Reaching the villages: a guide to transport and access
Riomaggiore and Manarola are located along the Ligurian coast, between La Spezia and Levanto, in the heart of the Cinque Terre. The two villages are easy to reach by train, by ferry during the tourist season and, with some limitations, also by car.
To visit the Cinque Terre in a practical and sustainable way, the train is the recommended option. Riomaggiore and Manarola railway stations are located directly in the villages and are served by the Genoa–La Spezia railway line, with frequent connections, especially during the busiest periods.
By train
The train is the easiest and most convenient way to reach Riomaggiore and Manarola. Both villages are located along the Genoa–La Spezia railway line, and their stations are situated directly in the villages, just a few minutes on foot from the historic centre, the harbour and the main services.
Approximate travel times by train
La Spezia Centrale
Riomaggiore
~ 5 minutes
La Spezia Centrale
Manarola
~ 10 minutes
Riomaggiore
Manarola
~ 5 minutes
During the tourist season, the Cinque Terre Treno MS Card is available. It allows unlimited second-class travel on regional trains along the Levanto – Cinque Terre – La Spezia Centrale route, as well as access to the services provided by the Cinque Terre National Park.
Useful tip
During high season, we reccomend buying tickets and cards in advance or using the official Trenitalia online channels, to avoid queues at the stations.
By car
Riomaggiore and Manarola can also be reached by car, but this option is recommended only when necessary. The villages have a particular historic layout, with narrow roads, steep gradients, pedestrian areas, regulated access and a limited number of parking spaces. In particular, the historic centres of Riomaggiore e Manarola are not accessible by car.
The Cinque Terre are not a destination designed to be visited by car, especially during the busiest periods. Whenever possible, it is advisable to leave your car in La Spezia or Levanto and continue by train.
If you arrive by car, pay close attention to road signs: many parking spaces, especially those marked with yellow lines, are reserved for residents or other authorised categories. Parking in unauthorised areas may result in fines.
Riomaggiore
10 min
within walking distance of the center
60
covered parking spaces
3,5 €
Hourly car rental rate
35 €
all-day price
Rio Park
Leave your car at the Rio Park in Riomaggiore, located in the upper part of the village, around 10 minutes on foot from the centre. The car park has around 60 spaces and is controlled by a barrier. Spaces cannot be booked in advance, and access is allowed only to cars under 1.95 metres in height. The current rates are €3.50 per hour and €35 per day, with payment at the end of your stay, by cash or card.
Near Rio Park, there are some regulated parking spaces with time-disc parking. Along the panoramic road, free parking is possible only in permitted spaces. From there, the centre can be reached on foot via steep paths and stairways, or by bus/shuttle service when available.
1,0 €
Hourly car rental rate
2,5 €
prezzo all’ora per i caravan
Zorza
Between Riomaggiore and Manarola, along the main road, there is a parking area in Zorza. The current rate is €1.00 per hour for cars and €2.50 per hour for caravans. Caravan parking does not mean camping is allowed, and camping is not permitted. From the parking area, it is possible to use the shuttle service to reach Riomaggiore or Manarola.
Manarola
12 min
within walking distance of the center
2,5 €
Hourly car rental rate
20 €
all-day price
Posella and Acquarino
In Manarola, there are two main car parks: Posella and Acquarino, located around 10–15 minutes on foot from the village centre. The car parks are paid and cannot be booked in advance. The current rates are €2.50 per hour and €20 per day. Multi-day passes are also available.
Before reaching the car parks, there may be some free parking spaces along the road where parking is allowed. Always check the signs on site.
By ferry
La Spezia Portovenere Riomaggiore Manarola Vernazza Monterosso Levanto
During the tourist season, Riomaggiore and Manarola can e reached by sea thanks to ferry connections along the Cinque Terre coast.
The service generally connects La Spezia, Porto Venere, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, Monterosso and Levanto, with variations depending on the season, sea and weather conditions, and seasonal timetables. The ferry is a scenic and evocative option, ideal for admiring the villages from the sea. However, it is less suitable as your only means of transport if you have limited time or are travelling during periods of uncertain weather.
Before departure, always check the updated timetable and whether the service is actually operating.
By plane
The closest airports for reaching Riomaggiore and Manarola are:
Pisa
Galileo Galilei Airport
Genoa
Cristoforo Colombo Airport
Florence
Amerigo Vespucci Airport
From the airports, you can continue towards La Spezia Centrale or Levanto, and from there reach Riomaggiore and Manarola by Cinque Terre regional trains.
Getting Around the Villages
The train is the most practical way to travel between Riomaggiore, Manarola and the other Cinque Terre villages. Connections are frequent, especially during the tourist season, and allow you to quickly reach Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
During the tourist season, ferries also offer a scenic alternative for travelling along the coast. However, the service depends on sea and weather conditions and may vary according to the period.
Bus and shuttle services are also available in the area, connecting the villages with hamlets, parking areas and higher-altitude locations. The shuttles do not directly connect all the villages to one another, but they are useful for reaching places such as Volastra, Groppo, the Sanctuary of Montenero and other areas within the Municipality of Riomaggiore. The service is operated by ATC La Spezia, and routes may vary depending on the season.
5 Terre Transfer
Taxi and private transfer services are available in Riomaggiore and Manarola for local transfers, connections to railway stations and airports, trips to other towns or day tours.
The local service 5 Terre Transfer offers taxis and private minivan transfers, with access also to the historic centres and pedestrian areas of Riomaggiore and Manarola.
As taxi availability in the Cinque Terre is limited compared with larger cities, booking in advance is recommended, especially in high season, for evening arrivals, bulky luggage or transfers from airports and railway stations.
5 Terre Transfer Contacts
Via De Gasperi 99 19017 Riomaggiore (SP)
5terretransfer@libero.it
Marzio Ghidoni
+39 340 3565268
Luciana Matteo
+39 339 1301183