Riomaggiore is the village in Cinque Terre that’s closest to the town of La Spezia. It’s one of the most popular villages to visit in Cinque Terre and is known for its beautiful colorful houses, crystal clear waters, and cozy atmosphere.
In Riomaggiore you’ll find nice restaurants and cafés, gorgeous photo spots, a cozy harbor, and a beautiful beach. Down below you can read more about Riomaggiore and its various attractions:
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Things to do in Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore is a beautiful village that has a lot to offer its visitors. Here you will find everything from nice restaurants and dining experiences to lovely viewpoints and beaches where you can go swimming.
Enjoy the view from Il Castello
Castello di Riomaggiore was built in 1260 to protect the city from intruders and pirates. Today, it’s a historic site that offers one of the best views in the city.
The castle is located at the top of the village and is open to the public.
Stroll around Via Colombo
Via Colombo is the main street in Riomaggiore and here you’ll find several restaurants, cafes, bars and small shops where you can shop Italian souvenirs and local products.
It’s a nice street that connects the upper part of the village with the square Piazza Vignaioli in Riomaggiore. Below the square you’ll find the picturesque harbor.
Go wine tasting
Cinque Terre is a place where good wine is made. When visiting Riomaggiore I can recommend going wine tasting to taste local wines and learn more about the wine production in Cinque Terre.
The experience is called “Wine Tasting in the Vineyards” and can be booked via AirBnB experiences.
Get 13 euro in discount on your first AirBnB Experience
Hike up to Torre Guardiola
One of the best views in Cinque Terre can be found at Torre Guardiola. You can easily reach this place via a short hike from the center of Riomaggiore. Torre Guardiola is a tower that was part of a former fort, which today is a viewpoint, restaurant and a bar.
This is one of the hidden gems of Cinque Terre that many tourists do not know about!
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Take a cooking class
If you like to cook then I can recommend taking a cooking class in Riomaggiore. Through a cooking class you get to learn more about the Italian cuisine, as well as new interesting dishes.
The cooking class called “The Ultimate Cooking Experience” is one of the most popular and can be booked via AirBnB experiences.
Here you’ll get 13 euro in discount on your first AirBnB Experience
Visit the church of San Giovanni Battista
San Giovanni Battista is a Gothic-style church built in 1340. The church is home to some beautiful paintings, including “Preaching of John the Baptist” a painting by Domenico Fiasella, as well as a wooden crucifixion by Maragliano.
The mechanical organ from 1851 is also something worth having a look at inside San Giovanni Battista.
Photo: Shutterstock
Relax at the beach in Riomaggiore
If you visit Cinque Terre during the hot summer months it can be nice to relax at the beach. After the train station you’ll find a tunnel that will take you to a nice beach located on the eastern side of the village.
It’s a small beach, so during high season it can be pretty crowded. If you visit during summer it’s best to go there early to find an available spot.
Photo: KURLIN_CAfE / Shutterstock.com
Visit Canneto Beach via boat
Canneto is another popular beach and it’s located between Punta Castagna and Punta del Cavo near Riomaggiore. Here you’ll find a beautiful beach with crystal clear water where you can go swimming and relaxing.
As mentioned, this beach is only possible to visit via boat since the road on land is too dangerous to walk.
Take lots of nice photos
Riomaggiore is one of the most photogenic villages in Cinque Terre and photographers come from all over the world to take some photos.
I can recommend taking some pictures down by the harbor where you can see the colorful houses and the ocean in the background.
Hiking to and from Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore is a village that offers several good hiking trails that take you to the nearby villages and towns.
One of the most popular hikes is Via Dell’Amore (the path of love) which runs from Riomaggiore to Manarola. It runs along the coast and offers beautiful views of both the sea and the greenery.
NOTE: Via Dell’Amore is currently closed and is scheduled to open before 2023.
In addition to this hiking trail, there are also hiking trails that take you to Corniglia and Portovenere.
Photo: Shutterstock
Recommended restaurants
- Bar e Vini a Piè de Mà
- Fuori Rotta
- Via dell’amore
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Travel to Riomaggiore
Traveling to Riomaggiore may seem a bit complicated, but it’s actually not. The easiest way is to fly to any of the nearby cities such as Rome, Pisa or Genoa. From these cities there are direct trains to Riomaggiore and the other villages in Cinque Terre.
You can also take the flight to Milan and Florence, but then you need to make a stop in Pisa or Genoa to change trains.
If you travel from another country in Europe, it’s also possible to go there by train. Just catch the train to any of the bigger cities mentioned above, and then change train to Cinque Terre.
You can also travel to Cinque Terre by car, if that’s something you prefer. The roads through Europe are good so it’s easy to drive to Italy. Just note that it’s not allowed to drive with a vehicle inside the villages, and there’s also lack of parking spaces – so the best is to take the train.
Photo: Shutterstock
Best time to visit Riomaggiore
The best time to visit is between September and October. During these months, it’s still warm and fewer tourists comparing to high season (June-August). I do not recommend visiting during high season since it gets a little bit too crowded and the prices are generally higher.
During the winter, there are the least people visiting, but it’s also one of the most boring months to visit since much is closed and it’s also quite cold.
Spring can be a good time to visit, but you can be unlucky with the weather and it can be both cold, windy and rainy.
I’ve visited Cinque Terre during both spring and in late September, I must say that it was best to visit after high season.
Recommended hotels
In addition to these hotels there are also several nice apartments to rent through AirBnB. We rented an apartment in the harbor with an amazing view from the balcony for a good price.
Get 40 euro in discount on your first booking with AirBnB
More about Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre
Riomaggiore dates back to the 1300s and is known for its beautiful environment and wine production.
The main street is called Via Colombo, where you will find most shops, restaurants, bars and cafes. There are both mini markets and small shops where you can go shopping for souvenirs, as well as ice cream parlors and nice outdoor cafés where you can drink Italian coffee.
How to get around
In Riomaggiore, cars or other vehicles are not allowed, so you have to get around by foot. However, if you get there by car you have to park at the small parking lot at the top of the town.
Just keep in mind that the parking lot is often full and it’s also quite expensive to park there.
Map of Riomaggiore
Below you have a map of Riomaggiore. As you can see it is not a big village and is easy to navigate on your own.
If you need some help finding a certain place in the village, you can always use Google Maps in your phone.
Do you have more questions about Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre? Leave a comment below!
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