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26 October 2020
Dear Frank, we have just finished the Liguria long-distance hike and are still “fully loaded” from this varied, really great week. Outside of the season we almost had the hiking trails to ourselves and experienced many tourist hotspots relatively lonely.
We would recommend everyone to include the long descent into the Benedictine Abbey of San Fruttuoso on stage 1. This is really worth seeing.
In this way, simply thank you very much for the inspiration and the material provided. It's great that we were able to fall back on it and experience such an eventful week.
Warm greetings from Heike and Dany
26 October 2020
Hello Heike & Dany!
What a surprise! I am not yet completely finished with my tour description and therefore have not yet "officially" listed it on the overview page and you have already hiked it! Of course I'm all the more pleased that you enjoyed it! I am happy to include your recommendation with San Fruttuoso for stage 1.
Greetings from Hamburg
Frank
20 October 2021
Hello Frank,
I just came across your great site while looking for a hiking destination for early December. Reachable without a plane if possible. What can you recommend to me?
Thanks and regards,
Deike
21 October 2021
Hello Deike,
Thank you for the compliment :-) At the beginning of December the weather is of course a matter of luck. The safest thing to do in terms of weather at this time of year would be one of the following hikes (but these can only be reached by plane):
So far, we have personally had good experiences in the south of France and have been to Provence several times in November. The following long-distance hike might come into question:
GR-51: Marseille Coastal Path (5 days) (Can be reached by train from Germany).
The hikes in northern Italy can also be reached by train or car, but I would tend to prefer southern France - no guarantee :-)
Regards
Frank
27 January 2022
Hello Frank,
you carried your luggage yourself, right? Except for the one day at the beginning of the tour where you returned to the same accommodation in the evening.
Many thanks. Claudia
27 January 2022
Hello Claudia,
that's exactly how it was!
27 January 2022
And one more question: for the extension of the hiking holiday by a few days (stationary) - what would be the most beautiful place for you?
Thank you!
27 January 2022
If you can plan a few extra days, I would plan in stops or break days with two overnight stays in one place along the way. For example, I spent two nights in Bonassola: nice sandy beach, nice restaurants, possibilities for excursions by bike through the tunnel and not as crowded as other places. Alternatively, I would suggest Monterosso al Mare (one stage later): The place consists of two bays, which means you can explore a lot. In addition, I find Porto Venere very worthwhile (visiting the offshore island etc.). On the other hand, I would not recommend Riomaggiore, the place consists of just one main street.
I hope this helps you further!
Regards
Frank
27 January 2022
Thank you Frank. My idea was to go hiking and add a few days of “work from anywhere” to it. Therefore, I would hike in one go and store the luggage at the beginning.
September 22, 2022
Hello Claudia,
for us it will soon start on the Sentiero Liguria and we are wondering where we can best store our luggage. Do you have a recommendation for us? With an accommodation?
Regards
Isabel
8 April 2022
Hi Frank
I'm about to go hiking in de Cinque Terre. A detailed question: are hiking poles recommended, or can I save myself and not have to carry them around?
Many thanks! Claudia
16 May 2022
Hi Frank
I've been back from Liguria for a week - full of memories of this beautiful landscape and the varied tour. And proud of what has been achieved. It was a great experience. Your detailed description of the route and the many tips were a great contribution to the planning and ultimately to a successful implementation.
PS: in case anyone is reading along – I had hiking poles with me and was happy to use them.
Many thanks. Claudia
16 May 2022
Hello Claudia!
Oops, I must have missed the sticks question! Then this is probably answered now :-)
I am very happy that you enjoyed the tour!
Regards
Frank
July 6, 2022
Hello Frank,
Great description and maps, thank you! We are planning a hike in October with 2 families including 5 children (between 11-14 years). During a hut hike last year on the Meraner Höhenweg (it worked out great!), it was a challenge with the accommodations, but on this hiking trail it seems to me to be practically impossible: there are more double rooms and the accommodations I have found so far are above average expensive. Would that be your assessment too? Do you have a suggestion for another route that might suit us better? I would be very happy about your opinion! VG
Felix
July 7, 2022
Hi Felix,
Yes, the Cinque Terre is one of the more expensive travel destinations, I share your assessment.
