Liguria is a narrow, crescent-shaped region in northwest Italy, hugging the Mediterranean between the Alps, the Apennines, and the sea. Known as the Italian Riviera, it is famous for the five cliffside villages of the Cinque Terre, the glamorous harbour of Portofino, and the maritime city of Genoa. Liguria is also the birthplace of pesto, focaccia, and a culinary tradition built around the sea and the steep, terraced coast.
Top beaches
A ranked editor’s shortlist of the coastline worth planning a day around in Liguria.
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Cinque Terre and Gulf of Poets (Riviera di Levante, La Spezia)
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Portofino, Camogli and the Tigullio (Riviera di Levante, Genoa)
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Levanto, Bonassola and Framura (Riviera di Levante, La Spezia)
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Finalese and Savona Coast (Riviera di Ponente, Savona)
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Riviera dei Fiori (Far West, Imperia)
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- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent
- Beach bars and restaurants
- Showers and toilets
- Kayak and SUP rental
- Free public sections
Monterosso al Mare - Fegina Beach
The only true beach in the Cinque Terre, a broad sand-and-shingle strand in the newer Fegina quarter of Monterosso, backed by the seafront promenade and the famous Il Gigante statue carved into the rock. A mix of organised lidos with coloured umbrellas and free public sections, with the train station right behind the beach.
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- No facilities - bring water and supplies
- No shade
- No lifeguard
Guvano Beach (Spiaggia di Guvano)
A wild, hard-to-reach pebble cove below Corniglia, historically reached through a disused railway tunnel (now generally closed) and famous as the Cinque Terre's clothing-optional beach. Access is difficult and conditions change with landslides, so check the park website before attempting it. There are no facilities and the descent is steep.
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- Cafes and restaurants on the harbour square
- Rock ledges for sunbathing
- Showers nearby
- No sunbed rental
Vernazza Cove (Spiaggia di Vernazza)
Vernazza has a tiny sheltered shingle beach beside its picturesque harbour square (Piazza Marconi) plus a small swimming cove reached through a rock arch on the north side of the village. Space is very limited and fills quickly, but the setting beneath the colourful houses and the Doria castle tower is among the most photographed in Italy.
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- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent
- Beach bars and seafront restaurants
- Showers
- Free public sections
- Ferry pier
Camogli Beach (Spiaggia di Camogli)
A long crescent of grey pebbles below the tall ochre and pink fishermen's houses of Camogli, one of the most atmospheric beach towns on the Riviera di Levante. A working fishing village rather than a resort, with a relaxed local feel, good seafood and ferries to San Fruttuoso and Portofino. The pebbles are large, so beach shoes help.
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- A handful of restaurants and bars in the bay
- Abbey to visit
- Snorkelling and diving
- No road access
- Limited shade
San Fruttuoso Beach
A small pebble beach in a roadless bay accessible only on foot or by boat, dominated by the 10th-century Benedictine abbey of San Fruttuoso. The famous Christ of the Abyss bronze statue lies submerged just offshore. The cove is minuscule and busy in summer, but the combination of abbey, clear water and total absence of cars is unforgettable.
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- Exclusive beach clubs with sunbeds and umbrellas
- Beach bar and restaurant
- Small free public section
- Bus stop on the coast road
Paraggi Beach
The only sandy beach near Portofino, a small emerald-green bay on the coast road from Santa Margherita Ligure. The water is strikingly clear and turquoise, but most of the sand is taken by upscale beach clubs charging premium rates, with only a small free section. Glamorous, pretty and expensive.
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- Some sunbed and umbrella rental
- Generous free public sections
- Restaurants and gelaterie nearby
- Showers
- Calm shallow water for children
Baia del Silenzio, Sestri Levante
The Bay of Silence is a near-perfect curve of fine pebble and sand framed by tightly packed pastel houses and fishing boats, on the eastern side of the Sestri Levante isthmus. Calm, shallow and intimate, it is one of the most beautiful small bays on the whole Riviera and ideal for families.
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- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent
- Free public sections
- Promenade with cafes
- Showers and toilets
- SUP and pedalo rental in summer
Baia delle Favole, Sestri Levante
The Bay of Fables, named by Hans Christian Andersen who stayed in Sestri Levante, lies on the western side of the isthmus and is far larger and more open than the Baia del Silenzio. A long beach with a tree-lined promenade, beach clubs and plenty of free space, well suited to longer beach days and watersports.
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- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent
- Free public sections
- Surf and SUP rental and lessons
- Showers and toilets
- Promenade cafes and restaurants
Levanto Beach
The largest easily reached beach near the Cinque Terre, a wide curve of sand and fine pebbles backed by a palm promenade. Levanto is a relaxed, lower-key base than the five villages, with a genuine surf scene (one of the few reliable surf spots in Liguria) and a flat former-railway path leading to Bonassola and Framura.
