The five villages that make up Cinque Terre have long been popular tourist destinations on the Ligurian coast, but you can’t buy tickets to the “Cinque Terre train station" since Cinque Terre refers to the five towns collectively.
Riomaggiore got its first train station in 1874, the year the coastal rail line connecting the five villages of Cinque Terre was opened. The rail line runs between Sestri Levante and La Spezia. This historic station was renovated in 1959 when the route was improved and the large rail and pedestrian tunnel adjacent to the station expanded. The station is located on the cliffside directly above the water, and has views out over the sea and of the town from the platform.
Riomaggiore is the town furthest to the south of Cinque Terre, and the trailhead of the coastline’s famed Via dell’Amore hiking trail is just steps from the station. There are only two tracks serving both regional and high-speed trains. Those traveling south out of the Cinque Terre toward La Spezia stop on track one and those traveling north into the Cinque Terre toward Genoa stop on track two, which can be reached via an underpass with stairs. The station is located adjacent to the tunnel where trains to and from Genoa pass, and longer trains often remain partially inside the tunnel when stopped. The platform continues for a stretch inside the tunnel, so passengers can get on and off the train even if their car has stopped in the tunnel. The station has a bar, public restrooms, and a staffed ticket office.
The village of Riomaggiore is about a five minute walk through the pedestrian tunnel. In addition to the Via dell’Amore hiking trail, the Cinque Terre National Park visitor center is also next to the station.