It is essentially right next to Lake Garda, and it is large enough to have lots of great accommodations, but small enough to feel more intimate as an Italian city. It has great train access to many areas in both northern Italy, as well as it has a couple of good choices of travel to Rome and Florence.

Another location that my wife and I absolutely loved was Porto Venere. It is a location you can grab boats to La Cinque Terra from, but more importantly, was a favorite location of many of the Romantic Poets which includes Byron’s Grotto (named after Lord Byron) and Poet’s Bay to commemorate their love of the little city. It’s a great day trip and good place to start your visit to La Cinque Terra from.