Beaches of Camogli

Camogli town beach

The town beach runs for about 400 metres in front of the row of painted houses, between the Castello della Dragonara and the eastern end of the seafront. It is made of smooth pebbles and gravel, and the water gets deep quickly. Small children need watching and water shoes.

Most of the beach is taken up by beach clubs with sunbeds, umbrellas and showers, some with a bar and restaurant. The most convenient free stretch is near the basilica, below the steps; in July and August it fills up early, so come in the morning. The big advantage is convenience: the station, cafés, bakeries and ice-cream shops are steps away.

Practical tips

• Come by train: the station is a few minutes’ walk from the beach, while parking is scarce and expensive.
• When the sea is rough, waves break on the pebbles a few metres from shore: swimming is not a good idea on those days.
• The beach is in full sun in the afternoon; the light on the houses at sunset is the best of the day.

Punta Chiappa

Punta Chiappa is the tongue of rock that closes the Golfo Paradiso. There is no beach here: you stretch out on flat stone slabs and get into the water from the rocks. The sea is deep and clear, great for swimming and snorkelling, less suitable for weak swimmers or small children. It lies within the Portofino Marine Protected Area and is one of three spots where shore diving is allowed.

How to get to Punta Chiappa

By boat: the Golfo Paradiso line leaves Camogli harbour all year, roughly hourly from April to October. In 2026 a ticket costs €7 one way and €12 return; children aged 4 to 12 pay €4 and €7. Sailings are cancelled in rough seas, so check the Golfo Paradiso website and keep an eye on the last boat back.

On foot: from San Rocco di Camogli a path made entirely of steps, waymarked with two red squares, leads down past the Romanesque church of San Nicolò di Capodimonte and Porto Pidocchio, where the traditional tuna net is set. It is about 2.5 km: half an hour down, an hour back up. A good combination is to walk down and take the boat back.

San Fruttuoso

The small pebble bay in front of the Abbey of San Fruttuoso is the most famous beach on the promontory and also holds a Blue Flag. There are no roads: you arrive by boat or on foot along the Portofino Park trails, about two and a half hours from Camogli. Offshore, on the seabed, is the Christ of the Abyss, the bronze statue divers come to see from all over the world.

The boat from Camogli costs €11 one way and €17 return in 2026 (children €7 and €11). In summer the beach is small and crowded: take one of the first boats in the morning or go late in the afternoon, and combine your swim with a visit to the abbey.

Cala dell'Oro: where not to swim

Some websites suggest Cala dell’Oro, between Punta Chiappa and San Fruttuoso, as a secret cove for swimming. In fact it is Zone A of the Portofino Marine Protected Area, a strict nature reserve where even swimming is banned. The rest of the promontory, in Zones B and C, is open for swimming, with rules for boats and divers. The current rules are on the Marine Protected Area website.

The coves along the Via delle Batterie are also often listed as beaches. They are reached on exposed trails for experienced hikers, and some stretches have been closed in recent years. They are not an option for a beach day.

Beaches near Camogli

• Recco: under 3 km away, on foot along the coast or one stop by train; a nearby alternative on crowded days.
• Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino: on the other side of the promontory, with the beaches of the Tigullio gulf; Portofino can be reached from Camogli on the seasonal Tour dei Due Golfi boat.
• Sestri Levante: the Baia del Silenzio, by train on the line towards La Spezia and the Cinque Terre.