Where should you stay in Cinque Terre if you want to enjoy the colourful houses and coastline without spending your holiday dealing with awkward transport? I would start by choosing between Monterosso and Manarola. If you would prefer a little more space and a convenient base outside the five villages, Levanto is another very good option.
The villages are close together by train, but your accommodation may sit at the top of a steep street or a long flight of steps. Here are my three most useful bases, specific places to stay and an explanation of who each option suits best.
Here are the best areas to stay in Cinque Terre:
- Monterosso al Mare – best area for a first visit and the beach.
- Manarola – best area for atmosphere and a couples' holiday.
- Levanto – best base for more space and easy train trips.
This guide to where to stay in Cinque Terre continues below with a closer look at each area and my accommodation recommendations.
1. Monterosso al Mare – best area for a first visit and the beach 🏖️
- Distance to the centre: The village has an older part and Fegina by the station. Central hotels are typically within 0-1 km of the station, but there can be changes in elevation.
- Public transport: Trains connect the villages. Fegina is convenient for luggage and the beach. Check current services with Trenitalia.
- From the airport: Allow roughly 2-3 hours from Pisa Airport (via PisaMover) by rail, including changes; from Genoa, often around two hours or more depending on the connection.
- Price level: €€-€€€; beachfront hotels and peak-season stays are expensive.
- Safety: Check the steps on the way to your hotel and follow beach flags. Observe local instructions on walking trails and near cliffs.
Monterosso is the most straightforward choice if you want to explore Cinque Terre and have proper beach days too. There is more beach space here than in the other four villages, and the Fegina area is easier to manage with luggage. That makes it a good base when not everyone in your group wants to spend every day walking the trails.
I would distinguish between Fegina, by the station, and the older part of the village on the other side of the connecting tunnel. Fegina is handy for trains and the beach, while the older part has narrow streets and restaurants close together. Both work well, but a hotel on the hillside is a different proposition from one at promenade level.
See hotels in and around Monterosso al Mare here
Monterosso is particularly good for a first trip because you can combine short excursions to the other villages with time back at the beach. You do not have to choose between seeing the region and having a relaxing holiday. You could head out in the morning and return for a late lunch rather than turning every day into a lengthy itinerary.
If you plan to hike, start with the national park's information on Cinque Terre cards and trails and check which trails are currently open. Staying in Monterosso puts you within reach of the area, but it does not guarantee that a particular coastal path will be accessible. Ordinary beach sandals are not suitable footwear for the hiking routes.
I would choose Monterosso for families and couples who want a versatile base. It is not necessarily the cheapest option, but the logistics can be easier than in the steeper villages. If you arrive by car, you should still arrange parking: for everyday journeys between the villages, the train will generally be more useful.
Places to Stay in Monterosso al Mare
Hotel Porto Roca – luxury with coastal views
This hotel sits high above the coast and has a pool overlooking the sea. It is a good option for a holiday where the hotel itself is part of the experience. Check access and luggage assistance, though: its setting is quite different from a hotel on the flat promenade.
See photos, available rooms and prices at Hotel Porto Roca
Hotel Margherita – mid-range
A hotel in the older part of Monterosso, suited to anyone who wants restaurants and narrow streets nearby. It offers a practical balance between a conventional hotel stay and being able to explore the village on foot.
See photos, available rooms and prices at Hotel Margherita
Hotel Souvenir – often a less expensive alternative
A smaller hotel in the older part of Monterosso that is worth comparing if your budget does not stretch to the addresses with the most sought-after views. Choose it as a village base, and check the steps and room category before booking.
See photos, available rooms and prices at Hotel Souvenir
2. Manarola – best area for atmosphere and a couples' holiday 🌅
- Distance to the centre: A small village with substantial changes in elevation. Most accommodation is within walking distance of the station, but often uphill.
- Public transport: The railway station has a pedestrian tunnel into the village. A car is not a practical way to travel between the villages.
- From the airport: Roughly 2-3 hours from Pisa Airport by rail, including changes. Allow extra time for the walk uphill from the station to your room.
- Price level: €€-€€€; limited accommodation and strong demand.
- Safety: Many steps and steep streets. Swimming is around the rocks and harbour, rather than from a large sandy beach.
Manarola is for anyone who wants to stay in one of the small villages and experience it as the day's visitors begin to leave. Colourful houses climb the hillside around the little harbour, and the setting is a major reason to spend the night here. It is a particularly good choice for a trip for two.
This is not the village I would choose for large hotels and lots of facilities. Much of the accommodation consists of smaller properties, and rooms can vary considerably even at the same address. It is especially worth checking exactly where your room is and whether the view shown belongs to the category you are booking.
See hotels in and around Manarola here
The steps are the main practical consideration. A short walk from the station can finish with a steep climb, which is useful to know when carrying luggage. Travel light if you can and ask your accommodation for the best approach. The shortest route on a map is not always the most comfortable one with a large suitcase.
