Fegina, the Giant, Portiglione, the old town and Tragagià: which Monterosso beaches are free, what the seabed is like and how to find a spot.
Monterosso al Mare is the Cinque Terre village for a proper beach day: it has the longest beach on this stretch of coast and the only real choice of beach clubs. The beaches line up from west to east across the whole bay, from the Giant statue to the old town. Here is what each one is like, which are free and how to find a spot in summer.
Fegina is the part of Monterosso that grew up around the station, and its beach is the one you see as you step off the train. It is long, made of sand mixed with fine shingle, and the water deepens gradually: the best option if you are travelling with small children.
Most of the seafront is taken by beach clubs with umbrellas, sunbeds, showers and bars. Right in front of the station, though, are two free stretches, Fegina beach and Station beach, separated by a club. They are as convenient as it gets, which is why they fill first: in July and August, after 9.30am, finding room for a towel is hard.
At the end of the promenade, towards Levanto, is the small free beach below the statue of Neptune, the Giant, built in 1910 and 14 metres tall. The seabed is pebbles and sand and access is a little awkward, but it is calmer than the area by the station. There is a beach club with facilities behind it.
Just past the sailing club, further west, Portiglione is the last free beach before the cliffs of Punta Mesco. It is small and less busy: a good pick if you want a bit more space.
Where Fegina ends, under the Torre Aurora headland, large flat rocks make a natural sun deck. It is not a beach as such and you will want water shoes to get in, but the water is clear and in the evening it is one of the best sunset spots in town.
Through the pedestrian tunnel you reach the old town. The beach here is shorter and more intimate, backed by colourful houses, with the ferry landing at one end.
In front of the village is a sandy beach, mostly occupied by a beach club. Next to the area where boats are hauled out, by the stream mouth, there is a small free beach: handy if you are staying in the old town, but tiny in high season.
At the eastern end, past a large rock towards Vernazza, is the free beach of Tragagià. It is the most comfortable free option in the old town, with pebbles, so bring water shoes. Just above it the Verde Azzurro trail to Vernazza begins; it has been closed since 10 September 2026 for geological checks.
If you want to mix beach and sightseeing, our Monterosso guide covers what to see, getting around by train and where to stay. For a larger and cheaper beach, Levanto is one train stop away.
FAQ
Yes. Fegina and the old-town beach are sand mixed with fine shingle. The smaller beaches towards Levanto and Vernazza are pebbly.
Portiglione and the Giant, two stretches in front of Fegina station, a small beach in the old town next to the boats, and Tragagià.
Fegina: it is the widest, the water deepens slowly, the beach clubs have facilities and it is right by the station.
Fegina is directly in front of the station. The old-town beach is about ten minutes’ walk along the sea.
From June to September the water is pleasant; in May and early October only if you don’t mind it cool. The beach clubs mainly operate in these months.
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All places to stay in Monterosso on Booking: compare prices and availability.
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