7 of the best walks in Italy, from day hikes to Roman pilgrimages

From the towering Alps in the north to the sunny Mediterranean islands of the south, Italy’s 12 degrees of latitude offer diverse and exciting terrain for walkers. Whether you’re an experienced hiker looking for a milestone challenge or you’re more in the market for an easy-on-the-eye meander, there’s a route to suit. And did we mention the scenery? Vineyards, mountain peaks, hilltop towns and ragged coastline — to access the country’s richest natural assets, all you need is a pair of boots.

1. Path of the Gods, Amalfi

Traversing Italy’s most famous coastline on foot is an almost religious experience, every step on the cliff-hugging route bringing you closer to the celestial realm. The well-marked path offers sweeping coastal views; as it’s mostly unsheltered and features lots of steep drops and climbs, it’s best tackled in the cool of early morning. There are various alternative trails from the start in Bomerano, but all are roughly 4.5 miles and end with the same dramatic finale: 1,700 stone steps down to the pretty town of Positano. With good shoes, plenty of water and a fair wind, you might complete it in three hours.

2. St Francis, Way Umbria

Following in the footsteps of Italy’s patron saint, Via di Francesco stretches from Florence in the north to Rome in the south, linking over 300 miles of prime Italian countryside. You’ll need over a month to walk the lot, but the segment from the UNESCO heritage city of Assisi to Roman Spoleto can be accomplished in just a week and takes in olive groves, vineyards and medieval towns. Along the way, you’ll reside in family-run agriturismi (farm stays), fuelling up on home-cooked local dishes such as pasta alla norcina made with sausage, white wine, cream, pecorino romano and a pinch of nutmeg.
Book it: Six-night self-guided walk from €777 (£670) per person, including B&B accommodation.

3. Germplasm Trail, Sicily

Named after the diverse collection of medicinal, aromatic and uniquely local plants you can see alongside it, this conservation-focused route is small but mighty. Covering less than a mile of Mount Etna National Park, its low gradient and smooth surface make it appropriate for wheelchair-users, while there are also sensory adaptations for visually impaired visitors. The views towards the summit of Europe’s largest active volcano are knockout, and there are also informative panels detailing the unique biodiversity of the landscape, shaped by lava deposits as recently as June 2025.

4. Predaia Art and Nature, Trentino

Snaking through lush greenery and past a lake in the tranquil village of Coredo, this accessible 2.5 mile trail showcases trees, meadows and primrose blooms as well as large-scale wooden sculptures. The current display includes a trio of intergenerational witches, but the site is constantly evolving with new, site-specific works being added each year. Children can blow off steam in the on-site playground, while adults with energy to burn can use it as a starting point for one of the region’s sublime longer treks — such as the 13.5-mile route to Mendola Pass.

5. Bar to Bar, Lange

This 50-mile circuit is a romp through the vineyards connecting the red wine regions of Barolo and Barbaresco. Rated easy to moderate, the trail typically takes eight days to complete and stitches together the truffle and hazelnut capital Alba, meandering river paths and all the wine-country panoramas your eyes can drink in. Along the way, stop off at pretty villages like Neive and Bossolasco, plus small, family-run wineries to try inky wines made from nebbiolo grapes.
Book it: Eight-day self-guided walk from €1,015 (£875) per person, including B&B accommodation.

6. The Brigante Path, Calabria

Squirelled away in the centre of the UNESCO-listed Aspromonte Geopark, this path is named after the rebels, fugitives and bandits who once used it. Beginning in the ski resort of Gambarie and ending in the baroque town of Serra San Bruno, home to a Carthusian monastery, its 60-odd miles include lush forest, rushing waterfalls and historic settlements. Red and white markers make it easy to find your way to enchanting stops like Stilo — a sea-facing village crowned by a Byzantine church and a crumbling Norman castle.

7. The Via Francigena, UK, France, Switzerland and Italy

Italy’s answer to the Camino de Santiago, the Via Francigena is 1,000-year-old pilgrimage trail first documented by 10^th-century archbishop Sigeric the Serious. In 990 CE, he travelled some 1,200 miles from Canterbury Cathedral to St Peter’s Basilica to collect his official garment from the Pope. Tackled in full it’s a mammoth 100-day trek, so many pilgrims choose to walk key stages. Its final leg is a five-day hike from the medieval town of Viterbo (home to the Catholic Church’s first and longest conclave) to the Eternal City. Along the way, Italy’s past comes bubbling to the surface, with pilgrims following ancient roads through rarely visited hilltop towns, forests carpeted with cyclamen and cavernous valleys honeycombed with ancient tombs.