Cinque Terre Accommodation Guide

It’s sometimes hard to understand where to stay without seeing an area. But with my accommodation guide to the Cinque Terre, you will be able to identify where the best spot is for your needs and price range. While the Cinque Terre can be reached via day trip from Florence or Pisa, I would recommend you stay for few days and enjoy all this remarkable coastline has to offer.

Where to stay when visiting the Cinque Terre

My own personal preference is to stay outside of the Cinque Terre, in the surrounding towns and nearby coastline. These areas are both convenient for visiting the 5 villages, but also removed and therefore quieter and cheaper.

Accommodation near the Cinque Terre

Bonassola + Levanto Hotels

Bonassola and Levanto are the two towns north of the Cinque Terre, and they are on the train line that services the whole coastline – which makes them a very convenient option. We stayed at Resort La Francesca on the hillside above Bonassola. This wild eco-resort is the perfect getaway for families and those wanting to feel more remote from the Cinque Terre (yet still be close enough to explore). La Francesca is my recommendation if you are arriving by car.

If you are using public transport, try the convenient Hotel Villa Margherita in Levanto. Not far from the train station, this 3-star hotel is also not far from the beach. Bonassola is a quiet enclave set in a moon-shaped bay. For views out over the promenade and beach, Hotel Feluca is my mid-range pick.

Disclaimer: We were guests of La Francesca Resort, however, as always, all opinions are my own; and all editorial control remained with me.

Lerici Hotels

I love the Lerici area, south of the Cinque Terre and La Spezia, as a base for exploring Liguria by car. The winding roads and rolling hills covered in olive groves are significantly more tranquil; and somehow feel more authentic than the more populated areas closer to the Cinque Terre.

The little slice of heaven, Albergo Serena, is my recommendation for this area. Set in a quiet spot above Romito Magra, Albergo Serena offers one of the best breakfasts I have had recently – waffles, a great tea assortment, and the usual continental cheese and meats.

La Spezia Hotels

La Spezia is the biggest city in the immediate area, so there are lots of accommodation options. If you want lots of nightlife and a buzzy city vibe for your Cinque Terre visit, then La Spezia is for you. Try one of my favourite hotel chains, NH La Spezia, for harbour views.

Hotels in Cinque Terre

If you decide you want to be right amongst the action by staying IN the Cinque Terre, here are some of the pros and cons of each village and some hotel options in the mid-budget range. Cinque Terre accommodation can range from simple guest houses to luxury apartments, so here are my picks:

Monterosso al Mare Hotels

Monterosso al Mare is the northern-most village on the Cinque Terre, and is a town of two parts. It spans two quaint bays with small but lovely beaches. In summer, it becomes the busiest of the 5 villages due to the sand beach and sun-loungers for rent, a feature not present in the other four. The newer side of Monterosso is where most of the hotels are, and in the old side you will find more apartments and airbnbs.

For, quite possibly, the best view on the Cinque Terre, check into the hillside Albergo Suisse Bellevue (the uppermost building in the photo below). Be prepared for the hike up, or use their shuttle service. For a modest lodging, near to the train station, try Hotel Baia, right on the promenade.

Vernazza Hotels

Don’t tell the other villages, but Vernazza is my favourite. Perhaps it is the way the harbour opens out in front of you, or the friendly local fishermen who sit and jovially laugh at the silly tourists going past the ‘do not enter’ signs on the rocky harbour edge. It just felt laid back and comfortable (well, that was in November, so July might be quite different!), so it gets my vote for numbero uno!

Most accommodation in Vernazza is self-catering apartments (which I find a little sad to be honest). But there is a traditional hotel up near the Doria Castle, Hotel Gianni Franzi, with gorgeous little cutaways in the rock in which to sunbathe

Corniglia Hotels

Corniglia is the least visited of all the Cinque Terre towns, and therefore the most desirable in my book. With my introvert tendencies, the idea of a town that is slightly harder to get to, and therefore less visited, sounds like perfection. Corniglia is set up on the hill rather than on the coast, but there are buses that run up from the train station, so it is no less accessible in reality.

Running with the authentic vibe of Corniglia, I would recommend staying in a guest-house (Affittacamere) in Corniglia. Affittacamere La Torre has an incredible roof terrace, and with Corniglia’s hilltop location, a breathtaking view.

Manarola Hotels

Manarola is probably one of the most photogenic of the five villages. The rocky harbour, and sweeping pathway up to the viewing point are great photo locations. As could be seen, even in the low season, from all the instagram photoshoots taking place along the way. Those distractions aside, visiting in the off-season allowed me to stop and have the space I needed to get the photos I wanted. I suspect July and August would be a bun-fight, especially at sunset.

Like Corniglia, Affittacamere are the best option for your stay in Manarola. There are plenty of self-catering apartments if you are planning a prolonged stay or are travelling with family. For a mid-range budget option, try Affittacamere San Giorgio, in the centre of town. There are a lot of steps, so be warned – be fit or get the porter to carry your luggage (for a fee)! For a studio apartment with exquisite views, try Le Storie di Manarola

Riomaggiore Hotels

Riomaggiore is a feat of engineering. Tucked around a tiny natural harbour, the houses look like they are comically on top of one other. It is a colourful hodge-podge of window shutters, balconies, and impossible verticality. On the cuteness spectrum, it is off the charts. The Riomaggiore train station is through a long tunnel, so bring your wheelie case.

If you want to be right in the hustle and bustle of things, I would recommend the Scorch Di Mare guest-house, right on the harbour front (near where the photo below was taken). If you want to feel more removed, and be able to drive to your hotel, then the Hotel Villa Argentina at the top of the hill near the road would suit you more.

Camping Cinque Terre

Despite the fact that the Cinque Terre National Park is a hiker’s paradise, the terrain isn’t conducive to campsites or camper vans. There are some campsites outside the Cinque Terre’s main five villages through. Levanto is a good base for campers and camper van users, due to the amenities and access to the Cinque Terre train. Try Camping Acqua Dolce on the hill near the church in Levanto.

Agritourismo Cinque Terre

If you get a chance, take time to stay at an Agritourismo. These farm-stays were, for a very long time, Italy’s accommodation secret weapon – a true taste of the Italian countryside. These days they are on trend and have become very popular; but I would still recommend you try one. Local hosts, delicious local food, and a glimpse into life on a farm. On the Levanto side, try the Agriturismo I Pipetta; or in La Spezia to the south, try Agriturismo All’Isola Che Non C’e’, up on the hill.

Cinque Terre Accommodation Guide

With so many places to choose from, picking accommodation in such a popular area can be daunting. Hopefully, my Cinque Terre accommodation guide has helped you narrow your focus and consider the pros and cons of being in or outside of the 5 villages. This stunning Ligurian coastline is calling you, when will you be visiting?

Planning a road trip through Italy? Let me help you plan! From short breaks to Lake Garda to city breaks in Rome and Milan!

All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhoneX.