Welcome to Cinque Terre, Italy! In this post we will be discussing, places to stay, eat, and experience life in this unique part of the world. As well we have a few general local travel tips and recommendations, a local recipe and we’ll be talking the how, when, and why of one of our favourite Cinque Terre photos. For more information on the top things to do and experience, and a detailed 3-day itinerary, please check out our posts, “Top 6 Things to do in Cinque Terre, Italy – Explore and Experience” and “3-Day Itinerary for Cinque Terre, Italy – How to enjoy without the Crowds”. Let the planning begin!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that we would get a small commission if you decided to make a purchase through one of them, at no extra cost to you and you would be supporting our small Canadian business. This would allow us to continue creating informative travel content. All the businesses we are recommending are ones we use in our travels and feel comfortable doing so!

1. Places to Stay in and around Cinque Terre:

Manarola

Depending on how long you’re staying and how many people you’re travelling with you could also checkout AirBnB or VRBO. I always check out the reviews, then look at price and location. So, this will all depend on what your preference is as to whether you stay in one of the villages or just outside. If you want to be right in the middle of the experience and don’t mind the crowds during the day, then choosing to stay in one of the villages might be a great choice, but if prefer a less touristy, relaxed atmosphere then staying just outside the park would be better for you. Keep in mind that the crowds are generally the biggest during the peak hours of 10:00am to 4:00pm, so outside these hours it’s not too bad. If choosing outside of the park, we are suggesting either La Spezia to the south and a train hub to pretty much anywhere you’re travelling to or from in Italy, or Levanto to the north, a quiet beach town 4 mins by train to Monterosso and both are included in the Cinque Terre Card, which works out perfectly. We stayed in Levanto and loved it. We also use these trusted travel sites, www.expedia.ca and www.hotels.com . Here are some suggestions to see if any pique your interest, but there are a lot of accommodations in this area to choose from, so have some fun with it, go through some the different travel sights, we have links to the ones we us above, if you start early there is no stress, just excitement in the process!

Profumo di mare, apartment – in Levanto, this is where we stayed, there where 4 of us, so lots of room, there are 3 good size bedrooms and a pull-out sofa, so sleeps 8. There are 2 full bathrooms and a washing machine. Recently renovated and beautiful, has full kitchen, and great terrace. 5 mins walk to the beach and path to Bonassola. 10 mins walk to the train station and less into town. From the train its 4 mins to Monterosso al Mare in Cinque Terre and less then 20 to Riomaggiore, so makes a great base for exploring the area and included in the Cinque Terre card. In the other direction it takes 35 on the fast train to get to Santa Margherita on the Portofino Peninsula, great for a day trip. Levanto is a great location, we really enjoyed our stay. The host was also very nice and accommodating.

Atmosfere Guest House – 5 Terre e La Spezia – Located in La Spezia at Via Napoli nr 21. Only a 6 mins walk to the train station that takes you to Cinque Terre and is included in your Cinque Terre card. Once at the Train station it takes less than 10mins to get to Riomaggio, the closest Cinque Terre town to La Spezia. So, this can also be a great location to explore Cinque Terre. La Spezia is a pretty town too and has lots to offer, it would make a great place to explore during the peak crowded part of the day. This place has rooms that can accommodate up to 6 people, that have great reviews, with A/C, wifi, luggage storage, elevator, paid parking and some have a kitchen.

XX of Sea, TerreMarine – Located in the Old Town area of Monterosso al Mare. This apartment is a 1 bedroom, one bathroom with a kitchen, A/C and washer. It’s a 2 mins walk to the beach; 6 mins walk to the train station and has multiple restaurants within a 1 mins walk. There is a staircase that you have to climb to get to it, as with a lot of places in Cinque Terre. And it’s reasonably price for the area.

Suite 14, Studio near the Sea of 5 Terre – This apartment is location in the New Town area of Monterosso al Mare. It’s a one bedroom, one bathroom, with A/C, wifi and very recently renovated. It’s a 2 mins walk to the beach, a 5 mins walk to the train station and mins for lots of restaurants and shops. And reasonably price for the area.

Il Sogno de Manarola by The First – Located in Manarola, there are different options in this guest house, rooms that sleep 2 to 4 people, all with private bathroom, some with hillside views, some with seaviews and terraces or balconies. They have free WIFI, housekeeping and A/C. Reasonably priced, a 3 mins walk to the train station and lots of shops and restaurants in the area. There is some uphill walking to get to it, like most places in Cinque Terre.

