Some might think it’s too early for summer thoughts, but reading on the beach is already part of my daily routine here in the Cinque Terre. So I wanted to write about my Liguria, better known as the Italian Riviera, and its coves and picture-perfect beaches, the kind that seem made to stir something in you and pull you out of everyday life.
This coast is vertical: a run of bays, cliffs and headlands dotted with pastel houses, each turn offering a different view. The water is clear enough to mirror the Mediterranean light, and the seabed rewards anyone who dives. Beach follows beach, village after village, sand giving way to pebbles, often divided by cliffs that drop straight into the sea.
Of all the famous and poetic ones, these twelve are my favourites. I know the proper rankings usually stop at ten, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave two of them out just for the sake of a round number. So here are my top twelve Italian Riviera beaches.
Before you go: a few honest practicals
- Pebbles, not sand. Most Ligurian beaches are pebble or rock, not sand. A pair of water shoes saves your feet and your dignity.
- Free beach or beach club. You’ll find both: the spiaggia libera (free, no services) and the stabilimento (a club with loungers and parasols you pay for). In 2026, the official Ligurian bathing season runs from 15 May to 15 September.
- The best coves take effort. The most beautiful ones, San Fruttuoso, Punta Crena, Canuei, are reachable only by boat or by steep paths. That’s exactly why they stay beautiful.
- Go in the shoulder season. June and September give you the same sea with a fraction of the crowds. July and August can be overwhelming at the small bays.
- Travel smart. Along this coast, the train and the ferries are often faster, cheaper and lovelier than the car, and they spare you the parking nightmare.
San Fruttuoso (Camogli)
A small pearl set among the rocks between Camogli and Portofino. You reach it only by sea, on one of the frequent ferries from Camogli, Santa Margherita, Recco or Portofino, by hiring a local fishing boat, or on foot along a beautiful path through the Portofino Park.
San Fruttuoso is a tiny village watched over by its Abbey and the Doria Tower, both well worth visiting and offering glorious sea views. The beach is small and stony, but exceptional. A lounger by the water, a plate of freshly cooked mussels and a glass of iced Vermentino are the small bonuses that make it unique. If you love diving, you can swim out to the Christ of the Abyss, the bronze statue resting on the seabed at fifteen metres down.
Good to know: the beach is tiny, and access is capped during peak summer, so come early in the day or, better yet, out of season.
Santa Chiara, Genoa
The Santa Chiara headland hides this small, genuinely magical rocky beach, one of Genoa’s many quiet beauties.
When the tide is low, you can reach it down a steep staircase or along the coast. It’s a blue-and-white world of pontoons where the hours slip away, and where the sunset happy hour never disappoints.
Good to know: rocky rather than sandy, in the Albaro district, lovely at aperitivo hour.
Baia dei Saraceni, Varigotti
The Bay of the Saracens at Varigotti is one of the few free beaches in Liguria, and one of the longest. Fine white sand, crystal-clear water, and the scent of the olive and lemon trees lining it are the small essential details that make it a must.
Good to know: a rare sandy, free beach, so it fills fast. The Saracen-style flat-roofed houses of old Varigotti are worth a wander.
Baia Blu, Lerici
The Blue Bay in Lerici is a little cove sheltered by Punta Santa Teresa and Punta Galera. It’s within walking distance of town and simply beautiful. Everything adds to its magic: Caribbean-coloured water, a frame of olive and oak, and a stunning view.
Monterosso, Cinque Terre
Monterosso is the first of the Cinque Terre coming from the west, the largest village and the only one with a proper beach. The corner I love most is just below the tunnel that links the newer Fegina district to the old town, beside a rock I decided, as a child, was my castle. The beach is part sand, part pebble, and the clear water sets you daydreaming.
Good to know: a mix of free stretches and beach clubs, easily reached by train, and very busy in high summer. June and September are kinder.
Baia del Silenzio, Sestri Levante
Out of season, this narrow ribbon of fine sand framed by Liguria’s pastel houses is a small paradise of peace and poetry. You can even eat grilled fish right on the beach, listening to the surf while you scan the horizon. In high season, though, the Bay of Silence is anything but: crowded and noisy.
