European Long distance path E1 - part Italy - Lombardy

The European Long Distance Path E1 – part Italy (Lombardy) is the opening Italian segment of the 7,000-km E1 point-to-point trail, entering Italy at Porto Ceresio on Lake Lugano. Running through the Varese pre-Alps toward the Po Plain and Ligurian Apennines, it crosses moderate terrain with steady climbs of several hundred metres per day. It is best suited to fit walkers comfortable on mixed mountain and rural paths.

About the European Long distance path E1 - part Italy - Lombardy

The E1 is one of twelve European long-distance paths coordinated by the European Ramblers' Association, stretching roughly 7,000 kilometres from the North Cape in Norway to Capo Passero in Sicily. It is recognised as an International Walking Network (IWN) route — one of the world's most significant hiking corridors — and threads through Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and Italy on its way south.

The Lombardy section marks the trail's first steps on Italian soil. After descending from the St. Gotthard Pass (2,106 m, the highest point of the whole E1) and crossing Ticino on the Trans-Swiss Trail, the route reaches the frontier at Porto Ceresio, a lakeside town on the southern arm of Lake Lugano (Lago Ceresio). From here the path begins its long passage of more than 2,000 kilometres down the Italian peninsula, the early miles of which fall within the province of Varese in north-western Lombardy.

This is not high-alpine terrain. The Lombardy stretch is pre-Alpine and lower in character: forested ridges, terraced hillsides, sanctuary towns and lake shores, gradually giving way to the rolling country that leads toward the Apennine watershed. Because the southernmost Italian sections remained incomplete as of 2023, most through-hikers treat the Lombardy leg as a self-contained multi-day walk rather than part of a single continuous traverse to Sicily. The exact distance of the Lombardy portion is not formally published; walkers should plan by daily stages rather than a fixed kilometre total.

The result is an approachable, scenery-rich introduction to Italian long-distance walking — close to Milan, well served by public transport, and rewarding for hikers who want big-route ambition without big-mountain commitment.

The E1's character changes completely once it enters Lombardy. The Swiss approach is alpine and exposed, topping out at the Gotthard before dropping steeply through Ticino's valleys. By contrast, the Italian opening trades altitude for variety: within a single day a walker can pass a fossil-bearing UNESCO mountain, a 17th-century pilgrimage staircase and a flat lakeside promenade. This blend of cultural and natural landmarks is what distinguishes the Lombardy leg from the wilder, emptier northern reaches of the E1 in Scandinavia. It also means the route rewards slow travel — there is a village, a sanctuary or a viewpoint worth stopping for on almost every stage.

Route Overview & Stages

The E1 is waymarked but does not impose rigid stage lengths in Lombardy; the following stages are a practical way to break the section into walkable days. Distances are indicative, based on the linking footpaths and country roads between the named towns.

Treat these figures as planning estimates. Because the E1 follows existing regional and CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) trail networks here, local signage and slight reroutes can change daily distances by a few kilometres. A GPX track is strongly recommended for navigation, and you can map your own day-by-day plan in the HikeLoad route planner.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Porto Ceresio — the Italian gateway of the section, a quiet harbour town on Lake Lugano where the E1 crosses from Switzerland into Lombardy.
• Monte San Giorgio — a UNESCO World Heritage site straddling the border, famed for its Triassic marine fossils and pyramidal silhouette above the lake.
• Sacro Monte di Varese — a 17th-century pilgrimage route of fourteen chapels climbing to the village of Santa Maria del Monte, part of the UNESCO Sacri Monti listing.
• Campo dei Fiori massif — a regional park rising to around 1,227 m, with Art Nouveau architecture, an old astronomical observatory and panoramas over seven lakes on clear days.
• Lake Varese — a glacial lake ringed by a flat, well-surfaced 28-km path, offering an easy walking interlude with reflections of Monte Rosa to the north-west.
• Ticino river woodlands — protected lowland forest within the Parco del Ticino, Italy's first regional park, dense with herons, oaks and quiet riverside trail.
• St. Gotthard Pass (2,106 m) — though just over the Swiss side, this is the E1's highest point and the dramatic alpine threshold that walkers descend before reaching Lombardy.
• Sanctuary towns of the Varese pre-Alps — small hilltop settlements with frescoed churches and trattorie that make natural overnight stops.

Best Time to Hike the European Long distance path E1 - part Italy - Lombardy

The Lombardy section sits at modest altitude, which lengthens its hiking window compared with the high Alps. Trails are generally walkable from April through October, but conditions vary sharply by season.

Spring (April–May) brings green hillsides, full waterfalls and wildflowers, with daytime temperatures around 15–22 °C. Lower paths are reliably snow-free, though the Campo dei Fiori ridge can stay damp and muddy after rain. Summer (June–August) offers the longest daylight and settled weather, but the Po Plain edge becomes hot and humid, often 30 °C or more, with afternoon thunderstorms common in July and August. Autumn (September–October) delivers crisp air, clear long-range views and vineyard colour, with comfortable 18–24 °C days.

The single best month is September: humidity drops, the haze over the lakes clears, accommodation is easier to book than in peak August, and stable high pressure typically holds into early October. As of 2026, regional forecasts continue to show warm, dry early-autumn spells across northern Lombardy, making mid-September an ideal target. Avoid midwinter, when fog (the famous nebbia) blankets the lowlands and the higher ridges may carry snow and ice.

