We have a place booked at Hotel Margherita in Montorosso late August. We wondered since we are leaving the next morning is La Spezia a better place to stay for the night and just visit the CT towns during the day and early evening, or is there a better village to stay in if we can find a place?
Posted by
Boston
1814 posts
Stay in Monterosso. You will very much enjoy the evening. The crowds have thinned, there are numerous restaurants to choose from, Cinque Terre sunsets are famous, the sea will dance with twilight, people will be strolling with that contented pace. This is why you are visiting the place.
Posted by
Fort Lauderdale, FL
1245 posts
Definitely stay in Monterosso. The mornings are just as wonderful as the night.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
"since we are leaving the next morning"
I believe you're headed either to Florence or to picking up a car in La Spezia. The train ride from Monterosso to La Spezia takes only 15-30 minutes, usually two trains per hour, starting at 5:00 a.m. So no, we would not trade off the village overnight in Monterosso. The port city of La Spezia is not a comparable atmosphere.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16205 posts
La Spezia, a port city, is pretty ugly, if you ask me.
There are some nice residential areas in the outskirts on the hills, but overall not a pretty city.
Stay in Monterosso.
Posted by
Mpls, MN
1005 posts
Yes it is ugly. Drove through LaSpezia to get to the train station to leave our car. Stay in Monterosso.
Posted by
Boston
1814 posts
La Spezia is not ugly. We've visited for years and the city has a lot going for it. The waterfront, gardens, several museums, the outdoor market, the civic enthusiasm are all top notch. It should definitely not be judged by just driving through.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32398 posts
JR,
I'd also recommend staying in Monterosso. If you're coming to see the Cinque Terre, probably best to stay in the C.T. and Monterosso is an excellent choice.
Posted by
OP
Gulf Coast, usa
1200 posts
Thanks for all the replies. We are going to leave things as they are - but one more question - is there just one train that runs to all the towns? How long would the train take to go from Montorosso to Riomaggiore? I also read about you can take a boat instead. Is this something you arrange ahead of time?
Posted by
Fort Lauderdale, FL
1245 posts
The trains between the towns take approx. 3-5 minutes to reach each town. They run all day long. There is a ferry that runs between the towns, weather permitting. The schedule is here. https://cinqueterreinsider.com/2018/03/22/cinque-terre-ferry-schedules-2018