Genoa beaches: How to find the best beaches near Genova

Does Genoa have nice beaches? Yes – if you know where to find them. Beaches near Genova: How to get to beautiful beaches in Liguria by train in less than one hour.

Close to Southern France, only a stone’s throw away from Switzerland, two hours by train from Milano: The city of Genoa sits in the middle of Europe, on the Mediterranean Sea.

So, can you go for a swim at Genoa’s seaside? Are there any nice beaches close-by on the Ligurian coast?

Genoa beaches: how to find beautiful places for Swimming

On the subject of Genoa and the beach, first the bad news: as a (former) industrial city and ferry port, the city of Genova itself offers only very limited beach enjoyment.

The good news: by train and bus you can reach gorgeous pebble or sandy beaches in a short time, within an hour. Here are the best tips for the lovely coastline and its daytrip destinations around Genoa.

Boccadasse: The aperitivo beach of Genova

Boccadasse is a famous old fishing village near Genova, as the Italians say. With its small pebble beach, it is very popular with swimmers and even more popular with those who prefer to have an aperitif or aperitivo or appetizer in one of the small seaside restaurants or bars. Picturesque!

For the Spiaggia di Boccadasse, the weekend rule (see below) is especially important. You are more likely to get a place at the Boccadasse Beach for a morning coffee rather than for the aperitivo.

Water in your glass perhaps has more importance than water to take a swim in. But of course you can plunge into the sea – especially refreshing in the early of the morning. No Aperitivo people around at that time of the day.

Genoa Beach Boccadasse, informations

From the Genova city center Brignole train station, you can reach Boccadasse by direct bus in about half an hour.

On foot, it takes about an hour, part of it along the seafront promenade Corso Italia. By bike, it takes about 20 minutes to reach the area of Boccadasse Beach.

In Pegli the suburb rests

Pegli will probably never win a prize for the best or the most beautiful city beach on the ligurian coast. On this pebble beach, suburbia takes its urban vacations. Tourists hardly ever come to this place.

The beach of Genoa-Pegli is bigger than Spiaggia Bocadasse. A beach bar and restaurants across the street round out Pegli’s spiaggia offerings.

City beach Genoa Pegli, informations

From Genoa’s tourist port of Porto Antico, it takes about 30 minutes by bus to reach the water of Spiaggia di Pegli.

Take a seat on the left side of the bus in order to catch a glimpse of the shipyard of Fincanteri, one of the world’s largest shipbuilders.

Pebble beach near Genova: Arenzano

If your time is short but you want a quick breath of beach air from Genoa, Arenzano can be a good thing. Not a beach paradise, but an entry point to the spiaggia scene.

Very special about Arenzano: the path from the train station goes through a gorgeous park with lots of trees. This is extraordinary because trees are rather scarce in Genova.

Travel to Arenzano Information

By treno, it takes about half an hour from Genoa Central Station in the fast way, and about 40 minutes in the slower way.

Free pebbly sandy beaches are located at the right end of the promenade area towards the port. There, in the marina, you can also find some nice restaurants.

Visit Cogoleto like a Local

Our next destination for a day trip to the beach is Cogoleto. Located between Arenzano and Varazze, this town is known as the birthplace of the seafarer Cristoforo Colombo (Christopher Columbus) and has a charming, elongated old town.

Cogoleto is not very touristy by the water. On the beaches you will mainly meet locals who call themselves «Cogoletesi».

When getting out of the train station you can turn into Via Piave towards the sea. There you will find two smaller free sections for swimming on the left-hand side of the beach.

For a longer free beach area, turn right at the end of the beach and walk for about ten minutes towards Varazze. Don’t stop at the first beach, but cross the bridge of the Rumaro river – then you reach the pebbly section, a long stretch of beach, containing a spiaggia libera called Carretta.

Visit Cogoleto: Information for your trip

From Genova Central Station, it takes about 40 minutes by train to reach Cogoleto, depending on the connection. Bring water shoes; the entrance to the water often takes place over larger stones.

