Is Riomaggiore worth it?

Riomaggiore and Monterosso was wonderful. If you like the beach you should go to Monterosso, and id you want the post card views you should go to beautiful Riomaggiore. Probably the most scenic of the towns in Cinque Terre. And just what you would expect - steep and narrow.



Riomaggiore, the southernmost village of Italy’s Cinque Terre, is absolutely worth it in 2026, especially following the full reopening of the famous Via dell’Amore (Path of Love). This scenic cliffside walkway, which connects Riomaggiore to Manarola, had been closed for years for restoration but is once again the highlight of the region. Riomaggiore is famous for its "tower houses" that cascade down a steep ravine to a tiny, picturesque harbor where visitors can grab a cone of fried seafood and watch the sunset. While it can be extremely crowded during the day with cruise ship tourists, it becomes magical in the early morning and late evening. It offers some of the best swimming and snorkeling in the Cinque Terre due to its rocky coastline and crystal-clear water. If you are looking for a base that is well-connected by train but still feels authentic and rugged, Riomaggiore provides the quintessential "Italian Riviera" experience that remains unmissable for anyone visiting the Ligurian coast.

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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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Vernazza: Located to the north of the Cinque Terre, Vernazza is probably the most beautiful and picturesque fishing village of Cinque Terre, where its colourful houses hang above the sea level on rugged cliffs. It has a charming natural port and an old castle, built to protect the area from pirates.

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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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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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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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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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Riomaggiore is a climb in the region Liguria. It is 1.7km long and bridges 113 vertical meters with an average gradient of 6.6%, resulting in a difficulty score of 80.

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Over six hundred steps to reach the Corniolo hill which dominates and separates Riomaggiore and Manarola and from which you immediately begin to descend, always vertically and always facing a unique panorama, on terraces, villages, and inlets from the Madonna di Montenero to Punta Mesco.

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Tap water is drinkable in all the Cinque Terre and in La Spezia. Do not use plastic and fill your bottles in safety! We do provide in each Cinque Terre Riviera property a Glass Water bottle to do our small part on the journey to Save our Planet!

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cinque terre is more rugged and less upscale. portofino is a beuatiful natural park with lots of hikes and things to do - you can take a ferry trip to cinque terre if you wish from there.

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