Where to stay in Liguria: the 5 areas to know in 2026
The real question in Liguria is not which Cinque Terre village to visit, it is where to do them from, and our members answer it without contradicting one another. La Spezia for the price: "convenient for finding much cheaper lodging". Portovenere for the setting: "the ideal starting point for getting to the Cinque Terre villages". With the constraint that goes with it, "a bit harder to get to because there is no station".
The rest is a matter of dates. Our members mention overcrowding, and one of them settles it: "it is overcrowded during the summer holidays. Try coming out of season, the experience is different." Others recommend the boat rather than the train, and Corniglia has to be earned, all 382 steps of it. Five areas below, across eleven towns.
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It is a great place to use as a base for visiting the Cinque Terre villages, and the city itself is actually quite nice and convenient for finding much cheaper lodging!
One base or several?
Liguria stretches 300 km between the French border and Tuscany, and what matters plays out on about fifty of them, around the Cinque Terre. So the length of stay is decided there, and on a single question: from which base?
- A long weekend: La Spezia, three nights, and the train every morning. It is the choice our member argues for, "convenient for finding much cheaper lodging", and the station is the departure point for the five villages.
- A week: Portovenere then the Cinque Terre: three nights in our members' favourite village, three in one of the five. The boat links the two, and our members prefer it to the train.
- Ten days: Add Genoa, two nights, and take the time our member asks for: "you have to take the time to set off into its alleys". It is also the region's airport.
- Two weeks: Head down the coast to Ventimiglia, one night, for the covered market, our members' first memory. 230 km from Genoa, so a proper stop on the road.
How much driving between two bases?
A railway line runs along the entire coast and stops in the five villages: you can do perfectly well without a car in the Cinque Terre. Portovenere is the only exception, "no station", and the bus leaves from La Spezia. Our members prefer the boat anyway.
| Route | Driving time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| La Spezia → Riomaggiore | 10 min | train, first of the five villages |
| La Spezia → Portovenere | 30 min | bus, no station |
| Riomaggiore → Manarola | 20 min | Via dell'Amore, sometimes closed |
| Riomaggiore → Monterosso | 20 min | train, the five villages in a line |
| Portovenere → Cinque Terre | 1 hr | boat, along the coast |
| Genoa → La Spezia | 1 hr 15 | 100 km, direct train |
| Genoa → Varazze | 30 min | 30 km to the west |
| Genoa → Ventimiglia | 2 hr 15 | 150 km on the A10 |
At a glance: our picks by traveller type
Pick the profile that fits you and go straight to the recommended area.
Map of the areas in Liguria
See how the areas sit relative to one another before choosing your base. Click a name to jump to its description.
Portovenere Marina, Castello Doria, San Pietro
the village our members love most
This is the place our members love most, and two of our reviews present it as the sixth village: "what if there were a sixth little hidden gem? This village is it!", "this little village and its fort have nothing to envy their neighbours". The Portovenere Marina opens the visit, "you feel as though you have stepped into a painting", with "the hill of Portovenere dominated by the Doria castle" behind. The Doria Castle is climbed to "breathe the sea air, admire the view". And the Boat trips from Portovenere have their fans too, with "the tour of the 3 islands" with "the chance to swim".
What if there were a sixth little hidden gem? This village is it!
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Grand Hotel Portovenere Luxury
46 rooms on via Garibaldi, in a former convent above the Portovenere Marina, with views of the sea and Palmaria island. The upper floors look out on exactly the painting our members describe.
Pros
- One review notes "a bit more space on the beaches" than elsewhere in the Cinque Terre
- The boat leaves from here, the best way to see the coast according to our members
Cons
- "No station", our review reminds us: access is by bus from La Spezia
- The summer crowds still make themselves felt
The Cinque Terre: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso The five villages, Levanto, the trails
a different favourite village for each of our members
Each of our members has a favourite village. Vernazza: "my favourite village in the Cinque Terre", but "overcrowded during the summer holidays". Manarola: "the panorama from the cliff lives up to its reputation! The sunset is magnificent." Monterosso: "perfect if you are after an atmosphere that smells of holidays. The beach is right there." Riomaggiore: "the first village of the Cinque Terre" when you arrive from La Spezia, with "its colourful houses cascading down". And Corniglia, which has to be earned: "382 steps! That is what you have to climb."
