Riomaggiore parking: Rio Park, Zorza, 2026 prices and alternatives

Driving from La Spezia

Leave the A12 or A15 motorway at La Spezia–Santo Stefano di Magra and cross the city towards the stadium and Via Fieschi. From there, follow the Cinque Terre road uphill through Biassa to the coastal road (SP 370), then drop down to Riomaggiore on the SP 32. It is just over ten kilometres from central La Spezia, about half an hour on a narrow, winding road.

At the bottom of the descent the road ends for visitors: the historic centre is not accessible by car, with pedestrian areas and controlled access. Yellow-lined bays are reserved for residents and authorised vehicles, and parking where you shouldn’t can mean a fine. If you are staying in the village, ask your host before you arrive where to leave the car and how to get your luggage up: many houses can only be reached on foot, often by stairs.

Rio Park, the Riomaggiore car park

The car park closest to the village, in the upper part, about ten minutes’ walk from the centre.

• Spaces: about 60, covered, barrier-controlled
• Height limit: 1.95 m; high vans and motorhomes cannot enter
• Prices: €3.50 an hour, €35 a day
• Payment: at the pay machines when you leave, cash or card
• Booking: not possible

Rio Park is small for the number of visitors: in high season it fills early and there is no telling when a space will free up. Near the car park there are also a few time-limited bays (parking disc), only useful for short stops. From the car park you walk down to the centre on steep lanes and steps.

Zorza car park, between Riomaggiore and Manarola

The Zorza car park sits on the main road between Riomaggiore and Manarola. It is much cheaper, €1 an hour for cars, and a shuttle runs from here to Riomaggiore or Manarola. It is the best choice if you are staying all day or want to see both villages, which are only a few minutes apart by train or linked by the Via dell’Amore.

Heading for Manarola? Zorza works for you too. Manarola also has two car parks of its own at the entrance to the village: see our Manarola guide.

Free parking on the panoramic road

You can park for free along the panoramic road, but only in the permitted spaces: look for white lines and signs. There are few of them, and they are far from the sea. From there you walk down to the village on paths and steps, or take the shuttle when it is running. Don’t leave the car on yellow lines or outside marked bays: the road is narrow and it is patrolled.

When the car parks fill up

In summer, at weekends and on public holidays, spaces run out early, often by mid-morning. If you are coming by car at these times, arrive early or head straight for Zorza. Out of season and on weekdays it is much easier. Before you set off, check the Riomaggiore weather forecast: during weather warnings, trails and the Via dell’Amore can close.

The alternative: park in La Spezia and take the train

For many visitors this is the simplest plan. Leave the car in a paid car park in La Spezia, ideally near the central station, and take the train: Riomaggiore is the first Cinque Terre stop, about five minutes away, and Manarola about ten. From 14 March to 1 November 2026 a single ticket costs €5, €8 or €10 depending on the day (Cinque Terre fare); alternatively, the Cinque Terre Treno MS Card covers the trains and the National Park services. Times, fare bands and tips are in our Cinque Terre train timetable guide.

Levanto, at the other end of the Cinque Terre, is also a good place to leave the car and continue by train. In the tourist season, boats from La Spezia and Portovenere also call at Riomaggiore.

Shuttles and Park buses

The Riomaggiore shuttle buses are run by ATC La Spezia and connect the village with Volastra, Groppo and the Montenero Sanctuary; from Zorza the shuttle goes to Riomaggiore or Manarola. Routes and times change with the season, and the shuttles do not link all the villages to each other: check current departures on the ATC Esercizio website. The village shuttles are included in the Cinque Terre Card.

Motorhomes and campervans

Riomaggiore has no motorhome stopover area. Rio Park is closed to vehicles taller than 1.95 m, and the road from La Spezia is narrow and full of bends. The only option the municipality lists is Zorza, at €2.50 an hour for caravans, but it is not a campsite: camping is not allowed. For the night, look for a campsite or serviced area outside the Cinque Terre (see our campsites in Liguria) and reach Riomaggiore by train.

Want to stay the night? Areas and properties are in our guide on where to stay in Riomaggiore. Everything else about the village is in the Riomaggiore guide.