The best Cinque Terre beaches for kids (AND adults!)

Cinque Terre is a collection of five lovely little towns that dot the coast on the Italian Riviera. Because of their prime location on the Mediterranean Sea, many families use a trip to Cinque Terre as an opportunity for a beach day, especially if traveling with children. But which beaches are the best Cinque Terre beaches for kids – and for the adults with whom they’re traveling? Read on to learn more about Cinque Terre’s beaches and what they uniquely have to offer.

About Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is a collection of five small seaside towns (“Five Lands”) in Liguria, the northwestern part of Italy. The towns all lie on the Mediterranean Sea, in an area known as the Italian Riviera.

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What to expect from the beaches of Cinque Terre

Before visiting an Italian beach as a tourist, you should know what to expect. Italy has nearly 8000 km of coastline, and with it comes a lot of beaches. But these aren’t the sandy palm-lined beaches you might be familiar with if you’ve visited the tropics. The Italian shoreline tends to be rocky and craggy, with hidden coves and old stone marinas. Beaches tend more toward pebbles than sand. There’s a lot of natural beauty here, but it’s more rugged than refined.

How lidos work in Italy

With so much coastline in Italy, and consequently, so many beaches, it’s crucial to understand how Italian beach clubs (known as lidos or bagnos) work.

While beaches are public land, space on the public beaches is rented by the government to concession owners who set up lidos. These clubs may only be accessed via paid admission, and it’s said that up to 90% of Italy’s beaches are occupied by lidos. While the symmetrical rows of colourful parasols lining the beach can be a pretty sight, it’s sometimes frustrating to arrive at the beach only to realize that only a narrow strip of land – the spiaggia librera – is available for public access.

The lidos are not allowed to block access to the water, and so you may swim freely along the entire length of the beach. However, you won’t be allowed to enter or exit the water via the lido unless you are a paying customer.

A lido’s posted rate typically includes the use of a pair of lounge chairs that share the shade provided by a single umbrella. You can expect to pay a bit more for a desirable location close to the water compared to a row further back. The rate is good for the entire day. If you arrive late in the day, you might be able to negotiate a half-day’s rate if the lido does not already have a half-day rate or mezza giornata posted.

In addition to staking out a spot on the beach, lidos also give access to showers, toilets, change rooms, life guards, and food and beverage service. Different lidos cater to different types of clientele. Some are more family-friendly, and some have a more upscale, exclusive vibe. You will probably be able to suss out the right lido for you very quickly upon seeing it.

Now, on to the best Cinque Terre beaches for kids.

Cinque Terre beaches in Monterosso

Monterosso is the largest town with arguably the prettiest (and largest) beach, where you can rent umbrellas and chairs for the day. The water is a brilliant shade of turquoise on a sunny day. The town is split into an old and a new part, and each has a different vibe. The castle overshadows the old town, and it features more old-fashioned, labyrinthian streets, similar to the other villages. The new town, Fegina, is closer to the main beach and has more hotels and restaurants.

Spiaggia di Fegina

Spiaggia di Fegina gets our vote for the prettiest beach not only in Monterosso but in all of Cinque Terre. It’s a long beach, and the sandiest one in Cinque Terre, though some would still say it’s more of a pebbly beach than the true sandy types located in the Caribbean. Located directly opposite the local train station, it features turquoise water, a large rock outcropping known as Scoglio di Monterosso, and the colourful striped umbrellas of local beach clubs. Because of its size, accessibility, and its beauty, it’s the most popular beach in Cinque Terre.

The most notable beach club is Bagno Eden, famous for its orange-and-green striped umbrellas that cover a significant portion of the beach. At Bagno Eden, two chairs and an umbrella cost 30 euros to rent for a day. There are also publicly-accessible spaces on the beach where you can spread your towel for free on a first-come-first-served basis.

The stroller-accessible promenade along the beach features many shops and restaurants where refreshments are available to purchase. The beach’s waters are partially protected and thus are somewhat sheltered from rough waves, and the beach entry is shallow.

