Trail 531 Riomaggiore - Manarola
Trail 531 Riomaggiore - Manarola
Trail 531 Riomaggiore - Manarola
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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Neil S
42 contributions
Very beautiful place, as anyone will tell you. Here are a couple of tips, though...
It's not a place to experience to its fullest, if you have a dicky heart, or dicky knees.
Also, it's better to have a backpack, or at least a smaller bag that can go over your shoulder, in favour of a suitcase - even if it has wheels. It is a maze of steep, skinny stairs, pathways and cobble stones.
One of the popular things to do in Cinque Terre, is hike from 1 town to the other. This isn't a stroll. From Riomaggiore to the next town, Manarola, is is quite a slog, and can be loose rocks and ground in places. Wear the right shoes, and if you need 1, a stick. I did pass some people dressed for dinner, going to the next town... I don't know how they ended up. You don't need to walk back, however, as the train links all towns.
It's not a place to experience to its fullest, if you have a dicky heart, or dicky knees.
Also, it's better to have a backpack, or at least a smaller bag that can go over your shoulder, in favour of a suitcase - even if it has wheels. It is a maze of steep, skinny stairs, pathways and cobble stones.
One of the popular things to do in Cinque Terre, is hike from 1 town to the other. This isn't a stroll. From Riomaggiore to the next town, Manarola, is is quite a slog, and can be loose rocks and ground in places. Wear the right shoes, and if you need 1, a stick. I did pass some people dressed for dinner, going to the next town... I don't know how they ended up. You don't need to walk back, however, as the train links all towns.
Written May 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JDZatSF
San Francisco, CA1,898 contributions
Jul 2021
We hiked this trail the other direction, from Manarola to Riomaggiore. It's beautiful and fun, but also difficult at times and tiring.
It's not for the very young or very old, nor for those with any ambulatory disabilities.
Ah, but the views are so wonderful and it feels soooo good.
It's not for the very young or very old, nor for those with any ambulatory disabilities.
Ah, but the views are so wonderful and it feels soooo good.
Written July 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elio M
Modena, Italy337 contributions
Jan 2022
I hiked from Manarola to Riomaggiore and back. It's been a very breathless experience. Notice that the trail is quite dangerous because very rough and strong sloped, for this it's required the right shoes on ramp it up safely. The most dangerous side is the Manarola's one.
Written January 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MarcSantaCruz
Kensington, CA266 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
Trail 531 begins up above the town, not down at the train station (via dell'amore) which is closed. To get to trail 531, walk up the street from the train station. It will curve around a few times then come to a fork. Take the left fork, which reverses direction to go inland. The other fork goes out around the point in the ocean and eventually to a beach.
You will spend about 60 - 90 minutes from Riomaggiore to Manarola.
After a short walk up, you will find a stair leading to the left and I believe it is marked with trail 531 and has the distinctive red + white stripe marking the train. From here, its a gentle walk around to the north side of town. Then it turns in to the straight up vertical stair that others have mentioned.
It is a long long hike up. And a long hike down. It is very steep, with many of the steps taller than they are deep. Some stretches have no hand rails and no near-by rock walls to hold on to, so its just you and your balance.
You really want good shoes, no flip flops or open sandals. I would also recommend hiking poles if you are not good with your balance or want to save your knees and feet when descending. Going down will cause a lot of knee and ankle impact if you are not used to it.
There are no toilets, so relieve yourself while in town.
When you get to Manarola, turn right to head to the trail to Corniglia. There will be a public water fountain just south of the church. To continue to Corniglia, you have two choices: (a) panoramic trail 6 or (b) "valley" trail to 6.
For the panoramic, walk about 200' north of the church down the wide street and you'll see a well maintained trail entrance to the right. Take that. (if you look at the signs it will show an "X" over the panoramic trail, but that's old and it is usable). The panoramic is another grueling stair climb up rough dirt paths.
For the "valley" option, continue up the street past the water fountain, though the car parking lot. I didn't take this route, but it looks like you walk along the road for a while (still a climb) and join up with the panoramic trail after the difficult dirt and steep step part.
Manarola and Volestra are connected by a bus too, so you could skip all the hard work and take the bus, then the walkfrom Volestra to Corniglia is pretty flat or downhill, very little uphill.
You will spend about 60 - 90 minutes from Riomaggiore to Manarola.
