Portovenere, Italy, is a charming village that sits on the point connecting the spectacular Cinque Terre to the inspirational Gulf of the Poets, and it has been a destination for elite tourism for over a century.

Portovenere is a perfect union between nature and architecture, and features a delightful touristic port lined with brightly coloured houses similar to the rest of its Ligurian neighbours.

Indeed, Portovenere,Italy, is often considered the sixth village of the Cinque Terre (with less tourists), and it should be high up on your Ligurian hit-list.

Popular with Italian tourists who want a little sun and sand, Portovenere offers some lovely beaches and bays where you can sunbathe from either the land or a boat.

Let’s have a look at the best beaches in Portovenere(Italy) and surroundings!

Portovenere Beach & Bathing Spots

As you enter the village of Portovenere, you will find a pebbly cove where you can sunbathe and swim in front of the typical ‘mitili’ (mussels) plantations of the Gulf of La Spezia. You have a choice of free beach or beach clubs like Royal Sporting Club (partner of Grand Hotel Portovenere) and Arenella.

During the month of July and/or August, the channel that separates Portovenere from Palmaria Island usually becomes a “natural swimming pool” for one day. In fact, Le Bocche – the channel that is usually crossed by boats – is closed to traffic and open only for swimmers and divers.
Don’t miss: Byron’s Grotto. This gorgeous cove is probably what you dream of when you think of the rugged coastline of Liguria.

Beaches on Palmaria Island

Across the sea from Portovenere sit the three Islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto, all making up part of the Regional Park of Portovenere.

Palmaria is the largest and most-appreciated by tourists, especially to visit the Blue Grotto (or Grotta Azzurra) by boat. Palmaria hosts the best beaches in Portovenere.

Spiaggia di Palmaria (or Spiaggia del Secco) is the main beach of the island. Rocks that emerge from the sea dot this beautiful pebbly beach, where you can stay free of charge or choose the available beach club services.

The clear and turquoise sea is ideal for bathing, although you should enter the water carefully watching out for rocks in the shallow initial part.

You can reach the beach by walking along a path that you find on your right once you disembark in the village of Terrizzo, or reach it directly with a boat service to Punta del Secco.

How to get to Portovenere, Italy

Bus: best way to go to Portovenere, without the hassle of finding a car park, is taking the bus; the trip takes about 35 minutes
Ferryboat: ferry to Portovenere departs from Passeggiata Morin pier, in La Spezia. During the peak season in July and August a secondary ferry service departs from the nearby villages of Cadimare, Fezzano and Le Grazie, direction Portovenere. This ferry runs 3 times a day (August) and stops in Palmaria island too.

Please note: there is no train station in Portovenere, the nearest train station is La Spezia. At La Spezia the transfer is by bus, taxi, or ferry boat.

Best time to visit Liguria

With 300 sunny days in the year Liguria is one of the sunniest regions in Italy, and is therefore a popular holiday destination in every season.
The climate of Liguria is generally mild, with warm summers and mild winters. If you’d like to experience Liguria’s warm weather, the best time to visit is in the late spring or in the summer months.

Summer in Liguria means everything that you can probably want for a restful and eventful vacation: fine sandy beaches, clean water, wonderful landscapes and sports facilities. In July, temperatures hardly ever rise beyond 29 degrees Celsius, and that makes it ideal for swimming – though sporting activities are not excluded either. From June to August the sea warms up to between 20 and 23 degrees Celsius.