I'm trying to decide where to stay after Vernazza (Cinque Terre) - Sestri Levante or Rapallo or Santa Margherita. After a few days will head to Genoa for a few days. I'm going the first 2 weeks of June.

Thoughts? Thanks.

I live on the Italian Riviera and my thoughts are that you might do best to pick ONE town for your entire stay here, and not keep switching lodgings. If you pick one location mid-point between Genova and le Cinque Terre, you can probably do all that you want to do from that one "base." Either Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure or Camogli would be good options for enjoying all of the Riviera Levante. (Less so Sestri Levante.)

HOWEVER:

If you are determined to hike every day in le Cinque Terre, you should indeed stay in Vernazza part of the time, because in June you will need to start your hikes first thing in the morning because of the heat.

If your reasons for spending a few days in Genova include a desire for nightlife, then you should stick to your plan to actually sleep in Genova for some nights, because the train line along the coast late at night is lousy.

But if you basically are coming to the Riviera to sightsee during the day and relax at night, I highly recommend that you select one central town along the coast. All the towns have beautiful vistas and fine swimming.

Rapallo is a bustling town, with a wonderful market, lots of Italian street life, great transportation connections and hotels in all price ranges.

Santa Margherita Ligure also has good transportation connections but it is smaller and a bit quieter, more "exclusive" in its attitude, more high end clothes shopping, and has more of a sophisticated young professionals' scene into the night.

Camogli is a small village, and it is the quietest but also perhaps the prettiest of all the central locations. It has good transportation connections -- certainly to le Cinque Terre -- but not quite as many options as Rapallo.

Both Camogli and Santa Margherita Ligure have very good hiking options.

I am very fond of Sestri Levante, which is Italian to the core and very family friendly, but it isn't quite as convenient as a base that would include seeing Genova as well as le Cinque Terre.

Zeppole -
thanks for your thoughts. I stayed in Camogli and Nervi seven years ago, around the same time - really enjoyed both, did day trips to Genoa and Sestri Levante. I'm not going to have a car. Rapallo had been my first choice but remembered visiting Sestri Levante and wanting to return. Rapallo might be just right - in between the Cinque Terre (village) and Genoa (city).

After vistiing Lake Como and the Amalfi Coast - I still feel the Italian Riviera is the best - beautiful coast line, lush landscape, great food.

Once again- thanks.

We loved our stay in Rapallo a few years ago and plan to return next year. There was a lively street atmosphere, good restaurants, few American tourists and the train station is very convenient.

We took ferries to SML and Portofino and enjoyed a day in Genoa. The aquarium there is great if you are into marine life.

If you have days to relax in Rapallo, you might really walking in both the neighboring town of Zoagli -- whose seaside walk and views I think are prettier than those of le Cinque Terre -- and the next town down is Chiavari, which has the most interesting historic center and the best food. The most interesting parts are located away from the seaside, a 5 minute walk toward the hills (all flat). It's even nice on a rainy day, because the streets are all covered. Go for a cocktail and dinner at Luchin (closed Sunday).

In Rapallo, the gelateria Frigidarium is one of the best I think in Italy. If you are there when the weather is hot, it can be great to sit outside the Cantine d'Italia before dinner with a glass of wine and watch everybody in town pass by, out for a walk.

Can't recommend any places to stay. Just be aware that some lodgings are on noisy streets or require uphill walks that are hard without a car. Reading user reviews on Tripadvisor or such will avoid the problems. In the past I've noticed positive reviews on Tripadvisor for a residence hotel in Rapallo. It might be nice to have something of a kitchen for multi-night stay. Both Rapallo and Chiavari have good take-away food shops. You might enjoy getting David Downie's Food and Wine of Genova and the Italian Riviera, which not only has lots of eating recommendations, but nice descriptions of all the towns and pictures.

kfusto & zeppole - thanks for the comments. The hiking options in SML sounds interesting - still not sure if i'll stay in Rapallo or SML yet - both are close to numerous towns/villages I want to visit. Decisions, decisions.....Thanks.

Does anyone know how regular the bus service is between Rapallo and SML? Any idea on how much a taxi would be? How long a walk?