Where to stay when visiting Cinque Terre? Where is the best place to book your hotel when exploring the Italian Riviera?
First, among the best places to opt for is one of the five towns that form the Cinque Terre protected area, Monterosso al Mare, Riomaggiore, Vernazza, Corniglia, and Manarola. But that’s not all.
In fact, if you are visiting Cinque Terre, you can also book a hotel in another city or town nearby but out of the protected area. I would opt for a city such as La Spezia, Levanto, Portovenere, or Lerici if I were renting a car because cars are not allowed inside the Cinque Terre area.
Our guide to where to stay when visiting Cinque Terre includes both the Cinque Terre area itself and also the handiest cities and towns to reach it from.
Where to book your hotel when visiting Cinque Terre
Monterosso al Mare
Monterosso al Mare is the largest among the five towns of the Cinque Terre and where you will find more hotels to choose from.
Monterosso is popular because of its beach, the only sandy one of Cinque Terre, and here you can pick both budget and luxury accommodation options. Unlike the other towns, Monterosso is quite flat so easy to walk around without the need to climb uphill and downhill.
This town is also easy to reach by train from Florence and Milan and you can book cool activities such as kayaking and e-bike tours.
Click here to see the hotels of Monterosso al Mare.
Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore is one of the towns I enjoyed the most when I visited Cinque Terre. The city center requires a bit of uphill and downhill walking but the street walls are decorated with beautiful street art, making it a lovely town to explore.
Boasting several pubs and bars, Riomaggiore is great for relaxing and having a cool night out.
Click here to see the hotels in Riomaggiore.
Vernazza
Vernazza is probably the most famous among the five towns of the Italian Riviera and one of the most scenic. If the area is included in a classic 2-week Italy itinerary, Vernazza is the town that never fails to be added to the list and one of the favorite places where to stay when visiting Cinque Terre.
Since it’s the most popular of the Cinque Terre towns, in the high season, the hotels in Vernazza are also among the most expensive in the area and rooms run out pretty quickly. Even though there are quite a few hotels, keep in mind that it’s a tiny town so the choice is always limited compared to bigger cities. Off-season, I’m sure you will find better rates and for sure more rooms.
Because it’s so small, pretty much any accommodation you opt for will have a beautiful view of the small bay, the sea, or the picturesque colorful houses. In Vernazza, you can join experiences such as
Click here to see the hotels of Vernazza.
Corniglia
Corniglia is the hardest to reach, so also the cheapest of the towns to stay in when you are visiting Cinque Terre. Corniglia is not right on the sea level like the other towns but you will need to climb some 300 steps from the train station to reach it.
This is why here you will find fewer tourists and better rates even in the high season. If you are looking for great views and a quiet atmosphere, consider Corniglia to book your hotel when visiting Cinque Terre.
Click here to see the hotels in Corniglia.
Manarola
This is also one of the most scenic towns in the area and one of the most popular especially around Christmas because of its nativity scene made of colorful lights on the slopes of the hill.
Being very beautiful and photogenic, Manarola attracts a high number of tourists so hotel rates are higher than for example in Corniglia and vacancies run out quite fast. If you want to stay in Manarola when visiting Cinque Terre, make sure you book your room in advance.
Click here to see the hotels in Manarola.
La Spezia
If you are traveling across Italy by car and are looking for where to stay when visiting Cinque Terre, I suggest booking your hotel outside of the protected area. La Spezia is a perfect option because even though there is a small ZTL (limited traffic zone) limited to the very city center, you can park your car in the street or better in your hotel’s parking lot if they have one, and easily reach Cinque Terre by train.
Cinque Terre is in La Spezia province and trains are very frequent. Once in the protected area, you can either hike from one town to the other or again move by train. If you prefer traveling by sea, you can join a boat tour from La Spezia to Cinque Terre.
The last time we were in Liguria, we booked a lovely apartment in La Spezia called Our Home. It was quite central, very quiet, and perfectly furnished. I think La Spezia is a great choice to stay when you are visiting Cinque Terre if you also want to explore other cities in the region and if you prefer the vibe of a bigger city.
Click here to see the hotels in La Spezia.
Levanto
Levanto is not inside the Cinque Terre protected area but is very close and well-connected. This is also a much bigger town so you will have a wider choice of accommodation and much less touristy so also the prices will be lower than in places like Vernazza or Monterosso al Mare.
Levanto is a perfect place to stay if you are visiting Cinque Terre because you can easily reach but you also have the comforts and the facilities of a bigger town. From here, you can also book e-bike excursions and boat tours.
Click here to see the hotels in Levanto.
Bonassola
Bonassola is a tiny town near Levanto and Cinque Terre. The first time I visited the area, I stayed right in Bonassola, in La Francesca resort, and reached it from Levanto on foot passing through an ancient railway tunnel overlooking the sea. A very pleasant walk also because of the favorable weather.
Click here to see the hotels in Bonassola.
Lerici
I don’t know why Lerici is less famous than Cinque Terre, to be honest, because it’s absolutely stunning. In Lerici, you will find crystal clear water and pristine sandy beaches, and walking around town is easy and pleasant. This beautiful town enchanted also the English writer D.H. Lawrence who stayed here for a couple of months in 1913.
To reach Cinque Terre from Lerici, you need to get to La Spezia first and then catch a train.
Click here to see the hotels in Lerici.
Tellaro
Located close to Lerici, also Tellaro offers breathtaking views of the sea. Walking around Tellaro requires walking slightly uphill and downhill, but if you are a photographer, you will find plenty of great spots.
Enlisted among the most beautiful towns in Italy in 2004, Tellaro has charmed poets and novelists such as D.H. Lawrence, Mario Soldati, and Louis Tomlinson.
To reach Cinque Terre from Tellaro is similar to Lerici because you need to get to La Spezia first.
Click here to the hotels in Tellaro.
Portovenere
Portovenere, sometimes also spelled Porto Venere, is larger than the Cinque Terre towns but also right on the coast and very beautiful. Packed with shops, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, you can reach Portovenere by car or by bus and it’s a perfect town to stay, even though more expensive than other cities such as Levanto, especially in the high season.
Portovenere is often picked as the best choice where to stay when visiting Cinque Terre because from here they are easy to reach and because there is plenty to do including sightseeing, shopping, and water activities such as a boat tour that includes Cinque Terre, a sunset cruise, or a snorkeling excursion.
Click here to see the hotels in Portovenere.
Genoa
Genoa is the capital of the Liguria region and it’s not very close to Cinque Terre. By direct train, it can take more than 2 hours and several options include a train change.
In fact, while Genova might not be the best option to book your hotel if you are only interested in visiting the Cinque Terre, it’s an interesting choice if you want to explore the region and want to go to Cinque Terre only for a few hours or as a day trip.
Click here to see the hotels in Genoa.
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