Cinque Terre is famous for its cliffs, its trails and its five stacked villages, but people are often surprised to learn it is also a place you can swim. It is not a classic sand-and-sunbeds coast, with one clear exception, and knowing which village to head to for which kind of swim saves you a hot, disappointing walk down the wrong set of steps. Here is where to find the best beaches and swimming spots in Cinque Terre, village by village.
Monterosso al Mare: the only real beach
If you want proper sand, a lounger and an umbrella, go to Monterosso. It is the only one of the five villages with a genuine beach, and it has two of them. The long Fegina beach in the newer part of town runs right along the seafront by the train station, part free public beach and part paid clubs, with soft sand, gentle water and every amenity. The smaller old town beach, tucked under the medieval quarter, is more pebble than sand but has the classic Cinque Terre postcard view of umbrellas against pastel houses.
A sunbed and umbrella at one of the Monterosso clubs runs roughly €20 for a single lounger up to around €25 to €40 for two loungers and an umbrella for the day, more at the smarter clubs. Arrive before 11am in July and August if you want a good spot, or use the free public stretches with your own towel.
Vernazza: a tiny harbour and a hidden cave beach
Vernazza has a small sandy beach right in its harbour, ringed by the colourful houses of the main square, one of the most photographed swimming spots on the coast. It is little more than a scoop of sand and it fills quickly, but floating there with the village rising around you is a Cinque Terre moment worth having. There is also a second, smaller beach reached through a short cave-like tunnel off the main piazza, created after the 2011 floods reshaped the shoreline. It is quieter and feels like a secret.
Corniglia: rocks, and the wild Guvano beach
Corniglia sits up on a headland with no harbour, so it has no easy beach of its own, just rocky spots below the village for the determined. Its real swimming secret is Guvano beach, a wild, secluded cove on the coast toward Vernazza that was for decades a famous clothing-optional and hippie hangout. It takes effort to reach and is not for everyone, but it remains the coast’s most legendary hidden beach.
Manarola: the best swimming of all
Manarola has no beach, and yet it may be the best place in Cinque Terre to actually swim. The little harbour is a natural swimming hole with ladders bolted into the flat rocks, deep clear water and a low diving platform locals launch from all summer. Around the point there is a quieter back inlet that is excellent for snorkelling. Bring water shoes for the rocks and you will have some of the clearest, deepest water on the coast largely to yourself in the early morning.
Riomaggiore: a rocky beach under the arches
Riomaggiore’s beach, the Spiaggia di Riomaggiore, sits just outside the harbour beneath the old railway arches. It is rocky rather than sandy and larger than Vernazza’s, good for a swim and a sunbathe on the boulders, though you cannot swim on the harbour side because of boat traffic. Further along the coast, hidden inlets like Fossola and Canneto are reachable only by kayak or on foot down rough paths, and reward the effort with near-total solitude.
A few things worth knowing before you swim
The water in Cinque Terre is deep, clear and cold in the honest Mediterranean way, warmest from July into September. Almost everywhere except Monterosso means rocks rather than sand, so a pair of water shoes is the single most useful thing you can pack. Mornings are calmest and least crowded; by early afternoon in high season the popular spots are full. And if lying by the sea all day is the point of your trip, base yourself in Monterosso and treat the other four villages as walks and swims between.
Beach clubs, free beaches and what to bring
Monterosso is the only village where you will find organised beach clubs with sunbeds, umbrellas, showers and a bar, alongside free public stretches where you spread your own towel. Everywhere else, swimming is free but wild: no facilities, no sand, just rocks and a ladder if you are lucky. That makes a few small things matter a lot. Bring water shoes for the rocks, a quick-dry towel you do not mind sitting on stone with, and plenty of water, because outside Monterosso there is often nowhere to buy it near the water.
For a family, Monterosso’s Fegina beach is the obvious choice, with its gentle sand, shallow entry and every amenity within reach. For couples and confident swimmers, Manarola’s deep rock pool is the most beautiful place to spend a morning. For solitude, the hidden coves reached only by kayak, Canneto and Fossola among them, or the legendary Guvano between Corniglia and Vernazza, reward the effort with near-empty water. Renting a kayak from Monterosso or Riomaggiore for a couple of hours is the single best way to reach the beaches no path leads to, and to see the villages from the angle the fishermen do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cinque Terre have sandy beaches?
Only Monterosso al Mare has proper sand, at the long Fegina beach and a smaller pebble beach under the old town. The other four villages offer rocky coves and harbour swimming rather than sand.
Which Cinque Terre village is best for swimming?
Monterosso for a full beach day with loungers, and Manarola for the clearest, deepest water off the rocks. Manarola’s harbour swimming hole is a local favourite.
Do I need water shoes in Cinque Terre?
Yes, almost everywhere except Monterosso’s sand you will be getting in over rocks, so water shoes make swimming far more comfortable and are the most useful thing to pack.
How much does a sunbed cost in Monterosso?
In 2026, expect roughly €20 for a single sunbed and around €25 to €40 for two loungers with an umbrella for the day at the beach clubs on Fegina beach, with free public areas alongside.
What is Guvano beach?
Guvano is a wild, secluded cove between Corniglia and Vernazza, historically a clothing-optional and hippie beach. It is hard to reach and remains the coast’s most legendary hidden swimming spot.
Planning the wider trip? See the complete guide to Cinque Terre for the villages, trains, trails and where to stay.
Read also: The Best Photo Spots in Cinque Terre | When to Visit Cinque Terre | The Complete Guide to Cinque Terre
