Piedmont (Piemonte) is a large region in northwest Italy, ringed on three sides by the Alps and sloping down toward the Po Valley. Its capital, Turin, is a city of elegant arcades, royal palaces, and the landmark Mole Antonelliana. Beyond the city lie the UNESCO-listed vineyards of the Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato, home to Barolo and Barbaresco wines and Alba's prized white truffles, plus the serene shores of Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta. Piedmont is the birthplace of vermouth, gianduja chocolate, and the Slow Food movement.
Top beaches
A ranked editor’s shortlist of the coastline worth planning a day around in Piedmont.
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Piedmontese Lake Maggiore (Verbano-Cusio-Ossola and Novara)
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Lake Orta (Cusio, Novara and Verbano-Cusio-Ossola)
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Lake Viverone and the Biella-Vercelli lakes
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Turin-area lakes (Avigliana and Candia)
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River beaches (Po, Sesia, Toce and Ticino)
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- Grassy lawns and free public lakefront
- Lakefront bars and gelaterie on the promenade
- Showers and toilets in the lido area
- Pedalo and SUP rental in summer
- Children's play areas
Lido di Arona (Spiaggia di Arona)
Arona's bathing area stretches along the long lungolago at the southern end of Lake Maggiore, a mix of grassy lawns, gravel and a free public shore looking across to the Rocca di Angera fortress. The town has a lively waterfront promenade, the colossal San Carlone statue on the hill above, and direct trains from Milan and Turin, making it the most easily reached lake beach in Piedmont.
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- Long grass-and-pebble beach with free sections
- Lido with sunbed and umbrella rental
- Beach bar and kiosk
- Showers and toilets
- Windsurf, SUP and pedalo rental
Lido di Cannobio (Spiaggia di Cannobio)
The northernmost Piedmontese town on Lake Maggiore, just short of the Swiss border, Cannobio has one of the lake's best and longest beaches, a regular Bandiera Blu (Blue Flag) award winner. A broad grass-and-fine-pebble strand backed by trees and a tidy lido, with clean water, mountain views and the medieval village and its famous Sunday market a short walk away.
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- Grass lawns and gravel shore
- Lakefront cafes and gelaterie
- Showers nearby
- Ferry pier and cable car station adjacent
- Pedalo and small boat rental
Stresa Lido (Lido di Carciano)
Below the grand Belle Epoque hotels of Stresa, the Carciano lido area offers grassy lawns and gravel shore for swimming with a front-row view of the Borromean Islands of Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori. The Mottarone cable car departs from beside the lido, and frequent ferries link the islands, making this the most scenic, if not the largest, bathing spot on the Piedmont shore.
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- Grass lawns and gravel bathing shore
- Lido with sunbeds and a bar
- Children's play area and shallow entry
- Showers and toilets
- SUP and pedalo rental
Lido di Baveno
A relaxed, family-friendly lido next to Baveno's pretty lakefront promenade, with grassy lawns running down to a gravel bathing shore and clear views of the Borromean Islands. Quieter than neighbouring Stresa, Baveno makes a calm base for swimming, the famous pink-granite quarries and ferry trips around the gulf.
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- Grass banks and pebble shore
- Free public lakefront sections
- Lakeside cafe nearby
- Shaded picnic areas
- Limited parking along the lungolago
Lido di Meina
A small, low-key lido on the lower west shore between Arona and Lesa, with grassy banks and a pebble shore for swimming away from the busier resorts. Meina's tree-lined lakefront and historic villas give it a quiet, residential feel, and the calm water suits families and relaxed afternoons by the lake.
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- Grass lawns and gravel bathing shore
- Lido with sunbeds and a bar
- Children's play area and shallow water
- Showers and toilets
- Pedalo and SUP rental in summer
Lido di Gozzano (Lake Orta)
At the southern tip of small, romantic Lake Orta, the Gozzano lido offers grassy lawns and a gravel shore for calm, shallow swimming with views up the lake toward Orta San Giulio and its island. One of the most relaxed family bathing spots in the Cusio, far quieter than Lake Maggiore, with a swimming pool option at the adjacent lido complex in some seasons.
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- Free grass-and-pebble beach
- Lakeside cafes and a small square
- Shaded areas under trees
- Boat service to Orta San Giulio and the island
- Public parking nearby
Spiaggia di Pella (Lake Orta)
On the quiet western shore of Lake Orta directly opposite the island of San Giulio, Pella has a small free beach of grass and pebbles with one of the loveliest views on the lake. A peaceful village with a lakeside square, a few cafes and a boat service across to Orta San Giulio, ideal for a calm swim and a slow afternoon by the water.
