The insider's guide to Italy

Cinque Terre hotels

Portovenere hotels

Grand Hotel Portovenere is a four stars hotel directly overlooking the sea in Portovenere.
It is an ancient Franciscan monastery from the 1600s, just opposite the Palmaria Island and surrounded by enchanting views of the old village of Portovenere on the Bay of Poets.
The hotel's service is high quality. The restaurant has a magnificent panoramic terrace.
Other hotel facilities include cocktail bar and lounge, garage with ample parking, secretarial services, safe deposit boxes, fax and Internet, a well equipped convention center, Health and Beauty Spa with the beauty center DiBi and a modern exercise room.
Rooms are elegant, refined, comfortable.
All 44 rooms and 10 suites have air conditioning, satellite television, direct dial telephone, minibar.
You can book a room with sea views.
Overall opinion. Grand Hotel Portovenere consistently gets high ratings on every aspect of their stay from people who stayed here; surroundings received the highest possible ratings.
Some typical guests' reviews:
"Had a wonderful stay. We also enjoyed the restaurant very much."
"Imagine you are a seal, relaxing on the rocks, looking at one of the most beautiful views in the world, being treated extremely well and eating delicious food, all the while gaining a suntan. This is the best way to described our stay at the Grand Hotel in Porto Venere. It was superb and I have told all my friends they should visit. Make sure you pay extra for the sea view."
"Better explaination about travelling to the hotel would help, overall a wonderful experience."
"Great hotel w/ friendly and helpful staff... would recommend this town for anyone visiting the Cinque Terre, a short drive away... truly relaxing, must get the view of the harbor."
"Wonderful location in a great town in which to visit the Italian Riviera."
"Very welcoming staff. Great views. We wanted to stay another week!"
"We reserved a room with view. Although the balcony was not big enough to sit out on, the view was spectacular. Portovenere is DEFINITELY more pleasant than Portofino - and The Grand Hotel provides incredible value in such a plush location. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!"
"Enjoyed the stay very much. Great Location."
"Lovely view overlooking the sea and cafes along the waters edge with a bonus of the forte in the background. Fabulous!! Breakfast buffet was well appointed with seating outside on their deck overlooking the sea. Parking garage below hotel is essential if you have a car."
"I was most happy with everything. My balcony/patio was fabulous."
"Absolutely perfect. The service was very courteous and very, very attentive with us two and especially with our little girl."
"This hotel was absolutely lovely and the view out the window of Portovenere was just beautiful. We loved our stay here and the breakfast the next day was great."
"The hotel itself, its location, and everything about it was beautiful and luxurious. My stay exceeded my already high expectations."
"The hotel's location and facilities were excellent. The staff was very pleasant and accomodating."

General price range per room or suite
Single & double rooms, including rooms with sea views: 80 - 200 euros
Suites: 180 - 300 euros

Website: Grand Hotel Portovenere in Portovenere

Royal Sporting Hotel is the height of luxury, a prestigious four stars hotel in Portovenere recommended by the Baedeker and other guidebooks of Italy. Portovenere is a medieval sea village at the gateway to the Cinque Terre. This enchanting and naturally beautiful town dates back to the Roman era. The lovely view admired from the Church of San Pietro, located at the edge of the cliff, inspired great poets such as Shelley and Byron, who lived here and after whom the bay is named Bay of Poets (Golfo dei Poeti).

