This boot is made for walking: Italy's best hiking trails and long-distance routes

Have you ever dreamed of spending a week or two walking your way across Europe? Perhaps you’ve always thought about packing a bag and setting off for a holiday hiking in Italy? If that’s the case, keep reading to discover some of this magical country’s best trails and long-distance routes.

Coastal trails in the Cinque Terre

Get a taste of coastal Italy in the Cinque Terre, five quaint seaside villages in Liguria. A series of paths connect each delightful location to the next, making this area perfect for a long-distance hike. Along the way, you’ll pass pastel-coloured houses, picture-perfect fishing harbours and vineyards.

There are numerous winding walks that take you through the Cinque Terre. To truly immerse yourself in your surroundings, choose a quieter route where the scenery simply speaks for itself. Look down over the cliff edge to the rocky coves below, soaking up the warm Italian sun as you hike between each village.

Memories of Mont Blanc

The Tour du Mont Blanc is ideal for walkers who love a serious trail, especially as it’s accompanied by exquisite alpine vistas. From traversing snow-covered paths high in the mountains to wandering across the grassy valleys below, the landscape here is too incredible to be missed.

Not to mention, keen mountaineers will relish the thought of viewing this magnificent landmark from all sides. Trekking through not only Italy, but Switzerland and France, you’ll experience all of Mont Blanc’s views, angles and terrains as you explore every peak and glacier.

Amble along Italy’s lakes

Take a trip to Italy’s Lake Como and Lake Maggiore to meander along their shores and embrace the picturesque surroundings. If you fancy resting your feet a while, hop on a ferry to a new spot, or opt for a cable car to get a bird’s-eye view of all seven lakes from the top of Mottarone.

Avid ramblers might be used to frequenting the shores of the UK’s spectacular Lake District, yet this is a whole world away. While both have their charm, there is so much to discover in the Italian lakes; pass by pretty lakeside villas and into medieval villages, before stepping out onto rolling open meadows.

A pilgrimage to Tuscany

Walk in the footsteps of medieval pilgrims who made their way along the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome. You can criss-cross sections of this historical route in the beautiful region of Tuscany, home to glorious countryside, hilltop towns and olive groves.

There is plenty for culture vultures to appreciate alongside the pathways in Tuscany, with several notable sights to visit as you journey further. Stop by villages filled with Renaissance architecture, ancient churches and UNESCO sites, all the while admiring the sweeping views of vineyards and cypress trees.

Explore Italy’s finest routes

Hiking in Italy is a wonderful way to awaken your senses to this charming country and its magnificent landscape. The only difficulty will be choosing which trail to follow first. Browse our Italian breaks today, for more hand-picked walking holidays.