Located in the northwestern part of Italy, along the Mediterranean Sea coast, this region of Liguria is also known as the Italian Riviera. Full of colorful villages and towns, beautiful beach areas, it is one of the top places to see in Europe and one of my favourite regions in Italy. Italy is also my favourite country in Europe!
Visiting Liguria is therefore an experience that satisfies different types of travelers, from those looking for relaxation near the beach, to those who are more enthusiastic for outdoor adventures but also for lovers of art, history and culture. And of course for delicious food lovers! 😉
Do you want to find out what are the beauties to see in Liguria? With this guide you will know exactly what to see during your stay in the Italian Riviera.
How to get to Liguria
In Liguria there are two airports, one in Genoa and one in Villanova d’Albenga. Moreover, you can easily get to Liguria from the airports of the neighboring regions such as “San Giusto” Airport in Pisa, Milan Airports, Orio al Serio international Airport in Bergamo and the Nice Airport.
There are good connections by train and buses from all of these airports. We arrived to Milan and then traveled by train to Genova. The journey takes aprox 2h 30 min from Milan Malpensa Airport.
How to get around in Liguria
- By car. The streets and roads are – overall – well paved, and the freeways are good. Driving in Liguria is not as challenging as in other parts of Italy.
- Public transportation. Liguria’s public transportation is generally good. The trains are cheap and efficient and an excellent alternative to driving. You can, with some planning, get around to lesser-known places in Liguria by boat, bus, and train.
- By boat. It is also possible to visit many of the places by boat, for example you can easily get to Portofino from Santa Margherita by boat. There are many day tours to Portofino from Genova by boat too.
What to do & see in Liguria
Below you can find the list of the most popular towns to explore in Liguria.
Genoa
Genoa is the capital of Liguria and worth a visit. It is a city that has always attracted for its culture and its history linked to sacred music monsters such as De André and historical figures such as Christopher Columbus.
It is certainly an interesting city for those wishing to visit the entire Ligurian Riviera and an ideal starting point from which to start exploring another places in the region. From here you can easily travel by train to another Ligurian towns.
Boccadesse
Just a few steps from the center of Genoa you will find a small fishing village surrounded by an enchanting atmosphere!
Here you can find colourful houses, rounded cobblestones, fishing boats and fishermen nets on the small beach, stone staircases and unforgettable ice creams, but also restaurants where you can taste typical dishes and have a drink looking at the sea.
Boccadasse is one of the most beloved places by Genoese people and by visitors for its timeless charm. Also it´s a great place to have some drinks and food while watching the sunset!
Camogli
Camogli is one of the most romantic and spectacular towns in the Golfo Paradiso, on the Riviera di Levante.
What makes this seaside village such a special place is its own beautiful panorama: the charming marina, surrounded by the colorful historic buildings close to the seafront and the ruins of the medieval castle. The magnificent seaside promenade, full of typical restaurants and small B&Bs, built on the model of the promenade des Anglais in Nice, in nearby France.
Camogli is a perfect destination to be visited in a day, from Genoa or the neighboring cities, but it is also a perfect destination for a holiday in total relaxation: here the time passes quietly between a day on the beach, a boat trip and a romantic dinner based on fish and white wine.
Actually, this village was my favourite in Liguria.
San Fruttuoso
Because of the remote location between the foot of the mountain slope and the sea, this small town remained a pristine coastal gem. At the side of a crystal clear lagoon you will find an ancient monastery and a majestic defense tower, as well as beautiful surroundings and an underwater statue of Jesus Christ.
The Abbey of San Fruttuoso can be reached by sea or with a 2-hour trek approximately. Daily boats from Camogli (active all year) or from Recco, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, Sestri Levante, Lavagna, Chiavari and Genoa (seasonal service). Guided tours are also available for groups.
Portofino
Portofino Italy is one of those picture-perfect, postcard locations you recognise immediately. You can’t mistake the iconic U-shaped port, flanked by a tidy row of similar-sized, multi-colored buildings. Boats and yachts bobbing in the surprisingly small harbour, and it just seems so darned cute.
One of the most visually stunning ways to visit Portofino is by boat.
This beautiful village has always been a place for relaxation and leisure for artists. It is the meeting place of the International Jet Set, but it is above all one of the most beautiful places on earth, a unique destination.
The best things to do in Portofino:
- Admire its old and colorful houses;
- Visit Brown Castle;
- Sit in Piazzetta to taste local ice cream;
- Relax at Paraggi Beach and Baia Cannone.
Santa Margherita
A Ligurian fishing village turned coastal resort, Santa Margherita is located on perhaps the most famous stretch of the Riviera. With chic Portofino a short stroll to the south and buzzy Rapallo to the north, Santa Margherita offers all the best parts of the Riviera, but with slightly less footfall.
The town itself is probably most like its neighbor Camogli, a more low-key gem of the Riviera, a place where people actually live rather than simply a picturesque arrangement of high-end vacation homes.
Sestri Levante
Sestri Levante is known as “the city of the two seas”, because it stands close to a rocky promontory, called “I’isola”, which extends towards the sea.
The Borgo is joined to the mainland by an isthmus, a thin strip of land that divides the Baia delle Favole, where the tourist port has been created, from the smaller but even more suggestive Baia del Silenzio.
In addition to the beautiful panorama that the nature of this magnificent area gives us, in Sestri Levante you will also admire the touch of the inhabitants of this land who, over the centuries, have built the characteristic elegant buildings with pastel-colored facades that are reflected in the sea.
When to go to Liguria
With the mildest of climates, tourists visit Liguria at all times of the year, but November and February can be wet and are best avoided.
There is, however, a clearly defined high-season that runs from May to September and the coast can get very busy, especially at weekends. It is hot in Liguria in summer and it is not the best time to explore Genoa. It is essentially a beach experience in this season but it is also a beautiful period to spend time in the mountains, which are degrees cooler than the coast.
I hope this post will be helpfull for you to plan your next trip to Liguria region. Wide beaches of fine sand, a lively cultural life and wonderful paths that run along the sea await you here!
I also suggest to visit the famous Cinque Terre towns – Vernazza, Manarola, Monterosso al Mare and Riomaggiore. You can find my post about these towns here: https://travelwithanny.com/tuscany-cinque-terre/
Your sincerely,
Anny