I have the following ideas:
– Cinque Terre with an overnight stay at a fixed location and by train to the stages. That would give you the opportunity to rent a (cheaper) holiday apartment and travel without a lot of luggage. There is a train station in almost every town, so the outward and return journey is possible without any problems and without having to change trains. You can also flexibly shorten the daily stages if necessary and go to the beach in the afternoon.
- Corfu trail. There is generally cheaper accommodation here, and some holiday apartments can also be booked for one night. However, it could also be tight in some places with overnight accommodations, since not everywhere the same density of tourist infrastructure is available.
- Algarve off Faro to the west. This is where the density of accommodation in every price range is greatest.
- Costa Brava. In the off-season there are sometimes quite cheap accommodation options (accommodation in dormitories or in guesthouses, where 3 or 4 rooms for the 9 of you are still affordable).
In terms of planning, this group size is certainly not easy. Especially since when looking for accommodation you sometimes have to search for holiday apartments, sometimes for 2 rooms for 9 people, sometimes for 3-4 rooms in order to get good results.
But it will certainly be great fun if you are traveling with your group!
Regards
Frank
August 12, 2022
Many thanks dear Frank! We are now in the detailed planning for Cinque Terre. Am very excited! Best regards
Felix
February 14rd 2023
Hello Frank,
Just wanted to report briefly: we ran the tour in Oct. 22! As recommended, we booked a holiday home in Deiva Marina through Airbnb and took the train to a starting point each day. Completely unproblematic with the high train frequency and very flexible. So the children (2 families, 5 children + dog) could also take a shortcut or stay on the beach. Was very nice! Even if it was very crowded in the main towns, it was all the more beautiful on the side routes.
Regards
Felix
February 19rd 2023
Hi Felix,
great, glad to hear it worked out!
Regards
Frank
February 13rd 2023
Hello,
I have a question about the first day: if you want to stay overnight in Camogli twice, do you take a bus back to Camogli? The report only says something about a bus S.Margherita or Rapallo. But can you get back to Camogli later in the afternoon or in the evening?
February 13rd 2023
Hello Irmgard,
You're right, I phrased that imprecisely. I've added that to the description now. First you take the bus and then you have to change to the train in S.Margherita Ligure. There is a good connection about once an hour, even in the late afternoon. Google Maps knows the connections. That's pretty easy to figure out.
Thanks for the improvement suggestion!
Frank
5 May 2023
Dear Frank, we have just completed the Liguria long-distance hike - we really liked it! Unfortunately it rained the first few days, but luckily we had very good weather on the last two stages (which we thought were the most beautiful anyway). All in all, we (who actually only hike on vacation) found the long-distance hike not unexhausting, but quite doable - if necessary we would plan a day off next time, but it worked out so well. In stage 3, we took the shortcut through the tunnel because of the rain, but we found that very exciting.
Thank you very much for your great descriptions and information! This is now the fourth of your hikes I've done and I've absolutely loved it every time! I am really thankful for your site..
Best regards, Barbara
5 May 2023
Hello Barbara,
That makes me very happy! With long-distance hike number 4, I think you belong to the top group :-)
You are right - the long-distance hike has a few meters in altitude and is one of the sportier hiking destinations.
Regards
Frank
18 November 2023
Dear Frank,
Thank you very much for the inspiration - we ran the route in October 2023 and your descriptions helped us a lot. It makes you want to try out other hikes.
I described our tour in my blog: https://suseluebker.de/kuestenwanderung-in-ligurien/
Maybe you would like to read our experiences,
greetings
Suse
19 November 2023
Hello Susa,
Thanks for the feedback and the link! Of course I want to read something like that :-)
And as a tip for the next hike: The coastal hike in Marseille By the way, it is also reasonably easy to reach by train (via Frankfurt with the TGV)…
Regards
Frank
19 November 2023
Thank you very much for the tip – my girlfriend set off from Marseille at the same time and was really excited too, we’ll definitely do that!
Regards
Suse
9 January 2024
Dear Frank,
I read your descriptions with great interest. It's great how helpful and inspiring they are! We plan to do the route from la Spezia at the beginning of May as we are traveling from Rome. Before that, they were on the way from Assisi to Rome. So from stage 6 to stage 1
In your experience, is this advisable or nice?
