Riomaggiore Things to Do Tips by guell

Vernazza

Some say that Vernazza may be the prettiest of the five towns. In my opinion, all five towns are great and they all are worth a visit.

Vernazza has a nice fishing dock with colorful boats, an excellent selection of restaurants, and many picturesque streets.

See my Vernazza page for more information.

Directions: Vernazza is the fourth town from the south

Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/3ed33/22620/

Corniglia

Corniglia is the third town from the south. The walking trail literally passes right through this town. Upon entering Corniglia, we felt like we had just entered a time warp. Nothing seemed to have change in decades, perhaps centuries in this town. It was absolutely special.

Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/3ed33/2518c/

Manarola

Get out and explore the five towns!! You can visit them by train, or better yet, you can hike from town to town. See my "Must See" tip for information on the walking trails.

Manarola is another one of the picturesque towns of the Cinque Terre, and it is the very next town north of Riomaggiore. Slow down, wander around the town for a bit allowing yourself to soak it all in. Pay attention to the beautifully colored houses. Watch the fishermen as they haul in their catch. See the children as they play and torture the local cats. Dream of a simple life living here.

Now snap out of it and continue on to the next town!!
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Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/3ed33/2454b/

Monterosso al Mare

Monterosso al Mare most resembles a stereotypical Italian Riviera town with its hotels and a nice beach. The difference is that it is in a much smaller scale, and it is much less crowded.

If you want a small town feel and a beach, Monterosso al Mare is for you.

Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/3ed33/240cc/

Walk the trails between the five villages

The only true way to enjoy the Cinque Terre at its best is by foot. The Cinque Terre is criss-crossed by a mesh of footpaths. The routes are numerous. We chose the coastal route that links all five villages and takes about 5 hours. You don't have to walk the entire route. The train stops at each village allowing you to hop on and continue to the next town or go back to where you started.

There is a small fee of about $3 to go on the coastal trail known as "Villa dell'Amore"