I would use Manarola as a base for unhurried mornings and evenings, taking the train to the other villages during the day. Boat trips are also an option when the sea and season allow; check the operator's information at Navigazione Golfo dei Poeti. Do not build your entire transport plan around boats running every day, though.
Manarola is less suitable if your priorities are a broad beach and easy access with a pushchair. In return, you get a small base where the village itself is a large part of the experience. If you want to combine it with a larger Italian city, see my guide to where to stay in Milan and choose a train route that works with your flights.
Places to Stay in Manarola
La Torretta Lodge – a luxury choice among the smaller properties
A more exclusive option higher up in Manarola that suits a special trip for two. The setting and views are part of the appeal, but they also make it important to check the steps and whether help with luggage is available.
See photos, available rooms and prices at La Torretta Lodge
Arpaiu – mid-range to upper mid-range
A small property in Manarola that is worth considering if you prefer a more personal base to a large hotel. Compare the specific room and its view: these are precisely the details that can determine how much value you get from the stay.
See photos, available rooms and prices at Arpaiu
Ca' D'Andrean – often a more affordable hotel option
A small hotel in the village that makes sense if you want to stay in Manarola without prioritising the most expensive address with a view. You should still expect a walk up through the village, so choosing it does not remove the hills.
See photos, available rooms and prices at Ca' D'Andrean
3. Levanto – best base for more space and easy train trips 🚆
- Distance to the centre: Outside the five Cinque Terre villages. Consider staying between the station and the seaside town centre, generally around 0.5-1 km apart.
- Public transport: Trains run to Monterosso and onwards through Cinque Terre. Some hotels are on the hills outside the centre.
- From the airport: Typically around 2-3 hours from Genoa or Pisa by public transport, depending on changes and waiting times.
- Price level: €-€€€; a wider choice, but not automatically cheap during the summer holidays.
- Safety: Check pavements and transport arrangements for hotels outside town. Follow beach flags and local instructions by the sea.
Levanto is my practical alternative. It lies just north of Cinque Terre, so you are not staying in one of the five famous villages. In return, you get a larger town with a beach, restaurants and a rail connection that makes it easy to visit the area without changing hotels every day.
It is particularly useful if you are travelling with children or plenty of luggage, or want to combine Cinque Terre with relaxed beach days. There is more room for an everyday holiday routine than in the smallest villages. Levanto's tourist office has information on the town and activities if you also want to spend some days exploring your base.
See hotels in and around Levanto here
I would look between the station and the central part of town if you want to do everything on foot. Hillside hotels can offer pools and quieter surroundings, but require a different transport plan. Do not assume that every hotel in Levanto is convenient for the train: that final uphill kilometre can change the calculation.
The advantage is flexibility. You can leave early for one of the villages, return around lunchtime and keep the rest of the afternoon free. You also avoid dragging your suitcase through several small villages. On a short holiday, that is often worth more than having a particular village name on your reservation.
I would choose Levanto for a stay of several days when budget, space and transport all need to work together. For a special weekend focused on the village atmosphere in the evening, I would prefer Manarola. Both give you access to the same train excursions; the difference is the routine you want before and after them, and how much you expect from the hotel itself. If Tuscany is also part of your route, my guide to where to stay in Florence can help with the next base.
Places to Stay in Levanto
Park Hotel Argento – upper mid-range
A hotel on the hillside above Levanto, worth considering if you want more hotel comforts than the small villages tend to offer. Check transport to the station and beach so that the elevated location works with your daily excursions.
See photos, available rooms and prices at Park Hotel Argento
Hotel Al Terra Di Mare – mid-range outside the centre
Here you stay in the hills behind Levanto rather than in the seaside town itself. It suits travellers who want quieter surroundings and have arranged a car or hotel transport, but is less convenient for spontaneous walks to and from the station.
See photos, available rooms and prices at Hotel Al Terra Di Mare
Hotel Primavera – budget to mid-range
A more central hotel option in Levanto for those who want to explore on foot and take the train on day trips. Compare it with the hillside hotels if an easy daily routine matters more to you than views and larger facilities.
See photos, available rooms and prices at Hotel Primavera
Where should you avoid staying in Cinque Terre?
I would avoid booking a remote hotel in the mountains without a clear transport plan. It may be beautiful, but you lose some of the benefit of the short train journeys between the coastal villages. If you drive, arrange parking and expect to leave the car there for most visits within Cinque Terre.
Corniglia can be lovely, but its elevated location makes it less straightforward with heavy luggage or limited mobility. Vernazza and Riomaggiore are also good options, though you should check steps and noise near the station or main street. I would choose according to access to the actual room and your plans, rather than simply the most recognisable view.
For a first visit with beach time, I would start with Monterosso. Choose Manarola for village atmosphere and a trip for two, or Levanto for more space and straightforward train excursions. Check the final walk from the station before deciding on a room. Have a wonderful trip to this beautiful part of Italy! 🇮🇹
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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