Cinque Terre (‘Five Lands’) is a collection of five little villages on the northeastern shore of Italy. The five villages include: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, and Corniglia.

Riomaggiore is largest of the five Cinque Terre villages and its history dates back to the 8th century. It is famous for it’s beautiful pastel-colored houses, picturesque views, and wines.

Getting To Riomaggiore 

To get into Riomaggiore, you must take the regional train on the Sestri Levante (Levanto) – La Spezia Centrale line or you can hike in from Manarola on the Via del Amore.

Depending on the amount of time you want to spend in Riomaggiore and where you are coming from, you can purchase different tickets.

  • If you plan to spend only a few hours in the village and plan to see all of the five Cinque Terre villages in one or two days via rail, I recommend getting the Cinque Terre Card.
  • If you plan on taking your time and stretching out seeing each village over three or more days, I recommend buying one-way train tickets by the day, to allow yourself the flexibility of traveling at your own leisure.
  • If you are hiking, you must purchase the Cinque Terre Card.

What to Do in Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore is a lovely little town with stunning views of the Ligurian Sea. There are not any major attractions in the town, however, there are a lot of photographic opportunities for the avid photographer, some nice hikes and trails for the mountain climber, some decent swimming for the water lovers, and some delicious food to eat for the food lovers.

What To Eat in Riomaggiore

Tegame di acciughe alla Vernazzana

Comprised of baked anchovies, potatoes, and herbs topped with a layer of freshly diced tomatoes, Tegame di acciughe alla Vernazzana is a local specialty of the Cinque Terre region.

Also, make sure to drink a glass of sweet Sciacchetrà wine that is native to Cinque Terre.

Where You Can Get It: La Lanterna da Massimo, located by the harbor in Riomaggiore

Where To Sleep in Riomaggiore

Looking to experience Riomaggiore by living like a local? Consider renting an apartment through the apartment rental site AirBnB.

Hotels

Budget: Viadeibanchi – Located along the main street, Viadeibanchi is a great budget hotel.

Mid-Range: Alla Marina Affittacamere – Located next to Riomaggiore’s harbor, Alla Marina Affittacamere offers stunning views of the Ligurian Sea. Rooms start at approximately USD $100/night.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, however, there is no cost to you for using these links.

Have you ever been to Riomaggiore before? Share your tips for traveling there below!