12 Beautiful Hiking Trails in Italy That Prove the Journey Is Just as Gorgeous as the Destination

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When most people think about Italy, they picture beautiful beaches, historic cities, delicious food, and world-famous landmarks. However, Italy is also known for its diverse landscapes, which are dotted with picturesque locations, from rugged coastlines and ancient volcanoes to jagged peaks and lush forests.

With favorable weather to match, Italy is one of the best places in Europe for hiking. Whether you’re an experienced hiker looking for a monumental challenge or a beginner trying hiking for the first time, Italy has a hiking trail that suits you. With that in mind, here are 12 beautiful hiking trails in Italy. These trails were selected because they offer impressive scenery.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Dolomites

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Let’s start this list with one of Italy’s most magnificent hiking trails. Tre Cime di Lavaredo, known in English as the Three Peaks of Lavaredo, are three distinctive peaks in the Dolomites, Northeastern Italy. These breathtaking peaks are arguably the best-known group of mountains in the Alps. On the Tre Cime di Lavaredo trail, hiking enthusiasts are treated to panoramic views of the Godzilla-like landscape.

This moderately challenging 6.4-mile (10.3-kilometer) trail starts at Rifugio Auronzo, leading to the three peaks and back. As you can imagine, the views of the jagged peaks are spectacular. You’ll cross high rocky ledges, lush meadows, and impressive mountain viewpoints during the hike.

The Sella-Herbetet Traverse, Valnontey

Despite the rugged terrain in the Dolomites, the Sella-Herbetet Traverse trail, which starts and ends in Valnontey at Italy’s border with France and Switzerland, is a much more intense hike. This strenuous 12.7-mile (20.5-kilometer) hike offers some of Europe’s most stunning Alpine scenery, so the struggle is worth the effort.

On this hike, you’ll pass pristine lakes, picturesque conifer forests, beautiful streams, and unspoiled wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for marmots and ibex. As you walk, you’ll also have the opportunity to see Emanuele II’s hunting lodge. Another key highlight is the views of Gran Paradiso. At 13,323 feet (4,061 meters), this is the tallest independent mountain in Italy.

Mount Vesuvius, Naples

If you’re looking for a hiking trail offering spectacular views and a unique experience, look no further than Mount Vesuvius. Known worldwide for violently erupting and destroying the city of Pompeii in 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius is one of Italy’s most historically significant destinations.

Furthermore, the volcano is still classed as active, so it presents visitors with the unique opportunity of hiking to the cone of an active volcano. The hike, often called the Gran Cono Trail, is only 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) long, so it won’t take you long. At the top, you’ll enjoy scenic views of the city below and incredible views of the volcano cone.

The Greenway of Lake Como, Lake Como

Lake Como in Northern Italy’s Lombardy region is a gorgeous lakeside resort town famed for its dramatic scenery, charming architecture, and relaxed atmosphere. While life moves slower in the town, there are still many exciting things to see and do, including the 6-mile (10-kilometer) Greenway of Lake Como hike.

This beautiful walk along the Western shore of Lake Como leads from Colonno to Griante, passing historic villas, Romanesque churches, fishing villages, and verdant hillsides along the way. In most parts, this hiking trail is flat. Therefore, it’s suitable for hikers of all abilities. It will take you approximately three to three and a half hours to complete the walk.

Path of the Gods, Amalfi Coast

If you’re visiting the Amalfi Coast, take on the Path of the Gods hiking trail. Also known as the Walk of the Gods, or in Italian il Sentiero degli Dei, this 4.3-mile (7-kilometer) trail connects Amalfi and Positano, offering excellent landscape views. It takes approximately three to three and a half hours to complete this hike.

Like the Sentiero Azzurro trail, you’ll pass olive groves, cliffs, beaches, and vibrant terraces as you walk along the trail. The path is moderately intense, occasionally featuring steep slopes and stairs, so avoiding the trail in unbearably hot temperatures might be worth it. With that in mind, consider setting off early in the morning.

Germoplasma Trail, Catania

If you’re searching for a beautiful hiking trail that suits all hiking abilities, look no further than the Germoplasma Trail in Catania, Sicily. This short 0.7-mile (1.2-kilometer) hiking trail is tiny, but it packs a punch with spectacular views of Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes.