Best regards,
Isabella
10 January 2024
Hello Isabella!
I'm happy, I'm happy :-) Of course you can also hike the path the other way around and I also know people who have done it in the opposite direction. But I actually try to improve my hiking routes from stage to stage wherever possible - and in this case I think that speaks for the direction I've chosen. Why? At the beginning you hike towards the Cinque Terre (not quite as picturesque, but still with many scenic highlights), then you have the concentrated load of Cinque Terre in one day (spectacular coast, but with a lot of tourism) and closes the long-distance hike with stage 6 as the icing on the cake (again rather lonely, with a great view of the headland of Porto Venere).
However, if you have spent days on the Assisi-Rome route beforehand, you will already be in such a hiking flow that you will hardly be able to save yourself from endorphins - and then the direction of hiking doesn't matter in your case :-) And you'll probably save money Then not only travel time on the way there but also on the way back, right?
You can tell I'm a bit undecided, I hope this is still helpful!
Regards
Frank
15 January 2024
Hello Frank!
Thanks for your really quick descriptions. I'm currently planning the long-distance hike in Liguria for the end of February. We're looking forward to it. This is our 3rd long-distance hike to the Amalfi Coast and Trieste/Slovenia. We have exactly 6 days available. Which stage would you skip if necessary if a rainy day got in our way?
Thanks and LG
Martina
17 January 2024
Hello Martina,
cool, 3 hikes already, I'm happy about that! Personally, I would then forego stage 2 or 3, and possibly also the first stage, as this is not entirely connected to the others.
Have fun hiking – and I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the weather!
Frank
1 April 2024
Hello Frank, thank you very much for the information. I want to try your route during the Pentecost holidays but I'm looking for cheap accommodation, a hostel, dormitory etc (20-30 €) that I would like to return to again and again. Has anyone had experience with a hostel? The hostel should be easily accessible by public transport. Best regards
3 April 2024
Hi Mary,
My own experiences with overnight stays in a dormitory date back several years :-) However, the following hostel in Levanto makes a good impression and is roughly in the price range you mentioned: Ospitalia del Mare Hostel). Located roughly in the middle of the hiking route and only a quarter of an hour from the train station, I think this is a good starting point for getting to all the stage starting points with the regional trains.
Have fun hiking!
Frank
15 May 2024
Hello Frank,
I want to do the coastal hike in Liguria in November. How do you rate the accommodation at this point, do I have to book in advance or will I be able to find a place somewhere flexible because it is low season?
Regards
Sarah
17 May 2024
Hi Sarah,
It's hard to say: although it is really low season with prices and availability tending to be more relaxed, there are definitely some accommodations during the winter break. As far as I know, the section between Monterosso al Mare and Riomaggiore - the route that runs past the Cinque Terre - is busy almost all year round and the offering is limited due to the topography. At least there I would make a reservation in good time or at least check how the booking situation is developing there a few weeks in advance.
Regards
Frank
17 May 2024
great, thank you very much!
16 May 2024
Hello Frank,
the tour looks really great!
Do you think the stages can also be shortened? Are there accommodations in between?
We are thinking about doing the tour with our children (then 6 and 8 years old), so the stages could be a little shorter
LG Melanie
17 May 2024
Hi Melanie,
Yes, you can actually shorten the stages almost everywhere, halve them or divide them into thirds - there are accommodations in every town, but I would reserve them in advance, as the Cinque Terre is very popular in almost every season.
With children, I would personally only choose relatively short sections due to the many meters in altitude. I have often heard of the rule of thumb “age times 1,5” - so at 6 years old a distance of 6 * 1,5 = 9 km would be adequate, whereby 100 meters of altitude have to be taken into account as 1 kilometer.
Tip: For each stage you can call up the elevation profile in the integrated map by clicking on the symbol at the bottom right and thus easily estimate the altitude and distances for sections.
Idea:
Start in Levanto with two overnight stays (in the middle of stage 4). On the first day (without luggage) by train to Framura and from there either to Bonassola (approx. 5 km + 200 meters in altitude) and by train back to Levanto or completely on foot back to Levanto (another 3,5 km + 200 meters in altitude between Bonassola and Levanto). This has the advantage that you can decide on the way how well the children's condition is going (tendency towards shorter routes, as the next day will be more strenuous). Then on stage 4 from Levanto to Monterosso al Mare (with an overnight stay), that would be approx. 8 km + 300 meters in altitude and therefore, in my opinion, actually above the upper limit of what is possible for 6 year olds.
