The most beautiful beaches in Liguria are not the biggest ones. They are pebble coves below an abbey, flat rocks over clear water, small bays you reach on foot through the pines or only by boat. Here are the 20 worth the trip, listed from west to east, from the French border to the Gulf of Poets, with the type of beach, how to get there and the rules to know before you go.
If you mainly want sand, shallow water and facilities for children, read our guide to the sandy beaches in Liguria. This page is about scenery, and on most of these beaches you will need water shoes.
The 20 beaches at a glance
- Western Riviera: Spiaggia delle Uova at the Balzi Rossi, the rocks of Sant’Ampelio, Baia Capo Pino.
- Finale and Varigotti: Castelletto, Baia dei Saraceni, Punta Crena, Malpasso.
- Savona coast: Bergeggi island, Spiaggia della Torre in Celle, Arrestra and the coves of Varazze.
- Golfo Paradiso and Portofino: Bogliasco, Punta Chiappa, San Fruttuoso, Paraggi.
- Tigullio and Cinque Terre: Baia del Silenzio, the coves of Punta Moneglia, Monterosso.
- Gulf of Poets: Palmaria island, Baia Blu and Marinella, Fiascherino and the coves towards Tellaro.
Riviera dei Fiori: from the border to Sanremo
1. Spiaggia delle Uova and Balzi Rossi (Ventimiglia)
A short walk from the Ponte San Ludovico border crossing, below the red cliffs of the Balzi Rossi, the coast turns to rocks and pebbles. The Spiaggia delle Uova (“egg beach”) is named after its round, pale pebbles, smooth as eggs: one of the most photographed spots on the whole Riviera. The water is deep and clear, great for snorkelling, but there are few facilities, so bring water and shade and come in the morning when there is room on the rocks. The private beach club next door is a different thing. All the beaches in the area are in our guide to the beaches of Ventimiglia.
2. Sant’Ampelio rocks (Bordighera)
Below the little church on the cape in Bordighera, the Sant’Ampelio rocks have the cleanest water in town, which holds a 2026 Blue Flag. It is not a comfortable beach: you lie on the rock and dive in. With mask and snorkel you can find an underwater passage linking the two sides of the reef. If you prefer fine shingle and sunbeds, the seafront is a few steps away: see the beaches of Bordighera.
3. Baia Capo Pino (Sanremo)
East of Sanremo, towards Bussana, Baia Capo Pino is a small cove sheltered by the headland, with fine shingle and very clear water. It is one of Sanremo’s five 2026 Blue Flag stretches and is easy to reach on the coastal cycle and footpath built on the old railway line. A good choice for a quiet day without leaving town. More in the beaches of Sanremo.
Finale Ligure and Varigotti
Between the Caprazoppa headland and Capo Noli lies the most varied stretch of the western coast: cliffs, bays and coves, almost all with a 2026 Blue Flag. Take the train to Finale Ligure Marina, then the bus along the Via Aurelia. All the beaches are described in the beaches of Finale Ligure.
4. Castelletto and San Donato
Between Castelletto and Capo San Donato a bay of sand and pebbles opens below tall cliffs where many birds nest; in 2021 a loggerhead turtle laid its eggs here. There are two beach clubs and free areas, and it is far quieter than the beaches in the centre of Finale Ligure. Parking on the Aurelia is limited: take the bus.
5. Baia dei Saraceni
Just past Varigotti, on the Aurelia towards Noli, the Baia dei Saraceni sits between two headlands: fine sand and small pebbles, clear water, almost all free, with few services. There are no big car parks: take the bus from Finale, get off at the nearest stop and walk. In July and August arrive early.
6. Punta Crena
Below the olive-covered headland of Punta Crena lies a small beach that is only easy to reach from the sea, by kayak, SUP or pedal boat from Varigotti. Ignore anyone suggesting a path: the right way in is from the water. You get a good view of it from the mule track up to the church of San Lorenzo, at the start of the Sentiero del Pellegrino.
7. Malpasso
Beyond Punta Crena, towards Capo Noli, the coast gets wilder. Malpasso beach, sand and pebbles, belongs to Finale (not Loano, as some websites say) and has a 2026 Blue Flag. Further on, the Riconco coves are reached by steep paths or by boat: there is nothing there, so bring everything.
