Staying in the Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre showed up on the tourist market quite recently, and for who wants to come is not so easy to collect information about the villages:

their precise location, the best way to reach them, some people believe that Cinque Terre is one town, or think that the villages are an island.

That’s why some of the most frequently asked questions are something like “which village is the best to stay for enjoying the area?”, “how long should I stay in the 5 Terre'”, “what’s the best place to find accommodation?”.

Frankly does not exist a precise answer to these questions, but if you consider certain factors it will be easier to take your decision.

Let’s start to say that Cinque Terre is not just something to photograph, not just a place to see, but an experience to prove. A new kind of vacation that makes people try something new, real, unique. Tourist comes to “live” the villages, they stay door to door with the locals, they shop where locals shop, they eat where locals eat……life flows slower that’s why everybody reduces the pace of living.

We organize a “slow pace” walking tour, have a look and ask for more info if interested.

So, it is this what you are looking for, stay in one of the villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso. In all of them, there are B&B, rooms to rent and hotels, outside the villages like in Volastra and San Bernardino you find also some other agriturismi and hotels.

Outside 5 Terre, take into consideration La Spezia and Levanto the two closest towns, and don’t forget that there are good accommodations even in Portovenere, Lerici and Gulf of Poets area. Further inland in Sarzana and the valleys behind 5 Terre.

Moving westwards, after Levanto there are lovely towns by the sea like Bonassola, Framura, Deiva Marina; further west starts the Italian Riviera with Sestri Levante, Lavagna, Santa Margherita, Rapallo and Portofino.

For doing the best choice consider also:

1) How many days you intend to stay. My personal opinion is that to start enjoying the slow pace of the villages you need at least 3 days or more. For shorter stays remember that places like Levanto and La Spezia (see places listed above) are located just outside 5 Terre (look at the map). They are easy to reach and offer a good variety of accommodations.

In alternative consider to stay in the Italian Riviera and dedicate one or more days to the exploration of Cinque Terre.

2) What kind of vacation you want to do. If you just want to come and stay in the Cinque Terre for hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, fishing………stay in the villages.

But if you also want to do excursions in the neighborhood: Pisa, Lucca, Sarzana, the Gulf of Poets, Carrara and the marble quarries, Portofino and the Riviera, Parma perhaps it is more comfortable to move back and forth from Levanto, La Spezia and surroundings.

3) How fit you are. Remember that in all the villages there are steps to climb up and down, but in Riomaggiore and Manarola the main street is uphill, while in Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso is quite flat. The only two villages with an old and new part are Monterosso (the largest) and Riomaggiore. The other three ones have practically one main street and side streets. Remember that train stations in the 5 Terre have no elevators (for the moment), B&B and apartments are located mostly in ancient buildings, so charming, but without elevator.

take the train to Riomaggiore
from Riomaggiore take the ferry (they are big boats seating approx 300 passengers) to Monterosso
from Monterosso return to La Spezia by train stopping in Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola.



Another option is to choose riding by train to Monterosso (with stops in the villages) and return by ferry to La Spezia via Portovenere (UNESCO site).
Now it's possibile to reach Riomaggiore, Manarola, Volastra, Corniglia, Vernazza by public bus that departs from La Spezia check here https://www.explora5terre.it/
If you are in one of the villages and wish to go to the settlements located above like: Volastra and Groppo (above Manarola), San Bernardino (above Vernazza and Corniglia), Soviore (above Monterosso), you can walk all the way up along the paths, or take one of the shuttle buses (€ 2,00 per ride). Ask for the buses timetable at the official info points located in every train station.
If you are staying in Tuscany (Florence and surroundings, Pisa, Lucca) or in the Riviera (Genoa, Portofino, Santa Margherita, Rapallo and surroundings) you can catch a train and get to La Spezia or book one of our private day tours: Cinque Terre from Florence - Cinque Terre from the Riviera.