Practical Information

Accommodation

Because the Lombardy section passes through populated valleys and lake towns rather than remote wilderness, you rely mainly on hotels, B&Bs and the occasional mountain refuge rather than a chain of trail huts. Budget B&Bs and guesthouses in Varese and the smaller towns typically cost €60–90 for a double room, while three-star hotels run €90–140. The pilgrim-style hospitality near Sacro Monte and a handful of CAI-affiliated refuges on the Campo dei Fiori massif offer dormitory beds from roughly €20–30 per night, sometimes with half-board for an extra €20–25.

Wild camping is restricted across Lombardy and not permitted in regional parks such as Campo dei Fiori and Parco del Ticino; use the small private and municipal campgrounds near the lakes (around €12–20 per pitch) instead. Book ahead in August, when Italian holidaymakers fill lake-district lodging.

Getting There & Back

The section is exceptionally well connected. Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) lies only about 25–40 minutes by road from Varese, and trains link Milan with Varese in roughly 55–70 minutes. The northern trailhead at Porto Ceresio is the terminus of a direct regional rail line from Milan (about 90 minutes), making it easy to start the walk car-free. From the Swiss side, Lugano station (on the Gotthard rail axis) is around 30 minutes by bus or boat from the border. Returning is equally simple: Varese, Gavirate and the lowland towns all sit on Trenord regional services back to Milan, where you connect to international rail and both Malpensa and Linate airports.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to walk the E1 through Lombardy, and the trail itself is free to access. There are no entry gates on the route. Some attractions along the way charge separately — the Sacro Monte di Varese funicular costs a few euros, and museums or the Campo dei Fiori observatory have small admission fees. Carry cash for rural huts and small trattorie, as card payment is not universal in the hills.

Gear & Packing List

This is a mid-weight walk: you need proper hiking footwear and rain protection, but not full alpine kit. Layering matters most, since you move between humid lowlands and breezy ridges in a single day. A 35–50 litre pack handles a multi-day self-supported itinerary comfortably; if you stay in B&Bs and hotels you can go lighter still.

For a versatile load, the Fjällräven Abisko Hike 35 suits hut-to-hut days when you carry little food, while the larger Deuter Aircontact Lite 45+10 gives room for camping gear on the lake-town pitches. Weight-conscious hikers chasing distance will appreciate the ultralight Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Windrider. For more on choosing a pack, see our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026. Bring sun protection and 1.5–2 litres of water capacity for the hotter lowland stages, plus a light insulating layer for cool ridge mornings even in summer.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the Lombardy E1 whets your appetite for Italian long-distance walking, the Dolomites offer the country's most celebrated high routes — more vertical, more dramatic, and a natural next step once you have a few multi-day trails behind you. Each of these Alte Vie strings together hut-to-hut days through limestone peaks:

• Alta Via n. 2 delle Dolomiti - Dolomiten-Höhenweg Nr. 2 (Italy), 185 km
• Alta via n. 6 delle Dolomiti (Italy), 180 km
• Alta via n. 6 delle Dolomiti - XI tappa (Italy), 180 km
• Alta via n. 6 delle Dolomiti - X tappa (Italy), 180 km
• Alta via n. 9 delle Dolomiti - Dolomiten-Höhenweg Nr. 9 (Italy), 140 km

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the E1 Lombardy section?

September is the standout month. Summer humidity fades, the haze over the lakes lifts for long-range views, and stable high pressure usually holds into early October. The wider window runs April to October; avoid midwinter, when fog blankets the Po Plain lowlands and the Campo dei Fiori ridge can hold snow and ice that make footing unreliable.

How difficult is the Lombardy section of the E1?

It is moderate rather than alpine. You walk forested ridges, lake shores and rural paths with daily climbs of roughly 250–750 metres, nothing requiring technical skills or alpine equipment. The main challenges are summer heat near the Po Plain and route-finding where the E1 shares local CAI trails, so carry a GPX track. Reasonably fit walkers handle it comfortably.

How many kilometres per day should I plan?

Plan for 18–26 km per day, depending on terrain and elevation gain. The hillier stages near Sacro Monte and Campo dei Fiori are shorter, around 14–18 km, because of the climbing, while the flatter lowland days toward the Po Plain stretch to 24–26 km. Because the published total distance is unconfirmed, build your itinerary around towns with rail links and lodging.

What accommodation is available along the route?

Mostly hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses, since the section passes through populated valleys. Expect €60–90 for a B&B double and €90–140 for a three-star hotel. A few CAI refuges and pilgrim lodgings on the Campo dei Fiori massif offer dorm beds from €20–30. Small campgrounds near the lakes cost €12–20 per pitch; wild camping is not permitted in the regional parks.

Do I need a permit to walk the E1 through Lombardy?

No. The E1 is free to walk and requires no permit or registration anywhere in Lombardy, and there are no access gates on the trail. You only pay small fees for optional attractions, such as the Sacro Monte di Varese funicular or museums. Carry cash, since rural refuges and village trattorie do not always accept cards.

For deeper planning, the European Ramblers' Association maintains the official E1 route pages, and regional park information for the lowland forest crossing is published by the Parco Lombardo della Valle del Ticino. To fuel multi-day efforts properly, read our guide on how many calories you need hiking a full day, and if you want to compare this gentler Italian route with a tougher Balkan classic, see how to hike the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania.