Cinque Terre Hiking Shoes

Good question. I just signed in to ask a similar question. I would like to know if we need to bring hiking shoes/boots or sneakers are sufficient? I understand the trails are pretty steep, but are they also rough and rocky?

We hiked the Cinque Terre the beginning of last October and no one checked our shoes. In fact, the girl taking the tickets didn't really look at us at all. We had basic tennis shoes on, nothing fancy, and it was fine.

Stan, yes, parts of the trails are indeed rough and rocky. Sneakers are OK (we wore sturdy athletic shoes that we wore for city sightseeing as well) but you're going to want a closed-toe shoe, and with a good tread to help avoid slipping. That they cover the ankle is "preferable" but not required.

The word out there about the shoe mandates was to cut down on the amount of injured-hiker rescues due to their poor choices in footwear. The trails are not exactly a walk in park for the unconditioned, and rescues are not easy! One of the CT regional experts over on the TA forum advised a poster wanting wear their vans thus:

"it’s really rarely enforced unless in ridiculous cases (I’ve seen people trying with flip flops) but just know that if it is enforced, shoes like vans will have you fined or sent back."

I would imagine if one injures themselves badly enough to require rescue and an obvious poor choice of footwear is involved the that fine could be applied.

This is a useful piece someone put together for hikers making their first visit to the region. I didn't check it for accuracy on current prices so use the park's site for those, and the Via dell'Amore of the 'Blue' is open again but with limits; use the park's site for that info too. :O)

https://www.alongdustyroads.com/posts/hiking-cinque-terre

Sandals are not allowed. Sneakers might be OK but the trails are rough and rocky, and you might feel the rocks under your feet if the soles are thin.. Smooth soles like leather are not OK.

Here’s another comment on the rule:

Cinque Terre Park's online "Hiker's Handbook" offers more specific guidelines: "Open footwear and/or smooth soles, i.e. Not anti-slip (such as vibram type) are forbidden." The resource adds that shoes must be closed-toed, waterproof, and covering the ankles.

Read More: https://www.explore.com/1557130/unexpected-tip-prepared-shoes-tourists-need-avoid-fined-italy-cinque-terre-trails/#

I doubt the ticket-takers at the trail entrance are responsible for enforcing the rule; that is up to officers patrolling the trail. And they are the ones with the power to fine offenders (most likely people wearing sandals).

Yessiree, Lola. Here's the park's page with that mandate:

https://www.parconazionale5terre.it/page.php?id=339

I'll agree that they're most likely to police people wearing sandals. It's interesting as I'd think if some visitors had been fined, we'd see that complaint on a travel forum such as this one, TA, Fodor's , etc. as we do with ZTL fines and whatnot. I've yet to see mention of anyone getting nailed with one or refused Blue Trail entry. That said, I'd follow the guidelines as closely as possible for one's own safety if nothing else.

I was intrigued by this post so I looked up pictures of those trails. Nothing special about the surface, but sensible shoes are - sensible.
Strange about the footwear rules. Never seen that anywhere before. You can see people hiking rougher trails at Greece ruins and other Italian sites in non sensible footwear. You can even see people hiking down the Grand Canyon in flip flops. There are no rules.
Do they have an inordinate amount of rescues due to foot injuries on Cinque Terre trails?

Regarding rescues on the CT Trails:
https://www.thelocal.it/20190306/stop-trekking-in-flip-flops-italys-cinque-terre-begs-tourists

Yes, some stretches of trails are flat and easy; others are not:

https://packinglighttravel.com/destinations/europe/italy/hike-through-cinque-terre-vineyards/attachment/cinque-terre-rocky-trail/

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Steps_on_the_Cinque_Terre_Trail_%284711615301%29.jpg

Been there; done that. :O)

Hiking US parks in lousy inadequate footwear gets people into all sorts of trouble. I've actually seen women plodding painfully along uneven, rocky slopes and deep sand in dainty little fashion sandals. That's just asking for an ankle injury. Open footwear isn't a great idea anywhere you might encounter snakes, either.
https://www.reddit.com/r/NationalPark/comments/1eb4a6o/man_hospitalized_after_burning_his_feet_on/

Thanks everyone. I had no intentions of going in flip flops. I’ve got a low cut running shoe with tread. I was just wondering if a sport sandal would be ok. Something more rugged than Birkenstocks. I was wondering how much the covered shoe issue is enforced but I’ll be covered. Was wondering for my mom who’s meeting me in CT.