Jacinta & VanJacinta & Van
Things To DoThings To Do
Tour de FocacciaTour de Focaccia
First and foremost, we recommend a self-paced Tour de Focaccia (Focaccia (noun): The undisputed greatest bread of all time. Salty. Oily. "Flavortown" -Guy Fieri). The rules of the tour are as follows: try focaccia from all of the bakeries, "Focacceria," in town over the course of one day and pick your favorite. Start early, hydrate, and eat as much focaccia as you possibly can. This is a marathon not a sprint. Choose your favorite carefully. There is a right answer.
Beaches in MonterossoBeaches in Monterosso
There are several beaches located right in Monterosso, some which are free (lay your towel down) and some which are a part of a beach club, or "lido", where you can rent a spot with two beach chairs and an umbrella for the day. Spiaggia di Fegina is the largest beach in Monterosso, located directly across from the train station. There are small free sections here, but arrive early because it will fill up quickly. You can also rent a spot from the beach club for the day for €40-€45, but we also recommend arriving early as these rent quickly. Some sections must be reserved in advance, and there should be a WhatsApp number on the gate that you can call to reserve for the following day. There is a paid and free section of the beach in the Old Town. We recommend this beach for it's convenience, but recommend the beaches in the New Town for the vibes. Both the free and paid options are lovely, so do whatever feels more like your style. Either way, arrive early (or late in the afternoon)!
Hiking - Monterosso to LevantoHiking - Monterosso to Levanto
We 100% recommend the hike from Monterosso to Levanto, the town just north of Monterosso. This trail is 8km long (one direction) and takes approximately 3 hours to complete. It's a moderately challenging hike, and the coastal views are unbelievable! Although the mountains aren't particularly tall, the trail will have steep sections and much of it is without shade, so be prepared to sweat. Unlike the Blue Trail or any of the other trails connecting Monterosso to the other 4 Cinque Terre towns to the south, this trail is FREE! The trail can be hiked in either direction, but if you start from Monterosso the trailhead is located on the north/new side of town. Once in Levanto, we recommend going for a swim and hunting down some focaccia or gelato. The train back to Monterosso from here takes approximately 5 minutes and costs €10, tickets can be bought at the train station or online at TrenItalia or Trainline. You could also hike back! NOTE: Closed-toe shoes are required on the trails.
Hiking - Monterosso to the Shrine of Our Lady of SovioreHiking - Monterosso to the Shrine of Our Lady of Soviore
If you're looking for a "quicker" hike with a humbling amount of vert, we recommend the hike from Monterosso to the Shine of Our Lady of Soviore ("Santuario Nostra Signora di Soviore") for awesome coastal views from above. Traditionally a shelter for pilgrims, this church is the oldest sanctuary in Liguria. Although people can still stay overnight here, we recommend visiting it via a dayhike, ideally arriving just before lunch so you can snag a spot at their restaurant. The humble restaurant cooks simple, local cuisine at very affordable prices. We highly recommend the pesto and walnut pastas here! For the hike itself, follow signs for trail #509 from Monterosso. The trail is generally well kept, but the vert is no joke - you climb 1,500ft in just over a mile and a half. The hike is just over 3 miles round trip and takes an average of 3 hours. Stay hydrated!
Bike between Levanto - Bonassola - FramuraBike between Levanto - Bonassola - Framura
You can rent bikes for a few hours or the day in Levanto (the town just north of Monterosso) and bike the old railroad line running north to Bonassola or onto Framura! The path is paved and flat the entire way, and offers a good mix of sun/shade as it runs through tunnels right along the coast. It's only 2.6km between Levanto and Bonassola, and another 2.4km between Bonassola and Framura, so it's quite a brief ride. The views are amazing the entire way, but we recommend stopping in Bonassola for the beach! There are also tiny beaches speckled along the route, but we aren't sure if you can lock your bike along the path to access these. Bike rental locations in Levanto: Cicli Raso (rent a regular bike for €7 (half day) or €12 (full day). https://www.cicliraso.com/ Sensafreni Bike Shop: Piazza del Popolo, 1, 19015 Levanto SP
Explore Neighboring Villages (Outside of Cinque Terre)Explore Neighboring Villages (Outside of Cinque Terre)
If you're looking to get away from the mega-crowds in the Cinque Terre towns, here are a few nearby towns that are wonderful: Bonassola - Just two train stops away from Monterosso, this tiny village has a wonderful beachfront. There is a paid beach club section where you can rent a couple chairs and umbrella for the day and a free section. If you're interested in the beach club, we recommend Bagni San Giorgio with the blue umbrellas. The Cappella della Madonnina della Punta, though closed to the public, offers a beautiful view. Portovenere - If you have a couple extra days, Portovenere is a lovely village just south of the Cinque Terre and is another UNESCO site. It is only accessible by bus (from La Spezia) or ferry. The bus is more budget-friendly (€3 one-way) from La Spezia and takes 30 min, while the ferry is more expensive (€30 one-way or €42 for a 1-day unlimited pass) from Monterosso. The church and views from Portovenere are incredible!
Explore the 5 Towns of Cinque TerreExplore the 5 Towns of Cinque Terre
Monterosso al Mare is one of the five villages of the Cinque Terre, which together are a UNESCO world heritage site. The seaside villages were traditionally small fishing villages with terraced vineyards and homes built steeply into the cliffs. You can now reach the towns (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, Coniglia, and Monterosso) by train (recommended), boat, or via paid hiking paths. If you're interested in exploring the other towns, we recommend catching an early train (think 7am) and trying your best to beat the crowds. The towns are quite small, and we recommend finding your way up side streets or paths for the best views. They are all so lovely, but if you're feeling tight on time (or the crowds are starting to get to you), we believe choosing only 2 or 3 to explore will feel sufficient! We are so serious about arriving early though -- the number of tourists in June is nuts, so exploring these famous 5 towns is best done early in the morning or near sunset!
A Note about SwimmingA Note about Swimming
The beaches in this region are mostly pebble rather than sand and they are very hot by midday, so we highly recommend bringing water shoes or sandals that you can walk directly up to the water in. The pebbles may be uncomfortable, but the water is crystal clear!