From Bergeggi to Varazze
8. Bergeggi island and Punta Predani
Bergeggi has a Marine Protected Area around its limestone islet, about 200 metres offshore. You cannot land on the island, but you can swim, snorkel and kayak around it in zones B and C. Along the island’s south side is zone A, where swimming is forbidden. From May to the end of September the Sentiero Blu, a 2.5 km sea trail marked by 27 buoys, is closed to motorboats. From land, the easiest way into the water is the pebble bay of Punta Predani. Rules and sea cave: guide to Bergeggi island.
9. Spiaggia della Torre (Celle Ligure)
Between Celle Ligure and Albisola Superiore, Spiaggia della Torre is sheltered by a rock cliff: sand, clear water, one free part and one with a beach club. You walk down from the Aurelia on a path of about 200 metres or a staircase, so leave bulky bags behind. Celle has a 2026 Blue Flag. The town’s other beaches are in the beaches of Celle Ligure.
10. Arrestra and the Passeggiata Europa coves (Varazze)
East of Varazze the coast rises and the rocks begin. Arrestra beach has a 2026 Blue Flag; around Punta dell’Aspera there are inlets and sea caves to explore by kayak or SUP. Past the marina, below the Passeggiata Europa towards Cogoleto, you can climb down to free rocky and pebbly coves with no services: perfect for swimmers and snorkelling, not for small children. More in the beaches of Varazze.
Beachfront hotels and apartments in Liguria: compare prices and availability.
Golfo Paradiso and Portofino
11. Bogliasco
In 2026 European Best Destinations ranked Bogliasco fifth among the most beautiful beaches in Europe, the only Italian one in the top 10. It is a small pebble bay of about 200 metres between the medieval bridge and the church on the rocks, with colourful houses behind and the station three minutes away. The water gets deep quickly. Towards Pieve Ligure, the flat rocks of the Pontetto are the place for snorkelling. Details: beaches of Bogliasco.
12. Punta Chiappa (Camogli)
The tongue of rock closing the Golfo Paradiso, inside the Portofino Marine Protected Area. There is no sand: you lie on rock slabs and enter deep, clear water from the rocks. Get there by boat from Camogli (in 2026, 7 euros one way, 12 return) or on foot from San Rocco, about half an hour downhill. Skip nearby Cala dell’Oro: it is zone A, a strict reserve, and swimming is forbidden. Everything is in the beaches of Camogli.
13. San Fruttuoso
The pebble bay in front of the Abbey of San Fruttuoso has a 2026 Blue Flag and no road: you arrive by boat (from Camogli 11 euros one way in 2026) or on foot along the trails of the Portofino Park. Offshore, on the seabed, stands the Christ of the Abyss. The beach is small and fills up in summer: take the first boats or come late in the afternoon. The walking route is in our guide to the path to San Fruttuoso.
14. Paraggi
Between Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino, Paraggi is a sandy bay of about 100 metres with emerald-green water. It belongs to Santa Margherita and holds a 2026 Blue Flag. Most of it is taken by beach clubs, with a small free section: arrive early. The road is narrow and parking is scarce, so take the bus from Santa Margherita, which stops at the entrance to the bay, or walk the footpath along the coast.
Tigullio and Cinque Terre
15. Baia del Silenzio (Sestri Levante)
A crescent of sand about 300 metres long between the old town of Sestri Levante and the headland, with wooden boats and colourful houses at the water’s edge. It is so popular that in summer access is capped: in 2026, from 1 July to 31 August, a maximum of 450 people at a time, with checks from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm; entry is free and there is no booking. Arrive when the gates open or after 5.30 pm. Full rules in the Baia del Silenzio guide.
16. The coves of Punta Moneglia
West of Moneglia, past La Secca beach, the coast is free and wild as far as Punta Moneglia: two pebble beaches, Vallegrande and La Valletta, enclosed by layered sandstone cliffs and a square sea stack. The last descent on foot is for experienced hikers only; the easy way is to rent a boat in town. Towards Punta Rospo, to the east, the coves below Lemeglio have the best seabed for snorkelling. See the beaches of Moneglia.
17. Monterosso al Mare
In the Cinque Terre there is only one real beach: Fegina, in Monterosso, right in front of the station, sand mixed with fine gravel and the Giant statue at the far end. It is not the wildest, but with the old village and the Torre Aurora headland it is one of Liguria’s postcards. The free sections fill up by mid-morning. For the other villages, which mostly have rocks, read our guide to the Cinque Terre beaches and the beaches of Monterosso.