Lido delle Sirene, Bergeggi
A long staircase separates the everyday world from this little heaven of black gravel and film-set water. The beach sits within a marine protected area, and if you love to snorkel, this is your place.
Good to know: protected marine reserve, excellent snorkelling, and a fair few steps down and back up.
Paraggi, Portofino
This sits in a beautiful bay wrapped in Mediterranean greenery that mirrors itself in the sea, with grand old villas and an endless quiet. It’s the only sandy beach near Portofino, mostly given over to elegant beach clubs with a small free section.
Heading towards Portofino, you come to a small beach called the Beach of Canoee, a small gem and a paradise for diving lovers, rightfully earning its place among Italy’s leading beaches.
Good to know: Santa Margherita and Portofino are reachable by bus or on foot. The clubs are pricey; the free strip is small.
Balzi Rossi, Grimaldi di Ventimiglia
Also known as the Beach of the Eggs, after the thousands of eroded, oval-shaped stones. It lies right on the Italian-French border and has long been a favourite of well-known faces. The water rivals anything in a Caribbean brochure, and the red rocks that shelter it only add to the beauty.
Good to know: besides the famous Balzi Rossi prehistoric caves and museum, it is an easy add-on to a beach day.
Vallesanta, Bonassola
This small beach lies just past the first tunnel of the cycle-and-walking path that links Levanto to Bonassola. It’s a little pebble cove framed by grey-green rock and crowned by an imposing vertical wall studded with pines. Beautiful, and easy to reach.
Good to know: walk or cycle the old railway tunnels from Levanto, flat and shaded the whole way.
Punta Crena, Finale Ligure
Beautiful, wild and extremely hard to reach: you get there by scrambling up and down with the help of ropes, by rowing, or by swimming. So, in short, you have to really want it, but it’s worth the effort. Sheer cliffs ring this small beach on a stretch of emerald sea. I went by canoe, and I’d do it again.
Good to know: not for the faint-hearted on foot. The simplest way is by boat or kayak from Varigotti or Noli.
Canuei, the Eggs Beach in Levanto
You get here along a steep path branching off Trail No. 1 between Levanto and Monterosso, or, for a touch more romance, by a traditional wooden fishing boat, lulled by the slow mutter of its inboard engine.
Like its namesake near Ventimiglia, this beach is named for its perfectly smooth, oval stones.
Good to know: no services at all, so bring water and shade. Going by boat from Levanto is half the pleasure.
Don’t you feel like coming to the Italian Riviera and stretching out on one of these beaches? If you decide to plan a trip around here, do get in touch for more tips. This is home, and I’m always happy to help.
Further reading
- Portofino Park, San Fruttuoso and the coastal paths
- La Mia Liguria, the regional tourism board’s guide to Liguria’s beaches and coves
FAQ
What are the most beautiful beaches on the Italian Riviera? Among the most beautiful beaches on the Italian Riviera are San Fruttuoso near Portofino, the Baia del Silenzio at Sestri Levante, the Baia dei Saraceni at Varigotti, and the wild cove of Punta Crena. The coast mixes sandy bays with dramatic pebble coves, many reachable only by boat or on foot.
Are the beaches on the Italian Riviera sandy or pebbly? Most Ligurian beaches are pebble or rock rather than sand, so water shoes are a good idea. There are sandy exceptions, such as the Baia dei Saraceni at Varigotti and parts of Monterosso in the Cinque Terre, but pebbles and clear, deep water are the Riviera norm.
How do you get to San Fruttuoso beach? San Fruttuoso is reachable only by sea or on foot. Frequent ferries run from Camogli, Santa Margherita, Recco and Portofino, or you can walk along the coastal paths of the Portofino Park. The beach is small, and access is limited in peak summer, so arrive early or visit in the shoulder season.
Which Cinque Terre village has a beach? Monterosso al Mare is the only one of the five Cinque Terre villages with a proper beach, a mix of free stretches and paid beach clubs, part sand and part pebble. It is easily reached by train and is busiest in July and August.
When is the best time to visit the Italian Riviera beaches? June and September are the best months: the sea is warm, the light is beautiful, and the crowds are far thinner than in July and August. The official Ligurian bathing season runs from 15 May to 15 September in 2026.
