Getting to Riomaggiore and Manarola

Information last checked: 27 October 2026

Riomaggiore and Manarola are the two southernmost villages of Cinque Terre, the first two stops on the railway coming from La Spezia. The village centres are closed to visitors’ cars, so for almost everyone the journey ends on a train. This guide covers the routes we recommend to our guests, the car option and the last few minutes on foot.

The short answer: train from La Spezia

Whatever your starting point, aim for La Spezia Centrale station. From there, regional trains towards Levanto stop at Riomaggiore after about 7 minutes and at Manarola a couple of minutes later: Manarola is the very next stop after Riomaggiore.

Cinque Terre Express. In the 2026 season (14 March to 1 November) Trenitalia added extra trains between La Spezia and Levanto, roughly every 30 minutes, stopping in all five villages. The dates for 2027 have not been announced yet.
The Cinque Terre fare. In the same period, trains stopping in the villages use a special single fare. In 2026 it cost €5, €8 or €10 for adults depending on the day (busier days cost more), and half price for children aged 4–11. Trains leaving after 19:30 always cost the lowest price. Outside the season, normal regional fares apply.
Validate your ticket before boarding: paper tickets in the machines at the station, digital ones as the Trenitalia app explains. A Cinque Terre ticket is valid for 75 minutes, for one journey without stopovers.
Tickets are sold on the Trenitalia website and app, at station ticket machines and offices, and at the National Park information points.

If you plan to move between the villages several times a day, look at the Cinque Terre Treno Card from the National Park. It includes unlimited regional trains between Levanto and La Spezia, the paid section of the coastal path, the Via dell’Amore, village buses and the station toilets. In the 2026 season a one-day adult card cost between €22 and €35 depending on the day. Prices and the fare calendar are on the Trenitalia and Park websites.

From Pisa airport

Pisa is the closest major airport. The PisaMover shuttle train links the terminal with Pisa Centrale station in a few minutes, running from 6:00 to midnight. You can buy it together with your train ticket by choosing “Pisa Aeroporto” as the departure station. From Pisa Centrale, direct trains reach La Spezia Centrale in roughly an hour (faster InterCity and Frecce trains, slower regional ones), then change for Riomaggiore or Manarola. Allow about two hours door to door, more if connections are tight.

From Genoa airport

From Genoa airport, take the bus to the city’s main stations (Genova Brignole or Piazza Principe), then a train towards La Spezia. InterCity and Frecciabianca trains take a little over an hour to La Spezia. Regional trains are slower, and some stop along the Cinque Terre line, so check whether yours stops in Riomaggiore or Manarola before changing. Bus fares and timetables change often: check them on the airport website before you travel.

From Florence, Milan and Rome

All of these cities have train connections to La Spezia Centrale, often with one change (from Florence usually in Pisa). The Trenitalia journey planner shows every option. Put “Riomaggiore” or “Manarola” as your destination and it includes the last local train.

By car

From Genoa or Pisa take the A12 motorway, or the A15 from Parma, and exit at La Spezia; from there a winding mountain road leads down to the villages. Be aware that the centres of Riomaggiore and Manarola are closed to visitors’ cars. There are only a few paid car parks at the edge of each village; they fill up quickly at weekends and in summer, and they are expensive by the day.

For most people the simplest solution is to park in La Spezia and continue by train: the ride is short and frequent in season, and you won’t need a car between the villages.

Garage for Rio View and Casa Maja

If you are staying in Rio View or Casa Maja in Riomaggiore, we can offer a garage space on request for €20 per night, subject to availability. It is arranged directly with us and paid on site: just ask by email before you arrive.

By boat

In the warmer months the Golfo dei Poeti ferries sail from La Spezia, Lerici and Porto Venere along the coast, stopping at Riomaggiore and Manarola (not Corniglia). The boats are a beautiful way to arrive, but the service is seasonal and runs only when the sea allows, so don’t rely on them for a fixed check-in time.

From the station to the village

Riomaggiore: from the platform a pedestrian tunnel alongside the tracks leads into the lower village, coming out on Via Colombo, the main street. Casa Maja is on Via Colombo, ten steps up from the street. Rio View is in the upper part of the village, reached with the public lift that runs up from the centre. Note that the station’s own lifts towards the Via dell’Amore have been out of service for some time: RFI, the railway network company, announced in October 2026 that they are being replaced.

Manarola: the station exit is on the west side, through an underpass with stairs, and a short walk takes you down the main street to the marina, where Nadir is. A new stair and lift on the east side, towards the Via dell’Amore, are planned.

If you can, travel light: lanes and steps are part of every Cinque Terre village. We are happy to explain the exact route to your apartment before you arrive.

Winter 2026–27: planned train closures

Because of station works, RFI has announced that all trains between Corniglia and La Spezia will be suspended for 48 hours on 14–15 November 2026, 19–20 December 2026, 9–10 January 2027 and 6–7 February 2027. If your arrival or departure falls on one of these weekends, check the alternatives with Trenitalia when you book your journey.

Moving between the villages

Trains are the fastest way between the five villages. Between Riomaggiore and Manarola you can also walk the famous seaside path: read our Via dell’Amore guide for tickets and hours, and our guide on the best time to visit Cinque Terre to choose your dates.