Manarola — Attraction in Riomaggiore

The actual place is gorgeous, the village itself is worth the visit. The train station on the other hand, should definitely be more aware of their staffs behaviour. My partner and I had an unfortunate experience with one of their staff members, as we got off the train and were walking down the exit stairs, he randomly stopped us and asked for our tickets, so we then showed him our Interrail passes. Interrail passes include the Cinque terre villages, we are entitled to use all trains as long as we note and write them down on our “calendar diary” attached to our passes. We had all of our journeys noted on the calendar as instructed. He proceeded to pull us to a side, and tell us we were going to be penalised/fined. I immediately asked him politely why, I was so surprised as we had done everything correctly! He then shouted at me saying if I had money to go to 5 villages, I have enough money to pay a fine. I was very upset at the fact we were not only being fined, but also mistreated and disrespected. He then said to us that he would only fine ONE of us, and if we did not pay there and then by card, he would remove and take away our Interrail passes. We obviously decided to pay and leave, as he told us that if we do not have money, not to go to Italy. Very upsetting and horrible experience. I will indeed be visiting Italy again, but I will be avoiding “Davide” and Manarola’s rude staff at all cost. Be aware of the fines! And make sure you have some backup Italian vocabulary to be able to defend yourself in these situations so you are not taken advantage of like we were. What a sad ending to a...

Manarola’s train station may be small, but it’s one of the most scenic entry points in Cinque Terre. Set between cliffs with sea views, it connects travelers to the village through a short pedestrian tunnel. The station has two platforms—one for La Spezia-bound trains and one for Genoa—with a simple underpass linking them. While only regional trains stop here, others pass through quickly, so it’s important to stay alert near the tracks. Amenities are minimal: ticket machines, restrooms (with a small fee), and basic signage. There’s no staffed ticket counter or luggage storage, but the layout is easy to navigate.

What makes this station stand out is the transition it offers—from train travel to coastal charm. Within minutes of arrival, you’re walking through a tunnel that opens into pastel buildings, sea breeze, and cliffside views. It’s a smooth, intuitive entry for day-trippers, hikers, and photographers. The walk to the marina or main street is short and scenic, making it a great starting point for exploring Manarola’s...

Small but functional train station. with lengthy pedestrian tunnel leading to the Manarola. I found Manarola to be the most beautiful of the villages within the Cinque Terra. It is located in a fairly narrow ravine which drops down to a very small protected harbor. A stream is routed beneath the village beginning in the upper reaches. Colorfully painted residential buildings embrace the hillsides with narrow winding walkways leading among them. South facing and upper slopes are covered with small family run vineyards which produce unique earthy tasting wines of both red and white. My wife and I stayed in an apartment with a view across the village toward a Mediterranean sunset. Gorgeous! Good restaurants. Not over commercialized as some other villages. Fantastic vistas from paths along the surrounding...