Cinque Terre
Riomaggiore
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The southernmost village and main entry point — lively, accessible, and the starting point for most visits.
Riomaggiore is the first village south of La Spezia on the Cinque Terre rail line and serves as the de facto entry point for most visitors approaching from Rome and the south. The village follows a steep ravine (the Rio Maggiore, now largely paved over) from the train station to the small harbour, with the main street flanked by tall narrow tower houses in terracotta and yellow. The harbour is small but functional for local fishing boats and the rocks beside it are used for swimming. Riomaggiore is the most animated of the five villages after Monterosso, with a good selection of restaurants and wine bars concentrated along the main Via Colombo.
Scores
Walkability
Transit
Price
Local feel
Nightlife
Family-friendly
Centrality
What you gain
- ↑The most practical base for exploring all five villages: the train service runs frequently in both directions and the village is the closest to La Spezia (15 minutes). Driving visitors park in La Spezia or at the Riomaggiore car park and walk or train in.
- ↑The best selection of restaurants and wine bars after Monterosso: Bar & Vini A Piè de Mà at the harbour is excellent for aperitivo with local anchovies and fresh-pressed olive oil on focaccia. Dau Cila at the harbour serves excellent seafood.
- ↑The walk south from Riomaggiore toward Porto Venere and the Gulf of Poets is one of the most beautiful sections of the Ligurian coast and is far less crowded than the Cinque Terre trails.
What you sacrifice
- ↓As the main entry point, Riomaggiore absorbs a high volume of day-trippers from La Spezia who treat it as a gateway village and don't stay. The Via Colombo can feel more like a transit corridor than a village street during peak hours.
- ↓The harbour is the smallest and least picturesque of the five — Vernazza and Manarola are more dramatically situated. Riomaggiore's appeal is practical as much as photogenic.
Best for
Avoid if
Other Cinque Terre neighbourhoods
The most photographed harbour in Italy — a tiny fishing port with a natural piazza, castle ruins, and extraordinary light.
Rainbow-coloured houses cascading to the sea — the most photographed sunset village and December presepe star.
The largest village with Cinque Terre's only real sandy beach — the most accessible and tourist-complete.
Know where to stay — now find when to go.
Best time to visit Cinque Terre →