Where to Stay in Cinque Terre on a Budget
Updated: Aug 17
Cinque Terre, Italy is an idyllic region located on the northwestern coast of Italy. It is well known for its seafood, colorful architecture, picturesque views, and hiking trails.
Made up of five fishing villages, Manarola, Riomaggiore, Vernazza, Corniglia, and Monterosso, Cinque Terre is a popular destination in Italy for travelers which means it can be costly to visit.
After my trip to this charming Italian coastal region, and as someone who is always trying to save money on travel to experience more for less, I’ve found the best places to stay in Cinque Terre on a budget.
My biggest tip for planning a vacation to Cinque Terre is to book accommodation well in advance! The villages are small but popular, so places fill up quickly.
Check out where to stay when visiting Cinque Terre on a budget below, and enjoy your time in these charming seaside towns.
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The Best Town to Stay in Cinque Terre
While any of the towns are great to stay in while visiting Cinque Terre, it depends on what you're looking for. I stayed in Manarola and loved it, especially the fact that it is centrally located.
Manarola is also one of the bigger towns so there are plenty of dining options, and you clearly can't go wrong with the breathtaking views of the Manarola coast.
The best town to stay in Cinque Terre depends on your travel style. Here are my overviews of why you should stay in each town of Cinque Terre.
Riomaggiore: Being the southernmost town, Riomaggiore is closer to La Spezia and Pisa which is convenient if you're going to be traveling south. It's also one of the two quietest towns; this might be very important, especially if you're traveling with family.
Manarola: This is my overall pick for the best town to stay in Cinque Terre. I stayed here for three nights and loved it. Maybe that makes me a little biased, but I recommend staying in Manarola; it's a little bigger and busier which is fun if you like trying lots of restaurants.
Corniglia: The quietest town of Cinque Terre is Corniglia. However, this town does require a long stair climb to get to from the train station. This can be a downside if you're traveling with kids or older people. But if you're up for the trek, Corniglia will give you the most local feel out of all the towns of Cinque Terre and likely cost the least.
Vernazza: Slightly busier than Manarola, Vernazza is a good town to stay in if you want lots of dining and shopping options. It's further north, which is great if you're traveling that direction after your stay in Cinque Terre.
Monterosso al Mare: The largest of all the towns of Cinque Terre is Monterosso. This town is split into two parts, Old Town and New Town. Being the biggest town, it's also the busiest; however, this also means there are many more accommodation options here (but generally with a higher price tag).
Where to Stay in Cinque Terre on a Budget
Keep reading for the best places to stay in Cinque Terre on a budget. There are mostly guesthouse-style accommodations available here, but you can also find hotels and hostels with both dorms and private rooms.
If you want to stay in a larger hotel, you can look at larger nearby towns like La Spezia. However, I highly recommend booking one of these budget places so you can fully enjoy the idyllic towns of Cinque Terre.
Where to Stay in Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore is the southernmost town of Cinque Terre, Italy. While exploring all five villages, I found Riomaggiore to be one of the quieter towns, but it still had plenty of shops, restaurants, and breathtaking views of the coast.
Riomaggiore is great for any travelers looking for a more relaxed stay in Cinque Terre.