Overview of beaches

 1 . Beach in Framura: Porto Pidocchio

Paid services: no.
Distance from railway station: 600 m / 650 yd, 5 minutes.
By train: to Framura station, then on foot following signs.
Parking lot (cars): available, but very limited places, especially in summer.
Description: outside the Cinque Terre zone, need to catch a train; entry ticket is not included in the Cinque Terre Card.
Tranquil, beautiful and secluded beach.

 2 . Bonassola

Paid services: yes.
Distance from railway station: 200 m / 220 yd, 2 minutes.
By train: to Bonassola station.
Parking lot (cars): available, but very limited spaces, especially in summer.
Description: outside the Cinque Terre, train ticket is not included in the Cinque Terre Card, but you may reach Levanto station by train, then go on foot along the seafront through illuminated tunnels (rebuilt in 2012) to Bonassola; on the way you will come across some small wild beaches.
Beaches are usually crowded, resembling beaches in Monterosso and Levanto.

 3 . Levanto

Paid services: yes (+ boats hire).
Distance from railway station: 800 m / 875 yd, 10 minutes.
By train: to Levanto station, then on foot towards the sea along the Corso Roma thoroughfare.
Parking lot (cars): available, limited space in summer.
Description: the second largest beach of the Cinque Terre. Levanto railway station is located farther than the station in Monterosso, which is why it is not so crowded here.

 4 . Monterosso (Fegina)

Paid services: yes (+ hire of boats, catamarans, Stand Up Paddling etc.).
Distance from railway station: exit from the station leads straight to the beach; there can not be closer.
By train: to Monterosso al Mare station.
Parking lot (cars): available, problem with spaces only in July and August.
Description: the biggest and the most comfortable beach in the Cinque Terre. In general, tourists start their vacation here (the only sandy beach).

 5 . Monterosso (the old town)

Paid services: yes.
Distance from railway station: 600 m / 650 yd, 5 minutes.
By train: to Monterosso al Mare station, after the station exit you should turn left and go along the seafront to the beach situated on the opposite side of the old town’s centre hiding behind the rock.
Parking lot (cars): available, there are problems with the number of places only in July and August.
Description: second beach in the biggest village of the Cinque Terre situated in the old centre of the village, the famous Blue Path (Sentiero Azzurro) starts from here.

 6 . Vernazza

Paid services: no.
Distance from railway station: 200 m / 220 yd, 2 minutes.
By train: to Vernazza station, then on foot towards the sea.
Parking lot (cars): paid, very limited number of places, it is highly recommended to park your car in La Spezia (more details on the page How to reach).
Description: there are two beaches in Vernazza: one small, near the main square, and another one (a bit larger) from the other side, which can be reached through caved passage in rock near the main square of the village (shown in the photo below).

 7 . Guvano

Paid services: no.
Distance from railway station: 1.5 km / 1 mile, 15 minutes.
By train: to Corniglia station, then on foot through a dark tunnel (you need a torch as lighting does not work since 2012), or descending along the Blue Path between Corniglia and Vernazza following signs (see the Google Map above). Note: descent is difficult, so we would highly recommend using the tunnel.
Parking lot (cars): None. It is recommended to leave your car in La Spezia (see more details on the page How to reach).
Description: a very beautiful beach, generally visited by nudists. In recent years, reaching here has become somewhat difficult: you should have a powerful torch, as the 1 km / 0.6 miles long tunnel is completely without lighting! In the past, one could reach there by trail, but now, unfortunately, it is too dangerous.

Update: the tunnel was closed in 2016.

 8 . Corniglia

Paid services: no.
Distance from railway station: one is just near the station, another one is about 1 km/0.6 miles away, 30 minutes (you need to first walk uphill to the village and then descend).
By train: to Corniglia station.
Parking lot (cars): None. It is recommended to leave the car in La Spezia (more details on the page How to reach).
Description: two tranquil unfrequented beaches, Spiaggione (just near the station) is not always accessible owing to high water level in the sea. The second one is situated across the rock where the village of Corniglia is entrenched. A descent starts from the village’s central square, where Monument to the Fallen (Monumento ai Caduti) is situated. It is a rather tranquil and beautiful beach.

 9 . Riomaggiore

Paid services: no.
Distance from railway station: 500 m / 550 yd, 5 minutes.
By train: to Riomaggiore station, from the station exit turn right and pass through the long tunnel. At Y-junction one road goes left (towards town’s centre) and another - straight and downwards towards the coast, which we need to follow. From there turn left along the seafront behind the rock; and here you are on the beach!
Parking lot (cars): available, paid (expensive), parking spaces are not always available during July and August.
Description: rarely visited beach. Usually, tourists take rest here while waiting for their boat as a mooring is very close.

 10 . Canneto beach

Paid services: no.
Distance from railway station: it can be reached only by boat (to be hired individually).
Description: a nice wild beach, close to the open section of La Spezia – Riomaggiore railway tunnel; one can see a running train every 10 minutes.

 11 . Fossola beach

Paid services: no.
Distance from railway station: it can be reached only by boat (to be hired individually).
Description: a very beautiful wild beach. After a landslide some years ago, it can now be reached only by boat. Owing to dimensions of the landslide and complexity of the rocky terrain, it is not planned to restore the descent.

 12 . Persico beach

Paid services: no.
Distance from railway station: first you need to reach Campiglia either on foot or by bus from La Spezia, and then - on foot.
How to reach: from La Spezia - by bus to Campiglia, or on foot - from Riomaggiore or Portovenere; the town is situated just in the middle of this section. Then follow the signs as indicated on the map. The descent takes 45 minutes, and the return journey - more than one hour.
Parking lot (cars): None.
Description: a very beautiful beach; not easily approachable, which is why most of the times you hardly see anybody on the beach. Usually, tourists trekking along the Riomaggiore - Portovenere Walking Trail take rest here from the tiring walk.

 13 . Portovenere

Paid services: yes.
By train: not possible. You will have to reach the town by boat, bus or car. More details are on the website about Portovenere.
Parking lot (cars): available, but the number of places is extremely limited, especially in summer.
Description: outside the Cinque Terre region. There are no beaches in the town centre, there is just a rocky descent at the Church of Saint Peter, and the beaches are situated over a distance of 800 m along the seafront towards La Spezia. In the beginning there is a small uncomfortable paid beach, further there are much more comfortable beaches (do not be in hurry stopping at the first one, it would be better to first have a look on the entire seafront).

 14 . Palmaria Island

Paid services: yes, on the first beach only.
By train: first you have to go to Portovenere (trains DO NOT go there), more details are on the town’s website. Then you will have to take a boat (shown on the Google Map above) to reach the Palmaria Island.
Description: outside the Cinque Terre region. Beauty of this island can’t be explained in words, one has to see it with own eyes to experience it. We recommend you to visit the island with stops on different beaches indicated on the map. They are amazingly beautiful, but only the first one has additional paid facilities.