Exert yourself, then indulge, with high-altitude hikes through the Dolomite mountains and gentle coastal trails beside Amalfi, Capri and Cinque Terre – all matched with Italy’s best food.
Italy isn’t just museums, pasta and people debating which town makes the best gelato – it’s a country for explorers with trails through cliffside coasts, Alpine meadows, lemon groves and jagged peaks.
With the help of two of Intrepid’s local small-group trip leaders in the country, Graziano and Riccardo, I’ve gathered a handful of Italy’s best walks and hikes spanning from the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre to Lake Garda and the mighty Dolomites. Listen in to the wise words of these unofficial trail whisperers to discover how Italy’s hiking scene has a trail (and treat) with your name on it. Let’s lace up.
1. Valley of the Iron Mills (Valle delle Fierriere), Amalfi Coast
‘The Valle dell Ferriere is like stepping into another world,’ says Graziano, a local Intrepid leader in Italy, when I ask him about his favourite homegrown hikes. ‘It’s a green canyon with waterfalls, streams and forests. Walking past the old iron and paper factories, you can feel how nature slowly reclaims everything – the power of nature is everywhere here,’ he adds.
A lush, fern-filled canyon just 4 km (2.5 mi) from Amalfi, the Valle delle Ferriere feels like you’re walking through a nature documentary. Expect industrial ironworks, flour factories and paper mills being swallowed back into the Earth, tumbling streams, ancient oak forests and the occasional hiker giggling as they balance across a tree-trunk bridge over a stream. It’s a 3- to 4-hour wander through Amalfi’s paper-making history, via lemon groves and Tyrrhenian Sea glimpses that pop out like a surprise.
- Location: Pontone (near Amalfi)
- Distance: 6 km (3.7 mi)
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Best for: Casual hikers who love nature with a side serving of history
- Snack pairing: Cuoppo (fried fish cone) and an ice-cold beer or lemonade
2. The Three Peaks of Lavaredo (Tre Cime di Lavaredo), Dolomites
As someone who hikes through the Dolomites more often than anyone I’ve met, Graziano says he understands why this is the most well-known trail within the UNESCO-listed mountains. There’s epic scenery at every turn as the three massive limestone peaks reflect in nearby lakes and rise up like stone cathedrals above a high-altitude plateau. The classic loop is well marked, not technical and suitable for most hikers. You’ll hike through Alpine meadows, jagged ridgelines and be surrounded by open views with every step.
- Location: Dolomites; start at Rifugio Auronzo
- Distance: 10 km (6.2 mi)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best for: Anyone wanting iconic scenery without technical climbing
- Snack pairing: Apple strudel (preferably still warm from a rifugio)
Read more: 13 new ways to explore Europe
3. The Blue Trail (Sentiero Azzurro), Cinque Terre
‘My favourite stretch of Liguria’s Cinque Terre coast is from Corniglia to Vernazza,’ says Riccardo, a local Intrepid leader from the area – known for its famous trail which connects five key coastal villages.
‘It’s the most scenic section and I like to take my group on a village tradition afterwards,’ he continues ‘where we dip focaccia in our cappuccinos – very common among locals and something I love to share.’
The trail goes through all five Cinque Terre villages, so expect terraced vineyards, pastel-painted houses, medieval watchtowers, turquoise coves, breezy forests and the occasional heart-thumping set of stone steps. Vernazza’s viewpoints deserve their own moment of appreciation alone.
- Location: Start in Monterosso, finish in Riomaggiore (or vice versa)
- Distance: 12 km (7 mi)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Best for: Trail lovers who want to glimpse Italy’s villages, vineyards and sea
- Snack pairing: Focaccia dipped in cappuccino (trust Riccardo on this one)
4. Busatte-Tempesta Panoramic Trail, Lake Garda
This one’s a cliff-skimming, stair-climbing, lake-grazing thrill above Torbole in Lake Garda. The metal via ferrata staircases bolted into the mountainside look intimidating but the aerial views over Lake Garda towards Monte Baldo are worth every step. One minute you’re in dense Mediterranean vegetation – pines, cypresses and fragrant shrubs – the next you’re peering down at a glassine lake – and wanting to jump into it after the hike. You’ll see evidence of an ancient Ice Age landslide and alternate between shaded forest paths and open viewpoints, keeping you on your toes the whole hike.
- Location: Torbole, Lake Garda
- Distance: 10 km (6.5 mi)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Best for: Hikers who love viewpoints, ridge trails and a little adrenaline
- Snack pairing: Fresh lake sardines, drizzled in olive oil
Read more: 26 totally new Intrepid trips and experiences
5. The Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei), Amalfi Coast
I remember Graziano saying these words to me as we started our hike along the Path of the Gods in Amalfi, and I couldn’t agree more: ‘It’s like an escape up here – it feels so different than the towns below. When you’re up here in the cliffs, in the fresh air, surrounded by this nature, it feels magical.’
A trail hanging between sky and sea, the Path of the Gods leads you beside rugged cliffs, above dramatic coastlines and through rocky spires, terraces, oak groves and v-i-e-w-s. The path is well marked and moderately challenging, with some steep sections and uneven terrain, but nothing technical – just enough to get your heart rate up. You’ll wind past shepherds’ huts and the occasional donkey as you watch the landscape shift around you.
- Location: Bomerano to Nocelle (Amalfi Coast)
- Distance: 7 km (4.4 mi)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Best for: Hikers craving big coastal views
- Snack pairing: Delizia al limone (Amalfi’s lemon delight cake)
6. Path to Malga Ra Stua, Dolomites
As Graziano describes it: ‘I love this trail because it’s a little sampler of the Dolomites, with forests, streams, waterfalls, open meadows, cows and beautiful spots you just stop and take it all in.’
The path to the mountainside rifugio of Malga Ra Stua is a gentle taste of the Dolomites. Starting at the Sant’Uberto parking area, the trail follows a wide, easy forest track – no tricky terrain, just a peaceful stroll through fir and larch woods. As you continue to hike, the scenery keeps opening up to quiet forests giving way to rolling Alpine meadows with seasonal wildflowers and grazing cows. You’ll also get the mountains of the Fanes-Sennes-Braies range rising in the distance. The reward is the charming Malga Ra Stua, a traditional inn with a terrace that’s perfect for sitting on while eating fresh local cheese and feeling like you’re in a Dolomites postcard.
- Location: Cortina d’Ampezzo, Dolomites
- Distance: 4 km (2.5 mi)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best for: Casual walkers wanting scenery and a mountain hut hang
- Snack pairing: Fresh cheese from the Malga
Read more: 13 new active escapes that will get you moving
7. The Path of the Forts (Sentiero dei Fortini), Capri
This easy coastal trail hugs the rugged shoreline around Anacapri town on the island of Capri, from the Blue Grotto to the Punta Carena Lighthouse. The path winds past fragrant pine forests, crumbling ancient forts, hidden coves and sheer limestone cliffs, giving you a mix of shade, history and coastal views.
The terrain is gentle and well marked with mostly wide paths and a few rocky spots, so it’s perfect for casual hikers or families. Along the way, keep your eye out for small beaches tucked into coves, wildflowers and the occasional lizard basking on a rock. The trail ends at a beach by the lighthouse – perfect for a refreshing swim and a picnic with views over the Tyrrhenian Sea.
- Location: Anacapri, Capri
- Distance: 5 km (3.3 mi)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best for: Leisurely explorers craving the coastline
- Snack paring: A Caprese salad, of course
Ready to put your best foot forward? Hike off on a small-group trip to Italy with Intrepid.