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- Grass lawns and gentle gravel entry
- Lido with sunbeds and a kiosk
- Showers and toilets
- Shallow water suited to children
- Pedalo and canoe rental
Lido di Pettenasco (Lake Orta)
A tidy grass lido on the eastern shore just north of Orta San Giulio, with lawns sloping to a gentle gravel entry and views across the lake. Pettenasco has a train station on the Novara-Domodossola line, making it one of the easier Orta beaches to reach without a car, and a lakeside promenade linking it toward Orta.
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- Grass lawns and sandy-gravel shore
- Lido with sunbeds and umbrellas
- Lakeside bars and restaurants
- Windsurf, sailing and pedalo rental
- Showers, toilets and parking
Lido di Viverone
Lake Viverone, a shallow glacial lake straddling Biella, Vercelli and Turin provinces, warms quickly in summer and has Piedmont's longest-established lido scene. The Viverone lido offers grass lawns, a sandy-gravel shore, watersports and a string of lakeside bars, with windsurfing and sailing on the open water and a relaxed family-resort atmosphere.
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- Sandy-grass shore with shallow entry
- Lido with sunbeds and a snack bar
- Campsites and picnic areas nearby
- Pedalo, canoe and SUP rental
- Parking and toilets
Spiaggia di Anzasco (Lake Viverone south shore)
On the south-western shore of Lake Viverone at the hamlet of Anzasco, this lido has grass and a sandy strand with shallow, warm water that suits families with young children. Quieter than the main Viverone lakefront, with campsites nearby, watersports rental and gentle sunset views across the lake to the Serra moraine.
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- Grass lido with bathing shore
- Lakeside bar and kiosk
- Canoe, pedalo and SUP rental
- Walking and cycling paths around the lake
- Parking and picnic areas
Lago Grande di Avigliana - Lido
The larger of the two Avigliana lakes sits in a regional nature park at the mouth of the Susa Valley, beneath the dramatic Sacra di San Michele abbey. A grass lido with a gentle bathing shore makes this the closest proper lake swim to Turin, framed by reed beds, wooded hills and walking and cycling paths around the lake.
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- Grass lakeside bathing lawns
- Free public sections
- Rowing and canoe hire
- Nature trails and birdwatching
- Cafe and parking nearby
Lago di Candia - Bathing Area
The Lago di Candia lies in a protected nature park in the Canavese north of Turin, a tranquil reed-fringed lake known for its birdlife and the August water-lily bloom. The grassy lakeside bathing area offers calm, shallow swimming, rowing and a rowing-club tradition, in a quiet natural setting far from the resort bustle of the bigger lakes.
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- Free gravel and rock river beaches
- No facilities - bring water and supplies
- Limited shade along the banks
- Rafting and kayak operators in town
- Cafes and shops in central Varallo
Sesia River Beaches at Varallo
The clear, fast Sesia river runs through Varallo at the gateway to the Valsesia, with free gravel and rock beaches along its banks where locals swim and sunbathe on hot days. The cold mountain water is bracing and clean, set against wooded slopes and the Sacro Monte di Varallo above the town. A wild, facility-free alternative to lake lidos, and a hub for whitewater rafting.
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- Long gravel-and-grass beach
- Free public sections and a lido
- Campsites and snack bars nearby
- Windsurf, SUP and pedalo rental
- Nature reserve and cycle path
Toce River Beach, Fondotoce (Verbania)
Where the river Toce meets the bay of Fondotoce at the northern end of Lake Maggiore near Verbania, a long gravel-and-grass beach edges a protected wetland nature reserve. A popular local spot with shallow, calm water, campsites and watersports, away from the more crowded resort lidos, with the Toce's clear inflow and reed beds rich in birdlife.
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- Free gravel and sand river beaches
- Shaded picnic areas in riverine woodland
- Cycle and nature trails
- No lifeguard - mind river currents
- Parking at park access points
Ticino Park River Beaches near Cameri
Along the Piedmontese bank of the river Ticino within the Parco Naturale del Ticino, free gravel and sand beaches near Cameri and Oleggio draw locals on summer weekends. The clear river flows through one of Italy's largest protected riverine forests, with shaded picnic spots, cycle paths and birdwatching, though swimmers should respect strong currents and check ARPA bathing notices.
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.