Wondering whether it’s worth it to visit Liguria in northern Italy?
Not only should you visit the Liguria region of Italy, but it should be at the top of your northern Italy travel list!
In this guide, you’ll find all the inspiration you need to not only get you dreaming of Liguria but also planning your trip!
Where is Liguria Italy?
Liguria is an arch-shaped sliver of land located south of Piedmont. The French border is to the west and Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany are to the east. To the south, you’ll find the glistening waters of the Mediterranean lapping onto the shores of the Italian Riviera’s colorful coastline. This Liguria map provides a birds-eye view to orient yourself to exactly where Liguria is in relation to the other regions of northern Italy.
The map of Liguria Italy below shows in greater detail where the region’s cities and towns are in relation to one another. Genoa is Liguria’s main city, with its busy air and sea ports. La Spezia is the gateway to the Cinque Terre and Portovenere. While in the area of Rapallo, you’ll find the popular seaside town of Portofino along with lesser-known gems like Camogli and San Fruttuoso.
In western Liguria, beautiful beaches and medieval villages await…all with far fewer tourists than you’ll find east of Genoa! Places like Noli, Alassio, Dolceacqua, Apricale, and the bigger and glitzier San Remo are treasures to discover whether you’re in search of a perfect Mediterranean beach day or would like to experience life in a historic village.
Ligurian coast of Italy
So, What is Considered the Italian Riviera?
The Italian Riviera is Liguria’s entire span of coastline from the border with France to the border with Tuscany. The Italian Riviera is not the same as the Amalfi Coast. The Italian Riviera (the region of Liguria) is in northern Italy. The Amalfi Coast is in southern Italy.
Why You Need to Visit Liguria
This coastal region of northern Italy is most famous for the villages of the Cinque Terre. But this corner of northwest Italy has so much more! With spectacular views, some of the most beautiful towns, picturesque bays with the aquamarine water of the Mediterranean, and the Ligurian Alps as a backdrop, time spent in Liguria is absolutely unforgettable.
1. Incredible Natural Beauty
From the Maritime Alps and the Ligurian Apennines to the clear aquamarine waters of the Mediterranean Sea, Liguria is one of the most spectacular sections of coastline in all of Italy. Many of the region’s pebbly-sandy beaches and rocky inlets are set against a kaleidoscopic array of houses showing off both brashy and muted reds, oranges, and yellows. Put together with the shimmering sunlight sparkling off the azure waters of the sea and you begin to understand what makes the Italian Riviera such a jewel.
But it’s not just for beach lovers! Above the beaches are the green hills with swaths of vineyards, olive groves, incredible basil, pine forests, and the most epic panoramic views of the Mediterranean. Luckily, large areas of the coast of Liguria and up into the hills beyond are protected. In fact, the region has 8+ natural, national, and regional parks including the National Park of Cinque Terre, the Regional Park of Porto Venere, and the Regional Park of Portofino. Hikers, bikers, climbers, boaters, and those in search of local food experiences in Ligurias’s hills have so much to uncover!
2. Genoa: An Underrated City in Northern Italy!
The city of Genoa is the capital of Liguria and a place that often gets overlooked compared to other Italian cities. But, for those who plan time to walk and sightsee in Genoa, there are so many treats in store!
Beginning in the 11th century and for hundreds of years thereafter, Genoa became a fierce republic and a commercial powerhouse. Today, this wealth and grandeur are on architectural display throughout the city’s historic center. In particular, the Strade Nuove and 40+ of the Rolli Palaces have been recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. These opulent baroque and renaissance mansions were the homes lived in by Genoa’s aristocracy and one of the ways the city showed off its wealth and power from the 1500s onward.
Several of these palaces can be visited today along with Palazzo Reale (a.k.a. Palazzo Stefano Balbi). This palace was originally built for one of Genoa’s richest families and was later sold to the House of Savoy, Italy’s royal family until 1860 when the country was unified.
Genoa’s waterfront is an active port both for tourism and commercial activity. While you’re walking along the waterfront, walk into the caruggi (Genoa’s narrow alleyways) leading away from the harbor to understand what it must have felt like for invaders trying to overcome the city’s defenses only to find themselves lost in a labyrinth. Today though, the caruggi are lined with shops and tucked away focaccerias so getting lost here could actually result in finding one of the many treasures Genoa has to offer!
3. So Many Swoon-Worthy Beaches in Liguria!
It’s hard to know even where to begin because there are so many best beaches of Liguria to name! After all, there are hundreds of miles of spectacular Ligurian coastline ranging from slices of sandy beaches to hidden coves and even tiny islands that make up the Italian Riviera. And to top it off, many come together with some of the most picturesque seaside towns you’ll ever see.
Western Liguria (Riviera di Ponente) spans from Ventigmilia to just before Genoa. The beaches here may be less-touristed compared to the beaches in eastern Liguria but they’re not any less beautiful! Finale Ligure’s long sandy beach is a favorite and Balzi Rossi is an exclusive cove beach where you pay for a sun lounger but you’ll spend the day in a beach-lovers Eden!
Boccadasse, a former fishermen’s village within the city limits of Genoa, has a tiny beach that is also one of the most photographed spots in Genoa!
Heading to the eastern side of the Italian Riviera (Riviera di Levante), you’ll find popular spots like the Cinque Terre and Portofino. The best beaches in the Cinque Terre are in Monterosso al Mare (complete with sun loungers for rent) and Vernazza, with its small harbor-front beach. Just next door in the so-called “6th village,” Porto Venere and its islands (especially Palmeria) have some of the prettiest beaches in this far southeastern point of Liguria. The beaches in and around Lerici and Tellaro are love at first sight and even more under the radar than Porto Venere.