Stage 5 can easily be split into two halves with an overnight stay in Corniglia. Unfortunately, I can't think of a useful abbreviation for stage 6.
I hope this helps you a bit!
Regards
Frank
18 May 2024
Hello Frank!
We did this hiking trip at the end of February. Unfortunately, due to the bad rainy weather, we were only able to carry out stages 1, 4 and 5. We visited Porto Venere by train/bus in rainy weather. I still really liked it and I would like to thank you very much for the detailed and GREAT information you provided for this great hiking trip!! JUST MEGA!!!
February is low season. We had only booked the first two nights, which we spent in Santa Margherita Ligure, as we had found almost nothing in Camogli, and we arrived by train late in the evening and would have had to make the last connection to Camogli.
We only traveled the first stage with our daily luggage. We hiked to San Fruttuoso (beautiful) via the beautiful and panoramic “Passo del Bacio” path. However, this path is only recommended for people who are completely free from giddiness and sure-footed, as it is very exposed! Some passages have ropes. From Portofino we took the bus to Santa Margherita, where we spent the second night.
We only had 2 days left with nice weather and so we decided (as you advised us :-)) for stages 4 and 5; Unfortunately, 6 also fell into the water (which made me very sorry…). I was glad I didn't book another hotel, so we were able to reschedule spontaneously. It was also great that all stage starts and finishes were so GREAT to reach by train.
Stage 4: We took the train from Santa Margherita to Bonassola and from there to Monterosso.
We booked the next 3 nights in Monterosso at the Hotel Marina. There they told us that in the low season a few hotels are always open on a rotating basis.
Stage 5: The paths from Monterosso to Vernazza and from Vernazza to Corniglia were officially closed. It was late February and they would have opened the trails in early March. We didn't need a Cinque Terre card. In winter the trails are often officially closed because they are not maintained out of season. We walked along these paths anyway. It was a Sunday and there were no workers. However, you could see along the route that some construction sites had been set up and broken walls had been repaired. I don't know what the reaction would have been during the week if you walked along despite the closed path... I thought a descent to Manarola was recommended. We then took the train from Rio Maggiore back to Monterosso to our accommodation.
Stage 6: we visited the town of Porto Venere, which is well worth seeing, by train and bus.
LG Martina
23 May 2024
Hello all,
Do you think the path is just as feasible if you walk it in the opposite direction? From Porto Venere towards Genoa.
greetings
Sarah
September 7, 2024
Thank you very much for planning the tour, dear Frank! We are starting next week and have a practical question: classic hiking boots or trekking boots. It would be great if someone knew something about this. Thank you very much and greetings from Switzerland,
Alex
September 10, 2024
Hi Alex,
I'm really pleased that you'll be going on the tour soon! I always recommend hiking boots on all hiking trails - this has to do with the fact that you're carrying a backpack and a lot of weight, and boots simply offer better grip and protection against twisting your ankle. This is especially true for long-distance hikes with a relatively high elevation, which the Cinque Terre tour also includes.
For example, a section of the trail with light scree looks like this:
If you are only travelling with a daypack, there is nothing wrong with trekking shoes given the nature of the path. And as a Swiss person, I would of course assume that you could manage the route barefoot :-)
So in short: The condition of the path is not technically demanding (exception: stage 1, if you decide to take the via ferrata-like variant "Passo del Bacio" - i.e. the "lower" route to get to San Fruttuoso). Only the many meters of altitude require stamina and surefootedness on the descent.
Best wishes and have a nice trip!
Frank
September 10, 2024
Dear Frank, thank you very much. So I'll be getting hiking boots – safety first ;)
We will report back and would like to say thank you very much for the GPX data...what a luxury in planning.
Best regards
Alex
September 16, 2024
Hi Frank
Your compilation is really helping me with my planning for October. Thank you for that. Unfortunately I have to travel by car, there is no other option. Do you know if there is somewhere where you can park the car safely and cheaply? Has anyone told you about their experience in this regard?
Greetings Lisa
September 18, 2024
Hi Lisa,
Unfortunately, I don't have a really good tip for you as to where you can park your car cheaply and safely. The only halfway usable one I found is the following underground parking garage in La Spezia below Europa Square (so basically at the end of the tour, from there you can easily get to the starting point by train): https://maps.app.goo.gl/JmYTYBogALVKGQdM7. The underground car park is under video surveillance, which is a good thing. However, if you read the Google reviews, there have been reports of a burglary...
If you find something better, please share your experiences here :-)
Regards
Frank
September 18, 2024
Hello Frank. I just asked at my first accommodation in Camogli - a BnB. I can leave it there and pick it up again on the last day. However, it is expensive at 25 euros from check out. But then I decided that it felt good to leave it there and I would invest the money.
September 18, 2024
The BnB is a bit up above and not in the middle of the city. Luckily I don't have a luxury car, but having a Swiss license plate is never good ;-). They can't get much out of it anyway
September 24, 2024
Great, that sounds like a good solution!
September 18, 2024
Thanks for great route and descriptions. Just did stages 2-5 and part of stage 6 (from Campiglia to Porto Venere). Very nice hike, lots of great views and everything in one page.
PS Elite 532C (from Groppo onwards to Riomaggiore) on stage 5 is currently closed. His nice jumping around and over gates.
Would be awesome to have link to live Google map as navigation through page not always working good.
September 18, 2024
Hi Alex,
Thank you very much for your feedback! If I understand correctly, you managed to get through despite the road being closed, right? The 532C should actually be open - at least if you believe the official website: https://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Esentieri-outdoor.phpWell, it seems to have worked one way or another.
Regards
Frank
3 January 2025
I did, illegally :).
Anyways, amazing route, highly recommended to everyone.
5 April 2025
Dear Frank,
We are currently sitting on the train back home and wanted to thank you for the great work!
It was really really nice.
We simply re-planned the tour using your interactive map on Komoot.
Two more small tips (for all those who still want to do the tour):
The last section of the stage to Porto Venere is currently closed, but you can simply walk via Le Grazie to Porto Venere (or take the bus for the last section).
And the Cinque Terre Card can be purchased online (so you don't have to wait in a long queue).
Thanks again!
Sofia and Kathi
7 April 2025
Hello Sofia and Kathi!
Thank you for your feedback! I've now placed the reference to the online ticket on the Cinque Terre Card more prominently.
Regards
Frank
6 April 2025
Dear Frank,
We're currently sitting in our hotel after our tour in La Spezia, exhausted but truly thrilled! Thank you for the great write-up!
As I have read several comments, the path is now very washed out in places, so ankle-high hiking boots are a must and we also highly recommend hiking poles!
Two comments from us:
1. Riomaggiore – Porto Venere
The section to Porto Venere is still officially closed, but all the Italians told us it's still possible to walk there. We can confirm this; it's only a short stretch of road where the slope has collapsed, and the cleanup work has progressed to the point where it's possible to walk there again.
2. Return to Camogli from Portofino:
The bus to Santa Margherita costs €5, and the train another €4,50 per person. We later realized that the boat trip would have cost €12, which would probably have been much more convenient. The bus, in particular, was completely full, even in the off-season, and other hikers reported that they couldn't even get on two previous buses.
We will also comment on it again in the next few days under the individual stages :)
Thank you so much again! We'll definitely check out your other tours in the future!
Best regards,
Kathi and Thomas
June 14, 2025
Dear Frank,
After having already done 'your' Amalfi tour, we are once again absolutely thrilled with your tour planning in Liguria. We arrived in Porto Venere yesterday evening, still filled with the wonderful impressions.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences.
We're already looking forward to the next 'Frank Tour' ;)
Kind regards from
Constanze and Wiebke
July 12, 2025
Thank you both! :-)
27 November 2025
Hello buenas tardes. He saw the trek from Liguria to the public and found it interesting. This study has been realized and I have planted it in a duda: “Is this what you want to see contrary to what I mean? Does the transmitter tend to last longer? Te agradecería me recommendaras el sentido de la marcha. Gracias y enhorabuena por tu reportaje