Sestri Levante with a dog works well if you plan around two things: in summer dogs are only allowed on designated dog beaches, and long walks belong in the early morning and evening. Both of our apartments welcome pets, a few minutes' walk from the sea.
Sestri Levante with a dog: the short answer
At 7 on a July morning the seafront in Sestri belongs to the dogs. People in flip-flops with a lead in one hand, bars pulling up their shutters, the pavement still cool. At 2 in the afternoon, on the same seafront, you would not even walk yourself.
Here is what you need to know about visiting Sestri Levante with a dog:
- Where to stay: both of our apartments accept pets, just tell us when you book
- Beaches: during the summer bathing season, dogs can only go to designated dog beaches and areas
- Walks: the seafront, the loop around the old-town peninsula and, for fit dogs, the Punta Manara trail
- Trains: dogs can travel, with different rules depending on size
- Summer: walks before 9am and after 7pm, and always carry water
We have hosted guests with dogs since 2018. They tend to ask the same questions, so here are our answers.
Dog-friendly apartments in Sestri Levante
Both of our holiday apartments welcome pets. Just mention your dog when you book, so we can get the place ready and give you a few tips about the area. You can compare them on our page about our holiday apartments in Sestri Levante.
Due Passi Beach: best if you drive
Due Passi Beach is 5 minutes' walk from the sea, with private parking and air conditioning. With a dog in summer, both matter. You unload the car at the door, and during the hottest hours your dog stays cool indoors. It is 80 m², one bedroom, sleeping up to 4.
Due Passi dal Mare: best if you come by train
Due Passi dal Mare is 2 minutes' walk from the station and 2 minutes from the sea. You step off the train and you are home, without dragging bags and a lead across town. It is 55 m², one bedroom, sleeping up to 4.
An honest tip: if your dog struggles in the heat, pick the apartment with air conditioning. In July it really makes a difference.
Dog beaches in Sestri Levante: the rules
This catches many visitors out. In Italy, each seaside town sets its own beach rules every year in an ordinanza balneare, a council order for the bathing season. In Sestri Levante, as in most of Liguria, dogs are not allowed on ordinary beaches during the season, whether free public beaches or paid beach clubs. They can only go to beaches and areas set aside for dogs.
Rules can change from year to year, and out of season they may be different. On the spot, always read the signs at the beach entrance. If you want to understand how Italian beaches work in general, see our guide to Sestri Levante beaches.
Where to go, briefly: there is a dog beach at Riva Trigoso, one train stop south, an equipped dog beach in Chiavari, and some free stretches in Moneglia where dogs are allowed, mainly in the morning and evening. For the details:
- our guide to the best dog beaches around Sestri (in Italian) helps you choose;
- the list of dog beaches in the area (in Italian) has a page for each one.
Nine times out of ten, the best advice is to go early. Dog areas are small, and by midday they are busy and hot.
Dog walks in Sestri Levante
Sestri is a town you explore on foot, and with a dog even more so. These are the walks we usually suggest.
The seafront
Flat, easy and fine for any dog. Perfect for the first walk of the morning and the one after dinner, when the breeze off the sea cools things down.
The peninsula loop
A short loop around the peninsula where the old town sits, with the sea in view most of the way. An hour at an easy pace, and a nice change from the seafront.
Punta Manara
The trail to the Punta Manara headland is the classic hike from Sestri, with the best views over the gulf. It is fine with a dog, but carry water for both of you and do not start in the heat of the day. There are uphill and rocky stretches, so it suits fit dogs better than elderly or very small ones.
The old town lanes
To be honest, on August evenings the carruggi, the narrow lanes of the old town, are packed. Not ideal for a nervous dog. Early in the morning they are empty and cool. Our guide to the Sestri Levante old town has the route.
Taking a dog on the train in Italy
Sestri Levante is on the Genoa to La Spezia line, so you can reach Genoa, the Tigullio coast and the Cinque Terre without worrying about parking. Dogs can travel on trains. The general rules are:
- small dogs: usually travel in a carrier, often without a ticket;
- medium and large dogs: generally need their own ticket, a lead and a muzzle;
- there may be restrictions on some trains or at certain times of day.
Conditions change and depend on the type of train, so always check the current rules on the Trenitalia website before you travel. Remember that paper regional tickets must be validated before boarding. For stations, connections and day trips, see our guide to Sestri Levante without a car.
If you drive instead, town car parks fill up early in summer: read our guide to parking in Sestri Levante. And never leave your dog in the car, not even for five minutes.
Coming from abroad? Check your country's rules for taking a pet to Italy well ahead of time, such as microchip, rabies vaccination and the documents your dog needs. In Italy it is also normal to be asked to keep your dog on a lead in town and to carry a muzzle.
Summer by the sea with a dog: heat, water and timing
The real challenge in Sestri with a dog in July and August is not the rules. It is the heat.
- Timing: long walks before 9am and after 7pm. In the middle of the day, just a quick loop.
- Pavement and sand: at midday they burn. If you cannot keep the back of your hand on the pavement for a few seconds, it is too hot for paws.
- Water: a bottle and a folding bowl in your bag, always. Some bars put out a bowl, but do not count on it.
- After a swim: rinse the salt out of the coat and check the paw pads, especially after pebbly beaches.
- Shade: bring an umbrella or a sheet to the beach, dog areas often have little shade.
- Poo bags: always. In a small town, people notice.
Before you leave, save the number of a local vet and pack your dog's health documents. You hope you will not need them, but it is one less worry.
The best time to visit Sestri Levante with a dog
If you can choose, do not come in August. With a dog, the right months are May, June and September: warm enough for the sea, but you can walk mid-morning without your dog panting after ten minutes. More month-by-month detail in our guide to the best time to visit Sestri Levante.
October works well too. Punta Manara becomes the perfect walk and the town empties out.
One last thing: on summer evenings, use a short lead on the seafront. At 9pm in July everyone is out, including small children with ice creams.
Frequently asked questions
Are dogs allowed on the beach in Sestri Levante?
During the summer bathing season, only on designated dog beaches and dog areas, not on ordinary beaches. The rules are set each year by the town council, so check the signs at the beach entrance.
Where can I stay in Sestri Levante with a dog?
Both of our apartments, Due Passi Beach and Due Passi dal Mare, accept pets: just tell us when you book. Due Passi Beach has private parking and air conditioning; Due Passi dal Mare is 2 minutes from the station.
Can I take my dog on the train in Italy?
Yes. In general, small dogs travel in a carrier, while larger dogs need a ticket, a lead and a muzzle. Conditions can change, so check the Trenitalia website before you travel.
Where can I walk my dog in Sestri Levante?
The seafront for short walks, the loop around the old-town peninsula for a quiet hour, and the Punta Manara trail for fit dogs. In summer, go early in the morning or in the evening.
When is the best time to visit Sestri Levante with a dog?
May, June and September. It is warm enough for the sea without the July and August heat, which limits walks a lot with a dog.
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