Trails and Hiking: Walking Between Sea, Villages and Terraces

In Riomaggiore and Manarola, trails are not simply panoramic routes: they are the living traces of a territory shaped over time. Before roads, before modern connections, it was the trails that linked villages, sanctuaries, cultivated fields, vineyards, olive groves and ridges. Walking them today means entering the most authentic geography of the Cinque Terre: one made of climbs, stairways, dry-stone walls, sea views and sudden passages between coast and hillside.

Hiking here is not only a sporting activity, but a way to read the landscape step by step.

Why go hiking between Riomaggiore and Manarola

The area between Riomaggiore and Manarola is one of the most interesting in the Cinque Terre because it brings together many different landscapes in a short distance: coastal villages, terraces, vineyards, Mediterranean scrub, sanctuaries, ridges and sea views.

The trails allow you to move through these layers one after another. You may start from the harbour or the centre of the village, climb between houses and stairways, pass gardens and cultivated plots, reach the terraces, then enter woodland or Mediterranean scrub, until you arrive at the most panoramic points.

It is a very different experience from visiting the villages or walking the Via dell’Amore: more physical, quieter, not always easy, but precisely for this reason, memorable.

How to choose the right trail

Not all trails offer the same kind of experience.

• If you want to connect Riomaggiore and Manarola through a historic and intense route, choose Via Beccara – Trail 531.
• If you want to climb from Manarola towards Volastra and the agricultural landscape, choose Trail 506.
• If you are looking for a wide view above Riomaggiore, choose the trail to Montenero.
• If you want to walk at higher altitude on a gentler route, consider the Strada dei Santuari.
• If you are interested in a themed route linked to the vineyards, choose the Terraced Vineyards Itinerary.

Who this experience is for

Hiking between Riomaggiore and Manarola is perfect if you love:

Vertical landscapes: because here, elevation change is part of the experience.

Photography and panoramic viewpoints: every climb can suddenly open onto views of the sea, the villages and the terraces.

History and ancient routes: many trails were once paths of work, devotion and everyday life.

Wine and agricultural landscapes: walking among terraces and vineyards helps you understand the heroic viticulture of the Cinque Terre.

Slow but active experiences: hiking encourages you to slow down and observe the territory at a different rhythm.

What to combine with hiking

A wine tasting

After walking among terraces and vineyards, a tasting takes on a different meaning. Wine is no longer just something to taste: it becomes the result of the landscape you have just crossed.

A panoramic sunset

Many trails offer perfect viewpoints to watch the light change over the coast. If you plan your hike in the late afternoon, you may enjoy one of the most beautiful views of your trip.