Best Hiking Trails in Italy

Few countries reward hikers quite like Italy. From jagged Dolomite spires to coastal footpaths above sapphire coves, the country’s trails provide not only unrivalled scenery but centuries of history. This guide highlights some of the best day hikes in Italy as well as multi-day treks across the peninsula. From alpine routes passing remote mountain huts to coastal paths overlooking turquoise seas, Italy offers endless opportunities for outdoor exploration.

You will also find a dedicated section on reaching trailheads by ferry, including international routes and domestic links to islands, coastal trails, and several of Italy’s most famous national parks.

How to Choose Your Italian Hike

We know it’s not easy to choose where to hike, especially when Italy has a bounty of incredible trails. Before diving into the list, here are a few quick filters to help match the right hike to your plans:

Season: Alpine trails (Dolomites, Aosta Valley) are best from late June to September. Coastal and lower-altitude routes (Liguria, Campania, Sicily) shine from spring through late autumn.

Difficulty: Italy ranges from gentle lake promenades to serious mountaineering. If you are new to the Alps, start with day hikes from established mountain huts before committing to a long traverse.

Logistics: Many classic hikes have excellent public transport and hut networks; others require a car or local transfer. Islands and coastal trails are typically accessible by ferry travel.

Northern Italy: Dolomites, Lakes, and the High Alps

Alta Via 1, Dolomites (Veneto/South Tyrol)

• Distance: 120 km
• Duration: 8–12 days
• Difficulty: Moderate to challenging (non-technical)
• Best season: July to September

Italy’s most iconic long-distance trail winds through the breath-taking heart of the Dolomites, a spectacular mountain region recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The route connects a chain of scenic mountain huts from the emerald waters of Lago di Braies all the way to Belluno.

Each day brings panoramic hikes beneath towering limestone spires, with well-maintained paths, a few thrilling ladders, and the comfort of a warm meal waiting at every refuge. For many hikers, the lake at Lago di Braies serves as the classic starting point for this unforgettable journey through the Italian Alps.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop, Dolomites (South Tyrol)

• Distance: 10 km loop
• Duration: 3–4 hours
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Best season: June to October

This legendary circuit around the dramatic spires of Tre Cime delivers one of the most photogenic hiking experiences in Europe. The trail begins at Rifugio Auronzo, the typical starting point for the loop, before continuing past Rifugio Lavaredo and Rifugio Locatelli.

Widely considered one of the best day hikes in Italy, this scenic route rewards early risers with peaceful trails, golden sunrise light, and sweeping views across the Dolomites.

Please also consider that weather conditions can change quickly in the Dolomites. We recommend carrying a shell and warm layer even during summer hikes.

Gran Paradiso National Park Day Hikes (Aosta/Piedmont)

• Distance: Various (8–16 km)
• Duration: Half- to full day
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Best season: June to September

Italy’s oldest of its famous national parks, Gran Paradiso is a haven of alpine beauty, home to wild ibex, golden larch forests, glassy lakes, and soaring views of the 4,061-metre Gran Paradiso peak itself.

Two standout routes include the panoramic walks across the Nivolet Plateau and the peaceful ascent to Lago di Dres from Valsavarenche. Both provide spectacular examples of the type of wilderness hiking that defines the Italian Alps.

Greenway del Lago di Como (Lombardy)

• Distance: 10 km one way
• Duration: 3–4 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best season: March to November

A tranquil, well-waymarked lakeside walk linking Colonno to Griante along the western shores of Lago di Como. This relaxing route passes Romanesque churches, gardens, and historic stone villages while providing constant views across the lake.

It is one of the most accessible walks in northern Italy and is family-friendly, with easy connections via ferries and buses along the lakeshore.

Central Italy

Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail), Cinque Terre (Liguria)

• Distance: 12 km in four sections
• Duration: 5–6 hours
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Best season: March to June, September to November

The famous coastal trail of Cinque Terre links the five colourful villages that form part of the Cinque Terre UNESCO World Heritage Site. This path winds along sea cliffs and terraced vineyards, offering spectacular Mediterranean views throughout the hike.

The railway connecting the villages means hikers can choose their own starting point and complete individual sections such as Corniglia to Vernazza or Vernazza to Monterosso.

Via Francigena in the Val d’Orcia (Tuscany)

• Distance: 15–20 km per stage
• Duration: Day hikes to multi-day
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Best season: April to June, September to October

Journey through the postcard landscapes of Tuscany where rolling hills, cypress-lined roads, and medieval villages define one of Italy’s most iconic hiking regions.

The stretch between San Quirico d’Orcia, Bagno Vignoni, and Pienza is particularly scenic. Many travelers combine this walk with rail travel across the region, including popular routes such as Bologna to Florence, before continuing south into the Val d’Orcia countryside.

South Italy and the Islands

Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei), Amalfi Coast (Campania)

• Distance: 7.5 km
• Duration: 3–4 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Best season: March to June, September to November

Known locally as Sentiero degli Dei, or the Path of the Gods, this spectacular coastal route contours high above the Amalfi Coast.

Starting in Bomerano, the traditional starting point, hikers follow the dramatic ridge trail towards Nocelle with unforgettable views across the Tyrrhenian Sea and the island of Capri.

Etna South: Crater Viewpoints (Sicily)

• Distance: 5–10 km
• Duration: 2–5 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Best season: April to November

Europe’s highest active volcano offers a unique hiking landscape of lava fields, ash cones, and dramatic crater viewpoints. Many hikes begin from Rifugio Sapienza, the main starting point on Mount Etna’s southern slopes.

Regulations vary depending on volcanic activity, and higher sections typically require certified guides.

Selvaggio Blu (Sardinia)

• Distance: 40–50 km
• Duration: 5–7 days
• Difficulty: Very difficult
• Best season: April to June, late September to October

One of Europe’s most demanding coastal treks, Selvaggio Blu follows ancient shepherd trails along Sardinia’s rugged eastern coastline. The route involves scrambling, rope sections, and navigation challenges.

This remote trek rewards experienced hikers with dramatic limestone cliffs, hidden coves, and wild Mediterranean landscapes rarely seen by tourists.