Beaches of Cogoleto

What the coast of Cogoleto is like

From the centre the beach stretches in front of the De André seafront, the one that follows the old railway. The bed is stones and pebbles: bring rock shoes if you have children or tender feet. Here and there stretches of fine sand appear, but it is not a sandy beach.

There is more than one bathing establishment, with paid sunshades and loungers. We give no names, because booking portals list lidos whose management and status are uncertain: if you want to book, ask directly. For free beaches, the portals mention those near the centre, such as the former Cantieri Bianchi e Cecchi, the Pescatori and San Sebastiano. These are names reported by commercial guides, with no official confirmation from the municipality, which does not publish a page on the beaches. Look for the signs on site.

The Stoppani clean-up

A few kilometres from the sea, in the Lerone valley, the Luigi Stoppani chemical plant (chromium) worked for about a century. It closed in 2003, went bankrupt in 2007, and the area became a site of national interest. Clean-up work began on 1 December 2008. To understand what it means for swimmers, keep four facts in mind, all from the Metropolitan City of Genoa.

• About 66,000 tonnes of chromium “crusts” were removed from the beaches of Cogoleto and Arenzano, digging down to 5 metres; the beaches were then rebuilt with clean material and new groynes.
• A short stretch right next to the mouth of the Lerone remains excluded, where contamination goes deeper than 9 metres. The area is off limits.
• A 250-metre concrete barrier protects the Pian Masino landfill towards the Lerone.
• In June 2024 a Council of Ministers measure appointed a special commissioner, with funding for 2024-2026. The state of the works in October 2026 is not confirmed.

Monitoring is done with mussels and by Arpal. We do not say the sea is “safe” or “unsafe”: the right source is the bathing bulletin. For 2026 no bans appear, but we have not read the official data for Cogoleto, so always check the Arpal site on the day, and respect signs and municipal ordinances.

Blue Flag and the neighbours

The 2026 list from the Foundation for Environmental Education rewards 35 Ligurian places. In the Genoa area they are Camogli, Chiavari, Lavagna, Moneglia, Recco, Santa Margherita Ligure, Sestri Levante and Sori. Cogoleto and Arenzano are not on it; the nearest is Varazze, in the province of Savona. The lack of a flag says nothing about the water quality on a single day, which depends on sampling.

If you want more services, Arenzano has a little harbour and Varazze has the flag. Cogoleto is chosen for the station close to the sea and for the cycle path, which starts at the beach.

Snorkelling, coves and other ideas

Along the seafront, among the rocks, there are coves where you enter the water from the rocks. West of the centre the seabed has Posidonia meadows, a protected habitat: look without touching and do not anchor. The Beigua Park organises educational snorkelling outings with marine biologists, but we do not have the 2026 dates: check the Park website.

Off this stretch of coast lies the wreck of the tanker Haven, sunk on 14 April 1991 at about 80 metres depth. It is a technical dive for experienced divers, with several fatal accidents behind it: it is not for snorkellers. For dogs on the beach we have no confirmed ordinances: ask the municipality.

The Molo Speca is the spot from which people watch the fireworks of 10 August, the feast of San Lorenzo.

Getting there and where to leave the car

Cogoleto station is a few steps from the sea and the centre, and it is the most convenient choice. By car, A10, Arenzano exit (about 2 kilometres) or Varazze (about 4), then the Via Aurelia. Paid parking, especially in summer, near the sea and in the inner streets; fares and spaces are not confirmed. For full logistics see the guide to Cogoleto.