THE BEACHES OF THE CINQUE TERRE

The Cinque Terre have a jagged profile along the five miles of rocky coastline enclosed by two promontories. The beaches of the Cinque Terre follow the particular Ligurian characteristic of being usually narrow and stony, except for Monterosso. Stone spurs overlooking the sea, tiny inlets, bays, ravines, beaches among the rocks are the characteristic, a unique landscape in the world with crystal clear sea.

Below you will find the detailed description of the beaches of each village, but here is a first list.

Monterosso
- Fegina Beach: the most famous beach of the Cinque Terre of sand and pebbles, with the big rock in the middle, the most chosen by tourists. Interspersed with two free beaches, it is literally located in front of the train station exit and near one of Monterosso's two car parks. Here the bathing establishments are concentrated. The water immediately becomes deep a couple of meters from the shore.

- Beach in the historic center: in front of the old town of Monterosso, near the pier where are the boats that visit the Cinque Terre dock. Wide sandy beach with bathing establishments and free beaches, it is located about 600 meters from the train station. From the eastern end of the beach, the path of the Blue Trail climbs up.

- Beach of the Giant: characterized by the imposing statue of the Giant, it is a small pebble beach, with a bathing establishment and a free beach. It is located about 500 meters from the train station, towards Levanto, on the right as you exit the station.

Vernazza
- Small beach in front of the church of Santa Margherita: a small sandy beach is located in front of the church of Vernazza, while on the right there is the pier and some rocks where you can spread the towel with a little creativity. There are no bathing establishments, access is free. The distance from the train station is about 200 meters.

- Beach behind the cave: larger pebble beach than the previous one, reachable from a sort of cave on the left of the main alley. Just closer from the station than the other.

Corniglia
- The Corniglia beach: long and narrow beach of large pebbles between Corniglia and Manarola, with no possibility of shade, closed on the hillside by the railroad wall. It is located next to the train station, a hundred meters away, passing by the ruins of the Villaggio Europa. There are no bathing establishments, access is free.

- The Marina di Corniglia: a small bay located under the town of Corniglia, reachable by a staircase from Largo Taragio, where the oratory of the Disciplinati is located. It is the only landing place in the village. It is located about a kilometer and a half from the station. There are no bathrooms here either and access is free.

- The Guvano beach: perhaps the most famous of the Cinque Terre, for its hippy and nudist past. The small bay however CANNOT be reached, either through a path, which is too dangerous, or the old railway tunnel. It can be reached privately only by sea.

Manarola
- The port of Manarola: there is no real beach in Manarola, only the large rocks in the port, or towards the cemetery, the small landing of Palaedo. From the train station it takes about ten minutes on foot.

Riomaggiore
- The beach of Riomaggiore : a fairly wide beach, with large stones, almost always in full sun, except for the part next to the cliff, from 4.00 pm onwards more or less. There are no bathing establishments, only a shower from which a trickle of fresh water comes out. It is located about 500 meters from the station, when you arrive at the marina, turn left towards the Cinque Terre boat dock.

- The Canneto beach : reachable only by boat, it is a wild pebble beach.