2. Places to Eat in and around Cinque Terre:

Nessun Dorma, Manarola

La Posada, Corniglia

The Blue Marlin Cafe, Vernazza

We typically don’t make reservations, unless there’s an activity included with the food, like a Show or a food tour or there is something really special about the food or location. We find that if you make reservations, it dictates the pace of your day. We like stopping when we’re hungry or when we see a place that piques our interest. That said, here are a few suggestions of what Cinque Terre has to offer, some we enjoyed, and some come highly recommend! We do read reviews as well, we think it’s important, especially the negative ones to see what people are complaining about, but we’ve learned over the years to “take them with a grain of salt” not every restaurant can be perfect every time and some people just like to complain. We like to make sure there are more good reviews then bad and read what the issues are, sometimes it might be something that doesn’t concern us. The local cuisine in Cinque Terre is delicious, so make sure you try something new! This region is known for its seafood, focaccia, pesto, honey and wine.

La Posada ristorante – Located in Corniglia at Via alla Stazione 11. It’s open every day from 12:00pm to 10:00pm. Here you will be sitting on a terrace with olive trees and an ocean view, so beautiful. We do recommend making reservations here, we didn’t, and we almost missed out on this amazing experience! They serve Ligurian cuisine, including pasta with pesto, seafood, great desserts, and drinks.

Nessun Dorma – This restaurant is a must-try! It’s located in Manarola at Punta Bonfiglio, near the ocean viewpoint overlooking the harbour and town. Here you could either take their Pesto making class, (which is what we did), or you could go for an aperitivo, charcuterie board and drinks. The class was amazing a “pinch me” moment, the instruction, the food, wine, atmosphere and the stunning view of the village, highly recommended! Check out their website for more info, to book the pesto making class, or to book your aperitivo experience.

The Blue Marlin Café – Located in Vernazza at Via Roma 47. It’s open from 7:00am to 12:00am every day. We enjoyed a sit-down bacon and egg breakfast here, on their outdoor area, it’s on the way from the train station to the harbour. They serve breakfast foods, pastries, coffee, focaccia, as well as pasta and pizza.

Ristorante Luca – Located in Vernazza at Piazza Guglielmo Marconi 16. Open 12:00pm to 10:00pm every day, but closed on Friday. Great views and atmosphere, right in the main square near the harbour. Known for its fresh seafood, catch of the day, pesto, pasta and wine, like a lot of restaurants in this area. Afterwards, just a few steps away is Gelateria Il Porticciolo, has delicious gelato, pick up some for dessert and sit in the main square near the water and take it all in!

Trattoria dal Billy – Located in Manarola at Via Rollandi 122. Open from 12:00pm to 3:00pm and 6:00pm – 10:00pm Sunday to Wednesday and Saturday, Friday it’s only open from 12:00pm to 3:00pm and Thursday it’s closed. Known for its Ligrian cuisne, seafood, pastas, homemade desserts and and great views! A little more on the expensive side and you would need reservations here.

Trattoria la Grotta –Located in Riomaggoire at Via Cristioforo Colombo 247. Open 12:00pm to 2:30pm and 6:00pm to 10:00pm every day, but Friday it’s only open for lunch and closed on Wednesday. This restaurant has been in operation for over 140 years and is in a cave-like setting. Known for its seafood and pastas, it has vegetarian and gluten free options, average prices and serves drinks.

Trattoria la Scogliera – Located in Manarola at Via Renato Briolli 103. They are open 11:00am to 11:30pm every day, but closed on Friday. We had a great seafood pasta meal here and sat on their patio overlooking the main street.

Causapersa – Located in Old Town Monterosso al Mare, at Piazza Garibaldi 17. It’s open from 12:00pm to 3:00pm and 7:30pm to 11:00pm every day, but closed on Thursday. They have both indoor or outdoor seating (in the Piazza) and serve great pastas and pizzas, we really enjoyed this restaurant!!

Mae Caa Bakery Café – Located in Old Town Monterosso al Mare, at Via Roma 43. This café is open 7:00am to 7:00pm Monday to Saturday and 8:00am to 7:00pm on Sunday. They serve Breakfast foods, focaccia sandwiches, salads, desserts, drinks and more, including Vegan options.

Osteria Tumelin – Located in Levanto, at Via Domenico Grillo 32. Open from 12:00pm to 2:30pm and 7:00pm to 10:00pm every day, winter hours may vary. They have been in business for more than 40 years, serving seafood, pastas, and great desserts. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. We enjoyed our meals and experience here.

3. A Few helpful local tips and Recommendations:

Cinque Terre Cards:

If you are staying in the area for a few days and plan on doing any hiking, walking the Via delle’Amore (short, flat easy walk from Riomaggiore to Manarola) or using the trains to get around, then getting the full Cinque Terre Card is a great option. There are 3 version of the card, one is just for train travel within the park, but includes Levanto and La Spezia, one is just for the hiking, and one is for the train, hiking and access to the Via delle’Amore walk. If you buy it online you don’t need to validate it, just simply show your cards QR code on your phone with valid ID (or print it). The tickets also include free Wi-Fi in the parks hotspots, like the train stations, as well as free use of the washrooms in the train stations (which was very handy), access to free shuttle buses, within the park, discounted rates to some museums in La Spezia and some free guided tours. Well worth the price for the freedom of just hoping on and off the trains within the towns and the town we were staying in (Levanto), hiking the trails we wanted to and using the washrooms for free at the train stations, just made things easy. Be aware, you must where hiking, or athletic shoes with a good sole on all of the trails, they have park staff monitoring and if you’re caught wearing inappropriate footwear, you will be fined! For more information on the park and the Cinque Terre cards click here!

