Ever seen pictures of Cinque Terre? You must have: this is Italy at its most romantic. Perched on cliffs of the Italian riviera, the string of five picturesque fisherman villages is everything a traveler—or a postcard maker—could dream of. The Mediterranean sun, the Ligurian Sea, the medieval architecture, and the Italian cuisine—this is what your week-long self-guided dolce vita getaway is all about. Connected by a 19th century railway line cutting through the hillsides, the villages are car-free, surrounded by some 75 miles of trails along the coast line, with 48 hiking trails available. Explore them at your own pace and enjoy the views. And don’t forget, your phone can only hold so many photos!
For a beautiful Italian getaway, Cinque Terre is the perfect choice. By going on this 7-day hiking adventure, you’ll get the chance to explore one of the most spectacular spots in Italy at your own pace! Cinque Terre comprises five charming fisherman villages, with terrific connecting trails and hiking opportunities. You’ll have enough time to visit what you’re interested in, though your guiding company will provide you with a route, they’ll arrange accommodation, and be there for assistance by phone should you need it. An Italian summer under the Mediterranean sun awaits!
We’re happy to customize your journey and hear your wishes—and we’ll do our best to meet your expectations, contact us!
The itinerary, distances, and altitudes may vary slightly for many reasons beyond your organizer’s control, including weather and terrain conditions.
Keep in mind that you’ll be the one organizing your transfers between the towns. However, the trains in Italy are superb! Though you can also hike some sections instead of taking the train, towns a bit further away are very easily reachable by trains. Tickets can usually be purchased both online or at the train station. Your train rides will be a lovely addition to your trip—they are comfortable and they go along the Italian riviera!
Arrive in Camogli on the Portofino peninsula and check into your hotel for the night. This will be your first glimpse into typical coastal Italian towns! Enjoy the fresh air, the salty breeze, and colorful fisherman houses. Wander the beautiful streets and discover the ruins of Castello della Dragonara. If the weather is warm enough, don’t miss out on swimming in the Ligurian Sea!
Accommodation: Private room in a hotel in Camogli
From Camogli, transfer on your own to San Rocco (about €35—but you can also hike this section, it’s 1.7 km long (1 mile). From there, start hiking towards San Fruttuoso. You will pass by the picturesque church of San Rocco, walk along a quiet forest path, and then start hiking down to the beautiful San Fruttuoso abbey. This little gem is well-hidden and overlooks the Mediterranean Sea—and is only accessible by foot or boat.
After a delicious Italian lunch, hop on a boat to Portofino. It’s warmly recommended that you hike to your picnic lunch spot to enjoy scenic views. From there, keep walking through the Mediterranean flora until you reach Portofino. Visit this lovely town, enjoy a refreshing gelato, see the Castello Brown or artisan shops. Go back to Camogli by train and spend one more night there.
Accommodation: Private room in a hotel in Camogli
Meals: Breakfast
Hiking: 11.5 km / 7 miles
Elevation: +670 m / +2,200 ft | -890 m / -2,920 ft
Following a nice breakfast, catch a train (together with your luggage) to your next destination: Monterosso al Mare. Welcome to the Cinque Terre National Park! Located between the azure sea and the vineyards, Monterosso is well known for its crystal clear waters, beautiful reefs, medieval streets, and fragrant lemon trees.
After dropping off your luggage at your accommodation in Monterosso, hike to Vernazza via a coastal path along the hills. Panoramic views are guaranteed! Hike your way back to Monterosso or catch a train.
Accommodation: Private room in a hotel in Monterosso
Meals: Breakfast
Hiking: 7 km / 4.3 miles
Elevation: +270 m / +885 ft | -260 m / -855 ft
During these two days, you will be able to discover the Cinque Terre National Park and more at your own pace! Explore quaint villages of Levanto and Riomaggiore with their pastel-hued houses and medieval streets. Looking for hidden gems?
Hike up the hills, discover beautiful abbeys, churches, evergreen vegetation, and vineyards of the Liguarian coastline—and, most importantly, enjoy the views overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. You can hike to those place most of the time and enjoy a lovely train ride back. Food and wine lovers will also find their happiness here—maybe take a pesto course or a guided tour in the vineyards.
Accommodation: Private room in a hotel in Monterosso
Meals: Breakfast
Today you’ll leave Monterosso and head to Riomaggiore by train. From there, you’ll start hiking to Portovenere by following the edge of the hill and a coastline trail, walk through Colle del Telegrafo, and the village of Campiglia.
Here is where you’ll find remarkable cliffs of Portovenere and the lovely fisherman village! After check-in, have a stroll through the historic center, the picturesque harbor, and the Church of San Pietro, lcoated on a rocky edge. Keep in mind that luggage transfers from Monterosso to Riomaggiore are included on this day.
Accommodation: Private room in a hotel in Portovenere
Meals: Breakfast
Hiking: 14 km / 8.7 miles
Elevation: +775 m / +2,545 ft | -790 m / -2,595 ft
This is the end of your Italian trip! After breakfast, pack up and leave your accommodation. Your guiding company recommends taking a cab to La Spezia, or even staying in Italy and do further travel on your own. If not, you can go directly to the airport!
Meals: Breakfast
Please note that accommodations are subject to availability and it may not be possible to book the exact accommodations listed day-by-day in the itinerary (in case there is a detailed list).
Also note that your chosen dates for the tour are not guaranteed until confirmed by the guide. If the guide is unable to secure your preferred dates/accommodation, you’ll get a full refund!
Nuyama Team is very well organised and was there for us from day 1 of contact till the last day of our self guided tour. I really recommend Nuyama since they are fast responsive and they book the best accommodation in the area of your walk.
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
*Please note that accommodations are subject to availability and it may not be possible to book the exact accommodations listed day-by-day in the itinerary (in case there is a detailed list).
The best thing about this Cinque Terre self-guided tour is that you can hike at your own pace the whole way through! To see more details on how your days will look, please check out the itinerary to see day-by-day distances and changes in elevation. Generally speaking, you need to be in good shape and in good health, the most you’ll hike is 14 km (9 miles) per day, and gain up to 775 m (2,545 ft) of elevation in a single day.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
A self-guided tour is an independent exploration without a formal guide leading the way. Instead of being part of a group with a tour leader, you will navigate the tour yourself, using resources provided by the operator, such as maps, guidebooks, audio guides, or digital apps. In general, your guide will also take care of other parts of the tour, such as 24/7 support, accommodation, and transportation—but please check the “what’s included” section above for a detailed breakdown.
Once you book the trip, your guides will check accommodation availability. Note that the trip is not yet confirmed at this stage, so please refrain from making any travel arrangements and booking flights.
It can take two to three weeks to receive accommodation confirmation from your guides and confirmation of the dates. Please note that the dates may change a bit, depending on accommodation availability. If the guides cannot confirm the dates, they will get back to you and refund you.
Group sizes and pricing
Cinque Terre self-guided tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Camogli, the starting point of your Cinque Terre self-guided tour, most people fly into Genova Airport (GOA). From there, it will take you up to an hour and a half to reach Camogli by train, or half an hour if you go by car.
Please refrain from making any travel arrangements until your booking is confirmed! After you pick your preferred dates, your guide will check accommodation availability and get back to you within 2-3 weeks. If the guide is unable to secure your preferred dates/accommodation, you’ll get a full refund. Once the guide confirms your departure, you’re good to go—at that point, book your plane tickets and start looking forward to your adventure!
Medical evacuation and repatriation insurance is mandatory, while travel insurance is highly recommended. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
To secure your spot, a deposit in the amount of 30% is required at the time of booking. The remaining amount must be paid 90 calendar days prior to the trip departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies. If you cancel the booking…
Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases.
As we prepared to leave we contemplated our amazing adventure and sense of accomplishment. Thank you to Nuyama for great organizational skills, prompt responses, sound advice along the way and the perfect for us choices of routes for each day. As we interacted with hosts and fellow hikers it became obvious Nuyama has built solid relationships and is highly respected. We felt confident doing this hike self guided because of our own experience and the support given. Thank you Nuyama! Experience of a lifetime!!