Italy needs no introduction to holidaymakers: not only does it consistently rank among the top five most popular destinations worldwide for international arrivals, but it has also recently emerged as the most photographed country on Instagram, with more than 87 million posts containing the #Italy hashtag – and the figure keeps rising. 

 

We're guessing that a great chunk of these photos are taken by the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean, which attracts travellers like a magnet. From Sardinia to the Amalfi Coast, Sicily to the Cinque Terre, the waters around Italy are truly mesmerising.

 

If you're anything like us, you need to be more active than simply lying on a beach. In that case, we've collected our best walking holidays of Italy's incredible coast and islands so you can become immersed in the Italian la dolce vita lifestyle. Prefer cycling? Take a look at these amazing cycling holidays of Italy's coastline and islands.

 

Volcanoes of Sicily

A chance to get close to the impressive volcanoes of Stromboli, where fiery lava explodes regularly from its crater, and Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Find out more about the long volcanic activity (over a period of 260,000 years!) in Sicily and the Aeolian Archipelago, to the north of the island, with opportunities in between to bathe in therapeutic hot mud, relax on the black beaches, explore on foot its winding coastline and take in panoramic views across the deep blue Mediterranean Sea.

 

> View the Volcanoes of Sicily hiking tour
 

Amalfi

Classic Amalfi Coast

The spectacular ‘Nastro Azzurro’ (Blue Ribbon) is a sun-drenched stretch of the Mediterranean offering umbrella-dotted beaches and sheltered coves and glamorous resort towns, all hemmed by impossibly rugged cliffs and steep hills swathed in olives, citrus and grapevines. The coast here is unforgettable, with candy-coloured villages set into steep cliffs and narrow walking trails crisscrossing the hills above some of the world’s most postcard-perfect coastal scenery that you can encounter on foot.

 

> View the Classic Amalfi Coast walking tour

 

 

The Mediterranean’s second largest island, Sardinia’s star attraction is its spectacular coastline, spanning more than two thousand kilometres and offering dramatic sheer cliffs, brilliant emerald waters and perfect white-sand beaches.  Enjoy an ever-changing landscape as you hike past empty beaches, abandoned mines, grassy dunes, bird-filled wetlands and ruins of prehistoric settlements.

 

> View the Saunter in Sardinia walking tour

 

 

This self guided hiking trip that follows one of the most spectacular parts of the Italian coast, from the Portofino peninsula close to Genoa to the colourful seaside town of Porto Venere, on the edge of the Gulf of Poets. Walk through steeply terraced vineyards and fragrant olive groves, visit small monasteries and enjoy the quiet trails high above the iconic colourful villages collectively known as Cinque Terre. Away from the main tourist footpaths, the route promises spectacular views of the emerald blue Mediterranean Sea.

 

> View the Portofino and Cinque Terre Self Guided Walking tour

 

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View all walking and cycling tours in Italy.

 

Are you feeling like you need to visit an Italian beach, pronto? Let us know which walking tour of Italy's coast and islands you have your eye on in the comment section below.