Our Experience as Visitors to Cinque Terre
In this article, I’ll share my experience as a tourist in Italy AND give my local expertise so you can decide where to stay near Cinque Terre.
Our first trip to Cinque Terre was in 2019. When we were deciding where to stay when visiting Cinque Terre, we had never been before and thought that we had to stay in the villages to get the best experience.
So, we stayed in Riomaggiore in a cute apartment near the Via dell’Amore (path of love), and we also had family staying in Monterosso al Mare.
We had a few days exploring the villages and hiking the trails and used the Cinque Terre Express train to travel around using a multi-day Cinque Terre Pass.
Staying in Cinque Terre made everything very convenient. And with the multi-day pass we even caught the train in the evenings to try restaurants in different villages.
But what we failed to realize is that Cinque Terre is just a diamond of Liguria that is nestled amongst other beautiful and interesting jewels. We made a classic rookie error and bypassed some incredible places and experiences!
Instead, many people visit and choose to stay near Cinque Terre instead of in Cinque Terre.
Fortunately for us, we live here now, so we have the unbelievable good fortune to discover this special place at our leisure. But if your trip to Cinque Terre, Liguria, or Italy, is a once-in-a-lifetime, then my guess is you’ll want to make the most of it!
A Little About Us
Hi! We are Justin and Lu and we moved to Italy from Australia. Our new home in La Spezia near Cinque Terre, has woken us to this little corner of Italy.
La Spezia Guide is our way of embracing our new home and sharing the best it has to offer with visitors coming to the area.
Buon Viaggio!
After reading this article you will have a good idea of whether to:
- Stay in Cinque Terre.
- Or, stay near Cinque Terre in La Spezia, Portovenere or Levanto.
- Or, stay in another of the towns around the Ligurian Riviera.
Our Experience from Living in Liguria, Italy
Now that we live here, we realize that getting to Cinque Terre from other nearby towns is a piece of cake. These nearby towns offer other (often more affordable) accommodation options and authentic local experiences.
One of our missions is to encourage sustainable tourism in the area. We see so many tourists homing in on Cinque Terre and missing out on dozens of other very special places and experiences.
Other Useful Content
Further down in the article I have included a handy map and some useful information about these towns.
So, (full disclosure) we promote and encourage visitors to think about exploring other parts of the territory. Yes, you absolutely must see Cinque Terre, but if you’re eager to fuel your wanderlust, and enjoy Italy “like a local” then trust me, the wider Gulf of Poets and Ligurian Riviera will not disappoint!
Deciding Where to Stay Near Cinque Terre
There is no one-size-fits-all, so if you are planning a holiday here, you should consider what’s important to you and how you’ll be traveling around.
So, let’s take a look at the ten main factors to help you decide where to stay:
1. Primary Reason is Visiting Cinque Terre:
If you’re visiting Cinque Terre just to see the 5 villages and you have no interest in anything else, then it makes complete sense that you stay in one of the five villages! There’s no need to overcomplicate things!! All you need to decide is which of the 5 Towns you should choose.
But if you’re interested in discovering the area around Cinque Terre or have plans to do other activities, then you have a choice of where to stay when visiting Cinque Terre. There are arguably other more convenient (and more affordable) places to stay.
Travel Tips: To get to the heart of this incredible Ligurian Riviera region you need to explore beyond Cinque Terre. Interesting places to visit include Portovenere, Lerici, Sarzana, and Portofino.
Search and Book Accommodation in and around La Spezia
2. Outdoor Activities
Many people also visit the area for outdoor activities.
If you’re here to hike the National Park trails then you have the flexibility of staying in Cinque Terre or in the nearby towns of Portovenere, Levanto, or the port city of La Spezia.
All of which have direct access to hiking trails in and beyond the Cinque Terre National Park.
Other outdoor activities around Cinque Terre and the Ligurian Riviera include:
- boat trips around the Gulf of Poets.
- Cycling in the hills and towns around the national park.
- Kayak tours, snorkeling, paddle boarding, and scuba diving in the coves and along the coastline.
Access to these activities exists in Cinque Terre but you will find a greater variety of these types of options and easier transport and access if you stay in Levanto, La Spezia, or Portovenere.
3. Access to Beaches
Between May and September, the waters in the Mediterranean are warm enough for swimming.
If getting a tan or taking a dip in the aquamarine waters of the Ligurian coast is high on your list, then you’ll be happy with accommodation in Monterosso, Levanto, or Portovenere.
The beaches of Monterosso are primarily paid Bagnos and can get very busy in summer.
