Colourful houses of Manarola above the sea at dusk

Cinque Terre Special · Where to stay

Where to stay in Cinque Terre

By the TravelCheap Editorial Team · Updated October 18, 2026

For the lowest prices and the most choice, stay in La Spezia or Levanto and take the train into the villages. If you want to sleep in Cinque Terre itself, Monterosso is the easiest with luggage and a car, Manarola suits most people, Vernazza and Riomaggiore are the most atmospheric (and steep), and Corniglia is the quietest and often the best value.

Rooms are the biggest cost of a trip here: a local guide says a decent double room is hard to find under €125 a night even in low season. Book early for June and September.

Every base compared

Base	Stairs and luggage	Parking	Price	Best for
Monterosso al Mare	Easiest: flat main route, most places easy to reach	Large public lot by the beach	Mostly mid-range	Families, beach, drivers, limited mobility
Vernazza	Main street has no stairs, many hotels do	Very little	Among the most expensive	Couples and groups who like a lively piazza
Corniglia	Hard: almost 400 steps from the station, shuttle bus available	Limited	Often the best value, few rooms	Hikers, quiet, budget
Manarola	Hilly, but the main route works with a wheeled bag	Limited	Fair value	Couples, families, most visitors
Riomaggiore	Very steep with many stairs; a lift by the station is sometimes out of order	Limited	Expensive but good quality	Couples and fit travellers
La Spezia	City, easy	Plenty of options	Cheaper, many budget rooms	Budget trips, winter, day trips by train
Levanto	Town with a long sandy beach, easy	Many car parks	Better value, more budget rooms	Park and ride, beach, quieter evenings

Summarised from Cinque Terre: where to stay, a practical guide (La Spezia Guide) and Parking in Levanto (cinqueterre.eu.com).

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Compare hotels in La Spezia

Staying on a budget

Pick La Spezia or Levanto. Riomaggiore is about 10 minutes from La Spezia by train, and Monterosso about 5 minutes from Levanto.
Dorm beds sometimes cost under €50 a night, and Corniglia often has the best-value rooms inside the park.
In low season (from November 2) rooms are easier to find, but many hotels and restaurants in the villages close, so La Spezia is the safer base.
Compare the total price for your dates, including city tax, rather than the nightly rate.

Before you book

Ask how many steps there are from the station or car park to the door. In Riomaggiore and Corniglia it can be a lot.
If you drive, ask whether parking is included or reserved. Outside Monterosso it rarely is.
Arriving by train with luggage in Corniglia, ask about a transfer or take the shuttle bus.
Vernazza’s better rooms sell out early. Book months ahead for June and September.

Frequently asked questions

Which Cinque Terre village is best to stay in?

It depends on you. Monterosso is best for families, beaches and drivers, Manarola works for most visitors, Vernazza and Riomaggiore are the most atmospheric but steep, and Corniglia is quiet and often cheapest.

Is it better to stay in La Spezia or in Cinque Terre?

La Spezia is cheaper and has more choice, and the train reaches Riomaggiore in about 10 minutes. Staying in a village lets you enjoy it early and late, when day visitors have left, but costs more.

Which village is easiest with luggage?

Monterosso. Its main route between the old and new town is flat and most accommodation is easy to reach. Manarola’s main route also works with a wheeled bag.

Plan the trip

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Compare hotels in La Spezia Compare hotels in Monterosso

Sources

Prices, timetables and trail status change. We checked the figures on this page on October 18, 2026. Found something out of date? Email contact@travelcheap.online.