Cinque Terre: Is The Via dell’Amore Open?

The Via dell’Amore is open. After 12 years of closure and a €23 million restoration, the path between Riomaggiore and Manarola reopened to the public on 9 August 2024. Access requires a timed entry ticket and must be booked in advance.

If you are visiting Cinque Terre and planning to walk it, here is everything you need to know about the current status, booking process, and what to expect on the trail.

What Is the Via dell’Amore?

The Via dell’Amore — the Path of Love — is a 1.2-kilometre coastal path carved into the cliffs between Riomaggiore and Manarola, the two southernmost villages of Cinque Terre. It was built between 1920 and 1928 alongside the railway line. The path runs at sea level, blasted into the rock face above the Ligurian coast, with unobstructed views across the water. The walk takes 20–25 minutes one way.

It became one of the most recognisable walks in Italy — and one of the most photographed sections of the Cinque Terre coastline. A rockslide in 2012 closed the path entirely. It stayed closed for 12 years while the national park secured funding and completed a major engineering restoration.

Current Status: Open Since August 2024

The Via dell’Amore reopened in two stages. Residents of Riomaggiore and Manarola were given access from 26 July 2024. The path opened to the general public on 9 August 2024. As of 2026, it is fully operational with timed entry tickets available to book online.

How to Book

Tickets must be booked in advance at the Cinque Terre National Park portal: card.parconazionale5terre.it. Walk-in access is not available. The path operates with timed entry slots and a maximum of 400 people per hour to protect the restored infrastructure.

• Ticket price: €10 per person (separate from the Cinque Terre Card, but included in it from March 2026).
• Direction: One-way only — Riomaggiore to Manarola. You cannot walk it in the opposite direction.
• Capacity: Maximum 400 visitors per hour.
• Opening hours: Vary by season — check the park website when booking, as hours change between winter and summer schedules.
• From March 2026: Included in the Cinque Terre Card, so no separate ticket required if you already hold one.

Practical Tips

• Book early. Slots fill quickly in summer, particularly on weekends and around Italian public holidays. Book at least a week ahead in July and August.
• Arrive at Riomaggiore. Since the path is one-way only, you start at Riomaggiore and finish at Manarola. From Manarola you can continue along other Cinque Terre trails or return by train.
• Wear appropriate footwear. The path is paved but narrow and exposed. Trainers are fine; sandals and flip-flops are not recommended.
• No private vehicles. Cinque Terre villages do not permit private cars. Arrive by train — regional services from La Spezia stop at both Riomaggiore and Manarola.
• Morning visits. Light is better on the path in the morning, and it is less busy before 10am. The sunset view from Riomaggiore is excellent but slots will be in higher demand.

Getting to Cinque Terre from Bologna

From Bologna, the most direct route is by train to La Spezia Centrale (approximately 1 hour 45 minutes with one change, typically at Parma or Pisa). From La Spezia, local trains run every 30 minutes through all five Cinque Terre villages, including Riomaggiore. There is no practical reason to drive — parking in the area is severely limited and private vehicles cannot enter the villages.

Visiting La Spezia or the Cinque Terre?
Escape the crowds with our truffle hunt & gourmet truffle lunch & tasting in Lunigiana — a perfect shore excursion from La Spezia.

Or go inland to watch a Parmigiano Reggiano dairy in the Parma Apennines — just over an hour from the coast.