After a short walk up, you will find a stair leading to the left and I believe it is marked with trail 531 and has the distinctive red + white stripe marking the train. From here, its a gentle walk around to the north side of town. Then it turns in to the straight up vertical stair that others have mentioned.
It is a long long hike up. And a long hike down. It is very steep, with many of the steps taller than they are deep. Some stretches have no hand rails and no near-by rock walls to hold on to, so its just you and your balance.
You really want good shoes, no flip flops or open sandals. I would also recommend hiking poles if you are not good with your balance or want to save your knees and feet when descending. Going down will cause a lot of knee and ankle impact if you are not used to it.
There are no toilets, so relieve yourself while in town.
When you get to Manarola, turn right to head to the trail to Corniglia. There will be a public water fountain just south of the church. To continue to Corniglia, you have two choices: (a) panoramic trail 6 or (b) "valley" trail to 6.
For the panoramic, walk about 200' north of the church down the wide street and you'll see a well maintained trail entrance to the right. Take that. (if you look at the signs it will show an "X" over the panoramic trail, but that's old and it is usable). The panoramic is another grueling stair climb up rough dirt paths.
For the "valley" option, continue up the street past the water fountain, though the car parking lot. I didn't take this route, but it looks like you walk along the road for a while (still a climb) and join up with the panoramic trail after the difficult dirt and steep step part.
Manarola and Volestra are connected by a bus too, so you could skip all the hard work and take the bus, then the walkfrom Volestra to Corniglia is pretty flat or downhill, very little uphill.
Written June 1, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike G
Joondalup, Australia241 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
My wife and I were in Manarola and decided we would do one of the walks. we started early with an intention to train to Monterosso and walk from there. Discovered there was a train strike. Went to the information centre and the suggestion was: "Why not take the 531 trail to Riomaggiore." Ok we thought, we are both in good shape and enjoy a walk. No hint about difficulty rating from the nice lady at the information centre.
We were told 60 to 80 minutes. We did it in 55. Basically it is straight up and over a steep peak, then down the other side.
Some of the steps are pretty tall, so walking poles (my wife had a set, but not me) are very helpful and recommended.
Going up was hard from Manarola, but going down into Riomaggiore was also difficult due to the uneven and not well maintained track and steps. It is easy to follow, but if you are not fit or have dodgy knees, don't try this trail. it is not for the faint hearted.
Very scenic and a great sense of achievement to complete it. we then went by boat to Monterosso with a plan to boat back to Manarola later. While on the trail we both said: "Great experience, but we wont be walking back the other way. famous last words. Due to rough weather (big seas) boats to Manarola were cancelled. No trains, so boat back to Riomaggiore, and you guesse it, we walked back to Manarola. And yes I know there should be an easier walk between the two towns but the lovers walk has been closed for some time and still is.
The walk from Riomaggiore to Manarola is no easier than the other way, it took us about the same time both ways, although coming back was at a hotter time and after a full days activity.
If you are up to it, do it, if you have doubts, don't try it. Wear hiking shoes ( we were wearing runners which did the job, but hiking shoes would be better.) and either shorts that end above the knee or loose longer shorts/pants as you need to be able to raise your knees very high on some steps.
We were told 60 to 80 minutes. We did it in 55. Basically it is straight up and over a steep peak, then down the other side.
Some of the steps are pretty tall, so walking poles (my wife had a set, but not me) are very helpful and recommended.
Going up was hard from Manarola, but going down into Riomaggiore was also difficult due to the uneven and not well maintained track and steps. It is easy to follow, but if you are not fit or have dodgy knees, don't try this trail. it is not for the faint hearted.
Very scenic and a great sense of achievement to complete it. we then went by boat to Monterosso with a plan to boat back to Manarola later. While on the trail we both said: "Great experience, but we wont be walking back the other way. famous last words. Due to rough weather (big seas) boats to Manarola were cancelled. No trains, so boat back to Riomaggiore, and you guesse it, we walked back to Manarola. And yes I know there should be an easier walk between the two towns but the lovers walk has been closed for some time and still is.
The walk from Riomaggiore to Manarola is no easier than the other way, it took us about the same time both ways, although coming back was at a hotter time and after a full days activity.
