Free beaches
Stretches between one lido and the next along the seafront. No sun beds, no bar — bring your own umbrella and water. Good for a few hours, costs nothing, and you don't mind a short walk on pebbles to the waterline.
Beaches & beach clubs
The beaches of Cogoleto
Over two kilometres of coast, water rated excellent, free beaches and lidos — all walkable from the town centre.
In brief
Cogoleto beaches: what to know before going down
Cogoleto's coastline runs about 2.5 km between the mouth of the Lerone stream (towards Arenzano) and the Arrestra stream (towards Varazze). It's a pebble and gravel coast, with patches of coarse sand where the streams meet the sea. The water is rated "excellent" by ARPAL Liguria in the official bathing controls — the top category of the European scale — confirmed sample after sample along the full Cogoleto shoreline.
Coast typePebbles, gravel, coarse sand
Water (ARPAL)Excellent · last sample 15 May 2026
Coastline length~ 2.5 km
From town centre0 m — the village fronts the sea
Bathing seasonMay – September
AccessibilityFlat seafront; several lidos have ramps and accessible services
Free or serviced
How to pick the right stretch
Three kinds of beach co-exist in Cogoleto: free (no charge, no services), free with services (no entry fee; sun beds and umbrellas paid à la carte) and lidos (full package). Choose by how long you plan to stay and how self-sufficient you want to be.
Free beach with services
Free entry; showers, sun beds, umbrellas and sometimes a small bar à la carte. The typical compromise: prices are far below a lido and you keep the minimum comfort.
Lidos
Full package — neat rows of umbrellas, restaurant, kids' animation, sometimes a pool. The right pick for a full day with the family or if you want to eat on the beach without moving. Outside high season many lidos open only at weekends.
Dogs on the beach
Some lidos accept dogs in dedicated areas; most free beaches allow them on the leash. In town the baretto on the seafront is a classic meeting point for local dogs — the owner always has water in the bowl.
From Cogoleto to Varazze
The cycle path on the old railway
From Cogoleto's seafront begins one of Italy's most beautiful coastal cycle paths: Arenzano – Cogoleto – Varazze, built on the bed of the old railway line. Seven kilometres of flat gravel between sea and rock, with tunnel sections and short viaducts suspended above hidden coves.
It's family-friendly: no cars, no climbs, lit tunnels. In summer (June – September) some stretches become pedestrian only during peak hours — check the municipal ordinance before heading out by bike. Bike rental is available near Cogoleto station.
Along the path you'll find the Lungomare Europa coves: small bays reachable only by sea or via steps from the path — clearer water and fewer people. See also things to do for trails into Beigua Park.
When to go
The sea at Cogoleto, month by month
May – June
Sea warm enough from mid-June (~20°C). Lidos open gradually; weekends already busy. The best window if you want the beach without the crowd.
July – August
True high season. Sea at 24 – 26°C, full sun, booking advised at lidos. Free beaches fill by 10 AM on weekends.
September
Cogoleto's secret. Sea still warm (22 – 24°C), lidos open but empty after the 15th, lower prices. October can still bring swim-worthy days.
Winter
No bathing, but the seafront walk is one of the best in Liguria for walking in the sun — the western microclimate keeps Cogoleto 3 – 4°C warmer than Genoa on average.
Frequently asked questions
The four most asked. All beach-related questions →
Is the water at Cogoleto clean?
Yes. ARPAL Liguria rates Cogoleto's coastal water as "excellent" — the top category of EU Directive 2006/7/CE — in official bathing controls. Every sample result is published on the ARPAL portal; last update 15 May 2026.
Sand or pebbles?
Mostly pebbles and gravel, with patches of coarse sand near the mouths of the Lerone and Arrestra streams. Water shoes help both for entering the sea and walking in the sun — smooth stone holds a lot of heat in summer.
How much does a beach club cost?
About €25-35 a day for an umbrella + two loungers, and €1,500-1,900 for the season (first/second row). Exact tariffs per operator are listed in the beach-club directory further up this page, with a link to each operator's tariff page where they publish one.
How do I get to the beaches of Cogoleto?
By train: Cogoleto stop on the Genoa – Ventimiglia line, then five minutes' walk to the sea (24 trains a day, 39-47 min from Genoa Brignole). By car: A10 motorway, Arenzano exit (3 km from town). Free parking on the seafront in winter; in summer find spots in Via Colombo and Via Rati, or paid lots closer to the beach.
Every beach club and free beach is walkable from the centre of Cogoleto — or, better still, reachable by bike along the cycle path built on the old railway that runs parallel to the seafront. Walking times are approximate and measured from Piazza Giusti.
No services. Bring your own umbrella, towel and water shoes.
