Riomaggiore Where To Stay In Cinque Terre For Nightlife
Riomaggiore is the most southern village of the Cinque Terre, a coast of the Italian Riviera. This second largest town of Cinque Terre is the first stop on the train from La Spezia. If you want lively nightlife with plenty of bars, restaurants, and really take in the natural landscapes, Riomaggiore is the best place to stay.
The town climbs up along the ridges overlooking the sea and is filled with the typical stone houses with slate-roofs and colored façades. If youre not so great on your feet, however, be warned that the trails around here are quite steep if you are able to walk around to your hearts content, however, be sure to head down to the small marina, and check out the amazing views.
Nature lovers will find an abundance of hiking and walking opportunities in Riomaggiore. The hiking trail Via dellAmore is a magnificent seaside path that links Riomaggiore and Manarola. You can also reach Manarola via the ancient path, Via Beccara, and take a long and scenic trail to Portovenere.
You can also hike up to the 11th century Santuario di Nostra Signora di Montenero start from Via Colombo. Its top offers breathtaking views out over the vineyards, the sea, and the villages below.
Nearby the castle, you can find the 16th century Chiesa della Compagnia, and the Gothic Church of Saint John the Baptist, and the 14th century Church of San Lorenzo with its beautiful rose window.
The nearest airports to Riomaggiore are in Florence , Genoa , and Pisa .
The Absolute Best Place To Stay In Cinque Terre: Hotels & Towns
Are you considering visiting the stunning Cinque Terre and dont know where to stay? No matter if you are spending one night or more, I have gathered the absolute best places to stay in Cinque Terre: split by town and destination.
Youll find traditional hotels, apartments set in historical buildings with a panoramic terrace, luxury hotels, and hidden gems.
Ill also answer some of the other questions you might have about visiting the Cinque Terre and help you plan your ultimate vacation on the Ligurian coast.
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Corniglia Is The Best Place To Stay In Cinque Terre To Escape The Crowds
If you are looking for where to stay in Cinque Terre that is off-the-beaten-path and not popular with other tourists, Corniglia is the perfect place for you.
It is rare for people to choose Corniglia when figuring out their Cinque Terre accommodation, so if you want to escape the crowd, then this cliff-top village is the perfect choice for you. Hotels in Corniglia are often more affordable than other villages as well.
Corniglia is the only village in Cinque Terre that is not on the water. Instead, it is high up on a cliff. You must walk over 350 steps to get here, but that makes the payoff so much more worth it. The unique charm of Corniglia is that it is the smallest of all the Cinque Terre villages and a bit more remote and rustic than the other four.
If you walk down the main alley in Corniglia, you will come to a stunning view of the other four villages below you. If you are looking for where to stay in Cinque Terre then this is the perfect village if you are active and love hiking and a more authentic Italian experience.
Upsides: Quieter Cinque Terre Village. Off-the-beaten-path. More local experience. Fantastic views. Popular for vineyards. Very peaceful
Downsides: Not on the water like other villages. Must walk over 350 steps from the train station. Some people dont like the quieter feel.
Best Homestays In Corniglia
Elegant Apartment With Sea View
Rossi Tramonti 3
Suitable for up to 4 people,
Best Hotels In Corniglia
Affordable: Hanging Garden Hotel
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Best Bed And Breakfast In Vernazza: Agriturismo Costa Di Campo
Bright, bold and conveniently located its no wonder we love this B& B! It has three stylish rooms with great amenities. Theres also free wifi, a charming garden and a terrace perfect for enjoying the afternoon sun. Theres a vast array of shopping, dining and hiking options nearby.
Vrbo: Elegant Apartment With Sea View
Why not stay in one of Cinque Terres colored houses for yourself? This vacation rental is on the second floor of a traditional Ligurian building, painted bright yellow and perched on Corniglias cliff slopes.
The apartment is surrounded by citrus and olive trees a serene location to settle into Cinque Terres laidback atmosphere. Youll have sea views from the master bedroom and living room, plus a balcony for relaxing outdoors.
Things to do in Corniglia
The village is surrounded by vineyards which are great for wine tasting and, as we mentioned, has an agricultural atmosphere. Corniglia is one of our best Cinque Terre accommodation options if you want to indulge in the dolce far niente the sweet art of doing nothing. You can spend your days enjoying the small things in life, like sipping local wine and admiring the historic buildings.
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Best Places To Stay In Cinque Terre
Wondering where to stay in Cinque Terre? Dont worry, I got you covered! In this article, you will find all the best places to stay in Cinque Terre together with a bunch of useful information about each town, pros and cons, and some hotel recommendations.
If youre a visual type, you can use the below map for getting familiar with each town mentioned in this article. Lets dive right in!
Best Towns To Stay In Cinque Terre
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, see our privacy policy.
