Monterosso al Mare is one of the Cinque Terre and a worthy home base for exploring the area. It has a lot to offer: beaches, hiking, great restaurants, a nice old town, and amazing views. You can blast through on a day trip but if you spend more time you will have a lot to discover, and it might just grow on you. It's rather easy to travel nearby by boat, train, or your own two feet.
The beaches at Monterosso are the best in the Cinque Terre. They offer wide stretches of sand that is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, water sports, or enjoying food and beverage by the sea. It is also known for its exquisite food. You can find a number of restaurants that serve traditional Ligurian cuisine. Take your pick from dishes such as pasta with pesto, focaccia, and seafood linguine.
lemons, vines and olive trees greet you as you walk
care for a hike?
Hiking is an epic way to explore the area. The trail from Vernazza to Monterosso is challenging but rewards the diligent with sublime views. It's best to do that hike early or later in the day to avoid the crowds. Later in the day in the spring one does not even need a trail pass.
The trails take you through vineyards, olive groves, and forests, and they offer spectacular views of the villages, coast, and the sea. Practical considerations include: only hike when dry, make sure you are fit enough, take plenty of water and sunscreen, proper footwear (no flip flops), a small first aid kit, and be sure to use the restroom before you leave the village. If you take your time and are careful you will create some wonderful memories!
it only takes minutes to find a marvelous view
my reflections
Personally, I found Monterosso al Mare an excellent home base for exploring Liguria and even some train trips into Tuscany as well. I might be a little biased after spending about three weeks there, in the spring of 2023, but it was my favorite out of the Cinque Terre. All five villages are unique and have their own charms for sure though.
Some of the highlights in Monterosso for me were (in no particular order):
- Hikes that were not the well traveled hikes (Punta Mesco, valley of lemons, other less traveled areas, random trail with Termine sign)
- Food and coffee (focaccia, pasta, gelato, pizza, pastries, cappuccino, espresso macchiato, and more)
- Wine tasting (Buranco has a lovely location and at least for me as a non-expert it was a great tasting with appetizers)
- Swimming (swimming in spring is a bit cold, but fun and refreshing)
- Sunrises and sunsets
- People, dogs, and cats that I interacted with (solo travel can at times be lonely)
- Lots of small details (that I would not normally see in the Seattle area)
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