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Besides, the trail’s short length and easy path make it accessible to every kind of traveler, including those with disabilities. The trail claims to be suitable for the visually impaired and the blind, allowing everyone to experience Italy’s magnificent landscapes. Despite its short length, it usually takes visitors an hour to complete the trail.

Alta Via 1, Dolomites

Experienced hikers seeking a challenging trail are better suited to the Alta Via 1 trail. This picturesque trail is an astonishing 77 miles (125 kilometers) long, offering hikers an endless trail to explore. Also known as the Dolomite High Route, it runs south from Pragser Wildsee to Belluno.

As you would expect, the Alta Via 1 trail offers some of the finest scenery in the Dolomites, if not the entirety of Italy. You’ll pass lush meadows, dense conifer forests, deep valleys, vertical walls, sheer peaks, and enchanting lakes along the trail. Obviously, this is a trail only experienced hikers should attempt to complete, as it will take up to 10 days.

The Prosecco Trail, Veneto

We don’t know about you, but the Prosecco Trail is something we can get behind. Where can we find the Beer Trail and Cider Trail while we’re at it? The Prosecco Trail is exactly what it sounds like – a walking trail through Italy’s UNESCO-protected hills renowned for producing one of the world’s best sparkling wines.

Unfortunately, though, it doesn’t include free samples along the way. In fact, completing this trail would be a serious challenge deserving of a glass of the sparkly stuff at the end. Starting in Vidor and ending in Vittorio Veneto, this multi-day hike is 32 miles (52 kilometers) long. It’s moderate in difficulty but does take four days to complete.

The Selvaggio Blu, Sardinia

The Selvaggio Blu hiking trail is often considered Italy’s most challenging trek. Starting in Pedra Longa and leading to Cala Sisine, this multi-day hike is reserved for the best hikers. For context, the trail is 30 miles (45 kilometers) long and takes up to seven days to complete. Incredibly challenging, this extreme coastal route requires much planning.

Worse yet, the trail includes sections that require abseiling and climbing. However, your hard work and dedication will be rewarded with impressive Mediterranean coastal views, stunning limestone cliffs, deep ravines, and hidden gem coves. We can’t stress enough how important it is that only experienced hikers attempt this hiking trail. You also shouldn’t tackle the trail on your own.

The Appian Way, Rome

If you want to follow in the footsteps of the Romans, we recommend walking along the Appian Way. For those who don’t know, the Appian Way is one of the world’s earliest and most strategically placed roads. It once connected Rome in central Italy to Brindisi in southeast Italy.

Don’t panic; you don’t have to take a 430-mile (692-kilometer) hike to enjoy the ancient road. Instead, you can easily conquer a 12.4-mile (20-kilometer) stretch of the road from downtown Rome to Castelli Romani. Alternatively, walk as much or as little of the Appian Way as you like. Suitable for most hiking abilities and families, this trail passes ancient Roman ruins and beautiful natural scenery.

Sentiero Azzurro, Cinque Terre

Sentiero Azzurro, or the Blue Trail in English, is a picturesque hiking trail in Liguria that connects the five quaint and super vibrant towns of Cinque Terre. Dramatically perched on cliffs overlooking the deep blue Ligurian Sea, hence the trail name, these gorgeous towns are a sight to behold. While you can easily reach each town without walking, hiking is much more exciting.

The Sentiero Azzurro trail is 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) long. It takes hikers on a journey with unparalleled views of the five towns, scenic valleys, lush vineyards, beautiful beaches, and towering cliffs. The trail can be divided into four parts, and it takes roughly five hours to complete, although you should allow more time to take photographs.

The Tratturo Magno, Abruzzo

The final Italian hiking trail on our list is the Tratturo Magno trail that leads from L’Aquila to Foggia in Italy’s breathtaking Abruzzo region. Located East of Rome, this beautiful hiking trail is a whopping 151 miles (244 kilometers) long, so you might not want to take the whole route on.

If you do, it will take you approximately ten days to complete. Also known as the L’Aquila-Foggia sheep track, as the area was once grazed by over two million sheep, this hike passes through scenic vineyards, verdant hills, quaint Italian villages, and along the Fortore River on the way to Tavoliere and Foggio, near the Adriatic Coast.