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Spiaggia di Ponente
Western end of the seafront
Sand and fine gravel. Free access, family-oriented. Kids' play areas nearby.
- Lifeguard
- Accessible
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Spiaggia di Levante
Eastern end of the seafront
Larger pebbles, quieter atmosphere. Good if you want to read in peace.
- Lifeguard
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Cala di Vesima
Easterly cove, reached on foot via the coastal path
Pebbles, secluded. Snorkelling-friendly.
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Spiaggia dell'Arrestra
At the mouth of the Arrestra stream
Popular free beach at the mouth of the Arrestra stream.
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Spiaggia della Torre
Near Villa Nasturzio
Pebble beach, views of the coastal watchtower.
2026 prices exact when the operator publishes them, otherwise a band. Verify before you go.
In Cogoleto
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Bagni Le Vele
Season 1 April – 12 October 2026
Eastern seafront (Aurelia di Levante)
10-12 min walk from centre
Beach club with swimming pool, restaurant and beach bar. Public tariffs on their website.
- Daily
- €35 umbrella + 2 loungers (2 loungers)
- Season
- €1750–1900 first / second row, seasonal
Price source · Verified: Giugno 2026
- Restaurant
- Pool
- Kids
- Hot showers
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Pippy Island
Western seafront
10-12 min walk from centre
Beach club with restaurant, bar and kids' play area. Very strong Google reviews (4.7/5).
- Restaurant
- Kids
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Bagni Sorriso
Lungomare Govi, near Piazzale Guido Rossa
1-3 min walk from centre
Hot-water shower cabins, kids' play area, swimming pool, a flowered avenue down to a sheltered cove.
- Restaurant
- Pool
- Kids
- Hot showers
-
Bagni Marechiaro
Lungomare Govi · in business since 1958
1-3 min walk from centre
Family-run beach club, in business since 1958 under the Delussu family.
- Bar
-
Bagni Marisa
Lungomare Bianchi · in business since 1954
5 min walk from centre
Family-run beach club and restaurant on the eastern seafront since 1954.
- Restaurant
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Bagni Marinella
Lungomare Govi, by the old centre
1-3 min walk from centre
Beach club with pool and floating island.
- Bar
- Pool
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Central Bagni
Lungomare Govi · in business since 2004
1-3 min walk from centre
Central-seafront beach club.
- Bar
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Baraonde Beach
Lungomare Govi
6-8 min walk from centre
Central-seafront beach club with bar and day area.
- Bar
-
Thelma Beach
Eastern seafront
8-10 min walk from centre
Eastern-seafront beach club.
- Bar
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Stone Beach
Western seafront, by the cycle path
8-12 min walk from centre
Western-seafront beach club, a few steps from the coastal cycle path.
- Bar
-
Bagni Lido
Lungomare Santa Maria
12-15 min walk from centre
Strong restaurant reviews on Tripadvisor (seafood orecchiette, fritto misto). The beach club and the kitchen are run side by side.
- Restaurant
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Calabasciu
Eastern seafront, before the cycle path begins
10 min walk from centre
Free-entry beach with on-site bar and restaurant, sun loungers for hire. Free access, comfort à la carte.
- Restaurant
Along the cycle path (Varazze side)
These are in Varazze municipality but a few minutes' walk or bike ride from Cogoleto along the Lungomare Europa.
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Colonia Marina "Henry Dunant" (Croce Rossa)
Start of Passeggiata Europa, on the Cogoleto–Varazze border · run by the Italian Red Cross, Varazze Committee
20-25 min walk from centre
The most accessibility-equipped beach in the area: 4 dedicated changing cabins and 2 showers for guests with disabilities, 10 raised loungers, a tactile path for visually-impaired guests, JOB amphibious wheelchairs for water entry, reserved parking, and qualified Red Cross staff to assist entry and exit from the sea. Access is reserved to Italian Red Cross members.
- Bar
- Accessible
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Bagni Mauro & Pippo
Start of Lungomare Europa, Cogoleto side — Varazze municipality
20-25 min walk from centre
Family-run beach club with a Ligurian-cuisine restaurant, beach volley, water aerobics. Just over a kilometre from the centre along the cycle path.
- Restaurant
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Holy Beach
Start of Lungomare Europa — Italy's first fully vegan beach club
20-25 min walk from centre
Same site as Bagni Mauro & Pippo, separately run: vegan kitchen, yoga, holistic treatments.
- Restaurant
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Cala Loca
Piani d'Invrea, Lungomare Europa side — Varazze municipality
25-30 min walk from centre
Beach club inside the Beigua Park: restaurant with panoramic terraces, parking, events and seasonal co-working.
- Restaurant