Why A Mini guide to Monterosso?
Monterosso is one of the most fantastic places I have ever traveled. Monterosso really has it all, you can do some wonderful hikes, have a relaxing beach vacation, enjoy the charming streets of the town, eat to your hearts content, enjoy pesto, have wonderful drinks with incredible views, go wine tasting, and enjoy the dolce vita at its very very best.
I created this guide to Monterosso because I could not recommend this town more highly and it has a little something for everyone. I recommend staying 3-5 days in this area and exploring everything that Monterosso and the Cinque Terre have to offer.
Be Prepared
The towns of the Cinque Terre are not large and they are very very popular. This area of Italy can be very crowded in the summer months as well as in the shoulder season. PLAN IN ADVANCE! Make reservations for things you do not want to miss out on. Book your hotels as early as possible. Stay the night so that you can experience the towns in the morning & evenings. Be prepared to have some patience and you will still have an absolutely wonderful experience.
If you’re looking for more practical information about visiting the Cinque Terre check out my post here —-> What you should know before visiting the Cinque Terre
How to get to Monterosso
By Train
The easiest way to get to Monterosso is by train. You may have to make a few switches, but it is still far easier than trying to bring a car into this small town. You can take trains from Milan, Pisa, Genoa, Rome, etc. You can even find direct trains into Monterosso from some of these places or connect in La Spezia which is about 10 minutes by train from Monterosso.
I love using the Rail Europe app when taking the train so that I can keep everything in one place. However if you prefer direct booking you can use the trenitalia direct website.
By Car
There are times when you will need to drive or when driving just makes the most sense. I was on a solo trip in Italy and flew into Venice so it made the most sense for me to rent a car to visit this area.
I rented a car and drove the 3.5 hours to the La Spezia, parked in a parking garage there, and took the train into Monterosso. There are parking lots in Monterosso as well but they can be costly and they can fill up. I wanted to be sure I would have a spot with no issues so the pre-booked garage in La Spezia was best for me. If you do need to drive this is a great option.
By Boat/Ferry
Depending on where you are coming from you can also access Monterosso by boat. There are ferries that run between the other towns of the Cinque Terre as well as some other locations on the Ligurian Coast.
Where to Stay in Monterosso
This mini guide to Monterosso has a few excellent choices for spots to stay. I have personally vetted these recommend spots by staying there or putting friends/family members in these hotels.
Albergo Degli Amici (my favorite stay in the mini guide to Monterosso)
This is a wonderful 3 star hotel, it is a bit tucked away in the back of the town making it very peaceful. The hotel has a really nice breakfast spread, air conditioned rooms (which is not always the case in the Cinque Terre), kind and helpful staff, and the best part of all… the garden. The garden area of this hotel is like an Italian dream! There are beautiful trees, grape vines, and loungers to hang out on overlooking the town and the sea.
This is truly my favorite place to stay as I feel the value is perfect for the CT. You can click here to view & book.
A Charming Guesthouse: Villa Accini
This place is also quite tucked away and up a little quiet path from the main area so you do have to walk a bit. The grounds are so charming and the resident bunny is just the cutest. I was so lucky on my solo trip here to get the middle room front and center with the balcony opening up onto the front of the property.
It was such a beautiful spot. They had air conditioning as well, it was very clean and comfortable, I didn’t get to have breakfast as I had to take an early train, but it looked VERY nice.
If this sounds like your style you can view & book this hotel here —-> Villa Accini
Hotel Margherita: In the Action
We stayed here on our honeymoon and it is another excellent 3 star hotel. The property was nice, clean, air conditioned, and we had a little balcony to sit out on and watch the world go by. This is also right on the main street in the old town so it’s right in the action if you like that kind of thing!
If this sounds like your kind of place you can check it out and book here —–> Hotel Margherita
Luxury: Hotel Porto Roca
I have not stayed here as it is out of my budget. But this is most certainly the most beautiful and luxurious property in the five towns of the Cinque Terre!
Luckily, I was able to book my parents here last summer and they were THRILLED! I was lucky enough to be able to visit them, see their room, and have a drink by the pool.
My parents were so happy with their stay, they loved exploring the property and having a view over the town. My Mom had some mobility issues during the time of their stay and they were so incredibly helpful and accommodating with getting her to and from town. My parents found the food in the restaurant to be fantastic and beyond enjoying breakfast here they also ate lunch here and ate by the pool.
They had such a peaceful and relaxing time and they rave about it to anyone who will listen. I hope to get to have this experience myself someday. If you’re visiting as a couple, for a honeymoon or special occasion this is THE spot!
If this looks and sounds great to you, how could it not? You can view and book the hotel here —-> Hotel Porto Roca
If you’re interested in where to stay in some of the other towns check out my post on my favorite stays in Italy.
