Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre – The Most Peaceful Village in Cinque Terre

Where is Riomaggiore?

Riomaggiore is part of the Cinque Terre and is located in the northwest of Italy, between Genoa and Pisa.

Riomaggiore is the southernmost village of the Cinque Terre, located south of Manarola, another village of the national park. It’s also the biggest of the 5 villages, a must-visit in Cinque Terre, and a mandatory stop on your Italy road trip!

Rioamaggiore is separated from the train station by a big tunnel. When you get to Riomaggiore by train (the best way to get around during your Cinque Terre itinerary), you will need to walk for around 6 minutes to reach the heart of the village.

In the image right below, you can see the train station on the left. The tunnel will take you to the center of the village, above the harbor.

What to Do in Riomaggiore

I’ve literally spent all of my time taking photos when I visited Riomaggiore. But of course, there’s more to do. Here’s a quick list: 

1. Wander around the village

The best way to visit Riomaggiore is to get lost in its narrow streets. Take a stroll along the vibrant narrow lanes connecting the charming harbor and the viewpoints with sea vistas. As you walk, you’ll be treated to lovely views of the village rooftops.

Let spontaneity be your guide, but make sure not to overlook the church of San Giovanni with its two-towered castle.

If you’re feeling motivated, climb 340 meters to the Montenero sanctuary for a splendid 180° view of the village.

2. Relax on the beach of Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore has a beach, where you can go and relax, and even swim in the sea! While the Cinque Terre isn’t usually a region associated with beaches, you should know there are, in fact, more than 10 beaches where you can swim in the area! 

To reach the beach, it’s a 5-minute walk from the harbor. Go up the stairs on the left to go to the main viewpoint, then keep going around the hill on the path. The beach is on the other side.

Riomaggiore Beach is a rock & pebble beach. If you’re looking for a sand beach, you’ll find one in Monterosso.

3. Enjoy water activities 

For a unique visit to Riomaggiore from the sea, rent a kayak from the harbor where several small rental companies operate. It’s a great way to escape the crowds and appreciate the stunning architecture of the villages beautifully and peacefully.

Not many people know this, but you can reach Vernazza or Manarola by kayak from Riomaggiore. Along the way, you can also explore a whole host of secret caves, all in breathtaking colors.

Riomaggiore is also home to a scuba diving center where you can explore the exceptional flora and fauna of the marine park.

Visiting the Cinque Terre by boat is an exquisite experience, check the boat tours available here.

4. Hike the Via dell’Amore

In Riomaggiore, you’ll find the start of the popular trail “Via dell’Amore”, the Way of Love. The trail was an easy way for lovers from Manarola and Riomaggiore to be reunited, which is where the name comes from.

The trail is a nice flat path, above the sea, that goes from Riomaggiore to Manarola. It’s a very lovely stroll, with incredible views all along.

Note that this trail can sometimes be closed due to landslides, so check here to see if it is open.

You can see the start of the trail on the right side

The Via dell’Amore trail on the bottom left

5. Enjoy Riomaggiore at night

The village of Riomaggiore was our home base during our trip to the Cinque Terre. I used this to wander the streets at night and explore more of the village.

These were taken from the heights of the village, where you get an incredible view of all the houses. There is also a whole different atmosphere in the village at night, with no one around, the salty wind from the sea, and the distant sound of crashing waves.

Of course, I had to go to the harbor at night, to enjoy the view with the city lights on, under the stars.

Best viewpoints in Riomaggiore

The best viewpoint in Riomaggiore is in the harbor. There are actually 2 different spots, from where you’ll have different views of the city. Down on the rocks, and up on the cliffs.

The view of Riomaggiore from the rocks

The view from up the cliffs

To get to these 2 viewpoints, you will have to go to the harbor. Go to the main street of the village, and follow it all the way down, until you reach the tunnel that goes to the station.

When facing the tunnel, go left. Take the stairs that will take you up the main square. Then, you’ll have to go down all of the stairs, that will lead you to the harbor.

When you exit the stairs, you will be right in the harbor, surrounded by tall colorful buildings, boats, and nice restaurants.

You can see the stairs on the left side

1. Main view from the cliff

The main view of Riomaggiore, where most people go to watch the village, is up the cliffs. When you are in the harbor, facing the sea, take the stairs to your left. They will take you up above the rocks. From there, you have one of the best views of Riomaggiore!

2. View from the rocks

The other spot where you’ll have a splendid view over Riomaggiore is down on the rocks.

Right below the first viewpoint, there are stairs leading down to the sea, as you can see on the right side of the image above. If you go there, you’ll have a different view of the village, looking up at the colorful houses.

As you can see in the drone image above, there is a large band of rocks in the sea, right in front of Riomaggiore.

To have a view from the water level in front of the village, you can either go on a boat or simply go on the rocks. Be careful, as the rocks are pretty slippery, and beware of the waves that might crash on the rocks. If the sea is calm, you can go for it.

How to Get to Riomaggiore

To get to Riomaggiore and the Cinque Terre, the best choice is to fly to either Genoa, Florence, or Pisa.

Which city to fly to depends on where you can get the cheapest flight! Personally, I found a very cheap flight to Pisa (30€ round trip from Paris) so I flew to Pisa.

Once you’re in Italy, simply take the train to reach the village. The train system in Italy is very developed, and tickets are cheap!

A one-way train ticket from Pisa to Riomaggiore costs between 10€ and 20€ in 2024. Of course, like everywhere else, the earlier you book the cheaper! The whole journey takes about 1 hour with a connection in the town of La Spezia. 

If you’re already in the Cinque Terre, getting from one village to the other is easy. Just go to the train station, buy a ticket there (2.40€ in 2024), and hop on the train. It takes around 3 minutes to go from one village to the next.

Book your train tickets here: Trenitalia

Tips for Visiting Riomaggiore

To help you make the most out of your trip, you can find below a few tips:

• Pack your swimsuit to swim in Riomaggiore Beach!
• If you go to the heights of the village, you can take a lift, right next to the church
• Be careful if you go on the rocks!

Where to Stay in Riomaggiore

The village is a good choice for a stay in the Cinque Terre. However it’s pretty popular, so you’ll need to book in advance.

Ready to make Riomaggiore your home base? Here are the best accommodations in Riomaggiore according to your travel style:

✅ Best Hotel – Cinqueterre Residence: In addition to comfy large rooms, this beautiful property offers a wonderful terrace with a hot tub and great sea views for an incredible price. Look no further!  

💰 Budget Pick – Hotel Villa Argentina: Perfectly located in town about 10 min walk from the train station, this place has everything you need to have a great stay. Kudos to the breakfast and the staff! 

⭐️ Luxury Pick – La Vista di Marina by The First: The location of this place is unbeatable, right on the harbor. Everything is perfectly thought out in this beautiful hotel, and some units come with a wonderful terrace to enjoy the view. 

Not satisfied with this selection? Check out my guide to the best hotels in Riomaggiore for more. Or check out the full list of the best hotels in Cinque Terre (in all villages).

🔍 Read More: 

Planning a trip to the Cinque Terre? You can find below several other articles about this wonderful part of Italy to help you plan your trip: 

• Ultimate Guide to the Cinque Terre
• Manarola – the Oldest Village
• Vernazza – the Jewel of the Cinque Terre
• Corniglia – the Highest Village
• Monterosso Al Mare – the Place to Relax
• Levanto – the Perfect Starting Point
• Guide to Camp in the Cinque Terre

I hope you enjoy your trip to Riomaggiore and the Cinque Terre! If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below, I always reply.