Cinque Terre: Where to Stay
- The Cinque Terre towns themselves are quite small and accommodations can be expensive.
- For cheaper accommodations with easy access to Cinque Terre, most choose to stay north or south of Cinque Terre National Park. Daily parking is often available at the train stations.
- How many days to stay? 2-3 full days. Two full days should allow you to see all five towns. Three full days would definitely allow you to see all 5 towns and possibly a day trip to Portovenere or Portofino.
Cinque Terre (North to South)
Monterosso
- The most northern and largest town of Cinque Terre. The most popular with tourists.
- It has more activity, souvenir and gourmet food/wine shops than any other village.
- Similar to a beach town with a boardwalk along the beach.
- The only town in Cinque Terre with an actual beach for lying on the sand.
- Only a few minutes train ride from Levanto.
- Often described as the prettiest of the Cinque Terre towns.
- Very small and easy to walk around in an hour or so.
- There is an open plaza near the bay
- A small cave in the center of town will bring you to a small rocky shoreline
- The only town where the train station does not enter the town. Corniglia lies at the top of a hill, while its train station is down below.
- For most tourists this is the most inconvenient town to get to.
- Regional trains often skip over Corniglia.
- Surrounded by terrace farms.
- Where the nativity scene is lit from December through January.
- The most southern town of Cinque Terre near La Spezia
- Has one main uphill street of shopping and restaurants.
- More hotels and residential areas located further uphill.
- The regional trains almost always stop here, so it makes a great end point for hiking.
Nearby
La Spezia
- A large town to the south of Cinque Terre with plenty of hotels and restaurants.
- Has its own train station and paid parking lots.
- The ferry from La Spezia goes to Cinque Terre and Portovenere.
- More things to do if you are not a hiker.
- Beautiful area located between La Spezia and Cinque Terre.
- Very remote and does not have a train station. Must be accessed by ferry or on foot.
- To the north of Cinque Terre, only a few minutes by train from Monterosso.
- Easy access to Cinque Terre by train or ferry (even to Portovenere). The Cinque Terre train pass includes Levanto.
- It has a beach, boardwalk, and plenty of restaurants.
- Less touristy than La Spezia or Cinque Terre.
- Great hiking trail between Levanto and Monterosso.
- Only a 45 minute train ride to Portofino (Santa Margherita Ligure)
- Do not stay any further north than this town.
- Access to Cinque Terre by train (30 min.). The schedule is frequent and operates late at night.
- Great restaurants and a beach.