In this splendid environment is the Hotel Royal Sporting, directly overlooking the sea, in a quiet position only 10 minutes' walk from the historical center of Portovenere.
The Royal Sporting Hotel not only affords a holiday just by the clear sea waters of the bay, but is also close to the great art cities and towns of Tuscany: Florence is only about 120 kilometers away (75 miles), Pisa 70 kilometers and Lucca 60 kilometers.
The hotel offers its guests an outdoor swimming pool with purified sea water, with an ample solarium terrace, sun-lounge chairs and beach towels included in the service. There is also a pool-side bar.
From the swimming-pool you can walk directly to the hotel's seafront private beach, free for guests.
Breakfast and lunch can be served on the terrace at the edge of the swimming pool.
The hotel has a tennis court, a garden, ideal for reading and relaxing, a large hall, a bar, a restaurant, a conference hall.
All 60 rooms have en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, satellite TV, mini bar, direct-dial telephone.
Suites for 2/4 people comprise a double room, a living room with sofa (2 beds), bathroom.
Suites have balcony and sea view.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have given this hotel high ratings on all aspects of their stay.
Some typical guests' reviews:
"Excellent service."
"Wonderful hotel!! The staff was extremely friendly and welcomed us immediately. Beautiful views. Gorgeous swimming pool and surroundings. Restaurant is superb! Portovenere is absolutely beautiful. What a hidden gem. So peaceful, yet filled with history. I would highly reccommend this hotel and this spectacular village."
"A good choice in Portovenere and ideal for touring the Cinque Terre. Pool and breakfast are great."
"A beautiful hotel. Excellent service, and good food, in the restaurant. I've already recommended this hotel to several friends in Melbourne who are planning trips (they're tired of me raving about Italy) to your wonderful country. Thanks for helping make my trip an unforgettable experience."

General price range per room or suite, including breakfast
Single & double rooms: 100 - 200 euros
Suites: 300 - 400 euros

Website: Royal Sporting Hotel in Portovenere

Hotel Della Baia is a three stars hotel right on the sea on the Bay of Le Grazie, an ancient village which is part of Portovenere, 7 km. from La Spezia.
The hotel is set in its own bay, over which it offers splendid views, an oasis of quietness, palms and boats.
The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, bar, restaurant, lift/elevator, meeting facilities, parking and other facilities.
Rooms are comfortable and elegant, each has its own style, enriched by paintings by famous artists.
All rooms have en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, PC and Internet jack, satellite TV, telephone, minibar, hairdryer, disabled access.
Half board and Full Board are also available.

General price range per room, including breakfast
Single & double rooms: 70 - 150 euros
Triple & quadruple rooms: 150 - 250 euros

Website: Hotel Della Baia in Le Grazie, Portovenere

Riomaggiore hotels

Il Borgo di Campi Apartments Hotel

Apartment hotel 4 km from Riomaggiore, 270 metres above sea level, amidst the natural beauty of the Cinque Terre National Park, surrounded by vineyards and Mediterranean vegetation.
28 apartments, a restaurant with a beautiful terrace overlooking the sea and a bar.
A bus service links Riomaggiore and the resort Il Borgo di Campi, a few times a day (low season 4 times - high season 10 times).
Apartments can sleep 2, 3 or 4 people. Each flat comprises bedroom, bathroom with shower, and fully equipped cooking area. Two-room apartments, in addition, have a living room.
Apartment Facilities: Air conditioning, Cooking corner, Direct dial telephone, Satellite TV.
Average price: € 60
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have given this apartment hotel very high ratings on all aspects of their stay; the relationship between price and quality received the highest possible rating.
Read guests' reviews of Il Borgo di Campi Apartments Hotel in Riomaggiore

Hotel Locanda dalla Compagnia is a budget hotel 5 minutes' walk to the sea right in Riomaggiore, one of the 5 villages that comprise the Cinque Terre.
The hotel overlooks a typical little square of Riomaggiore village, in the very same spot where in the 19th century was Our Lady's Church, amidst a group of characteristic towered houses of the Cinque Terre.
It is a cosy, comfortable and family-run hotel, clean, furnished with all modern comforts, run by friendly and courteous people.
Rooms have en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, satellite colour TV.

General price range per room
Double rooms: 50 - 100 euros

Website: Locanda della Compagnia Hotel in Riomaggiore

Levanto & Monterosso al Mare hotels

Garden Hotel

2-stars, family-run hotel 50 metres from the beach, in the centre of Levanto, overlooking a park.
Facilities: free Internet point, free private parking, buffet breakfast.
The hotel manager charters boats and organizes various types of excursions and events, eg in combination with fireworks, a sunset aperitif, a seaside dinner etc. On board of a ferry-boat you can admire the Cinque Terre National Park's beauty, the vineyards which go down to the sea, and the villages attached to the rocks, or you can reach Portovenere, Lerici, the Gulf of Tigullio, Portofino.
All 14 bedrooms have balconies, en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, hairdryers, telephones, safety boxes, satellite TVs, minibars.
General price range per room, including breakfast:
Single, double & triple rooms 60 - 130 euros
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have given this hotel the highest possible ratings on most aspects of their stay.
Read guests' reviews of Garden Hotel in Levanto

