Which is the best base for staying in CT?
For me the answer is "it depends". I like Monterosso because it's got more restaurant choices and although I'm not a beach person I like to look at the 2 beaches in Monterosso. Both towns can get pretty crowded if a cruise ship is docked.
Are you planning to hike or sightsee by train?
Probably both.
Recommendation as to how long to stay in CT?
Just returned from the Cinque Terre. It is very, very crowded during the day. So the good question is when are you going. And what you plan to do when you're there. We actually stayed in Levanto, which is a 5 minute train ride from Montorosso. This was ideal for me because though it had people around, it was not horrid and jammed packed like Montorosso. It is a wonderful beach town in itself with good restaurants and easy access to all the Cinque Terre by train (also a limited ferry service). The trains run until late so you can have dinner in Montorosso or Vernazza and easily get back to your hotel. I shouldn't even put this up on the Forum cuz then maybe it'll get overrun too. But not likely for all the cruise groups and tour groups to flood in here;)
Thanks, Barbara. We will be there in early June 2025.
Personally I prefer Vernazza. It's simply a much more beautiful location. Monterosso may have more dining choices and a fine beach, but it is not as quaint. The train makes one easily accessible from the other so choose to stay where it is more suitable to your tastes.
During the day, the sea slugs over-run all of the towns, so head off onto the trails or enjoy the rocky coast that the sea slug avoid.
Evenings and in mornings in Vernazza are wonderful, quiet and picturesque.
Thanks, Mack. That sounds like the place for us.
"I shouldn't even put this up on the Forum cuz then maybe it'll get overrun too. But not likely for all the cruise groups and tour groups to flood in here;)"
Actually Rick's Village Italy tour stays in Levanto. I did not like it as well as Monterosso and really I am not an "action" kind of gal, lol.
If you like packed crowds, Vernazza is the best, especially when a cruise ship is in town at La Spezia.
If you like beaches, Monterosso has the best.
If you like quaint, I think Corniglia is the quaintest. However it's super small and the train station is down the hill and to reach it it's hundreds of stairs (but there is a shuttle bus).
Riomaggiore and Manarola are also good (but no beach also).
Levanto has a nice beach, but it's a not-so-quaint modern town.
Any town can be your base, since the train can take you to the others in minutes.
How long you want to stay depends on what you like to do. If you are not into hiking the trails two nights (one full day) is plenty.
I prefer to stay in Monterosso for several reasons. As it's the largest of the five towns, it has the greatest selection of hotels, restaurants and other tourist amenities. It has the best beaches of the towns, and because it has both an "old town" and a "new town", there's more area so it seems less crowded even in the daytime. The hotel I always use is up the hill a bit in the "oid town" so away from the crowds and it's an oasis of tranquility. There's also easy access to the ferries that travel between Monterosso and Porto Venere (the dock is in the "old town).
Vernazza has much less area so can become dreadfully crowded in the daytime, and difficult to find a table in the restaurants, get access to the shops, etc. My last visit there was such an unpleasant experience that I have little desire to return. The accommodations there seem to consist mostly of private rooms, accessed only by stairs. There is a small beach there in the enclosed harbour, but not much room.
Be sure to check the CT website to determine the status of the trails at the time you visit - https://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en/footpaths-cinqueterre .
Thanks, Ken. Which hotel in Monterosso did you stay in?
Bob,
I always stay at Hotel Villa Steno in Monterosso. It’s very popular and on some occasions I’ve had to adjust my travel dates to fit with their vacancies. Hotel Pasquale is also apparently excellent but I’ve never stayed there (I believe it’s owned by the same family that owns Villa Steno).
Thanks, Ken.
I have stayed in both towns but luckily before the post tourist trappization of the CT. When we hiked the trail there were literally no other Americans, just a class of Italian 14 year olds hiking with their teacher. We saw a few German hikers arriving on the train as we completed the hike in Monterosso. We liked Vernazza better -- it has more charm or did then. when we first did this no one we knew had heard of it -- I saw a picture of Vernazza on a calendar and said 'oh let's go there' -- it was pretty swell.