Phone service:

When travelling in Europe we use Hippocket wifi. They are based in France, but you simply order it online and they mail it to you 3 days before you leave for your trip. It comes with a small carrying case, charger, including a car charger if needed and a self-addressed return mailing envelope. At the end of your trip, you simply package it up in the provided envelope an pop it in the mailbox at the airport. Another great thing about this is that if you are traveling with other people, you can all use it and share in the cost. You can have up to 10 users at a time. If you have multiple users, I recommend the unlimited option, as the 1GB/day option may not be enough. It’s also great for families as you don’t have to get 4 or more sim cards or data plans, you can simple all use the wifi wherever you go, including the GPS on your phone, to help you get around! The unlimited option works out to be approximately 8.00 to 9.00 euros per day, including all of the shipping. It makes a great option.

Start your off Day Early:

Start your day off early, this will always be my suggestion! When I say early, I’m talking 6:30/7:00am, but I know that’s not for everyone, so just get started as early as you can and always keep in mind open/closing hours and open/closing days for the attractions that you really want to see. If there is something you really want a photo of without people in the shot, start there! For sunrise/sunset times click here. For more information on the advantages of getting up early, check out our post “Three Significant Reasons to Get Up Early, while Travelling”.

Speaking the Language:

For some people speaking different languages comes easy and for some, it does not, I’m the latter. Although it’s not easy, I always make an effort to learn at least the pleasantries when I’m travelling. It’s one of my many favourite things to do! I also carry a language pocketbook with me, and I have google translate on my phone! I also like the free language app, Duolingo!

**Any pricing, opening/closing hours and days listed here are as of June 2025 and are subject to change, so be sure to check before you go. I like these websites: click here, here, and here for all your current information.

4. Our Fav Photo from our time in Cinque Terre:

We choose this photo as our favourite Cinque Terre Photo because to us, it seems like quintessential Cinque Terre! It has the colourful houses spilling out into the sea, the little rowboats in the harbour, the cliffs near and as far as the eye can see! When we pictured Cinque Terre, long before we visited, this is what we pictured and what drew us here, and it did not disappoint! The morning we took this photo in Riomaggiore, yes, we got up early and hoped on the train from Levanto and where here in less than 20mins. We walked the quiet streets all the way down to the harbour front and spend some time just soaking it all in, we sat on a bench, and this was our view, so capturing it was pretty special. Again, it’s the quiet moments that mean the most. When we took the photo, we choose to do it in landscape so we could get as much into it as possible, the houses, boats, harbour, ocean and cliffs in the distance, as well as just a little bit of the brick wall in the for-front! As for editing, it just needed a little of brightening to make the colourful houses pop! And there you have it, our favourite photo!

5. Cinque Terre Recipe:

Basil Pesto

How to Make Authentic Basil Pesto from Cinque Terre, Italy

This delicious and flavourful sauce is great to add into your pasta or to accompany a charcuterie board as a dip for veggies, focaccia bread or crackers. For this recipe check out our post “How to make Authentic Basil Pesto from Cinque Terre, Italy.”

6. References:

Focus on the Journey!

All of this information, research and suggestions came from our own experiences we had while exploring this beautiful, breathtaking region of Italy, called Cinque Terre. As well, we spent countless hours reading travel books, like DK Eyewitness, Italy, Rick Steves, Italy’s Cinque Terre, and Lonely Plante’s Pocket, Genoa and Cinque Terre. I also enjoyed Lonely Planet’s Fast Talk Italian Phrase Book. These books gave me some great insights into what I wanted to see or do. I also read multiple Travel blogs and Cinque Terre tourism websites like, CinqueTerre.eu and TouristItaly.com. We hope you find this information helpful!

7. The Wrap up

Hike to Monterosso al Mare

I hope these tips and recommendations help you plan an amazing adventure filled with new experiences! Don’t forget to try new things, talk to locals, indulge in traditional foods, people watch, enjoy nature, speak a little of the local language, but most of all, focus on the journey!

Please comment, ask questions, give advice, join our mailing list, like, follow, pin, share with friends, anything goes, let’s talk travel!

***Join our Mailing List and be the first to receive exclusive offers, notification of our newest Travel Blogs and our Inspirational Newsletter! Join at the top of the page or through one of the pop ups on our website! ***

Thank you,

From, Wild Meadow Studio

Where we, Focus on the Journey,

By: Beth de Verteuil

Join our mailing list!

Tips and Recommendations, Your Travel Guide to Cinque Terre, Italy

Table of Contents: