How to Hike Vernazza to Monterosso in Cinque Terre

Hiking in Cinque Terre is a must, and hiking from Vernazza to Monterosso (or the other way around) is one of the most popular Cinque Terre trails. It even has a one-way hiking route enforced during specific busy dates.

Continue reading for a detailed guide with everything you need to know, and our honest experience from this trail.

Vernazza-Monterosso Hiking Stats

Distance: 3.6 km (2.2 miles)
Duration: 2 hours
Elevation gain: 217 m (711 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking fee: Yes, 7.5 EUR (in the season from mid-March until November)
Route: Vernazza-Monterosso – check the trail here

The trail is nicely marked, so you shouldn’t have any problems. However, we always have offline maps downloaded just in case, including our AllTrail Plus membership (look it up).

Hike Direction & trail closure

You can do the hike in both directions, from Vernazza to Monterosso or from Monterosso to Vernazza.

Generally, we recommend starting the hike in Vernazza and finishing in Monterosso as that’s a bit easier way with fewer stairs to ascend at the start. Since we wanted to visit Vernazza viewpoint early in the morning, we started our hike there and continued hiking to Monterosso.

If you start your hike in Monterosso, you’ll have to climb a long, steep staircase right at the start of the hike. However, you will have beautiful views of Vernazza as you approach it without the need to turn around.

However, it’s important to note that in some periods in the year, the trail will only be open one way, usually from Monterosso to Vernazza. This is only for certain hours in the day, usually from 9 am to 2 pm. In that time, they won’t let you start the hike from Vernazza to Monterosso. If you come before or after that time, you’ll be free to pass.

You’ll see the signs with exact dates for this just before the trail. During our visit, the one-way trail rule was in effect for the Easter weekend and last weekend in April, 1st May, the last three days of May, and the first two days of June. 

We can’t seem to find much information for any additional dates during the peak season on the official site, so please let us know in the comments if the one-way trail on the Blue Path between Monterosso and Vernazza is enforced during peak season, too. 

Getting to Vernazza

All the main towns in Cinque Terre, including Levanto and La Spezia (which are often a base for exploring the area), have a great connection by train, with a frequent schedule. So, use a train to get to Vernazza.

Read our guide about transport in Cinque Terre to understand it better (coming soon).

Starting the hike

From Vernazza train station, head towards the Church of St. Margaret of Antioch. Just before the church, turn right into a narrow alleyway leading you towards a checkpoint house. This is where you have to show your Cinque Terre Hiking Card or buy one for 7.50 EUR (one-day validity). However, the ticket booth only operates from 9 am until 5 pm, so outside these hours, no ticket checks are made.

BUT be careful! We entered the trailhead before 9 am, so nobody checked our ticket. But, they did check it upon entering Monterosso at the checkpoint there.

Vernazza viewpoint

It takes about 10 minutes and some steep stairs before reaching the famous Vernazza viewpoint, which was our first stop on this hike. It’s this picturesque spot overlooking Vernazza, which is usually very busy, so we headed there early.

However, we skipped the sunrise as the sun rises behind the mountains, so there isn’t any light on the town until about 7:30 am (in the summer). Since we wanted more light, we got there around 8:30 am.

We really enjoyed this area, so we didn’t start our hike to Monterosso until 9:30 am. This was a bit of a mistake on our end, since this is a pretty popular trail, so we did end up in the crowds once we got closer to Monterosso.

Stairs & higher Vernazza Viewpoint

After the Vernazza photo spot, you’ll have to conquer some stairs and a bit more of an incline.

You’ll also pass some vineyards.

After about 30 minutes, you’ll reach a part of the staircase that has a fantastic view of Vernazza from a higher perspective. This is a great photo spot.

First views of Monterosso

After a few more minutes, you’ll see some impressive cliffs and a first view of Monterosso in the distance.

This is where the path starts going gradually down, and you’re entering a bit more shaded forest area.

Stone bridge & cats

Soon, there is a cute, small stone bridge.