If you are up to it, do it, if you have doubts, don't try it. Wear hiking shoes ( we were wearing runners which did the job, but hiking shoes would be better.) and either shorts that end above the knee or loose longer shorts/pants as you need to be able to raise your knees very high on some steps.
Written July 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ShortStack12
Hope, NJ452 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
The coastal trail between these two towns is impassable because of landslides. Italy should stop advertising that trail. Trail 531 is the next higher route between these two towns; it is an ancient trail that has been severely damaged by hordes of hikers. It is closed to protect it. No one should even think about taking Trail 531. The next alternative between these two towns is even higher up and involves taking a group of trails - it is not a simple route. We had to ask for directions a couple of times.
Written December 17, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
denizozsan
Ankara, Türkiye60 contributions
Jan 2018 • Friends
If you are close to Cinque Terre, like if you are staying in Pisa, you should see Riomaggiore. While visiting Riomaggiore, you should take a walk to Manarola. You will hike near the mountain, above the sea. The view is amazing.
Written May 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anik L
Montreal, Canada657 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
There is a lot of trail to hike in the Cinque-Terre area. There is two popular trail in Riomaggiore; a coastal walk to Manarola (trail 2a / Via dell'Amore / difficulty: easy) and Trail 531(Riomaggiore to Manarola / Beccara / difficulty: intermediate) going straight up the mountain.
The coastal path (2a/ dell'Amore) is closed for a landslide since 2012. And recently (24th of July 2017) the 531 trail too for safety concern with no reopening date.
So this is my review of the 531 trail just before it was closed (I went on May 2017).
The trail starts close to the train station and then take the road until you see some stone steps. You can follow the signs for route 531 (red and white stripes). You'll start climbing up almost right away. You'll climb between 600 and 700 tall, narrow and irregular steps to reach the top of the hill. That's the 531 trail: Entirely uphill and downhill with no resting plateau, steep both ways. Most of the time without handrail.
Going up was hard but going down into Manarola was also difficult due to the uneven and not well maintained path and steps. This is demanding, especially if it's hot. But you will walk among terraced vineyards and the view from the top is incredible and worth every drop of sweat.
You'll need decent footwear (this is not the place for sandals!), hat, sunscreen, maybe walking stick for some, and a decent amount of water (there's none on the route and you will need it, believe me!). You'll need to be able to raise your knees very high on some steps so wear the appropriate clothing for this like short. Oh, and don't forget your camera, because you'll have many beautiful photos opportunities!
The coastal path (2a/ dell'Amore) is closed for a landslide since 2012. And recently (24th of July 2017) the 531 trail too for safety concern with no reopening date.
So this is my review of the 531 trail just before it was closed (I went on May 2017).
The trail starts close to the train station and then take the road until you see some stone steps. You can follow the signs for route 531 (red and white stripes). You'll start climbing up almost right away. You'll climb between 600 and 700 tall, narrow and irregular steps to reach the top of the hill. That's the 531 trail: Entirely uphill and downhill with no resting plateau, steep both ways. Most of the time without handrail.
Going up was hard but going down into Manarola was also difficult due to the uneven and not well maintained path and steps. This is demanding, especially if it's hot. But you will walk among terraced vineyards and the view from the top is incredible and worth every drop of sweat.
You'll need decent footwear (this is not the place for sandals!), hat, sunscreen, maybe walking stick for some, and a decent amount of water (there's none on the route and you will need it, believe me!). You'll need to be able to raise your knees very high on some steps so wear the appropriate clothing for this like short. Oh, and don't forget your camera, because you'll have many beautiful photos opportunities!
Written October 4, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Worldtravelor09
Rockville, MD78 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
Because of the closure of the Via Dell A'Amore from Riomaggiore to Manarola, this trail has been used as an alternative. It is a strenuous hike, and the trail is rapidly deteriorating because of excessive tourism. The authorities should close this trail as it is dangerous and to preserve this ancient trail. We met a farmer who was taking care of his vineyards, and he was so upset that the tourists are ruining this trail that has existed for generations, the rocks are falling, the walls are crumbling, in certain places the drops are very steep, and if you are not careful, can cause a rock slide further deteriorating the trail. Take the train, the ferry, and hike the other trails. Had we known, we would never have taken this hike.
Written April 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard K
Sheffield, UK41 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
We had planned to do this and it looked easy from our view from the harbour. Unfortunately it is closed due to a landslide. Thus meant that everyone has to travel to Manorola by train. Not sure when it will open but 2018 was mentioned in the Cinque terre office where there was also a huge queue.
