AlmaVenus Studio Suite: Our Riomaggiore Airbnb with a View
The Airbnb That Mirrored the Sun and the Sea
The Short Version
A colorful little studio in the heart of Riomaggiore, with striking blue tile floors, original wooden beams, a sea breeze, and windows overlooking the village's main street.
Location: Riomaggiore, Italy
Sleeps: Up to 4 (I recommend no more than 2)
Layout: Studio apartment with a queen-size bed, sofa bed, kitchenette, and bathroom.
Perfect for: Solo travelers, couples or friends comfortable sharing a small space.
Highlights: Beautiful blue floors, yellow-and-white tiled bathroom, original architectural details, village views, air conditioning, and a central location just a short walk from the train station.
In the spring of 2024, I developed a new obsession with browsing homes for sale in Italy. I loved looking through the different properties, imagining what I would renovate and how I would fill the rooms with all my favorite flea market finds.
One listing in particular caught my eye: a four-level house tucked into the hills of Riomaggiore. In my head, I’d already turned it into four individual Airbnb studios, each occupying an entire floor.
The more I researched the property, the more obsessed I became with the idea of visiting Cinque Terre. So when my mom chose Italy as the destination for her 60th birthday trip, I knew we had to add it to our itinerary.
Once I had her on board, I started browsing Airbnbs, determined to find something with the same character as the house I’d been dreaming about renovating. And then I found this little studio.
It was small, but between the original architecture, colorful interiors, and views over Riomaggiore, it had everything I was looking for.
Blue Floors, Yellow Tiles, and a View Worth Booking
The apartment had these gorgeous, saturated blue tiles throughout that reminded me of the Mediterranean, complemented by white plaster walls, original wooden ceiling beams, and an exposed stone wall framing the windows.
The queen-sized bed was a wrought-iron canopy bed draped in white linens, with a sofa bed across from it and antique wooden furniture throughout. There was also a little dining table with delicate pendant lights overhead, separating the sleeping area from the kitchenette.
The kitchenette had a stovetop, microwave, sink, and coffee maker, along with one bathroom. Neither was particularly large, but both had everything we needed for our stay.
Even the tiny bathroom had its own personality, with sunny yellow and white striped tiles across the floor and shower wall.
The apartment didn’t have a balcony, but the windows opened directly over the main street in Riomaggiore. You could perch on the windowsill and look out at all the colorful buildings lining the street below.
A Perfect Base for Exploring Cinque Terre
The location was one of the best things about staying here. We were right on the main street in Riomaggiore, with restaurants, shops, and the waterfront all within walking distance. The train station was no more than seven minutes away, which made it easy to visit the other towns throughout Cinque Terre. Right downstairs was a little place to grab espresso, and just a few doors down was a bakery where I had some of the best focaccia of my entire life.
We spent our days exploring the villages, walking Via dell’Amore, and taking a sunset boat tour along the coast, so it was nice having somewhere to retreat to during the busiest part of the day.
Riomaggiore gets incredibly busy during August, particularly around midday and into the afternoon. Our apartment was a little noisier during the day, with people walking along the street below, but I loved being able to escape the crowds without feeling like we were missing out on everything happening in town. Because we were staying overnight, we got to enjoy Riomaggiore after many of the daytime tourists had left. The evenings were quieter, and we could wander around without quite so many people.
Would I Stay Here Again?
Absolutely, I loved this apartment.
The original architectural details, beautiful colors, and views over Riomaggiore were exactly what had drawn me to the listing in the first place, and I loved it just as much in person.
I’d recommend it for solo travelers or two people traveling together. Although there’s a sofa bed, I think the apartment would feel cramped with more than two guests.
Between the location, the apartment’s charming design, and having everything we needed within walking distance, it was a great place to spend our time in Cinque Terre.
I went to Cinque Terre because I’d spent months imagining what it would be like to own and renovate a house there. I didn’t come home with a four-level Italian investment property, but I did find an Airbnb I’d happily return to.
View the AlmaVenus Suite and start planning your Cinque Terre getaway today.