There are day trips from further away cities in Italy to see Cinque Terre, but to do it all in one day or over a few days, it’s most convenient to stay closer by or within Cinque Terre. Seeing all the towns will easily fill up one day, so to optimize your time, you have to stay close by.
The first option would be to stay within one of the 5 towns that make up Cinque Terre. Staying in one of the 5 towns absolutely puts you right in the heart of Cinque Terre and will make your visit there as accessible as it can be. Keep in mind, the hotels in the 5 towns will sell out the quickest. Make sure you book these as far in advance as possible. Not only are they popular due to being right in Cinque Terre, but the hotels and B&Bs only have a few rooms each.
Monterosso Al Mare
This town is popular with Italians and Europeans because it has one of the best beaches in Cinque Terre. The water is blue as can be and the town has a long stretch of a white sandy beach. Some hotel highlights are listed below!
This is consistently the highest rated place to stay in Monterosso. It’s more on the town side than the beach side and set back further from the water. However, the majority of the 16 rooms in this hotel have balconies to soak up the views. This hotel also has a very small parking lot, meaning it’s a good choice if you’re in the middle of an Italian Road Trip. However, the lot is small so you have to pre-reserve your spot. This hotel is only a 10-minute walk from the Monterosso train station.
This hotel is set on the cliffside meaning it has some of the best views in the entire town. This hotel also features a restaurant which isn’t common for smaller hotels. There are 43 rooms at this hotel, so you have a bit more choice than some of the smaller options. Another gem in this hotel (being that it’s bigger than most), is that it has a pool with stunning views over the water. This hotel is only a 13-minute walk from the Monterosso train station.
Vernazza
Vernazza was one of my favorite towns in Cinque Terre, so I would be most inclined to stay here. That being said, it has nowhere near as many options as Monterosso so it will be a much harder find.
Camere Guiliano is nestled in Vernazza right by the train station, making it easy to access without having to drag your luggage all over the place! Since it’s a B&B, there are only a few rooms. Make sure to book ahead!
Camere Nicolina has some of the best views in Vernazza, so it would definitely be my choice of where to stay here! The views are unbeatable and they offer room types for all types of travelers, whether it be a standard room, a suite, or even an apartment with a kitchen. The guest house is only a 5-minute walk from the train station, making it super accessible as well.
Corniglia
Corniglia is the quietest and smallest of the 5 towns that make up Cinque Terre. Visitors often skip it because it’s more involved to get to, but it’s definitely worth a visit! If you’re looking for a spot that’s more low key, Corniglia is the spot to stay. Keep in mind the hike up to Corniglia from the train station, whether that be an actual hike or the bus ride up.
Il Magan is a really cute B&B in the heart of Corniglia. Right outside its doors you can find delicious restaurants and picturesque Italian streets to wander around. This B&B is only a few minutes walk from where the train station bus drops you off.
Manarola
Manarola is the 4th town in Cinque Terre. It’s the location of the famous viewpoint you see when people describe you the beauty of Cinque Terre. It’s one of the more popular towns to make up Cinque Terre, so if you want to stay here, make sure to book ahead!
La Torretta is a charming hotel in the quaint town of Manarola. Some of its rooms even have views of the water which is an extra special experience. The hotel is only about a 2-3 minute walk from the train station.
Albergo Ca’ D’Andrean is another little family-run hotel in Manarola. The hotel features a beautiful garden area to soak up the Italian sunshine. This hotel is right beside the train station, making it extra convenient to those wanting to stay here.
Riomaggiore
Last, but not least, we have the town of Riomaggiore. While Riomaggiore is a gorgeous town, the way it’s set up requires a little more effort to stay here. There’s quite a long tunnel you have to walk through to get from the train station to the heart of the town. It’s not a really long walk, but may be annoying if you have a bunch of luggage with you.
Alla Marina is an absolutely breathtaking hotel that might as well be on top of the Ligurian Sea. Not only is the location perfect, but they offer typical rooms and apartments. If you’re the kind of person that prefers to make your own food while traveling, this would be the perfect spot because of the apartment access. The hotel is about an 8-minute walk from the train station.
Cinque Terre Residence is a great option in Riomaggiore. This hotel is comprised over several houses interconnected with a central area. It offers great views due to its location on the hillside. However, it’s a much further walk from the train station at about 15-20 minutes away.
Don’t want to stay in Cinque Terre?
Let’s say you don’t want to stay in Cinque Terre. There could be a lot of reasons. One of the big ones (and the reason why I stayed outside!) is if you’ve rented a car and logistically, it just won’t work. I won’t say it’s impossible to find accommodation with parking within the 5 towns, but it’ll make your life a lot more difficult. The alternative would be to stay in one of the two towns on either end of Cinque Terre. Both are connected by train, making it a super seamless process. These towns are Levanto and La Spezia.
Park Hotel Argento is located in the town of Levanto, which is just north of Monterosso Al Mare. Because this hotel is larger, it has more amenities than you’d typically find in the smaller accommodations within the 5 towns. The biggest of those amenities is a pool, which is super nice to cool off during those hot Italian summer days. The hotel features its own restaurant, but is also within walking distance of dozens of options. It’s only about a 15-minute walk to the Levanto train station which will connect you to Cinque Terre.
Grand Hotel Portovenere is one of the only 5* hotels you’ll find in the Cinque Terre region. It’s not right in La Spezia, but it’s only a 20-minute drive to the train station. If you don’t have a car, there’s also a bus that runs to the train station. If you’re looking for more high end accommodations, this is definitely it. It’s technically in Portovenere, which is the tip of the peninsula, giving it the most breathtaking panoramic views of the Ligurian Sea.
I created a Google Map for everybody to see all the hotels I suggested so you can see them on a map and save them for yourselves!
Don’t forget to check out my blog posts on how to travel Cinque Terre by train and your perfect 1-day Cinque Terre itinerary!
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Maddie is the traveler behind A One Way Ticket. She has been traveling internationally for over 10 years and has visited 75+ countries on 6 continents. In addition to traveling herself, she’s been helping others plan their own travel for 6+ years. Maddie eats, sleeps, and breathes travel and loves to help others discover that same wanderlust!