I have been to the Cinque Terre two times and I cannot get enough. Hope to return next year.
Cinque Terre is a real a paradise place to go and it has ideal combination of wandering in wild nature, swimming in sea, and sunbathing on the beach.
Cinque Terre, how is it not one of the wonders of the modern world? I was travelling and stumbled across this place from a recommendation from a fellow traveller. It's absolutely breath taking. My only request, if you go, respect it, it's beautiful and needs to stay that way.
If you go to Italy, please make sure you visit Cinque Terre. We stayed in Riomaggiore and it ended up being my favorite of the towns. It seriously changed me forever.
I went to Cinque Terre in 2004 on recommendation of a friend. I truly felt like I had stepped back in time. Definitely medieval, it was actually a very spiritual experience. Loved the place and will return there one day. It beat the BIG cities like Florence any day.
I've been to Italy three times and Cinque Terre was my favorite. It truly is unspoiled. The locals were nice. We hit town around dusk one day and didn't have a room. Met some nice people and they rented out a small apartment. Spent two nights. Ate well and relaxed. Going back in 05.
HI - Genoa - Ostello Genova Youth Hostel in Genoa … There isn't much to do in Genoa. But there is the Aquarium, so you can check that out. It was worth a stop. This hostel followed the golden rule for good hostels--it was at the top of a very steep hill. It was difficult to find directions to it, but once you got to the hostel there was a decently-priced pasta dinner. The place was very large, and very clean, and very institutional. I find that to be the rule for HI hostels. But if cleanliness is your number one priority, then this place is excellent.
HI - Finale Ligure - Vuillermin Castle Hostel in Finale-Ligure … Man, this place is a godsend. Me and my good friend Danny were traveling with 3 18 year olds, and by the time we ventured into Nice, France, it was tourist hell. However, we jumped on the train into Italy, determined to escape all the crap.
It was actually really random that we ended up in this tiny, magical villa. More like a point on the map. "Let's get off here." We got off the train, and within minutes these 2 british girls, sensing our obvious tourist tendancies (i.e., looking around and looking lost as hell) asked us if we wanted to split a cab up to the hostel. The hostel turned out to be a castle. Wow. You have to walk up about 200 steps to get to the top but it's worth it. Million dollar views for $11 a night. The first floor consists of the reception area, complete with a computer with internet, and a cool banquet area (where we drank wine with our foreign partners-in-crime). The second floor is the girls' dorm, where you are put with about three bunkbeds…
Ostello Tramonti in La Spezia … This was one of the better hostels that we stayed in during a two-month tour of Europe. It's clean, quiet, and the facilities are superior to most other establishments. Do not be deterred because of the seemingly remote location — there are frequent buses from the hostel to Riomaggiore (the first town in the Cinque Terre) and La Spezia. The staff were also very helpful and the breakfast was quite good. A great find!
Hostel Ospitalia del Mare in Levanto … The cleanest hostel ever. Great location. Large, private bathrooms in the rooms. Very comfortable beds and near reasonable restaurants. I was there when there was a large school group and they were noisy so check if you are interested in a quiet time. Overall, excellent.
La Dolce Vita Rooms in Cinque Terre … I have visited this hostel in August of 2002 and was very happy. Our room was lovely, full of antiques, and opened up onto a rooftop deck with lounge chairs and a view of the sea. Although we had to share a bathroom with the downstairs apartment, everything was very clean and the owner extremely helpful and friendly. He speaks English also. I will definitely stay at La Dolce Vita on my next trip to Cinque Terre!
Ostello Cinque Terre Hostel in Manarola … Clean and big, but... the lock out is really annoying. They make you leave your passport at the front desk, leave your key each day, they monitor your drinking, you can not leave your room after midnight (off season), and the people who work there are really uptight. Oh yeah, and you have a coin opperated shower. Other than being uptight, they are helpful and pleasant. But just know that there are many many rules, so you aren't surprised.
Hostelz.com is the only hostel guide with complete information and reviews on all youth hostels and backpackers worldwide.
