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Riomaggiore, the southernmost village of the five villages in Cinque Terra, is a perfect first stop when visiting the area. Whether you’re coming from Genoa, or taking a day trip from Florence, you definitely do not want to miss this colorful village! This post recaps our brief visit to Riomaggiore with a few photos and tips.
If you’re curious about how to get to Riomaggiore (or the Cinque Terre in general), check out this post on Visiting the Cinque Terre by Train.
What to Do in Riomaggiore
First off, make sure you visit the information booth to get the train schedules. If you have any questions about Riomaggiore, they are super helpful and can point you in the right direction!
Cinque Terre is pretty famous for being a colorful place. We didn’t have much time in each village, so we spent most of our time just wandering through the villages, admiring all the pretty colors. Riomaggiore has no shortage of this! If you’re looking for postcard shots, you’ll definitely find that here.
Visiting in the Off Season
We visited the Cinque Terre region in the off season (November) for a couple of reasons. As with any destination, there are pros and cons to traveling during the different seasons.
Pros
- It’s less crowded! This was one of the main reasons why we chose to travel to Europe in the off season. You don’t have to spend time fighting your way through crowds, or waiting forever for your turn to get that perfect shot. You can wander through the little streets, or on one of the many trails, in peace and quiet.
- It’s cheaper. Accommodations tend to be much cheaper when traveling in the off season. So, if you’re a budget traveler, off season is the way to go! We stayed about 45 minutes away in Rapallo, which was a great home-base for our trip. Of course, there are accommodations located within the villages (mostly apartment rentals) if you want to stay right in the Cinque Terre.
- The weather is cooler. Don’t get me wrong – I looooove the sun! But when you’re visiting a destination where you’re going to be walking A LOT, you don’t want the summer sun melting you into the ground.
Cons
- The weather. Yes, this is both a pro and a con! Traveling in the fall and winter can mean a chance of rain or cloudy days. The destination is still equally as beautiful, and there are still clear days during the off season, but you better be prepared not to see the sun as much! We visited on a cloudy day, which meant no blue skies as a backdrop. We’ll just have to plan another trip there someday!
- Places are closed. This is especially true in the Cinque Terre, where tourism is at its peak during the summer and Easter holiday. This means less restaurants and shops to visit while there. Don’t fret! There are still plenty of restaurants, gelaterias, and little shops to choose from.
We were glad to have started our Cinque Terre visit in Riomaggiore. It really is a dream to be able to have the opportunity to visit this place in person.
One thing to remember: be a respectful traveler when visiting here! These villages are people’s homes, so when you’re passing by doorways, try and keep your noise level to a minimum.
We worked up quite an appetite exploring this little town, so we decided to have lunch at our next stop, Manarola!
Have you ever been to Riomaggiore? What did you enjoy most about your visit there?
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