Beaches of Ceriale

What the beach in Ceriale is like

Ceriale’s coast is low and straight: a continuous strip of sand, closed to the east by Capo Santo Spirito and open to the west towards the Albenga plain. In the central stretches, in front of the town, the seabed slopes gently and the first metres of water stay shallow. Behind the beach are the promenade and the Genoa–Ventimiglia railway, which here still runs close to the sea: you will hear the trains from the sand, but the station is only a few minutes away.

Halfway along the promenade the Carlo Camino pier runs more than a hundred metres out to sea: it is a handy landmark and, from the end, gives you the whole beach at a glance. Towards Borghetto the sand gives way to a rocky shore with deeper water.

Beach clubs and free beaches

The town’s tourist website lists nine beach clubs, most with a bar or restaurant, and six free beaches, all along the Lungomare Diaz. Two are “spiagge libere attrezzate”: you can go in for free with your own towel or hire an umbrella and lounger without a season pass, which is handy if you are staying only a few days. The other four are free beaches without services.

In July and August the free beaches fill up by mid-morning: arrive early and bring your own umbrella. If you prefer a beach club in mid-August, book ahead.

Blue Flag and water quality

Ceriale is not on the FEE’s 2026 Blue Flag list. The beaches of Borghetto Santo Spirito, just beyond the headland, and of Loano do have it. That does not mean the water is poor: the Blue Flag also looks at services and management. For up-to-date bathing water data the town refers to the regional environmental agency ARPAL; after summer storms, check for any temporary swimming bans posted on the beach.

The beach with children

Sand, shallow water near the shore and a flat promenade make Ceriale an easy beach for small children. Beach clubs with a play area and lifeguards are the most relaxed choice. On rough-sea days there is an alternative a few minutes away: the Le Caravelle water park, open in summer from early June to early September, with a wave pool and an area for little ones.

Accessible beach

The town’s list marks several beach clubs as accessible, and some have facilities for people with disabilities; one of the two equipped free beaches is also listed as accessible. The promenade is flat. Before you go, ask the beach club directly what kind of boardwalk and aids it has: list of beach clubs on the Ceriale tourist website.

The beach with a dog

Ceriale has no free dog beaches on the town’s list. There is, however, one beach club designed for people travelling with dogs, listed as “dog friendly”. If you prefer a free beach, walk over the walkway to Borghetto Santo Spirito: there are free stretches open to dogs there, with clear rules. Everything is in our guide to the beaches of Borghetto Santo Spirito.

On foot along the sea: towards Borghetto and Albenga

The great thing about Ceriale is that you can change beach on foot. Heading east, the promenade continues between the railway and the breakwater to Capo Santo Spirito, then steps lead up to the pedestrian walkway over the sea to Borghetto. It is a few hundred metres, all in full sun: in summer, go early or at sunset. The Ceriale section was rebuilt in spring 2026.

Under the headland, the rocks are the place for mask and snorkel on calm days: the water is clearer than in front of the beach. Watch out for slippery rocks and do not dive where you cannot see the bottom.

To the west the beach continues to Albenga: the beaches of Albenga are wider, with more free stretches towards Ceriale. For a change of scene take the train or the car: in a few minutes you are in Loano, with its family beaches, or in Alassio, home to one of the best-known beaches in Liguria.