The Cinque Terre National Park is likely one of the most visited areas in all of Italy. With its 5 colorful fishing villages clinging to the edge of the Ligurian coast, its easy to see why that is. When youre planning a trip it can be difficult to know which are the best towns to stay in Cinque Terre.
All 5 villages are wonderful contenders for the best place to stay, but there are also a few options outside of the national park that are just as ideal. Continue reading this article and discover the best places to stay in Cinque Terre and what makes each town within the national park unique.
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Vernazza Is The Best Place To Stay In Cinque Terre For Sheer Beauty
Vernazza is one of the best places to stay in Cinque Terre. Like all of the other towns in the Cinque Terre, Vernazza has beautiful coastal views and colorful houses that dot the hillside.
If youre a beach lover looking for where to stay in Cinque Terre, then Vernazza might be the best choice for you. Vernazza is often recommended the most by Europeans as the best place to stay in Cinque Terre.
Vernazza has the only natural harbor in the Cinque Terre and has two beaches that you can choose from. While both beaches are small, they are sandy and a great way to spend a day in the Cinque Terre.
Visitors to Vernazza like to walk the town walls and visit the Church of Santa Margherita dAntiochia.
Budget: La Casa Dei Treni Affittacamere
This property is a fantastic budget alternative to Alchimia di Mare. Also, just minutes away from La Spezia Centrale Train Station, it has the ideal location to explore Cinque Terres five villages by train.
Each room has a coffee machine, air conditioning, and a TV. If you want to splurge a little, you can book rooms with a patio or city views. La Casa provides incredible value for money, and the hotel interior is recently renovated and trendy.
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Vernazza: The Most Popular Village To Stay In The Cinque Terre
Vernazza Cinque Terre Italy
The most popular place to stay along the Cinque Terre is Vernazza, and there are plenty of good reasons why its taken the #1 crown. The octagonal tower of the spectacular church of Santa Margherita dAntiochia is always in your sights when youre in Vernazza. As with each of these villages, Vernazza is astonishingly beautiful, dripping with traditional charm and historic beauty.
Its particularly easy to enjoy this as there are no cars in the village, meaning there are no modern distractions to take away from its charming good looks. Its the place to go to enjoy the charm of the village and its surrounding nature one of the most popular things to do in Vernazza is to hike to the nearby village of Corniglia, taking in amazing views along the way.
Another highlight of Vernazza is that it enjoys not one but two beautiful beaches. Nearby, youll find lots of eateries and gelaterias, so its an incredibly charming place to enjoy a day by the sea. Just be prepared to share the beach with many other visitors!
Street in Vernazza
The crowds are the biggest downside to staying in Vernazza, so it may not be ideal if youre looking for a peaceful stay.
Due to its popularity, it can also be one of the more expensive villages to stay in the Cinque Terre and can book out if you are visiting Cinque Terre during the popular summer season. So, be prepared to book early to secure your spot in this beautiful village.
Best accommodation in Vernazza
Where To Stay In Corniglia
Affittacamere Le Terrazze A quaint and traditional hotel set in a historic old house meaning big doors, high ceilings and rustic furniture this hotel offers a selection of rooms, from double bedrooms to apartments complete with their own kitchens. There are some stunning vistas and sumptuous sunsets to soak up as the hotel overlooks the village rooftops. The host at Affittacamere La Terrazze is very welcoming and will give you tips on where to eat and what to do in the area.
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Cinque Terre: How To Decide Which Village To Stay In
Read in 7 minutes
For as long as Ive been working with Bianca, the founder of Italian Fix, there has been one question weve been asked more than any other about the Cinque Terre which village should I stay in?
Thats because the Cinque Terre isnt one single place. As you might have guessed from its name , the Cinque Terre is a collection of five small towns along the Italian Riviera:
1. Riomaggiore
If youre going to stay here, youve got to choose one.
But which Cinque Terre town is the best Cinque Terre town?
Well, considering Ive been living in the southernmost village for the last 15 years, you might think my quick answer would be Riomaggiore. I did decide to make it my own home, after all.
But the truth is that there is no best town to stay in in the Cinque Terre. In fact, the one you choose has a lot more to do with you and your travel wants and needs than with any ranking from coolest to lamest.
Each of these five villages has its own character, its own charms, its own pluses and minuses.
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My Personal Favourite Place To Stay Near Cinque Terre: La Spezia
I know it might not make much sense, but in my opinion the best place to stay in Cinque Terre is actually outside Cinque Terre.
Im also a bit biased because my dad is from La Spezia, and I spent big chunks of my Italian summers there, but for me its the best spot for a local Cinque Terre holiday.
La Spezia is a city located just 15 minutes train journey away from Cinque Terre. It has a lively nightlife, lots of great restaurants and much more local feel than Cinque Terre.
