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Home » travel to Italy » Best Towns to stay in Cinque Terre (2023)

Best Towns to stay in Cinque Terre (2023)

December 21, 2022 by Lora

There’s something special about the Cinque Terre. Maybe it’s the way the five towns seem to cling to the rocky coastline. Or maybe it’s because each town has its own unique Italian personality. Whatever the reason, this is a place that should be on everyone’s travel list. And while there are plenty of hotel options in each of the towns, we think there are some standouts worth mentioning. Here are our picks for the best places to stay in Cinque Terre.

riomaggiore picture during the day

If you are interested in a full guide about Cinque Terre, I have another post that I wrote.

How many villages are in the Cinque Terre?

The Cinque Terre is made up of five villages:

  • Riomaggiore
  • Manarola
  • Corniglia
  • Vernazza
  • Monterosso

Each village has its own personality and charm, so it’s worth exploring them all while you’re there. With that said, here are our top picks for where to stay in Cinque Terre.

I have visited the Cinque Terre 3 times and stayed only in Manarola and Monterosso. I spent a lot of time exploring all the villages and discovering the beauty of each town. However, I do have my favorites for different reasons.

cinqueterre-italy-map

How to get to each village

The Cinque Terre is connected by train. It usually comes every 20 minutes, and you can buy tickets at the stations. There is also a ferry service connecting all five villages, but it’s only available during peak season. If you want to be very adventurous, they offer great hiking trails.

train cinque terre

The best town to stay in Cinque Terre

I spent 7 nights in Manarola this past summer (2022) and I enjoyed every second of it. You have beautiful swim spots, amazing restaurants, and the best sunset! Manarola is an unforgettable sight in the Cinque Terre region of Italy. Not only is it a quaint and sleepy fishing village, but its harmonious blend of historic buildings, vivid colors, and stunning vistas draws visitors from all across the continent.

the view of manarola

Perched atop its own rocky promontory is an enchanting medieval church with brightly colored homes climbing their way up to it. A stroll along the side of the mountain offers gorgeous views right over the water; a drive up those same winding roads will bring one to Manarola’s very own peak. It’s no wonder that Manarola’s beauty has become so renowned—it captures everything magical about this part of Italy in a single place.

Every day you wake up to the peaceful sound of the ocean, the birds chirping in the distance, and you can hear the church bells ring. We were lucky to stay in this stunning Airbnb with views of the hills, the village, and the sea.

cinque terre manarola

Here are some pros and cons of staying here:

Pros

  • Beautiful views
  • Great for couples
  • Close to the other towns in the Cinque Terre
  • Amazing restaurants !!! Like Trattoria dal Billy and La Regina di Manarola
  • An amazing sunset bar
  • A local bar with live music
  • Great access to hikes (my favorite is the hike to Corniglia)
  • Lots of swimming spots
  • Friendly locals

Cons

  • Limited parking (especially during high season)
  • Can be quite expensive due to its popularity
  • Touristy during peak season (May-September)
  • Not great for the elderly to walk through (steps can get hard where you stay)

My second favorite town is Monterosso

Monterosso has a much different atmosphere than Manarola. It’s bigger and more tourist-friendly, with plenty of restaurants and cafes along the beachfront. The town also offers easy access to the other towns in Cinque Terre.

The beach is what makes Monterosso so special. With crystal clear turquoise waters and plenty of sunbeds, it’s worth a visit. There are also several great hikes nearby, as well as some beautiful views of the coastline from up high.

cinque terre monterosso

Pros

  • Great beach (there’s actual sand )
  • There’s a cool rock to jump off of (diving)
  • There are a couple “free” beaches
  • Not a lot of steps, pretty flat
  • Easily accessible from other towns in Cinque Terre
  • Several great hikes nearby

Cons

  • Very touristy
  • The busiest beach
  • Beach chairs get expensive
  • Not as many amazing restauants like Manarola
  • Not the best spot for sunsets

My third favorite is Vernazza

 Vernazza is another beautiful village with a beautiful harbor and colorful houses. Vernazza is a village like no other – perched atop the rocky hills of Italy’s Cinque Terre, it truly is a sight to behold. But what sets this little gem apart, is its harbor; an enchanting confluence of bright blues, pastel yellows, and candy pinks that altogether transform into something postcard-worthy.

vernaza town in the evening

Pros:

  • There are a couple of great dinner spots like Ristorante La Torre
  • The harbor/waterfront is gorgeous
  • The view from the castle tower is stunning
  • Beautiful trails nearby
  • Less touristy than other towns
  • Amazing for sunsets

Cons:

  • Not the best swim spots
  • Touristy during the day
  • The streets and stairs are very steep (so bring good shoes)
  • Gets a little boring

While the other three towns are just as gorgeous, they aren’t my top choice of where to relax and stay.

Without a doubt, Corniglia was one of my favorite villages to explore. This quaint town has many charming streets with extraordinary views from its peak. However, I disliked how many steps it took to reach the town. It is very inconvenient to reach the train station or the beach, the other towns are a lot easier. You have to walk approximately 12 minutes up and down a lot of steps to the town center, so it is not recommendable for travelers with limited mobility.

Pros:

  • Very few tourists around
  • budget friendly
  • great for hikers
  • A quieter atmosphere
  • Incredible views and photo ops
  • Amazing fresh seafood restaurants (Le Grazie di Anita) !!!
  • My third favorite swim spot

Cons:

  • Very long walk up and down steps to the town center
  • Fewer restaurants and things to do than in other towns
  • Limited access to the beach (need to hike down the path)
cinque terre beach in corniglia

Lastly, Riomaggiore has great picture spots and street food, but I did not like the beach as much (it’s a lot wavier and there’s no sand (it is a rock beach). I also felt like it was very crowded and hard to walk through during the day. So many people are hopping on and off boats in the daytime and it can get a bit hectic especially since the streets are very narrow.

cinque terre riomaggiore

It does, however, have some great spots to explore including the dark and mysterious “Via Dell’Amore”.

Pros:

  • Great street food (try the focaccia sandwiches!)
  • Great for couples
  • Tons of amazing photo ops
  • Via dell’amore is a wonderful spot for photos
  • Easy access to boats/ferries that can take you to other towns
  • Great spot for sunsets

Cons:

  • Very crowded and hard to walk through during the day
  • Beach isn’t great (it’s a lot wavier and there’s no sand)
cinque terre trattoria dal billy

In the end, each town has its own unique character and charm that makes me come back for more. From the amazing restaurants in Manarola to the breathtaking views of Corniglia to the incredible swim spots of Monterosso, Cinque Terre is an unforgettable destination. No matter which village you choose, you won’t be disappointed.

More posts like this:

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Cinque Terre (2022)
59 Best Italy Travel Tips (2022)
10 Ways to Prepare Before Going to Europe
Top 5 Cities to Visit in Italy

 

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