Cinque Terre Seaside

Favourite Beaches in the Five Lands

The Cinque Terre seaside is very particular both when it comes to the coastline and the sea itself. The beach lovers can enjoy two long sandy stretches in Monterosso al Mare while there are harbour quays and sloping cobble or stone beaches in the rest of the villages of the Cinque Terre. Apart from that the coast plunges steeply into the sea with almost vertical cliffs, which continue underwater.

The Cinque Terre's seabed is thus very deep and is one of the richest of the whole of Liguria in terms of marine life hosting among other things colonies of multicoloured "Paramunicee" and, in the darkest caves, red coral.

Map of the Cinque Terre Sea and Marine Reserve

The Cinque Terre Seaside: Beaches in Monterosso

"Punta Mesco" is the North-East limit of the Cinque Terre Marine Reserve and is surrounded by a deep seabed and by steep underwater rock sides, near which live species like the white bream, black umbra and grouper. The seabed gets progressively shallower towards Monterosso and spreads out as a long sandy stretch along the Bay of Fegina offering the perfect place if you are looking for a traditional beach with sand and umbrellas.

Cinque Terre Seaside: Posedonia Oceanica seagrass

The sandy bottom in the Bay of Fegina offers an ideal environment for the growth of the "Posedonia Oceanica" seagrass, a real 'lung' for the marine ecosystem. The area here has formed large underwater meadows of the sea plant with several patches scattered 20-25 meters from the beach in Fegina at depth of 5-8 meters which help limit the damage made by rough sea and currents against the coast. These  underwater meadows near Monterosso are today included inside the Cinque Terre's Marine Reserve and are thus protected.

Cinque Terre Seaside: Fegina Beach in Monterosso

Fegina Beach in Monterosso

The beach in the Bay of Fegina is the largest and the best sand beach in the whole of the Cinque Terre.

Fegina Beach in Monterosso

Here you can either choose to pay for an umbrella and a chair or settle in a free area with your own towel. Access to the seafront is just off the train station.

National Park of Cinque Terre, Monterosso al Mare Beach in Fegina

One thing you cannot miss on the beach in Fegina is the dominant statue of the Giant, built beside the terrace of a local villa.

Fegina Beach - the statue of the Giant

Fegina Beach - the statue of the Giant

This statue was created in 1910 by Levacher and Minerbi, an architect and a sculptor, and represents Neptune, the god of the sea. The beach at this end of the Bay has been residing during the year both due to the erosion from the sea as well as the expansion of parking spaces.

Monterosso Al Mare - Fegina seafront

At the end of the Fegina seafront promenade, you can also lay and catch the sun rays on some of the large rocks just under the historic Aurora tower.

Near the old part of town there is another sandy beach.

Sandy beach near old part of town in Monterosso

It is situated near the port where the ferries enter for the trips to the other villages of the Cinque Terre and the Gulf of Poets.

From here you can take ferry service to the rest of the Cinque Terre villages and other destinations in the Gulf of La Spezia

The beach here also offers umbrellas and beck chairs for rent or you can use the free section instead.

There is an equipped area ...

... as well as a free section

Cinque Terre Seaside : Beach in Vernazza

In Vernazza you can enjoy a cooling swim in the clear blue water and bask some sun in the port, next to the Church of Santa Margherita.

Cinque Terre Seaside: Vernazza's natural port

Vernazza has the only natural port in all the villages of the Cinque Terre which surrounds the beach and allows the water to remain calm creating a great place to protect the local's fishing boats.

The small beach is just next to the Church

The beach space here is rather small and can get quite crowded but there are also some flat rocks that you can draw the beach towel on and take the sun.

Vernazza's beach is just in front of the main square...

... where you will not be short of choice for refreshments and food

Cinque Terre Seaside: Beaches in Corniglia

Corniglia is the only one of the Cinque Terre not to have a direct access to the sea. Nevertheless, it has perhaps the most famous beach: the Guvano beach, well known for nudism in the Seventies. This beach is made up of sand and pebble stones and is perhaps one of the quietest and peaceful of all the beaches in the Cinque Terre.

Corniglia's coastline is considered one of the most beautiful
of the entire coastline of the Cinque Terre

It is located in a wonderful bay between Corniglia and Vernazza, and can be reached in two ways: hike the trail between Corniglia and heading towards Vernazza along the Blue Path No2 and then down to the left after 10-15 minutes, following the Spiaggia Libera( Public beach) sign. Or via the abandoned nineteenth railroad tunnel Genova-Spezia, which is well sign posted from the Corniglia train station.

The pebbly beach near Corniglia's railway station

In addition to the Guvano beach, there is a particularly long stretch of pebble beach just by the Corniglia railway station which is popular with locals and tourists alike.

The pebbly beach near Corniglia's railway station

Cinque Terre Seaside: Beaches in Manarola

Manarola does not have much of a traditional sandy beach but you can relax and take in the sun near the tiny harbour of the village.

There is not much of a traditional beach in Manarola

The harbour is nested between two rocky boulders and is formed by a terraced promenade. Here you can spread your towel on one of the large rocks to bask the sun as well as enjoy some of the best deep-water swimming around.

Manarola offers a great opportunity for some deep water swimming...

Cinque Terre Seaside: Beaches in Riomaggiore

In Riomaggiore you can enjoy the sun and clear blue waters on the public beach on the east of town.

Riomaggiore's harbour "Marina Piccola"

Getting to the beach is pretty easy – at the end of the main road you will end up at the lovely, tiny harbour Marina Piccola, then go up the stairs on the left and follow the sign for the beach.

Take a left at "Marina Piccola" and follow the sign to the beach

After taking the short flight of stairs you will come to a terrace offering refreshments as well as ferry service tickets but most importantly affording great views over the terraced, multi-coloured landscape of the village. Take a moment and soak in the great views ...

The panoramic terrace on the way to the beach offers beautiful views...

... of Riomaggiore's landscape...

... the charming harbour and moored boats...

... and the multi-coloured tower houses typical of the Cinque Terre

From here at the opposite end of the terrace continue your descent down the stairs along the cliffs.

There are frequent ferry services between the villages of the Cinque Terre 

You will pass by the ferry bay for the service that corrects Riomaggiore with the rest of the villages of the Cinque Terre as well as the Gulf of Poets and reach the pebbly beach, dominated by the Centro di Osservazioni Naturalistiche di Torre Guardiola .

Some prefer to soak in the sun in the quiet on the massive cliffs of the coastline

... while others prefer the liveliness of the Riomaggiore's beach

Thank you for visiting our guide… we look forward to welcoming you to Liguria and hope you will love it as much as we do !

Like This Page?

---

| Homepage | Liguria Travel | Car Hire in Italy | Driving in Italy | Liguria Weather |Portofino Weather | Liguria B&Bs | Liguria Hotels | Cinque Terre Hotels | Tipping in Italy | Liguria E-cards | Liguria Hospitals and Health Advice| Cinque Terre | Cinque Terre Travel | Golfo deo Poeti | Liguria Castles | Italy Real Estate | Property Restoration in Italy | Food Festivals | Current Events in Liguria|