The Poet Hotel is a four-star hotel in the historic centre of La Spezia, the city at the southern gate of the Cinque Terre, and it is one of the best-rated stays in the area. It has 57 rooms, a bar, an elevator, a business centre and a 24-hour front desk, and it sits close to Corso Cavour and Piazza Garibaldi, the lively market-and-cafe heart of the city. Rooms are modern, with rainfall showers, safes, bidets, flat-screen televisions and free WiFi. La Spezia is a working port town without the postcard looks of the villages, but it has good restaurants, a seafront promenade and a direct rail line to all five of the Cinque Terre villages, and hotel prices here are lower than in the villages. That makes The Poet Hotel a smart base for visitors who plan to do the trains and trails by day and return to a comfortable room and a proper dinner by night.
Location and getting around
The hotel is in the historic centre of La Spezia, close to Corso Cavour and Piazza Garibaldi. The railway station is a short walk or taxi ride away, and trains to Riomaggiore take only a few minutes, with Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso further along the line. Ferries to the villages and to Portovenere leave from the harbour. Ask the hotel for the best route from the station when you book.
The rooms
57 rooms, equipped with air conditioning and heating, free WiFi, safes, laptop-friendly desks, rainfall showers, bidets and televisions with streaming. Room types vary, so look at the category details when you book. There is an elevator and a staffed front desk at all hours, which is helpful for early trains.
Food and facilities
The hotel has a bar and a business centre, with meeting rooms and a banquet hall. A continental breakfast is available for an additional charge, and room service is mentioned. Restaurants, cafes and shops are all within the historic centre, and the town’s seafood places are a draw in themselves.
Who it suits
Rail travellers, couples, business visitors and anyone who wants a good-value base in a real Italian town. It suits visitors who plan to catch an early train or ferry, and those visiting in the cooler months when many village hotels are closed.
Good to know
Check-in starts at 2:30 p.m. and runs to midnight, with contactless check-in available, and check-out is before 11:30 a.m. Pets stay free, and service animals are welcome. The hotel closes for a short period around Christmas, so check when you book. Parking details are not stated, so ask in advance if you are driving.
Why stay here
- ✓Historic centre location
- ✓Bar
- ✓Elevator
- ✓24-hour front desk
- ✓Rainfall showers
- ✓Free WiFi and air conditioning
- ✓Continental breakfast available
- ✓Pet-friendly
Good questions
Is The Poet Hotel close to the Cinque Terre trains?+
It is in La Spezia’s historic centre, a short trip from the station, from which trains run to all five villages.
Is breakfast included?+
A continental breakfast is available for an additional charge. Check your rate when you book.
Does the hotel have parking?+
Parking details are not stated, so ask the hotel in advance if you are driving.