Gulf of Poets
18. Palmaria island
Opposite Portovenere, a few minutes by boat from the Molo Doria, Palmaria has no cars and no roads. Punta Secco is the easy beach, pebbly, with a beach club and bar; Pozzale, at the southern tip facing the island of Tino, is a wilder bay of smooth pebbles, reached by boat or on foot with a steep descent. Cala Fornace is reachable only from the sea; the Gabbiani beach is closed because of rockfall risk. All in the Palmaria island guide.
19. Baia Blu and Marinella (Lerici)
Between Punta Santa Teresa and Punta Galera, on the Pozzuolo side, Baia Blu is one of the most photographed beaches in the gulf for its transparent water: there is a free section with sunbed rental and a historic beach club with pools. Not far away, below the castle of San Terenzo, Marinella is a small beach of fine sand surrounded by Mediterranean scrub. Both hold a 2026 Blue Flag with the town of Lerici.
20. Fiascherino and the coves towards Tellaro
On the road to Tellaro the coast is a string of coves of coarse sand and gravel between white cliffs and pines. Fiascherino, where D. H. Lawrence lived, is two beaches reached by staircases, partly free, with a 2026 Blue Flag. Cala Maramozza is wilder, with a poorly marked path and no services; Eco del Mare is an exclusive beach club sixty metres below the road. It is uphill on the way back, and from early afternoon the coves are in shade: come in the morning. All the beaches: beaches of Lerici.
Tips for choosing and planning
- Water shoes: you need them on almost all these beaches. The exceptions are Baia del Silenzio, Paraggi and Marinella.
- Protected areas: at Portofino and Bergeggi swimming is forbidden in zone A. Follow the signs and check the Marine Protected Area websites before going out by kayak.
- Train and boat: almost all these beaches are close to the Ventimiglia–Genoa–La Spezia coastal railway; San Fruttuoso, Punta Chiappa and Palmaria need a boat, which does not run in rough seas.
- When to go: June and September have warm water and half the crowds. In July and August arrive before 9 am or after 5 pm.
- Where to stay: to choose a base, read where to stay in Liguria and our guides to the Riviera di Ponente and the Riviera di Levante.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most beautiful beach in Liguria?
There is no single answer. The most famous are Baia del Silenzio, San Fruttuoso and Paraggi; in 2026 European Best Destinations ranked Bogliasco fifth in Europe. For a wilder sea choose Baia dei Saraceni, Palmaria or the coves towards Tellaro.
Are the beaches in Liguria sandy or pebbly?
Mostly pebbles, shingle and rocks. There is sand, but it is concentrated in a few towns, especially on the western coast around Savona: you will find them all in our guide to sandy beaches in Liguria.
Do you need to book Baia del Silenzio?
No. In 2026, from 1 July to 31 August, access was capped at 450 people but free and without booking: you enter through the gates while there is room. Before 8.30 am and after 5.30 pm there are no checks.
Which beaches can only be reached by boat or on foot?
San Fruttuoso and Punta Chiappa (boat or trail), Punta Crena (only from the sea), the Palmaria beaches (boat from Portovenere), the coves of Punta Moneglia and Cala Fornace. Guvano beach in the Cinque Terre cannot be reached today: access is closed.
Where is the best snorkelling in Liguria?
Punta Chiappa, the Sant’Ampelio rocks, Bergeggi island (zones B and C, with a diver buoy), the Pontetto rocks at Bogliasco, the coves between Lemeglio and Punta Rospo and those towards Tellaro.
Can you swim at Cala dell’Oro?
No. Cala dell’Oro, between Punta Chiappa and San Fruttuoso, is zone A of the Portofino Marine Protected Area, a strict reserve where swimming is forbidden.
Which of these beaches have a 2026 Blue Flag?
Among them: Bordighera, Baia Capo Pino in Sanremo, Castelletto, Varigotti and Malpasso in Finale, the beaches of Celle Ligure, Arrestra in Varazze, Camogli and San Fruttuoso, Paraggi, and Lerici with Baia Blu, Marinella and Fiascherino. Ventimiglia, Bogliasco, Monterosso and Portovenere are not on the 2026 list.
Where can I go to the beach with my dog in Liguria?
In season dogs are allowed only in dedicated areas and some beach clubs. The beaches confirmed by the towns, with their rules, are in our guide to dog beaches in Liguria.