382 steps! That is what you have to climb.
The towns in this area
Where to stay in this area
Hotel Porto Roca Luxury
43 rooms clinging to the cliff, most with a balcony over the sea, five minutes' walk from the centre of Monterosso. This is the village where, as our review puts it, "the beach is right there".
Pros
- The five villages are linked by train and boat, no car needed
- The Riomaggiore-Manarola trail is "neither difficult nor very long" according to our review
Cons
- The Via dell'Amore is "sometimes closed" according to two of our reviews: check before planning
- On Monterosso beach, "a large part is held by private clubs", notes our review
La Spezia Central station, port, via del Prione
the most useful base for a tight budget
Our member who stayed in La Spezia does not sell the city, it explains what it is for: "it is a great place to use as a base for visiting the Cinque Terre villages, and the city itself is actually quite nice and convenient for finding much cheaper lodging!" Then it makes the comparison honestly: "although it does not have the charm of its smaller neighbours, it is still a very pleasant city to walk around, with very good restaurants to get you into the swing of wonderful Italian cuisine." This is also where the Portovenere buses and the five-village trains leave from.
It is a great place to use as a base for visiting the Cinque Terre villages, and the city itself is actually quite nice and convenient for finding much cheaper lodging!
Where to stay in this area
Hotel Firenze e Continentale Mid-range
67 rooms in a renovated historic building, fifty metres from La Spezia Centrale station, where the Cinque Terre trains leave from. This is exactly the "base" of our review.
NH La Spezia Mid-range
110 rooms on eight floors, via XX Settembre, most with a harbour view. Bigger and more contemporary, ten minutes' walk from the station.
Pros
- The lowest rates in this guide, the argument our member makes
- Everything leaves from here: the five-village trains and the Portovenere bus
Cons
- "Although it does not have the charm of its smaller neighbours", our review concedes
- Every day starts with the train, 10 minutes to the first village
Genoa and the Varazze coast Old town, via Garibaldi, port, Varazze
a city that surprises those who stop
Our members who passed through Genoa talk about it the same way. "Less famous with tourists than other big Italian cities, I was pleasantly surprised by Genoa", writes the first, who mentions "an interesting cultural heritage" and terraces where you can "live the Italian way". The second is blunter: "Genoa is a wonderful surprise, raw and rebellious, this port city is passed through much too quickly! I was charmed by its old town, too hidden behind its barrier of motorways. You have to take the time to set off into its alleys lined with faded palaces", with a "favourite being the Via Garibaldi and its majestic palaces". To the west, Marina di Varazze is "well equipped and has charm".
Genoa is a wonderful surprise, raw and rebellious, this port city is passed through much too quickly!
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Meliá Genova Luxury
99 rooms near Christopher Columbus's house, ten minutes' walk from the Via Garibaldi that our review singles out as its favourite. Terrace and bar.
Pros
- A city that surprises, with a ready-made itinerary: “Huge favorite for Via Garibaldi”
- It is the region's only airport and only major station
Cons
- "Too hidden behind its barrier of motorways", notes our review about the old town
- The palaces are "faded", adds the same review, "some have been restored"
Ventimiglia and the border Covered market, seafront, Roman town
for the market, before anything else
Our members mention the same thing first, and it is neither a beach nor a monument: "the stalls of its market are packed with fresh produce, local crafts and culinary specialities", "I really enjoyed wandering through its covered market, rich in colours and scents, with its stalls overflowing with fruit, vegetables and delicious Italian cheeses". The rest follows: "the archaeological site of the Roman town and the magnificent Hanbury garden" for the first, and for the second "the seafront offers lovely walks, made safe by the pedestrian and cycle paths". Both stress the position, "just a few steps from the French border".
Ventimiglia surprised me with its ideal location right by the sea, just a few steps from the French border.
Pros
- The market comes before anything else: it is the reason for the detour
- The seafront is "made safe by the pedestrian and cycle paths", according to our review
Cons
- A stop for the market, not a beach town
- It is 230 km from the Cinque Terre: a road stop, not a base
Our tips for booking the right place
- Where to do the Cinque Terre from: La Spezia or Portovenere: For the price, La Spezia, and our review argues for it: "it is a great place to use as a base for visiting the Cinque Terre villages, and the city itself is actually quite nice and convenient for finding much cheaper lodging!" For the setting, Portovenere: "located thirty minutes from La Spezia, very photogenic, it is the ideal starting point for getting to the Cinque Terre villages". And the constraint, given by another member: "a bit harder to get to because there is no station, access can be by bus from La Spezia (an experience in its own right, I assure you!!)". Sleeping in one of the five villages remains possible, but our members do not recommend it for doing them all.
- Summer crowds, and the only real remedy: "My favourite village in the Cinque Terre. It offers sublime landscapes but it is overcrowded during the summer holidays. Try coming out of season, the experience is different." The advice is clear, and other members make the same observation: "the rule applies to all the Cinque Terre villages, but above all to this one, very popular with tourists"; "the only downside is the summer crowds, but the whole thing remains an authentic and unmissable stop"; "I recommend it for getting off the beaten track and a less touristy experience (the crowds will still be there depending on the season)". A single remedy, then: come out of season.
- The Via dell'Amore is sometimes closed: check before you go: It is the main constraint to plan around, and two of our members point it out. "The Via dell'Amore, although sometimes closed, links Riomaggiore to Manarola by a panoramic clifftop path. Otherwise, you can easily get there by train or by boat." And, more directly: "if possible, I would advise taking the Via dell'Amore, a gentle walk that links this village to Manarola. You will have a superb view all the way. Careful, it is sometimes closed so check before planning your itinerary. Otherwise there is the train or the boat to visit the villages." Both give the fallback in the same sentence: the path is not a condition of the trip.
- The boat, the best way to see the coast: "I would already recommend visiting the villages by boat, it is one of the best ways to make the most of the panorama", writes the most emphatic, who adds for Portovenere: "the best way to enjoy the setting is still to get there by boat". A second confirms the means of access, "you can easily get there by train or by boat". And a third booked the excursion: "we had booked the tour of the 3 islands and it was a really lovely moment. Magnificent settings, with plenty of historical anecdotes told by the guide. You will have the chance to swim. Remember to bring your snorkelling gear." Sleeping in Portovenere means boarding at the foot of the hotel.
- 382 steps up to Corniglia: It is the most concrete figure in the region, and it changes a day: "an excursion for those who are not afraid of a bit of effort! 382 steps! That is what you have to climb. The achievement is however extremely satisfying. You feel as though you are entering a preserved place that has to be earned." The same review explains what the climb buys: "an atmosphere more rooted in the land, which reminded me of some of the villages in Corsica. And then the charm of the vines gives it a unique identity." It is the only one of the five villages that is not on the water, and the only one that demands a named effort.
- To each their own favourite village: Each has a favourite, and each gives a different reason. Vernazza: "my favourite village in the Cinque Terre", for "the harbour with the colourful houses and the equally bright fishing boats". Manarola for the light: "the sunset is magnificent". Monterosso for the beach: "perfect if you are after an atmosphere that smells of holidays. The beach is right there, reachable from the village!" Riomaggiore for the arrival: "nestled between the sea and steep hills, it appeals for its colourful houses cascading down […] especially seen from the little harbour". And Corniglia for the effort. No need to choose: they are done by train, within the day.
- Planning the Via dell'Amore without checking: both our reviews report that it is "sometimes closed".
- Coming to the Cinque Terre during the summer holidays if you are after quiet: our review explicitly advises "out of season".
- Counting on the train for Portovenere: our review warns that there is "no station", and that access is by bus.
- Climbing up to Corniglia unprepared: there are 382 steps to climb.
- Using Ventimiglia as a base for the Cinque Terre: the town is 230 km away, a stop on the road.
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