After continuing for a few minutes, on the right side, you’ll be able to see houses for stray cats. There should also be some cat food there to feed the cats. However, during our visit, there were no cats at all.

Getting closer to Monterosso with the last views of Vernazza

As you’re getting closer to Monterosso, the path is also getting narrower, and you’ll mostly be hiking down the stairs. If you start your hike a bit later, like we did, at this part, you’ll often have to move to the side so others can pass.

But the views are getting better, too. Don’t forget to turn around at this part, as you’ll also see Vernazza popping out in the distance. We liked this angle for photos with a zoom lens.

Once you reach the checkpoint in Monterosso, it gets a bit easier with the crowds as the path gets a bit wider, and the views get amazing, too. This is a very picturesque part of Monterosso.

However, by that time it was already so hot, and we were tired of zig-zagging in between the crowd for the last part of the trail (hence the lack of photos at that part 😅), and jumping in the sea was the only thing on our minds.

Reaching Monterosso

Once in Monterosso al Mare, there are lots of things to do, but the absolute best one after the hike is heading straight to the beach. That’s what we did. 😁

Vernazza to Monterosso Hiking Tips

There are no toilets along the trail, so we suggest using the toilet at the train station. The fee is 1 euro or free if you have the Cinque Terre Card. (read next: ‘Is Cinque Terre Card Worth It’)

The path is mostly narrow, so in some sections, one side needs to let others pass. This is especially a problem the closer you get to Monterosso, as there are lots of narrow stairs in one part. We started this hike quite late, so the last part of the hike was very unpleasant, as you constantly have to move away.

Sometimes, the hiking trails can be closed (for various reasons, and especially outside the summer season). You can check the current situation of hiking trails in Cinque Terre here.

On specific dates in the year, the Vernazza to Monterosso hike is a one-way trail, available only from Monterosso to Vernazza. Usually from 9 am until 2 pm.

Hiking from Vernazza to Monterosso is easier than hiking from Monterosso to Vernazza, as the Vernazza side has fewer steep stairs to climb.

It’s mandatory to wear closed-toe shoes with good soles on this hike. This might be checked on the checkpoint.

Don’t forget water, especially if you’re doing this hike in summer. You can refill water at each town at public water fountains. Just search “water fountain” in Google Maps, and you should find it easily. Usually they’re labelled as ‘Fontanella acqua potabile’ in Italian.

For most of the hike, there is no shade, so wearing a hat and applying sunscreen is recommended.

Best time to do the Vernazza to Monterosso hike

The best time to hike the Vernazza to Monterosso trail is either early morning (before 9 am) or in the late afternoon to avoid midday heat.

We started our hike just before 10 am in late May and found it a bit too late, as we were met with huge crowds just before reaching Monterosso, which made the hiking experience less pleasant on the narrow stairs.

On the last part of the trail, we were basically trail running to finish it earlier in narrow areas, and not to wait forever for groups to pass. So, definitely start early or late for a better experience.

Vernazza is beautiful for sunset, so if you’re hiking from Monterosso, we recommend starting late in the afternoon to arrive at sunset. If you’re hiking from Vernazza, by starting in the morning, you’ll reach Monterosso just as it’s getting hot, which is perfect for a beach swim.

The Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare hike is usually possible year-round. Still, the best conditions for hiking are from April until October, with spring and autumn months being the most ideal, as it’s not too hot and the crowds are still manageable (especially if you do hikes in early morning or late afternoon).

Is it worth it?

Hiking from Vernazza to Monterosso is one of the best things to do in Cinque Terre. The trail is a bit challenging as it’s rocky and has lots of stairs up and down, but it offers excellent views of both Vernazza and Monterosso.

While our favorite Cinque Terre hike is Corniglia to Manarola – more scenic, less busy (read the complete guide), hiking from Vernazza to Monterosso (or the other way around) is definitely worth it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final thoughts

We hope this guide will help you plan your hike! If you have any questions or updates, feel free to leave a comment below and help fellow travelers.