Monterosso al Mare
Go to Monterosso al Mare for the only extensive sand beach in the Cinque Terre, an old town with a church built between 1282 and 1307, and walks into the national park.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Monterosso al Mare is a town in the province of La Spezia, in Liguria, northern Italy, and the westernmost of the five Cinque Terre villages. It sits on a small gulf sheltered by a modest artificial reef. The town has two parts: the old town and Fegina, a newer seafront district. A tunnel a few tens of meters long links them, and it is used mainly by pedestrians.
Fegina has the train station and the larger sandy beaches, while Monterosso's beach is the only extensive sand beach in the Cinque Terre. The area is known for lemon trees, olives and terraced vineyards, which produce the sweet wine sciacchetrà. The town lies inside Cinque Terre National Park, and the sea off the coast is part of a marine protected area. Plan one full day for the beach and the old town, and more if you want to hike. Summer brings the largest crowds.
Monterosso al Mare in five
- Check trail fees before you hikeVisitors must pay a fee to hike on all sections of the trails, which the national park now runs. Check the current fees and options on the park's site before you go.Cinque Terre
- Use the tunnel from Fegina to the old townFegina has the train station and the larger sandy beaches. A tunnel of a few tens of meters links it to the old town and is used mainly on foot.
- Walk up to Soviore earlyThe sanctuary above the town is about 1.5 hours on foot. You can take the local bus from Piazza Garibaldi instead and walk back down through the wooded paths.
- Avoid the summer crowdsThe town is crowded in the summer months. May, September or October give calmer streets.
- Check that insurance covers hikingCheck that your policy covers hiking before you leave, especially on the coast paths.Travel insurance
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- Visa-free short stays for many passports; Schengen visa for others Read more
- Emergency
- 112 general emergency, 113 police, 118 ambulance
- Tipping
- Not expected; check the bill for a coperto or service charge
- Time
- UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer (daylight saving)
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Quiet, coolJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 123 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, cool
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Quiet, wetFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 127 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, wet
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Mild, quieterMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Spring, mildAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, mild
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Warm, calmerMayRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calmer
- JuneClear9 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°Warm, busierJuneClear
Mixed
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busier
- JulyClear6 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Hot, crowdedJulyClear
Poor
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 42 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, crowded
- AugustClear8 rainy daysHigh28°Low21°Peak crowdsAugustClear
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak crowds
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Warm, calmerSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 134 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calmer
- OctoberRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Mild, calmOctoberRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 219 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calm
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Wet, quietNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 188 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Quiet, wetDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 146 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, wet
Average daily high and low in Monterosso al Mare, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Monterosso al Mare
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 10°
- Humidity
- 58%
- Wind
- 31 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Corniglia
11:45 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today18°11°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue18°13°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed17°12°21%Wednesday: Rain. High 17°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 21%.
- Thu17°12°19%Thursday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 19%.
- Fri16°12°48%Friday: Rain. High 16°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 48%.
- Sat15°10°37%Saturday: Rain. High 15°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 37%.
- Sun16°10°35%Sunday: Rain. High 16°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 35%.
Updated 11:11 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
What's on in Monterosso al Mare
Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city
Events calendarEvery year
- Feb–MarCarnival of ViareggioLucca, a day trip
- Jul–AugFestival PucciniPisa, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Vernazzaabout 5 to 10 minutes by trainThe next village east, reached by train or the coast path.
- Levantoabout 10 minutes by trainThe town to the west, on the Punta Mesco walk toward its territory.
- Riomaggioreabout 20 to 40 minutes by trainThe eastern end of the Cinque Terre chain, a good stop for the coast walk.
- Genoaabout 1.5 to 2 hours by trainLiguria's capital, a larger city with museums, markets and an airport.
Before you go to Monterosso al Mare
Rules for Monterosso al Mare, checked
- Non-EU passport holders may need a Schengen visa. Check current requirements on Italy's official visa portal before you book.Source
- Hikers need a pass for the trails, and the park sets the rules. Check the current fees and trail conditions on the national park site.Source
- Validate paper train tickets in the yellow machines on the platform before you board, or you may be fined on the train.
- Carry your passport or ID card at all times, since police can ask to see it.
Plan around Monterosso al Mare
The five villages, the national park and the trails in one place
Read the guideGetting around LiguriaTrains, local buses and roads into Monterosso compared
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a Schengen visa and what to check before you fly
Read the guideMoney and costsTypical prices for a bed, meals, transport and sights
Read the guideWhere to stayOld town, Fegina and the hillside compared before you book
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for falls, missed trains and trip changes
Read the guideMonterosso al Mare FAQ
Is Monterosso al Mare worth visiting?
Yes, for the sand beach, the old town and the coast walks. It is crowded in summer, so May, September or October suit visitors who want calmer streets.
How do you get to Monterosso al Mare?
By train from La Spezia or Genoa, and intercity trains also run from Milan, Rome, Turin and Tuscany. By road, a branch off provincial road SP 38 runs from Levanto or Vernazza, and local buses run from Levanto.
Is there a beach in Monterosso?
Yes. Monterosso has the only extensive sand beach in the Cinque Terre, sheltered by a modest artificial reef. The larger sandy beaches are at Fegina.
How long is the walk to Punta Mesco?
A little over an hour on foot toward Levanto reaches the old Semaforo signal tower on Punta Mesco. The ruins of the Sant'Antonio del Mesco hermitage are about 100 metres beyond it, in Levanto's territory.
What is Monterosso known for to eat and drink?
Lemons, white wines and the sweet sciacchetrà from terraced coastal vineyards. Anchovies are caught with lampara lights around 29 June and salted locally, a tradition that is a Slow Food presidium.
Did a famous writer live in Monterosso?
Eugenio Montale, the Nobel Prize-winning poet, spent part of his life and summer holidays at Villa Montale in Monterosso.