Riomaggiore makes a good base for activities including sailing or kayaking along the Italian Riviera coast, wine-tasting tours to the Montenero vineyards, and hiking and mountain biking excursions in Cinque Terre National Park—which encompasses all five Cinque Terre towns. Day tours to Riomaggiore run from La Spezia, Siena, Florence, and Milan, and typically also visit the neighboring villages of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, and Manarola, as well as nearby Portovenere.
Riomaggiore can get busy in summer, so book tours and accommodations well in advance.
Bring comfortable, sturdy walking shoes, as the village roads are steep and often uneven.
While many hotels and tourist attractions in Riomaggiore are wheelchair and stroller accessible, the village’s steep and narrow lanes can be challenging to navigate for anyone with mobility issues.
Located in Cinque Terre National Park, just south of Manarola along the Italian Riviera, Riomaggiore is a 2-hour drive from Florence or a 30-minute drive from La Spezia. Parking is limited in Riomaggiore, so unless you stay overnight, it’s best to join a tour or arrive by train from La Spezia (a 5-minute ride). Alternatively, from mid-Apr. through Oct., ferries connect Riomaggiore with La Spezia, Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, and Manarola.
Riomaggiore sees the most visitors and the highest temperatures—upwards of 100°F (40°C)—in summer. Hikers should aim to visit in May or Sep. to avoid the peak heat, while budget-minded travelers should note that hotel prices rise in Aug. Visiting in winter is possible, but some hiking trails may be inaccessible in heavy rain or icy conditions.
Home to some of Cinque Terre’s best restaurants and cafés, Riomaggiore is a great place to sample authentic Ligurian cuisine. Look out for signature dishes such as coniglio alla ligure (red wine–braised rabbit) and pesto alla Genovese (pasta with fresh pesto), street foods such as pansotti (stuffed pasta) and farinata (chickpea pancakes), and the sweet dessert wine sciacchetra.