While in Cinque Terre you will mostly meet tourists, La Spezia is relatively off the beaten track, and you can have a proper Italian experience. Most hotels and bnbs will also be considerably cheaper than in Cinque Terre.
Its the perfect place to stay if you want a cheaper and more local experience, and dont mind being a 15-minute train journey away from the action.
In busy season when Cinque Terre is swarmed by tourists, youll be glad to be a little outside it all! Even if youre visiting Italy in winter, it will still be much more local than the Cinque Terre towns.
While La Spezia itself is also a very pretty city and worthy of a visit, if youre only staying there to visit Cinque Terre I recommend finding a place to stay close to the train station.
Sunset in the harbour of La Spezia, Italy
I listed below some accommodation options in La Spezia for every budget.
View over La Spezia from La Foce, Italy
The Best Hotels In Cinque Terre Italy
To summarize, heres a handy chart of our recommended Cinque Terre, Italy hotels. All include free wifi and are known for comfort, good location and great customer service.
| Name |
Getting Around Cinque Terre
At the end of the day, its very convenient to get around the different villages of Cinque Terre, so dont let the town you pick stress you out too much!
Italys train network connects each town together on the local line, which in turn has faster connections to the rest of Italy at La Spezia and Portovenere. We bought our train tickets online before our trip for convenience.
Before You Go:
Which Cinque Terre town do you plan to base yourself in?
Visiting Italy Trip Planning Checklist
There’s so much to see and do in Italy that you can visit again and again and still discover new sights. I recommend concentrating on the big 4 cities if it’s your first time and then coming back to explore either Northern Italy or Southern Italy in more depth.
Go | Flight prices from the US to Italy are highly seasonal. You can set a fare alert here to be notified of discounts. Every fall & winter, I’ve seen great deals to Milan. One word of caution: avoid Alitalia at all costs!
Getting Around | A convenient way to explore Italy is via high speed train. You can search train schedules and book online here. Buy your tickets in advance to save on fares. Make sure to validate your ticket on the platform!
Alternatively, groups or budget travelers can check out Airbnb.
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Best Airbnb In Riomaggiore: Private Cheteau In A Killer Spot
Soak up the Med vibes and indulge yourself with this self-contained villa. With stunning views and plenty of space its ideal for groups who are planning on spending their time away making the most of each others company. Its relatively isolated from neighbours for that much-needed privacy, and theres a good selection of awesome bistros and wine bars close by.
Manarola Best Town In Cinque Terre For A Romantic Stay
Manarola is one of the prettiest and most photographed of the Cinque Terre town and, for many, an absolute favorite.
The town has delightful colorful houses, scenic and rocky access to the sea and a plethora of small alleyways climbing up from the sea up to the tallest part of of town, at the top of the cliff.
Manarola is smaller than Riomaggiore and has a different vibe.
There is less going on here at night, which means Manarola is a good place to stay if you want more relaxing evenings.
The small streets and sea views make it perfect especially for couple looking for a romantic place to stay and for photographer.
Manarola is also the most ancient of all Cinque Terre towns: It has been inhabited since the middle Ages and has an interesting tradition of wine production.
Manarola is also a good place for hiking: Sentiero Azzurro and Sentiero dellAmore are both easily accessible form here however, they are often closed for safety reasons so access cannot be guaranteed. Ask local authorities on the day of your visit.
Manarola is the best town to stay in Cinque Terre for: couples, photographers, hikers.
Need to know: Manarola is has steep roads and it is not a good place if you have very small kids or have mobility issues.
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Where To Stay In The Cinque Terre: Overview And Map
Monterosso al Mare: best place to stay in Cinque Terre with kids
Vernazza: best Cinque Terre town for a romantic holiday
Corniglia: stay in the Cinque Terre on a budget
Manarola: best village in Cinque Terre to take pictures
Riomaggiore: best town in Cinque Terre for young people
The Cinque Terre, meaning the five lands, are made up of 5 villages on the coast: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
Although, as the crow flies, the towns are very close to one another, there are steep hills in between. The rugged landscape makes this stretch of coastline so beautiful and the fishing villages so charming.
Its possible to take a day trip to the Cinque Terre from Florence, Milan, and Pisa. However, if you decide to spend a few days in the Cinque Terre , an excellent option is to choose one of the villages as a base. From there, youll be able to easily explore the area.
Cinque Terre towns map
Monterosso al Mare is the best place to stay in Cinque Terre if you want to chill out on the beach. Being the largest town, Monterosso offers a broader number of accommodations, ranging from luxury hotels to cheaper hotels and guesthouses.
Pretty Manarola is very famous among photographers. Its easy to understand why: this village offers the most stunning postcard views! Manarola is the best town in Cinque Terre for those who want panoramic views that do not require excursions.