🇮🇹 Cinque Terre town guide: Monterosso al Mare

Want to base your Cinque Terre time in Monterosso al Mare? It’s my favorite place to base your trip - close to the best beaches, big enough to have tons of food, and plenty of great hiking! On this guide, you’ll get: - instructions on how to get between the islands - the major activities popular in the area, with guidance on how to check trails and book tickets - my favorite private (but affordable) boat company for a day on the water - 8 places to eat at varying price points - an interactive map to help navigate you to each spot Before you buy: everything on this list is included in my Cinque Terre Master Guide, so if you want tips for seeing all of Cinque Terre, that's your best bet!

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Monterosso is a great home base for all the major things to do in Cinque Terre, which is why I love it!

Old town is cool and fun to wander or pick up a few souvenirs. New town is more modern architecturally, and where the locals live, meaning it’s quieter at night.

Where to Stay

Monterosso Al Mare is my favorite of the Cinque Terre towns the stay in. I like staying here because it’s the only town with a proper beach, has a ton of good hiking trail options from here, and is big enough to have plenty of excellent restaurants.

Getting Around

Trains run every 30 minutes or so, making it easy to get to all the other towns!

I discourage folks taking cars within the Cinque Terre cities. It’s possible, but parking is both limited and very expensive. Additionally, these cliffside roads are at times barely more than 1 lane, meaning at times you’ll have to reverse for a minute or two to allow the cars in the other direction to pass.

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Access all the local insights and recommendations from @wheresemmanow when you purchase this guide.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emma | Where's Emma Now

Available for hire

Amateur Italian, travel advisor, and adventurous eater! I’m a travel creative living in small town northern Italy, and I've been planning travel for over 15 years. I've lived on three continents and visited over 40 countries, so I'm passionate about helping travelers experience the best of a location, no matter where! I love both/and travel: I want to see the big sights AND the local hangouts, the big cities AND the small towns. I’d love to help you do it too! If you’re going to Rome for the first time, you don’t need me to tell you to see the Colosseum. But you might want me to tell you if it’s better as a guided tour or on your own, what add-on’s are worth the money, and what are the extra secret things your ticket can get you! My favorite part of travel is eating well: finding the local haunts, tasting a new wine, and trying the local dishes. Amazing food doesn't have to be expensive: sometimes the best of a place is in the street food! But if it is a splurge, I'll make sure it's worth every penny. I'd love to work with you to create the trip of your dreams!

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What's included

Digital Map

Fully interactive, digital map for finding places nearby

12 places

12 hand-picked places with notes from the creator

3 photos

Beautiful, hi-res photos from the creator

2 links

2 links from the creator to go even deeper with more info

DESTINATION(S) COVERED

Liguria, Italy

Cinque Terre, SP, Italy

Italy

Monterosso al Mare, SP, Italy

Ligurian Riviera, Italy

FOCUSES AND THEMES

Adventure

Foodie

People & Culture

Beach

Nature

Format

Guide

Guides typically include detailed information and how-to’s about a destination as well as suggested places to try.

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