With the daily influx of visitors every day in the summer months, this beach can get very crowded. This is true of all of Cinque Terre’s beaches. The advantage that Spiaggia di Fegina has is space: there is more room to stretch out here than there is at any other beach in Cinque Terre. All in all, this is still one of the best beaches for kids in Cinque Terre.

If you’d like to escape to someplace a bit quieter, keep heading west from the train station, and you’ll soon arrive at Spiaggia del Gigante. This beach also features a mix of paid and free sections, and it also provides amenities. However, it’s a pebbly beach rather than a sandy one.

Spiaggia Tragagia

Spiaggia Tragagia is the beach in the Old Town section of Monterosso. To reach it, turn left from the train station, and go through the tunnel. You’ll come out to this beach, which has some private space but a decent amount of public space, too. It is less picturesque than Spiaggia di Fegina but has similar amenities.

Cinque Terre beaches in Vernazza

Vernazza is the most picturesque village. It’s centered around a quaint harbour and pier, and its clusters of colourful buildings draw photographers from around the world. Because it’s one of the central villages, it has access to hiking in both directions. And the trails connecting Vernazza to its neighbouring villages are currently the only Blue Trail hiking trails that are open.

Vernazza Harbour

Vernazza is built around the only natural harbour in Cinque Terre. The harbour’s water is a bit murky, but the harbour provides protection from strong waves. There is a small strip of sandy beach, a gentle entry to the water, and lots of flat rocks surrounding the area, perfect for sunbathing. You’ll get a good view of the fishing boats entering and exiting the harbour, and the whole area is open to the public: no lidos here. This is another one of the best beaches for kids in Cinque Terre.

Spiaggia Vernazza

On the east side of Vernazza, access to another beach is possible. Along the town’s main street, you’ll see a cave opening. Pass through the cave and you’ll emerge at Spiaggia Vernazza, a rocky beach with rougher surf than you’ll find elsewhere in Cinque Terre.

There is a sign at the entrance to the cave, warning that entry is at your own risk. The harbour is a more family-friendly place to sunbathe and swim.

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Cinque Terre beaches in Corniglia

Corniglia is the only town that is not at sea level. Perhaps because of this, it is the quietest of the five towns. If you arrive in Corniglia by train, you should know that there is a steep climb up a series of switchbacks to get into town. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle bus from the train station to the town square. The cost is €2.50 for adults and the fare is covered by the Cinque Terre Card.

Because Corniglia doesn’t touch the water, you might be surprised to learn that Corniglia does indeed have a swimming spot. Follow a sign that says “Al Mare/To the Sea”, and it will lead you down a steep staircase to a strip of rocky beach. Because of the difficult access, this isn’t a great beach to visit with children.

Cinque Terre beaches in Manarola

Manarola is a great place to swim and sunbathe. But, you need to wrap your head around the fact that you won’t find a traditional beach here. Instead, sun worshippers can be found strewn across the rocks and around the harbour. Indeed, the concrete boat ramp that slants down to the waterfront is the perfect place to catch some afternoon rays.

Manarola is a favourite for families visiting Cinque Terre with older kids because there are some great cliff-jumping opportunities in the harbour area. If you’re not that adventurous, there are easier ways to get into the water, via ladders and shallow entry points.

Cinque Terre beaches in Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore has a small natural harbour and is best viewed from the water to appreciate its beauty. Because Riomaggiore is the closest town to La Spezia, the area’s most significant railway hub outside the park, Riomaggiore can become clogged with day-tripping visitors who only come in to sample a bit of what Cinque Terre has to offer.

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Spiaggia di Riomaggiore

Spiaggia di Riomaggiore is a beautiful, rocky little beach. You can access it by heading toward the water from the train station, and taking the path that climbs up toward the left. The path hugs a curve and wraps back down toward a small pebbly beach that is hemmed in by cliffs on all sides.

The entire beach is open to the public. The water here is a bit rough, making it a better choice for older kids.

Note that swimming is not allowed in the Riomaggiore harbour due to boat traffic.

In conclusion…

So there you have it – our opinions about the best Cinque Terre beaches for kids. What do you think – do you agree with our assessment? Are there any other beaches you would recommend – particularly, any hidden gem, lesser-known beaches? Drop a comment below to let us know.

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