Monterosso al Mare — the sandy Fegina beach with the old village beyond in summer sunshine

Cinque Terre

Monterosso al Mare

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Trade-off

The largest village with Cinque Terre's only real sandy beach — the most accessible and tourist-complete.

Monterosso is the northernmost and largest of the five villages and the only one with a genuine sandy beach — the Spiaggia di Fegina stretches for 400 metres behind the village and is the destination for visitors who want both the Cinque Terre aesthetic and a proper seaside holiday. The village splits into the old quarter (Riomaggiore side) and the newer Fegina area near the train station, connected by a tunnel. The anchovies (acciughe) harvested off Monterosso are among the finest in the Mediterranean and feature prominently in local cooking.

Scores

8/10

Walkability

9/10

Transit

4/10

Price

5/10

Local feel

4/10

Nightlife

9/10

Family-friendly

6/10

Centrality

What you gain

  • ↑The only sandy beach in the five villages — Fegina beach is wide, properly maintained, and the best place in the Cinque Terre for a genuine beach day. Sunbed and umbrella hire available.
  • ↑Best food infrastructure in the five villages: the Enoteca Internazionale for wines, Il Frantoio Piccolo for Ligurian street food, and Miky restaurant (the most celebrated formal dining in Cinque Terre, reservation essential in season).
  • ↑Easiest access: the train station is in Fegina, walking distance from the beach and most accommodation. Less stair-climbing required than in the higher villages of Corniglia and Manarola.

What you sacrifice

  • ↓The most crowded of the five villages — the beach and promenade receive the heaviest day-tripper traffic, particularly July–August.
  • ↓Less photogenic than Vernazza or Manarola — the split between the old village and the beach area lacks the single-image drama of the other villages.

Best for

families with childrenbeach-focused travellersthose who want the full Cinque Terre experience with beach access

Avoid if

those seeking the most authentic, quietest villagethose who find heavy crowds difficult

Other Cinque Terre neighbourhoods

Riomaggiore

The southernmost village and main entry point — lively, accessible, and the starting point for most visits.

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Vernazza

The most photographed harbour in Italy — a tiny fishing port with a natural piazza, castle ruins, and extraordinary light.

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Manarola

Rainbow-coloured houses cascading to the sea — the most photographed sunset village and December presepe star.

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