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- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent
- Generous free public sections
- Bike rental on the greenway
- Showers
- Village cafes and restaurants
Bonassola Beach
A tranquil fine-pebble and sand beach in a small, unhurried village just north of Levanto, far quieter than the Cinque Terre. The flat lit cycle-and-walk tunnel along the old railway connects it to Levanto in minutes, making it an easy car-free day. Clear water and a low-key, family atmosphere.
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- Small free public sections
- Limited sunbed rental
- Nearby bars and restaurants in Varigotti
- Snorkelling
- No large car park - parking is tight
Baia dei Saraceni, Varigotti
The Bay of the Saracens is one of the most beautiful coves in western Liguria, a small crescent of fine pale pebbles and sand enclosed by the Punta Crena and Capo Noli headlands. The sheltered position gives strikingly clear turquoise water. Very popular and compact, so arrive early in high summer to find space.
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- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent
- Free public sections
- Showers and toilets
- Restaurants and gelaterie on the seafront
- Gentle shallow water for children
Noli Beach
A wide, gently shelving sandy beach fronting one of Italy's best-preserved medieval seafaring towns, complete with town walls, towers and a hilltop castle. Noli (one of the Borghi piu belli d'Italia) combines easy family swimming with genuine history and good fish restaurants, and is calmer than the bigger resorts nearby.
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- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent
- Free public sections
- Showers and toilets
- Watersports and pedalo rental
- Promenade cafes and restaurants
Spotorno Beach
A long, broad sandy beach that makes Spotorno one of the most popular family resorts on the Riviera di Ponente, looking across to the islet of Bergeggi. Plenty of beach clubs and free space, calm shallow water and a lively promenade make it an easy choice for a classic beach holiday.
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- Extensive beach clubs with sunbeds and umbrellas
- Some free public sections
- Showers and toilets
- Watersports rental
- Promenade, shops and restaurants
Alassio Beach (Budello)
One of the largest expanses of fine golden sand in Liguria, about 4 km long, fronted by an elegant promenade and the narrow medieval lane known as the Budello. Alassio is a classic, well-organised seaside resort with a gentle slope into the sea, ideal for families and a long, reliable beach season.
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- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent
- Free public sections
- Showers
- Restaurants on the waterfront
- Boat and kayak rental
Lerici and San Terenzo Beaches
Lerici and its neighbour San Terenzo sit on the sheltered eastern shore of the Gulf of Poets, where Byron and Shelley once lived. The small sandy beaches sit beneath a medieval castle and pastel houses, in calm, protected water ideal for relaxed swimming. The tiny village of Tellaro just to the south is a romantic detour.
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- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent
- Free public sections
- Showers and toilets
- Promenade cafes and restaurants
- Accessible seafront walkway
Bordighera Beaches
On the Riviera dei Fiori close to the French border, Bordighera enjoys one of the mildest microclimates in Italy and a long seafront, the Lungomare Argentina, said to be among the longest promenades in Liguria. The pebble-and-sand beaches are backed by palms and Belle Epoque villas, with calm, clear water and a refined, restful atmosphere.
What to bring
A short packing list for a comfortable beach day — adjust for season and the specific spot.
- Sun protectionHigh-SPF sunscreen, hat, polarised sunglasses, light long-sleeve cover-up.
- HydrationReusable bottle, salty snacks for longer days, electrolyte sachets if it’s hot.
- FootwearWater shoes for pebble or rocky entry, flip-flops for sand, dry pair for the trip home.
- Swim & coverQuick-dry towel or sand-resistant mat, change of swimwear, light cover-up for restaurants.
- Cash & valuablesSmall notes for beach clubs and rentals; waterproof pouch for phone, keys, cards.
- ExtrasReef-safe sunscreen near protected coastline, a book, a small first-aid kit for jellyfish or scrapes.
Beach safety
Hard-earned guidance — read this before you swim, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the coast.
Critical
Swim where lifeguards are posted and follow flag warnings — green is safe, yellow is caution, red means no swimming. Rip currents are the leading beach hazard worldwide.
Caution
Watch for tide changes and marine life — jellyfish blooms, sea urchins on rocky entries, occasional shark or stingray advisories. Don’t swim alone, especially at dawn or dusk.
Tip
Reapply sunscreen every 90 minutes and after every swim. Take shade between 11 am and 3 pm — the sun is harsher than people expect, even when the air is cool.
Practical
Keep valuables out of sight or back at the accommodation. Beach theft is a small-but-real risk at busy beaches; never leave bags unattended while you’re in the water.