How do you get to Riomaggiore?

How to Get to Riomaggiore. Situated at the southernmost point of the Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore can be reached by train from either La Spezia or Levanto. From La Spezia, take the local train (treno regionale) in the direction of Sestri Levante and get off at the first stop.



The most efficient and scenic way to reach Riomaggiore, the southernmost village of the Cinque Terre, is by train via La Spezia. Most travelers take a Trenitalia train to "La Spezia Centrale" and then transfer to the Cinque Terre Express, a dedicated regional shuttle that reaches Riomaggiore in just 7–9 minutes. Driving is highly discouraged, as the village is largely "car-free" and the very limited parking at the top of the town is extremely expensive and often full. If you are coming from the north (Genoa or Levanto), you can take a regional train directly south. During the summer months (April to October), a popular alternative is the ferry boat which departs from La Spezia, Portovenere, or the other four Cinque Terre villages, providing a spectacular "sea-in" arrival. Walking is also an option via the "Sentiero Azzurro" hiking trails, though the famous "Via dell’Amore" path connecting to Manarola is subject to seasonal closures and requires a permit.

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Trains are the easiest way to get to and around Cinque Terre. Trenitalia has direct connections to La Spezia from Rome, Florence, and Pisa (the closest airport). Once in Cinque Terre, the Cinque Terre Express train runs between La Spezia and Levanto in Sestri Levante, stopping at each village.

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Riomaggiore is a village and commune in the province of La Spezia, situated in a small valley in the Liguria region of Italy. It is the first of the Cinque Terre villages one encounters when travelling north from La Spezia.

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Riomaggiore is the most accessible of the villages, being closer to La Spezia, and it has less of the remote-fishing-village look. Also you may be able to get parking in Monterosso depending on your hotel. It's the only village anyone should consider driving to. La Spezia would be more expensive to park than Levanto.

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Known for its colorful stone houses that seem stacked on top of one another and its harbor filled with traditional fishing boats, Riomaggiore is part of the string of five villages that make up the Cinque Terre, a UNESCO Heritage Site. It's also one of Italy's most sought-after travel destinations.

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The walk from Riomaggiore to Manarola is no easier than the other way, it took us about the same time both ways, although coming back was at a hotter time and after a full days activity. If you are up to it, do it, if you have doubts, don't try it.

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You can walk the entire route in about six hours, if you take short breaks—although many hikers prefer to spread the route out over a few days at a strolling pace, stopping to enjoy the towns along the way. You can start from either direction (Monterosso, heading south, or Riomaggiore, heading north).

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Visit some of the villages Choose to visit two or three of the villages, for example Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore. You have to skip Corniglia situated on top of a cliff 100 metres above sea level. If you are limited on time, take the train between the villages.

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Shopping and prices The Cinque Terre is not cheap. As everywhere in the world, tourism has raised prices. I often go to the market of La Spezia to shop for food, it's much cheaper than the stores of the villages. In restaurants, you have to expect Western European prices.

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Corniglia is the only one of the five Cinque Terre towns that isn't a fishing town and you need to walk up around 365 steps to get there. That puts most people off and means that Corniglia is the Cinque Terre town with the fewest tourists.

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