Written August 25, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Добрый день, подскажите, пожалуйста, какие тропы самые лучшие красивые?
Written August 19, 2019
Bonjour,
Je planifie mes vacances en famille en Italie et nous souhaiterions beaucoup visiter les 5 Terre. Notre bébé de 8 mois sera au rendez-vous, c'est pourquoi j'ai besoin de vos expériences. J'ai vu que le sentier Riomaggiore-Manarola était facile et praticable en poussette. Notre plan était donc de prendre le train jusqu'à Riomaggiore, de faire le parcours à pied jusqu'à Manarola et de là prendre le bateau et continuer la visite des villages depuis la mer. Seulement je lis que certains sentiers sont en travaux, savez-vous si celui-ci en fait partie ?
Je vous remercie !
Written May 28, 2019
Hi! Would tennis shoes be ok for this hike or would hiking boots be better? Thank you
Written October 9, 2018
I used sturdy tennis shoes. I think that was the same for the majority of people actually hiking. I saw a few boots but those people had heavy backpacks and were clearly not just out on day hikes. I also saw sandals and even ridiculous high heels! They were just 100meters from the towns though—clearly not hiking from one town to the next.
Have fun. It’s fantastic and the crowds disappear after you get 20 minutes from town.
Written October 10, 2018
Is there an alternative route connecting Riomaggiore and Manarola, seeing as the usual one is closed? If so, do you need to be a good climber to attempt it?
Written September 14, 2018
Yes there is at least one. I think there are more than that though. Once you get to the area go buy your trail pass at the booth (near the train station ) and the people there can give you the alternate routes. I am 61 years old and generally fit and did Trail 531 --the alternate (as well as the other regular trails between the other towns) this last June 2018.. One step at a time!
Written September 17, 2018
A Tripadvisor member
San Gabriel, California
Is it possible to hike in late February?
Written February 13, 2018
Where are the jumping cliffs (seaside) along the trail
Written September 17, 2017
Let me start by saying diving off of any cliff is dangerous and I would never recommend it. That said, the cliffs that I saw people jumping from (not too much diving) are to the left of the main port as you look at Riomaggiore from the sea. The houses form a U around the port and these cliffs are the next cove outside the U on the left side as you look from the sea. There is a trail then you have to climb up the cliff. Remember it is tidal and water.
Written September 17, 2017
Buenas tardes estamos llegando en el mes de marzo a cinque terre quisiera saber si esa fecha estan abiertos los senderos como asi tambien los ferry estan trabajando. Muchas gracias
Written January 5, 2017
Muchas gracias Fuimos y todo perfecto y muy belo!!!!!!!!!!!!
Written June 5, 2017
Four of us in our early 60s and reasonably fit are planning to walk in April 2017. We wish to know if it is best to stay in one place and get to the trails or is there a better way of doing this (given that we have luggage to transport) If we stay in one town only, which one is recommended.
Written August 2, 2016
Definitely only stay in one town. They are all reached easily by frequent trains. I recently stayed in Monterosso al Mare. The reason I choose it is because as the biggest town it has the most amenities that I like. More choices of hotels, restaurants, food shops etc. We have our luggage on wheels and found it fine walking on the paved streets with our luggage from the station to our accommodation. There are also taxis that can pick you up at the station.
You could also consider Vernazza and Mararola that are smaller and I found prettier than Monterosso. I was not that impressed with sleepy Riomaggiore. Corniglia is a lovely town but the station is a fair walk up a lot of stairs; not so good with luggage.
Written August 4, 2016
hello, much has been said about how physically tough the trails are or otherwise but i have not read anything about difficulties for people with a fear of heights....Am I mad to even try it? How unsafe is it? i am pretty determined to have a go but am quite a coward when it comes to steep drops. Can anyone reassure me or tell me to just stay in the town and drink wine instead..?
Written July 25, 2016
I also do not like heights but this trail did not scare me at all. It has many handrails and is in excellent shape. That being said, you must be careful with your footing and pay attention to where you are walking as you could fall down the trail or hurt others. There are places that you can stop to take pictures; I would not take pictures while you are hiking. I would highly encourage hiking the trails as the view is breathtaking.
Written July 26, 2016
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