The beach at Diano Marina is one of the better stretches of sand on the Riviera di Ponente — about a kilometre long, wide enough to feel uncrowded outside peak August, and gently shelving into calm, clear water. Most of it is divided between paying lidos that rent out sunbeds and umbrellas, but a few stretches of free public beach remain at either end.
The Ligurian coast here is sheltered from cold northern winds by the Maritime Alps, giving it a famously mild microclimate. The palm-lined promenade that runs the length of the beach is pleasant for an evening stroll, and the low-rise buildings behind it are kept at a scale that doesn't overwhelm the setting.