In a nutshell
- Want a beach vacation in Cinque Terre? Monterosso is your only real option — it has the largest sandy beach in the entire area, and it’s seriously lovely.
- Monterosso is also the best base for a longer stay in the Cinque Terre: it’s the biggest village, the historic center is beautiful, and there’s a solid selection of shops and restaurants.
- Our top hotel pick is the I Tibei Guesthouse — almost every room has a terrace with lounge chairs, and the beach is just a few minutes’ walk away.
- From Genoa, you can reach Monterosso in under an hour on a direct train — no transfer needed, unlike the other Cinque Terre villages.
Things to Do in Monterosso al Mare
With just under 2,000 residents, Monterosso is the largest of the five villages of the Cinque Terre and is divided into an old town and a new town.
The highlights of Monterosso are spread across both parts:
Monterosso Beach
Monterosso is the only one of the five Cinque Terre villages where you can have a proper beach vacation.
It’s home to the largest sandy beach in the Cinque Terre, complete with everything you’d expect: umbrella rentals, beach bars, and boat rentals.
The beach is split into two sections by a rocky promontory with a castle on top. The larger of the two is the Fedina beach.
Both beaches are connected by a pedestrian tunnel that cuts straight through the hillside.
Old Town of Monterosso
The old town of Monterosso dates back to the 9th century — and it shows.
There are winding, medieval alleyways, a lovely main square, and plenty of small shops and restaurants.
The new town consists of more modern buildings. This is also where most of Monterosso’s hotels are located.
San Francesco Viewpoint
On the rocky promontory between the two parts of Monterosso, there’s a small viewing platform with a statue of Saint Francis, who is greatly venerated in Italy.
From here you can look north and south along the entire coastline — seriously one of the best vantage points in the whole Cinque Terre.
You reach the viewpoint via the Salita dei Cappuccini walking path. The final stretch is a steep staircase.
Statua del Gigante
At the northern end of Monterosso’s beach, a massive sculpture has been carved into the rock, depicting Neptune, the god of the sea.
The statue stands 14 meters tall and was carved into the rock here in the 1920s.
Unfortunately, you can’t climb up to the sculpture — the beautiful house right next to it is private property.
Accommodations in Monterosso
Monterosso has far more accommodations than most other villages in the Cinque Terre. We’ve picked out three great hotels for you, all offering excellent value for money and a prime location:
Our Restaurant Recommendations in Monterosso
Monterosso has some really lovely restaurants with sea views.
So you don’t fall into any tourist traps, we’ve picked out three spots that locals recommend too:
- Agriturismo Buranco: A winery with a restaurant set right in the middle of the vineyards. You can also stay overnight here.
- Gastronomia San Martino: incredibly tasty home-style cooking in the old town.
- Torre Aurora: romantic, with a terrace perched right above the sea.
Activities in Monterosso
Here are a few great things to do in Monterosso al Mare:
Take a Boat Tour
Monterosso has several docks where you can book a boat tour or rent your own boat and explore the entire Cinque Terre coastline:
Do a Wine Tasting
Agriturismo Buranco is a winery located a short uphill walk outside of Monterosso.
It sits right in the middle of the vineyards, and you can do a wine tasting there at any time of day. There’s also a restaurant, so you can pair your wine with a cheese board or fresh fish.
Hike from Monterosso
From Monterosso, you can hike either north toward Levanto, which is outside the Cinque Terre, or south to the next village, Vernazza.
The trail to Vernazza is one of the most popular, but it requires a fee during peak season. It’s included with the Cinque Terre Card.
The hike from Monterosso to Vernazza takes about one and a half hours and takes you through vineyards and lemon groves. There are some steep staircases along the way, so it’s not exactly a walk in the park.
Getting to Monterosso
Just like all the villages of the Cinque Terre, Monterosso is much better reached by train than by car.
If you’re staying in La Spezia, the Cinque Terre Express takes about 20 minutes to reach Monterosso from there.
You can also get to Monterosso easily from Genoa on a direct train. The journey takes just under an hour.
Because Monterosso is the closest Cinque Terre village to Genoa, it’s also the only one you can reach on a direct train. For the others, you’ll need to transfer to the Cinque Terre Express.
By car, the drive is more of a challenge, as the roads are steep, narrow, and winding.
If you still want to come by car, Monterosso has two public parking lots. Parking costs around 25 euros per day.
Alternatively, you should book accommodations with a private parking space, such as the Villa Adriana.
A much cheaper option is to park in La Spezia in the parking garage at the main train station: you’ll pay 15 euros per day there. From there, you can hop straight onto the Cinque Terre Express.
For a broader overview of the region, be sure to also read our guide to the Cinque Terre.