Hotel La Villa degli Argentieri is a hotel overlooking the sea in Monterosso al Mare, one of the 5 villages that comprise the Cinque Terre.
Already discovered and appreciated by Byron and Shelley, Montale and Soldati, the Cinque Terre has recently been declared a UNESCO World Heritage area, and its crystalline sea, with its blue, green and cobalt hues, has received the highest award by Touring Club Italiano and the environmental association Legambiente.
Set between the hills and the magnificent sea of Monterosso, the pearl of the Cinque Terre, the Villa degli Argentieri offers a breathtaking panorama.
The elegant Villa, first built in the early 1950s and now completely redecorated, is in a peaceful and exclusive area in front of the sea, separated from the sea only by a small, picturesque, tree-lined country road.
The entire hotel is air conditioned.
The hotel's guests can relax in the lounge bar where breakfast is served, as well as in a magnificent solarium equipped with deck-chairs and showers.
On the terrace you can sip a cocktail admiring the enchanting sunsets and the unique views of Cinque Terre.
Other hotel services include 24 hour room service, 24 hour reception, fax service at front desk, luggage room, private car parking facilities, garden, multilingual staff, newspapers, tourist information, lift.
Rooms have individually controlled air conditioning, satellite colour TV, hairdryer, heating, mini bar, safe box, telephone.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have given this hotel very high ratings on all aspects of their stay.
Some typical guests' reviews:
"Absolutely lovely hotel! Staff was wonderful and accomodating. Plus, the parking arrangement was great to have in the very compact Monterosso."
"Beautiful rooms, great location, friendly staff."

General price range per room or suite, including breakfast
Single & double rooms, including Deluxe Rooms: 100 - 200 euros
Suites: 200 - 300 euros

Website: La Villa degli Argentieri Hotel in Monterosso al Mare

Hotel Stella Maris (Star of the Sea in Latin) is a prestigious three stars hotel in the centre of Levanto 100 yards form the beach, recommended by many popular guidebooks, including Karen Brown's, Fodor's, and Michelin.
It is in an ancient palace in the heart of Levanto, Palazzo Vannoni.
Frescoed ceilings, antique furniture, immaculate lace curtains will satisfy the aesthetic requirements of the most demanding guests, without depriving them of any modern comforts.
In fact, despite the grand location, the hotel has a homely, warm, pampering atmosphere and a very calm ambience, where the stress of everyday life can easily be left behind.
The hotel has a large garden, private parking, air conditioning, 24-hour reception, a lovely lounge bar, a restaurant, and many other facilities.
All rooms have en-suite bathroom, Internet access, direct dial telephone, satellite colour TV, heating, electronic safe.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have given this hotel high ratings on many aspects of their stay.
Some typical guests' reviews:
"You will miss a lot if you don't have lunch on the roof terrace. The location of the hotel is just great: close to a bus stop in the Portofino direction (takes only 25 minutes to get to it)."
"The Stella Maris was a delightful surprise! The employees were welcoming, the meals absolutely terrific (the best we had during our 12 days in Italy!), overall an excellent accomodation and great value! Davide was a gem and took great pains to make our stay even more special! My husband and I would highly recommend this hotel. (In Florence and Venice, we stayed in 4 and 5 star hotels, and the Stella Maris had more charm and hospitality, and fantastic food!)"
"What a welcome surprise. The reviews of Stella Maris were complimentary but did not do justice to the hotel. The facility is small, intimate, and well staffed. Secure parking was available (a considerable benefit in the costal region of Italy) and the train station was a short walk away. It is a perfect place to stay from which to explore the Cinque Terre region."

General price range per room or suite, including breakfast or half board
Single & double rooms: 100 - 250 euros
Triple & quadruple rooms: 150 - 300 euros
Suites for 2, 3, 4 people: 250 - 350 euros

Website: Hotel Stella Maris in Levanto

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