Where to eat in Monterosso
Miky Ristorante
This place is absolutely fantastic and will likely come up on almost any list for where to eat in the Cinque Terre or guide to Monterosso. It is with good reason, the food and service are phenomenal. I did the tasting menu here and ordered a few glasses of local wines as well. I couldn’t believe how many courses just kept coming and how amazing each one was. They served multiple pasta courses which is a literal dream! They treated me so well as a solo traveler and I can’t wait to take my family in a few months.
They have two different tasting menus, one is traditional, and one is innovation. You can also order a la carte here as you please. This isn’t the cheapest dinner you will have but it is amazing and worth the price. You can make reservations by email and through their website they are very responsive.
L’Ancora Della Tortuga
I would eat at this place just for the views, but thankfully the food was fantastic too! Try to book a table for sunset on the terrace, it is the most perfect spot. They are quite responsive through whatsapp and you should definitely have a reservation to eat here. They also offer a tasting menu and a la carte options. The inside area of this spot is also so charming!
Buranco Winery
I went here for wine tasting (more on that in the “things to do section” and then I had to return to have dinner. This was one of my favorite meals of my trip. Everything I was served was fantastic. I had multiple courses and then even had cheese for desert and I was so pleased with everything. They also make a fantastic aperol spritz. The setting is absolutely stunning and truly is like a scene from an Italian movie. The staff were so kind, they let me wander all over the place, and treated me with such kindness as a solo traveler.
I have now revisited multiple times and actually had a big family and friends dinner here. Everyone in my group said it was their favorite meal of our trip.
You can also stay here in the peaceful vineyard behind the town, if you’re interested you can check that out here.
Things to Do in Monterosso
Enjoy the beach
Monterosso has some nice long sand beaches and it is the only one of the 5 towns to have this large of an area with sand. There are umbrellas and beach clubs where you can pay to be, there are also free beaches where you can just throw down a towel.
There is at least one main beach where you can reserve your beach beds early… and I mean EARLY! They book out quick. But if you know you want to spend a stress free day posted up at the beach it is worth checking out and booking a spot. Click here.
Hike within Monterosso
You can take some smaller little “hikes” that get you views above the town. Head up to the cemetery over the town, the views are incredible and it is truly a beautiful place.
Hike to Neighboring Towns
I would be remiss not to mention hiking in this mini guide to Monterosso as it is one of the best things you can do in the Cinque Terre.
There are hiking trails from Monterosso to neighboring towns. The most famous one is the hike to Vernazza, this is arguably the most popular hike in the Cinque Terre.
You need a permit to do this hike that you can get included in your Cinque Terre Card. You can also hike to the neighboring town of Levanto. This is a longer hike but a much quieter one and it is really enjoyable. Levanto is a nice town to visit and spend a few hours as well.
Wine Tasting at Buranco
The Cinque Terre makes some wonderful wines and there are hidden vineyards all along the paths, cliff-sides, and villages. You can simply hang out in a wine bar in town or sign up for a wine tasting through get your guide or airbnb experiences. There are quite a few options out there.
Buranco winery, which is also listed here as a dinner spot, has an amazing wine tasting program and also does some different wine tours around their vineyard. I couldn’t recommend this spot more highly! It is truly one of my favorite spots in. this entire mini guide to Monterosso and in the Cinque Terre.
Wine tasting at Enoteca Internazionale
This is a new add to my mini guide to Monterosso after my last visit! Another amazing spot in town for wine tasting is the “Enoteca Internazionale” right in the old town of Monterosso. You can walk up at any time and taste wines from all around the Cinque Terre through their fantastic menu.
Pesto Making/Cooking Class
Another great option in this area is to do a pesto making class. The Liguria region of Italy is known for having incredible pesto. You can again find many of these experiences on get your guide. You can also hop the train or hike to Nessun Dorma in Manarola which has a super fun pesto making class with arguably one of the best views in the Cinque Terre. Technically I am still including this in my mini guide to Monterosso because you do have the option to easily hop on the train.
If you’re interested in more tour options within Monterosso itself you can click here.
A drink with a view
Whether it be a view of the sea, the town, the charming streets, or the beaches… Monterosso has no shortage of amazing places to sip a drink and enjoy the scene.
Other Cinque Terre Posts
Although this is a Mini Guide to Monterosso, I have traveled extensively at this point throughout the Cinque Terre and I have a number of posts that may be helpful to you.
Must do Experiences in the Cinque Terre
This post details 11 experiences that I consider to be must do experiences in the Cinque Terre ——> Experiences Here!
Riomaggiore Mini Guide
This post details staying in Riomaggiore as your base for vistiing the area ——-> Riomaggiore Mini Guide
Corniglia Mini Guide
If you’re interested in more information about staying in the towns of the Cinque Terre I also have a post about staying in Corniglia. You can find it here.
Favorite Stays in Italy
If you’re interested in more places that I’ve loved in Italy check out my —> FREE guide to my favorite stays in Italy
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