In the Cinque Terre there are numerous beaches for every taste. In addition to the beaches we have listed, there are many others that can only be reached from the water. There is also the possibility of jumping into the sea for a short while during the entire walk along the Azzurro path.
The biggest beach is in Monterosso, which is also the only real sandy beach. That’s why most tourists come here. Even though the other beaches are made of small stones, they are still more beautiful and calmer than the sandy beach.
In general, all beaches are free of charge, but many offer paid services, such as bar, toilets, sunshades, loungers or chairs. All important information can be found in the descriptions of the respective beaches.
A special feature of this coast is the fact that it is almost always windless, which is why even a beach day with milder weather can be very pleasant.
To help you, you will find the Google Map above, which also shows you which stations are the easiest to reach these beaches from.
Beaches from left to right:
1 . Beach of Framura: Porto Pidocchio
Paid services: no. Distance from railway station: 600 m, 5 minutes on foot. By train: to the Framura stop, then follow the signs on foot. Parking: available, but few, especially full in summer. Description: outside the Cinque Terre, the train ticket is not included in the Cinque Terre Card. Beautiful, quiet beach, few tourists.
2 . Bonassola
Paid services: yes. Distance from train station: 200 m, 2 minutes walk. By train: to the station of Bonassola. Parking: available, but few, especially full in summer. Description: outside the Cinque Terre, the train ticket is not included in the Cinque Terre Card. However, you can go to Levanto and from there walk along the promenade and through illuminated tunnels (renovated in 2012) to Bonassola: along the path you will find some “wild” beaches. Typically busy beach, as in Monterosso and Levanto.
3 . Levanto
Services subject to a charge: yes (also boat rental). Distance from train station: 800 m, 10 minutes on foot. By train: to Levanto station, then on foot along Corso Roma towards the sea. Parking: available, but not many. Description: it is the second largest beach of the Cinque Terre. As the train station is a little further away from the beach than in Monterosso, there are considerably fewer tourists here.
4 . Monterosso (Fegina)
Services to be paid: yes (+ also boat rental, catamaran, surfboards). Distance from the station: after leaving the station straight ahead towards the beach, extremely close. By train: to the station of Monterosso al Mare. Parking: available, problems in finding a parking space only in July and August. Description: the largest and most comfortable beach in the Cinque Terre. Usually tourists start their visits here. It is also the only real sandy beach.
5 . Monterosso (Old Town)
Paid services: yes. Distance from train station: 600 m, 5 minutes on foot. By train: to Monterosso al Mare station, turn left at the exit and follow the promenade to the old town. There you will find the beach, hidden behind the rocks. Parking: available, problems finding a parking space only in July and August. Description: it is the second largest beach of the largest village of the Cinque Terre, located near the old town and starting point of the hiking trail Azzurro.
6 . Vernazza
Paid services: no. Distance from train station: 200 m, 2 minutes walk. By train: to Vernazza station, then on foot towards the sea. Parking: there are some paid parking spaces available, it is advisable to park your car in La Spezia (more information under Directions). Description: In Vernazza there are two beaches: a small one, near the village and a bigger one on the other side, to which you can go through the grotto (see photos below).
7 . Guvano
Paid services: no. Distance from train station: 1.5 km, 15 minutes on foot. By train: to Corniglia station, then on foot through a dark tunnel (please bring a torch, no lights since 2011) or along a steep descent of the Azzurro trail between Corniglia and Vernazza (see Google Map above). Important: The descent is relatively demanding, as the underground is not firm in places, so we recommend not to take this path. Parking: no. We recommend parking your car in La Spezia (see directions). Description: very beautiful beach, mostly visited by nudists. In recent years it has become much more difficult to reach this beach: you now need a flashlight for the approx. 1 km pitch dark tunnel and you can hardly use the hiking trail as it has become very dangerous as described above.
Please note: The tunnel was closed in 2016.
8 . Corniglia
Paid services: no. Distance from the station: there are 2 beaches here – one directly at the station and another about 1 km or 30 minutes walk away (with ascent and descent). By train: to Corniglia station. Parking: no. We recommend parking your car in La Spezia (see directions). Description: two quiet beaches. The “Spiaggione” (opposite the station) is not always accessible, depending on the water level. The second beach is on the other side of the rock on which Corniglia is located. From the main square of the village, where the monument is located in memory of the children who died in the sea, a descent begins to reach the beach. The beach is very beautiful and quiet.
9 . Riomaggiore
Paid services: no. Distance from railway station: 500 m, 5 minutes on foot. By train: to the station of Riomaggiore, at the exit sharp right and through the long tunnel to the end. There will be a junction: turn left to the city centre and straight ahead to the sea. Then left behind the rocks is the beach. Parking: there is a paid parking lot (relatively expensive), very crowded in July and August. Description: This beach is not very crowded. Tourists usually rest here before renting a private boat.
10 . The beach “Canneto”
Paid services: no. Distance from railway station: this beach can only be reached by boat (rental). Description: untouched and interesting beach. Nearby is the tunnel exit of the train between La Spezia-Riomaggiore and every 10 minutes you can see the trains passing by.
11 . The beach “Fossola”
Paid services: no. Distance from railway station: this beach can only be reached by boat (rental). Description: a unspoilt beach, only accessible by boat, as the footpath is not secured.
12 . The beach “Persico”
Paid services: no. Distance from train station: to Campiglia on foot or by bus from La Spezia and from there on foot. Arrivare: From La Spezia there are buses to Campiglia, or you can get there on foot from Riomaggiore or Portovenere. Then continue on foot as indicated on the map. The way there takes about 45 minutes, back Sue needs more than an hour. Parking: no. Description: beautiful beach, but not easy to reach. But this means that hardly any visitors come here. From time to time tourists stop here, as they take a break during the hike from Riomaggiore to Portovenere.
13 . Portovenere
Paid services: yes. By train: this town can only be reached by boat, bus or car. For more information, visit the Portovenere website. Parking: available, but few places, especially in summer. Description: This town is located outside the Cinque Terre area. There are no beaches in the city centre, except those accessible from the descent near the church of San Pietro. The other beaches are 800 metres away along the promenade (on the side of La Spezia). At the beginning of the promenade there is a small paid beach, but after that there are better beaches, so keep walking.
14 . Palmaria Island
Services subject to charges: yes, but only on the first beach. By train: first you have to get to Portovenere (unfortunately trains don’t go here), more details on the page about the village. Then you have to take a ferry, as shown on the Google map above, to get to Palmaria Island. Description: It is located outside the Cinque Terre. The true beauty of this island is hard to put into words – you have to see it with your own eyes! We recommend that you visit the islands by going from beach to beach as they are worth seeing. However, only the first beach is provided with paid facilities.