Chiavari beaches

Chiavari's beaches, from the harbour westwards

Chiavari’s coastline is one long continuous strip. To the east is the marina, with the station right behind it; to the west the promenade follows the beach, crosses the mouth of the Rupinaro stream and reaches the Colonia Fara, the white tower that closes the view. In several places there are breakwaters in front of the shore.

The spiaggia del Porto

Beach clubs

This is the beach closest to the station and the one awarded the Blue Flag in 2026, the only one in Chiavari on the official FEE list. The stretch near the harbour is mostly taken by beach clubs. Beyond the harbour, towards the mouth of the Entella and the border with Lavagna, there are more beach clubs and a few small stretches of beach.

Corso Valparaiso: the beach club stretch

SandPebblesFamily friendly

Between the harbour and the mouth of the Rupinaro, below corso Valparaiso, the beach is almost entirely leased. Here the bottom is more mixed, with coarse sand and small pebbles, and the water deepens gradually. It is the most convenient stretch for families: you have bars, ice-cream shops and children’s playgrounds on the promenade, a few steps from your umbrella.

Marina Giulia

PebblesFree beach

Just west of the Rupinaro mouth begins Marina Giulia, the first large free beach. The bottom is pebbles. In summer the town’s hire service for umbrellas, loungers and director’s chairs operates here, and in 2026 it also stayed open at weekends in the autumn. It is the free beach closest to the station.

The Velieri and the former Colonia Fara

PebblesRocks

Continuing west you reach the Velieri beach, in the area known as “gli Scogli” (the Rocks), and then the free stretch in front of the former Colonia Fara. Here too the bottom is pebbles and the waves break close to shore. It is the quietest part of the seafront. Beyond the tower, towards Preli and Zoagli, the promenade ends and the coast turns rocky, with few facilities.

Free beaches and the town hire service

In Chiavari a free beach doesn’t necessarily mean a towel on the stones. In summer 2026 the town council, through its company Marina Chiavari, offered umbrellas, loungers and director’s chairs for hire on the Marina Giulia and Velieri beaches, at a single daily rate per item. You pay at the ticket machines on the promenade, in cash or by card, and show the receipt to the staff on the beach.

The hire covers the equipment only: you set up the umbrella and lounger yourself. Keep the receipt until the end of the day and don’t leave your spot empty for long: after two hours with nobody there, the equipment is taken back. Dates and times change every year, so check the town council website before you go.

If you prefer a beach club, in July and August book a few days ahead, especially at weekends. There is no official town beach for dogs: some private beach clubs accept them, but ask first.

Practical information

Getting there. By train, get off at Chiavari on the Genoa–La Spezia line: the harbour is in front of the station and all the beaches are within walking distance. By car, parking near the sea is difficult in summer: parking on the seafront is in blue bays, paid during the day. The handiest car parks are in corso Assarotti, near the station, and piazza Cattaneo.

When to go. The swimming season runs from June to September; in June and September there is more room on the free beaches. In August, at weekends, arrive early.

Rough seas. Chiavari’s beaches face south-west and libeccio storms hit them head-on. After the October 2018 storm the Region funded new sea defences, but the shape of the beach still changes after winter storms: at the start of the season some stretches may be narrower. Before you go, check the Chiavari weather.

Nearby beaches. For fine sand and shallower water, cross the bridge over the Entella: the beach of Lavagna is over three kilometres long. For clearer water, go to Sestri Levante, with the Baia del Silenzio (Bay of Silence), or to Moneglia.