A beginner’s guide to hiking in Italy

If your ideal Italian escape includes a trip to the Colosseum, queuing up for the Vatican and a trip to the gelato store, and not much else, then this guide might not be for you. However, if you’re hankering to get your feet muddy and seeing some of the best natural landscapes the country has to offer, stay right where you are. In this beginner’s guide to hiking in Italy you’ll find all the tips and advice you’ll need about where to go, what to do and even what to pack. Pay attention and get ready for your ultimate Italian hiking getaway.

1. Where to go

While there is much to do in the capital cities of Italy, including eating your way through some of the country’s favourite dishes, there is much to explore in the countryside and mountain ranges, too. If you’re looking for places to go hiking in Italy, then take note of these favoured locations.

Cinque Terre

Known for its colourful houses and seaside towns that seem to dangle off the side of cliffs on the Italian Riviera coastline, the Cinque Terre is a picturesque village that travellers flock to each year. But it’s not just the local harbour that’s worth exploring, there are also a series of hiking trails that connect to other villages and towns and all have remarkable seaside vistas to take in, too. The most popular of the trails is Sentiero Azzurro, which takes around six hours to complete.

Dolomites

If you want to take in the snow-capped Alps during your stay in Italy, then you can’t go past the Dolomites. This is where hiking enthusiasts come to froth at the mouth at the sheer sight of the cliffs and crags on show. If you’re not a highly-skilled hiker, not to worry, there are a variety of options no matter what fitness level you’re at. There are morning, afternoon and overnight hikes, and if you want to break up your journey, then you can also hop into one of the gondolas. This means you can see as much of the area as possible, without working up too much of a sweat, if you don’t want to.

Aeolian Islands

For the thrill-seekers among us, how does a hiking trip up an active volcano sound? Pretty incredible, right? Well, you can do exactly that in Sicily on the Aeolian Islands where Stromboli’s volcano can be found. Don’t let the seeping smoke from the top of the peak put your off, the view is incredible and is around 8km in length.

2. What to pack

To get the absolute most out of any hiking trip is dependent on two things: where you go and what you pack. Once you have where you’re going sorted out, it’s time to figure out what items of clothing and hiking accessories you’re going to need while you’re there. Here are just some of the items you should put on your list when planning to go hiking in Italy.

• Trekking poles: Great if you’re walking for long periods of time, especially on steep terrain.
• Quick-dry clothing: You’re not going to want to carry around wet and sweaty clothing with you during your entire hike. Choose clothing that will dry fast.
• Sun protection: Including a hat, long-sleeve clothing and sunscreen.
• Proper hiking shoes and socks: These babies are going to carry you across the country, so you want to make sure they’re comfortable.
• A trekking bag: Something that’s not too big and not too small that you’re able to carry easily on your hiking trips.
• Camel back: Perfect for carrying water. It’s a space saver and comfortable to carry.

3. When to visit

The best time to go hiking in Italy has got to be either during summer from June, July and August, which might actually be a bit too hot for some, or autumn, which is from September to November. If you’re looking to get a little more adventurous, then you can also go hiking in Italy during winter, too. Just don’t forget to pack your winter woollies.

Do you have any more tips or advice for people wanting to go hiking in Italy? Let us know all about your experiences in the comments section below.