Travel Tips: Bagnos are very common in Italy and across Europe. They are a private part of the beach where you pay for a sun lounger or chair and umbrella. Coming from Australia, this goes against the grain for me. But even I have to admit that some of the Bagnos can be a nice experience.
Portovenere in particular has a lovely decent-sized free sandy beach, a cove where you can dive from the rocks, as well as paid private beaches (Bagnos).
The main beach areas in Levanto are also very popular and there are several small coves along the cycle and pedestrian path towards Bonassola.
In fact, Levanto is more than any of the other places, a beach town. This authentic Italian seaside village has a typical beachy, laid-back feel, with an interesting historic town and traditional restaurants. If you like the sound of Levanto, then you may like to explore beyond Cinque Terre with one of our handcrafted itineraries. Designed to make sightseeing easy.
This little coastal town is just over the hill from Cinque Terre.
It’s not as well-known as its famous neighbor, but take the time to visit and discover the village and its history. And if that isn’t enough, Levanto is great for sunbathers, divers, surfers, cyclists, and hikers!
4. History & Culture
After living in Australia for 15 years, I can only describe Italy as a living museum. Every street and every turn of a corner reveals 100s and sometimes 1000s of years of history and culture to be discovered and admired.
Of all the towns though, La Spezia has more civic museums dedicated to historical treasures and archaeological artifacts. It is also home to one of the world’s oldest naval museums for lovers of everything maritime!
But the simple fact is that if you appreciate history (and this is of importance to your trip), then any place you choose to stay will offer an opportunity for you to indulge yourself, simply by walking the streets! This is especially true for the seductive medieval town of Portovenere.
5. Number of Days
1-2 Night Stay
If you only have 1-2 nights here, then I recommend you make the most of your time and stay in one of the villages of Cinque Terre. Unless you have a specific reason to be elsewhere.
Enjoy two thoughtfully planned days and see all 5 villages.
This complete Cinque Terre itinerary covers all the must-see and do things to create unforgettable memories.
2 or More Night Stay
If you have more than 2 nights and want the flexibility to experience beyond Cinque Terre, then base yourself in one of the other nearby towns of Levanto or La Spezia.
6. Cost and Budget
Cinque Terre is a very popular tourist destination and (not surprisingly) you should expect your budget to take a hit.
That’s not to say you can’t find cheap accommodation in Cinque Terre you can. But you may have to compromise on some things like having a private bathroom, air conditioning, or room size and comfort.
If you’re not keen on those kinds of downgrades and want more bang for your buck, then choose either La Spezia or Levanto as a base.
7. Driving to Cinque Terre
Getting to Cinque Terre by car is not advisable UNLESS you have a plan for parking your car.
For instance, when we stayed in Riomaggiore, we were lucky enough to find an apartment in town with a private parking spot. It was about a 500-meter walk to our apartment with bulky luggage, but it was still very handy!
So, if you’re staying in Cinque Terre, then your accommodation may have some parking available that you can book. It’s definitely worth checking!!
There are also limited overnight parking spots available at some of the public car parks in the Cinque Terre villages.
Otherwise, you have the option to park your car in La Spezia or Levanto and then catch the train to the villages with your luggage.
You might find these posts useful:
8. Heavy Luggage
Traveling with heavy luggage is never fun. I don’t like to admit it, but I am notorious for overpacking!! And, my bulging suitcase always presents challenges due to lack of parking, limited car access, and cobbled streets!
If you have heavy luggage or you’re not fit enough to carry your luggage up and down stairs, and the steep hills of the Cinque Terre villages, then I recommend staying in La Spezia or Levanto as a base.
But, if you have your heart set on staying in Cinque Terre, then look at the accommodation options in Monterosso al Mare that are closer to the train station and on flat terrain.
You can also leave luggage in La Spezia at luggage lockers located in the city.
Search and Book Accommodation in La Spezia
9. General Ease of Access and Transport
Consider how you plan to arrive and get around. Each town has its pros and cons in this regard.
La Spezia
By far the most convenient town for transport options is La Spezia. Hands down (for a small city) you couldn’t ask for better transport connections and access from cities across the north of Italy.
There are also road, rail, and ferry links to Cinque Terre!
The tourist parts of La Spezia are also mostly flat, pedestrianized, and easily accessible from the train station and car parks.
If you fancy making La Spezia your hub for your visit to Cinque Terre, then there is no shortage of accommodation.
Read More: Getting to and around La Spezia.
