Best Cinque Terre Town: Riomaggiore

Best Cinque Terre Town: Riomaggiore

What to See & Do in Riomaggiore

Let me preface this by saying: this is an ongoing debate. I’m sure other people may have different opinions, and frankly, they are entitled to that, but after visiting all the terres myself, my favorite of the Cinque Terre is Riomaggiore! 

Riomaggiore is the most southern village of the Cinque Terre, situated just a few minutes by train from La Spezia. The origins of the Terre are thought to date back to the 8th century when it was populated by the inhabitants of the Vara Valley. The town climbs up along the ridges overlooking the sea, and it is characterized by the typical stone houses with colored facades. 

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THE BEAUTIFUL RIOMAGGIORE PORT AND TOWN

Although Riomaggiore is one of the largest Terre, compared with its other four siblings, I thought it was rather quiet and uncrowded, especially early in the morning. If you happen to be an early bird, I really recommend taking advantage of that and heading out into town before mid-morning. The tourists visiting from La Spezia or the other terres won’t start flooding in until about 10 am and Jake and I had the town to ourselves every single morning. 

Apart from being relatively quiet, Riomaggiore is also incredibly picturesque. Don’t get me wrong, so are the other terres—they each have their own charm, but there is something absolutely quaint and familiar about Riomaggiore which I love. All right, enough praise for now, and let’s jump straight into the best activities to do in Riomaggiore. 

Best Cinque Terre Town // How to Get to Riomaggiore 

First advice: ditch the car! I’m not writing this only because it’s more environmentally friendly, but also because it will make your life so much more simple. Riomaggiore is the southernmost town in Cinque Terre, and it’s accessible directly from big cities such as Florence, Pisa, and Milan by train. 

Once in La Spezia, you will change trains and hop on the smaller local train which stops in each of the Terre. They are all about 5 to 10 minutes apart and the ticket costs 4 euros each time, regardless of where you’re headed to. You can buy ticket directly at the station.

All the Terres are walkable and you’ll definitely enjoy strolling each, rather than pulling out your hair trying to drive in streets too small to fit two cars side by side. If you’re wanting a more marine experience, you can also buy tickets to the boat that does the ferry from one Terre to the other. It’s more pricey than the train but might be worth the coast sights. 

Best Cinque Terre Town // What to Do in Riomaggiore 

• Enjoy Sunset & Pizza at the Marina 

Every summer evening, you’ll see people seemingly coming out of nowhere, carrying beers and pizza boxes, headed for the rocks facing the port. They are all here to watch the sunset, and they’ve got everything right: there is seriously no better way to enjoy the sun setting in Riomaggiore than grabbing a pizza from Krepis Pizza and finding a corner of rock to sit on and marvel at mother nature’s best show. 

SUNSET IN RIOMAGGIORE

VIEW OF RIOMAGGIORE FROM THE HARBOR WALK

• Grab a bite at Tutti Fritti 

Tutti Fritti is a tiny joint with very friendly owners! They serve fried seafood and fish with fries. Nothing fancy, but good, inexpensive, and perfect for grabbing a quick bite to take to the beach or back to your place. 

• Take a Dip Overlooking the Village 

Best place to take a dip in Riomaggiore? My vote goes to the giant marble-like boulders that go out into the sea. If you’re feeling adventurous, grab a pair of good walking shoes and hike out as far as you can on these boulders, the view just keeps getting better and better. From there, you can just jump into the water facing Riomaggiore. Be mindful of the boats coming in and out, but apart from that, it’s the perfect place for a swim.

• Rent an Apartment with a View 

Before looking into booking hotels, make sure you check Airbnb because Riomaggiore has some great and rather affordable little apartments for rent. Many of them also have private balconies which are absolutely perfect to enjoy an Aperol Spritz in the evening. Jake and I booked this one! The view was stunning and the apartment clean and cozy. 

• Morning Coffee on the Port & Baked Goods 

If you’re up early, chances are you wouldn’t mind a coffee! Good news is, there’s a little literal hole in the wall of a coffee shop, right by port’s boat ramp. They serve awesome filled croissants are very friendly and welcoming. Bring a book and enjoy some quiet early-morning reading time by the water before the village gets flooded with tourists from different terres. 

• Try All the Gelato 

When in Italy, eat as much gelato as you can! There is no better place than Italy, and especially coastal Italy to eat gelato. You’ll find gelato vendors everywhere in the Cinque Terres, and we tried as many as we could, but our favorite was the one in Riomaggiore, just off the port. It’s called Gelateria Sottozero, and the backdrop is perfect for snapping a picture before the gelato melts. Favorite flavor? Pistachio and hazelnut, always. 

GELATO FROM THE SHOP BEHIND THE MAIN BECAH, IN MONTEROSSO

GELATO FROM A SHOP AT THE CORNER OF THE BEACH, IN VERNAZZA

• Eat at Dau Cila

Perched within pebble-lobbing distance of Riomaggiore's wee harbor, Dau Cila is a smart, kitsch-free zone, and had won its good name thanks to its simple but excellent seafood and hyper-local wines menu. Perfect for a date night, the ambiance is chic but not overly so. A definite recommendation in my book! 

• Fossola Beach 

This small pebbly beach is immediately southeast of Riomaggiore marina. Take the trail off the harbor to get there, but remember, if you are here in the summer, it’s bound to be packed by 10 am so make sure you grab your spot early on. 

• Explore the other Terres by Train 

There is so much left to explore! Although Riomaggiore is amazing and I could have happily stayed there the entire length of my stay, it’s really worth visiting the other terres. They all have a different feel and offer very dramatic landscapes that are perfect for photography escapades. Make sure you check out my full Cinque Terre in 3 days article to get more ideas of what to see and do in the other Terres. My second favorite is Vernazza and here’s a little sneak peek at why. 

SETTING LIGHT ON THE PORT OF VERNAZZA

“ You may have the universe if I may have Italy ”

– Giuseppe Verdi