Most people head straight to the Cinque Terre area from Genoa and skip what lies between! But, you don’t want to miss the straight-from-a-movie cove beach at San Fruttuoso with its 10th-century monastery on the beach(!) and a turquoise color of water that surely gave paradise its name. It can only be reached by boat or on foot from different hiking trails in the Regional Park of Portofino.
In addition, seaside towns like Nervi, Camogli, and Santa Margherita Ligure are absolute gems where you can enjoy the beaches of the Italian Riviera and get a glimpse of local life away from large tourist crowds.
4. Outdoor Adventures
The landscape of Liguria lends itself perfectly to hiking, climbing, and water activities like kayaking and diving. Trail networks often are the original pathways used by farmers and villagers to travel between villages. Today, there’s an outdoor pursuit for all interests and skill levels all with a blend of Ligurian culture and, of course, gorgeous views.
UNESCO World Heritage Site Cinque Terre National Park is Liguria’s busiest. In particular, the Sentiero Azzuro or Blue Trail is the route most visitors use to hike between the Cinque Terre villages. Until July 2024, only a couple of sections of the trail are open while the rest is repaired. But the great news is the park has nearly 75 miles of hiking trails that visitors can use to walk between villages and take in the beautiful scenery over the hills and out to the sea.
The Regional Park of Portofino has a trail that takes you from San Rocco to San Fruttuoso to Portofino. It’s a great way to enjoy all the delights of Liguria as you hike and stop in each town to enjoy the sea and some terrific food!
For the ultimate hiking in Liguria experience, the high road of the Ligurian Mountains (Alta Via dei Monti Liguri) offers an epic 273-mile hike across Liguria from Ventimiglia in the west to around La Spezia on the region’s eastern side. Luckily, the route is also broken up into 44 sections so day hikers can hike pieces of the trails which go through 4 of Liguria’s regional parks.
The Porto Venere Regional Park also has trails to trek, as well as snorkel and dive spots in the Marine Protection Area of the park. Paraggi Bay near Portofino is a terrific snorkel spot!
5. Film-Worthy Villages
Liguria has some of the prettiest towns in all of Italy whether your ideal day is spent in a colorful seaside locale or in Liguria’s mountainous terrain visiting medieval villages. For one of the tiniest regions in all of Italy, the diversity among its towns, villages, and landscapes is striking.
Apricale, as seen in the photo above, is a medieval hilltop village with winding stone streets surrounded by green forests. It’s listed as one of Italy’s most beautiful villages. Nearby, Dolceaqua is another must-see medieval village…so pretty it was the subject of one of Monet’s famous paintings!
And less than 30 minutes away, you can be in pretty Bordighera with its seaside promenade! The town also has a great historic center and beautiful botanical gardens.
The panoramic views of the Ligurian coast are spectacular from the village of Triora. Cervo sits along the sea and its pastel-hued village center looks straight from the pages of a fairytale. It’s also recognized as one of Italy’s prettiest villages. Bussana Vecchia was abandoned after an earthquake rocked the village in the late 1800s. The medieval village was rescued by artists who now use it as a base for their crafts and creativity.
I’ve mentioned Camogli a few times in this guide but it truly is one of the best towns in Liguria! Lounge on the beach, admire the historic churches and fort, and sit seaside at a cafe pinching yourself over the seaside views.
The list of spectacular places to visit in Liguria is endless…from Tellaro, Varese Ligure, Lerici, Noli, Porto Venere, Vernazza, and so many more!
6. Pesto and Focaccia and Liguria Wine…Oh My (God!)
Pesto is to Liguria what pizza is to Naples. It’s the most famous food of Liguria. Once you enter the region, you’re bound to eat as much of this green gold as your body will allow. Try it with trofie pasta or a long lasagna noodle type of pasta called mandilli.
In between pesto meals, sample the fried ravioli called Gattafin, the focaccia, and the stuffed anchovies with herbs, cheese, and breadcrumbs!
The olives from the region are harvested and pressed into Liguria olive oil (Riviera Ligure). While Liguria’s white grapes are used to make 2 white wines you’ll only find here, Cinqueterre and Sciacchetra. The former is a dry white, perfect with seafood, and the latter is a sweeter dessert wine.
How to Get to Liguria
If you’re arriving by plane, there are airports in northern Italy that’ll help you get to Liguria. Genoa Airport is just a few miles from Genoa and already in Liguria. The Turin/Torino Airport is in the region of Piedmont, just north of Piedmont. From the city of Torino, you can take the train to arrive in Genoa or the Cinque Terre. If you fly into Milan Malpensa or Milan Linate, there are trains from Milan to Genoa and La Spezia, the gateway city to the Cinque Terre.
Liguria is well-connected by Italy’s railways. If you’re coming from Florence, Tuscany, Venice, or points further south, there are high-speed and regional trains to get you to many points throughout Liguria.
If you’re arriving by car, it’s best to avoid driving in and around the Cinque Terre area. Book a hotel with parking and use the local trains to move between the villages. Similarly, it’s best not to drive in the city of Genoa because parking is tough. However, travelers who want to road trip to small towns and villages in other parts of Liguria will find having a car is the best way to get around within the region.
Is Liguria Worth Visiting?
Liguria is dazzling and a region that should be on the top of your northern Italian bucket list! Its prime location makes it a natural fit as you plan your trip to northern Italy.
The natural beauty, beaches, villages, food, and outdoor pursuits offer an astonishing list of places to see and things to do in northern Italy’s gorgeous Liguria!
So, are you ready to visit Liguria?
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