Levanto
Levanto also has good transport options for getting around (ferry, train, and road), but it is along the coast and is a little more difficult to reach if you are coming from the Florence, Pisa, Venice, or Rome directions.
The town itself is small, easy to navigate, and mainly flat.
Portovenere
Portovenere has no train line, making it more difficult to reach. Parking is also problematic and expensive. However, there are handy ferry links between Portovenere, Cinque Terre, Portofino, and a number of other coastal towns.
Read more about transport options in our Discover Portovenere article.
How to Get to Portovenere
Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre towns are all accessible by train, and all of them except Corniglia are accessible by boat.
The towns are well known for being hilly and difficult to walk around. The tourist crowds between June and September also make maneuvering around painfully slow and difficult (especially with luggage).
Read more:
Avoiding the crowds in Cinque Terre
Choosing where to stay in Cinque Terre
Finding the best accommodation in Cinque Terre for your budget
10. Visiting in Low Season
One thing that I will never get used to is the extreme seasonality of Italian businesses. Having lived in the US, UK, and Australia I am accustomed to hotels, restaurants, and shops being open year-round.
In Italy, it’s not uncommon for coastal towns to become deserted during the colder months. Shutters get closed up and you can find yourself wandering around empty streets expecting tumbleweed to roll on by.
Travel Tips: I’m all for encouraging tourists to explore beyond Cinque Terre. But in winter, trains run less frequently and even the handy Gulf of Poets ferry service stops running! Logistics get a bit complicated. When you’re planning your trip, make sure you’re using winter timetables to put together your trip.
Cinque Terre receives visitors all year round. However, there is a significant drop off in tourists between October and March. Accommodation in the 5 towns will be more affordable during winter, but many of the restaurants and tourist activities will be closed.
For those reasons, La Spezia or Levanto can prove to be a better choice during low season.
- La Spezia is a small city with a stable residential population. Even in winter the shops, cafes, and restaurants in La Spezia are busy with locals and tourists.
- La Spezia also has a busy winter calendar of cultural events, markets, and festivals.
- Levanto has easy access to winter hiking trails, a strong surf culture, and a local community of residents.
Search and Book Accommodation in La Spezia
Other Places to Stay Around the Ligurian Riviera
I have covered the main (and common) local towns of choice (La Spezia, Levanto, and Portovenere). These towns make a good hub for the reasons mentioned above.
But in truth, the Ligurian Riviera around Cinque Terre is littered with villages and towns with reasonable connectivity to Cinque Terre.
Some ideas for other towns to use as a base include:
- Lerici – A small Italian beach town with lots of accommodation and restaurants. Reachable in 25 mins by bus or ferry from La Spezia.
- Sarzana – A beautifully maintained, and artistic medieval town only 25 minutes by train from La Spezia. The food and nightlife here is a pleasant surprise for such a small town.
- Rapallo, Chiavari, and Sestri Levante – Amongst several interesting and vibrant coastal towns within a 1 hour train ride of Cinque Terre.
Staying at these places will add extra travel time and complexity. But if you only want to take a day trip to Cinque Terre, then visiting from nearby towns is absolutely possible!
The list of places to stay continues and people even travel from further afield like Genoa, Verona, Pisa, Livorno, and Florence for a day trip to Cinque Terre.
Map of Where to Stay to Visit Cinque Terre
This interactive map includes handy places to stay when visiting Cinque Terre. If you click on the locations, I have also included information about transport options and local tourist attractions.
Decision Table for Where to Stay
Still undecided?
For convenience, I have summarized all the considerations in the table below to help you decide where to base yourself for your Cinque Terre holiday.
Table Code:
- = Best option
- = OK option
- = Possible but not recommended
You should decide where to stay near Cinque Terre based on what priorities you have. For example, using the above table. If you are visiting in the low season and have a car, then it makes sense to stay in Levanto or La Spezia.
But if you’re coming in summer, love time on the beach, and have a healthy budget, then choose one of the Cinque Terre towns as your base.
Summary of Where to Stay Near Cinque Terre
In this post, I’ve covered the main considerations to help you decide where is the best place to stay for your Cinque Terre holiday. There are many towns to choose from depending on factors important to you.
I’ve even given you a handy map and decision table to make your travel planning even easier!
But there are no right and wrong decisions when choosing where to stay when visiting Cinque Terre. There is only a best-fit decision for your budget and the type of vacation you desire.
Travel Tips: Did you find this post useful? Then please bookmark our website for future reference.
For more ideas to help plan you trip to Cinque Terre and the surrounding area in the Ligurian Riviera, take a look at the other posts in our Insider Guide Blog.