The Bombonera bar on the long, freely accessible pebble beach of Cogoleto is ideal for an «apericena», a mixture of aperitivo and cena (dinner). So an extended aperitivo that practically grows into dinner.

Genoa Beach: Varazze

Varazze enjoys a good reputation among surfers; the town is considered a hotspot for wave-riders in the area. No Hawaii, but the Ligurian mini-variant of it.

In high summer, unfortunately, almost the entire beach front is owned by the bagni bosses and can only be used for a fee. Relax: There is a way to find beaches that are more budget-friendly.

Nevertheless: If you have reached the long beach promenade and then turn right in the direction of the harbor, you will come across a pretty little free beach with pebbly sand.

Spiaggia Libera del Porticciolo is a pebbly, crescent-shaped bay, bordered towards the end by large boulders. It is located in the direction of the viewpoint Frangiflutti di Varazze near the port Marina di Varazze.

Beaches Genoa: Information Varazze

From Genoa’s main railway station you can reach Varazze in 30 minutes by express; by slow train it takes about 50 minutes.

Along the way to the beaches there is also a side entrance to the old town of Varazze. Well worth a visit, for example for a last beer before the journey home to Genoa.

Beaches near Genova: Rapallo

Now we’re off in an easterly direction. Rapallo, located on the Gulf del Tugullio, is a really good start for people who want a beach experience near the city of Genoa.

The beach is as easily as quickly accessible from the train station of Rapallo. And there is a clean public restroom at the train station – at least there was in May 2023 (and it is checked regularly).

The beach, which is free of charge, is in a good position in the center of the town. Right there where the weekly Mercato Settimanale di Rapallo takes place every Thursday.

Rapallo is located about 19 miles southeast of Genoa and offers a very pretty old town. The relatively large city (30,000 inhabitants) is a good starting point for a visit to Portofino – or even to make a stop in Camogli (see next tip) on the way back to Genoa.

Rapallo Liguria: Beach Info

From Genova Piazza Principe railway station you can reach Rapallo by train in less than 40 minutes, or by slow service in a little more than an hour.

On foot, it is only about five minutes from the station to Spiaggia Libera on the street Lungomare Vittorio Veneto. Here a relatively large pebble beach awaits you.

Camogli, the favorite of tutto Genova

The Ligurian town of Camogli is enchantingly nestled against the mountain. This postcard-village is one of the great treasures of province and the Ligurian coast. In short: One of the loveliest coastal villages of the Italian Riveria.

The pebble beach of Camogli is relatively large. Nevertheless, it is worth taking seasonal holidays and weather conditions into account in order to avoid becoming a victim of day-trip overtourism.

Discover the beauty of camogli, informations

From Genoa-Brignole city station, it takes about 40 minutes by train to reach this lovely village. Just the public transportation ride along the sea is worthwhile sightseeing voyage.

From the station down to the sea, there are numerous viewpoints and picture opportunities. In my humble opinion, the word «instagrammable» was invented for places like Camogli. In my humble opinion, on the Ligurian Riviera you can’t get hardly any more romantic than this fishing village on the Golfo Paradiso.

Sestri Levante Liguria: Two sandy beaches

Up to now, we have desribed pebble beaches. In Sestri this changes. Now we talk about spiagge di sabbia.

Italian connoisseurs will notice: Ah, spiagge, plural of beach. Sabbia means sand in Italian. Or: Sandy beaches.

In fact, with the Baia del Silenzio and the Baia delle Favole, there are two sandy beaches to enjoy. My favorite: the smaller, crescent-shaped Baia del Silenzio with its beautiful sand and picturesque scenery.

To cut a long story short: When it comes to sandy beaches close to Genoa, Sestri Levante ist your best option.

Liguria Sestri, good to know

From Genoa’s Brignole rail station, Sestri’s sandy beaches can be reached in 40 minutes by the best rail option. By slow train it takes about 15 minutes longer.

Sestri is very popular with Italian and international tourists from all over Europe. In the high season and on weekends, Baia del Silenzio fills up quickly. And yes, this means in the sand and in the water.

But Baia delle Favole is pretty too. You can even find a decent Spiaggia Libera there (see below).

