a Cinque Terre Card in order to use this path. We did that and it costed us 7,50€ each but there was nobody along the entire way that checked that. So it's your decision if you want to buy it or...