In my opinion, the sun sets more beautifully on this sandy beach than on the Baia del Silenzio.

Tip for the evening: go for dinner or apericena (the extended version of aperitivo) in the picturesque downtown of Sestri.

If you can manage at all to get a table in a restaurant or a hotel. Best idea: be there early or reserve well ahead.

Beaches near Genoa: 4 tips

Before you set off for the Ligurian Sea in Genoa, there are three things you should know. Seasonalities, days of the week and beach fees play an important role.

These four best tips will help you to make the most of your day trips to the beaches of the Ligurian Riviera.

Riviera beaches: pay attention to the season

If you are traveling between June and August, be prepared for large crowds.

What this means for you is that you should either get there early in the morning or wait until evening. My best idea: Go for the early bird option.

The crowds at the Spiaggia start to thin out around 7 pm when the Italian Cena is announced — the dinner with friends and family in hotels and restaurants.

Spending quality time with friends and family for Cena in the hotel is an Italian duty. So take advantage of this – and go to the beach while the Italians gather.

Beach trips Liguria: Weekend note

The second tip also applies to the extended summer, that is, the period from mid-May to mid-October.

On fine settimana (weekends) the Italian urge to go to the spiaggia is always particularly strong. So, again, either arrive very early or wait until later in the evening.

For the evening, take provisions. Because just when you want to go to the Spiaggia-Ristorante, the Italians are probably already there.

For example, bring some sandwiches as the Internaut himself prepares and enjoys: Here you can learn how to prepare a sandwich or tramezzino the Internaut way.

Going swimming near Genoa: look fore «Spiaggia Libera»

Third tip: Many of the most magnificent beaches in Italy, the so-called balneari or bagni, can only be accessed – at least in high season – for hefty fees.

Sand close to the water means big business in Italy. But wait, here is a tip for your daytrip to ligurian destinations on the sea.

If you do not want to support this Spiaggia Business-Case, look before departure on Google Maps or another navigation platform. So you can find public beaches without any fees.

Beaches that are marked as «Spiaggia libera» or «Spiaggia pubblica» can be accessed  without an entrance fee or other hefty fees for deck chairs, sunbeds or umbrellas.

Beaches near Genoa: tip 4

Given the sweltering heat, this clothing tip may sound absurd. Nevertheless, it’s a good idea to take a scarf with you on journeys by public transport.

The reason: trains and buses are cooled down considerably in Liguria in high summer. If you’re not used to this chill factor, you can easily catch a cold. Which considerably dulls the enjoyment of the beach.

Genoa Beaches: Water Quality, Riviera di Levante and Riviera di Ponente

The closer the beaches are to the port of Genoa, the poorer the water quality usually is. Close to the city you will mostly find pebble and shingle beaches. For sandy beaches, such as those of Sestri Levante, you will have to travel a little further.

A geographical note: the section of the Ligurian Riviera that stretches east of Genoa towards Portofino, La Spezia, Cinque Terre and Tuscany is considered the Riviera di Levante.

Four of the beaches mentioned here (Boccadasse, Camogli, Rapallo and Sestri) are also located to the east.

Those beaches that lie west from Genoa towards Cogoleto, Imperia, Finale Ligure, Ventimiglia and Southern France are on the Riviera di Ponente. The last stretch before the French border is also known as Riviera dei Fiori, which translates into Riviera of flowers.

Of the seven beaches the Internaut recommends here within the province of Genoa Italy, four are east of Genoa. And three are west of Genova.

P.S. Why actually always tips by train, bus, on foot or by bike? Because der Internaut likes to travel by public transport. And because he has been to Genoa by car twice: for the first and for the last time.

I prefer to leave the car-trouble – Italians might call it «macchina thrill» – to people who are better suited for parking, heat attacks and tedious city traffic.

P.S.2: How does der Internaut arrive at his ratings and reviews of the most beautiful swimming spots around Genoa: I consider public beaches that are no more than an hour by bus or train from Genoa, so that you can easily make a hassle-free beach tour as a day trip.

If you like to read in German, you can find here a more detailed version of this blogpost about die schönsten Sandstrände bei Genua.