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Laigueglia beach with colourful houses and the church

Laigueglia

Fishing village on the Baia del Sole: San Matteo church, the old tower, lanes on the sea, a Blue Flag sandy beach and the path to Colla Micheri.

Laigueglia beach with colourful houses and the church
Area
Riviera delle PalmeRiviera di Ponente · Province of Savona
Ideal for
Families with childrencouples, beach and walks without a car
Beaches
Sand and shallow water, Blue Flag 2026rocks towards Capo Mele
Best time to go
June–September for the beachautumn and spring for the Capo Mele trails
By train
Laigueglia station in the village (Genoa–Ventimiglia line)not all regional trains stop
By car
A10, Albenga exitfrom Genoa) or Andora exit (from France), then the Via Aurelia
Airport
Genoa (about 100 km, just over 1 hour)Nice Côte d'Azur (about 120 km)
How long to stay
Half a day for the villagea day with Colla Micheri; a week for a beach holiday
Find a place to stayGetting thereSee on the map

Welcome to Laigueglia

The fishing village on the sea

Laigueglia is a small fishing village on the Riviera di Ponente, in the province of Savona, squeezed between the beach and the old Via Aurelia coast road. It sits at the south-western end of the Baia del Sole, the bay that runs from Alassio to the headland of Capo Mele. The old town is a strip of pastel houses, narrow lanes and little squares that open straight onto the sand, watched over by the two majolica-domed bell towers of the church of San Matteo.

It is the smallest municipality in the province: 2.72 square kilometres and about 1,700 residents, only a few hundred of them in the historic centre. Laigueglia is one of the “Borghi più belli d’Italia” (Italy’s most beautiful villages) and its sea was awarded the Blue Flag again in 2026. In the Middle Ages Catalan fishermen settled here to harvest coral off Capo Mele; in the 16th century the village was raided by Barbary pirates, which explains both the tower on the beach and the village’s best-known festival, the Sbarco dei Saraceni.

Laigueglia works in two ways. It is a quiet base for a beach holiday, with the sand on your doorstep, a train station in the village and Alassio within walking distance. Or it is a half-day stop on a Riviera trip: old town, the chapel on the headland and the path up to Colla Micheri. Out of season it is a sleepy fishing village; in July and August it is full.

By Italian Riviera editorial team·Updated on ·10 min read

Where is Laigueglia?

Laigueglia is in Liguria (Riviera di Ponente, Riviera delle Palme, province of Savona).

Map: where Laigueglia is in LiguriaPIEDMONTLOMBARDYEMILIA-ROMAGNATUSCANYFRANCERIVIERA DI PONENTERIVIERA DI LEVANTELIGURIAN SEASavonaImperiaSanremoLa SpeziaLaigueglia
Boundaries: ISTAT, Natural Earth · Interactive map →

What to see

What to see in Laigueglia

Laigueglia beach with colourful houses and the church

You can walk the whole village in an hour or two. Distances are tiny: the station is a few minutes from the sea and everything lies between the Via Aurelia and the beach.

Baroque church of San Matteo in Laigueglia

Church of San Matteo

The village landmark, visible from all around the bay. The first stone was laid in 1715 on the site of an older oratory; the church as you see it today is the result of work between 1754 and 1783, with restoration after the 1887 earthquake. The Baroque façade is built on curved, projecting planes and framed by twin bell towers topped with colourful majolica domes.

Inside, the church has a Latin-cross plan. Look for an Assumption attributed to Bernardo Strozzi, a marble holy-water stoup dated 1561 and a small wooden Ecce Homo by Anton Maria Maragliano, the great Genoese woodcarver. Saint Matthew is also the patron saint: his feast day is 21 September.

Oratory of Santa Maria Maddalena

A few steps from the parish church, the oratory was built between 1616 and 1634 by the Disciplinanti confraternity. It holds a marble altar by Dionisio Corte (1673), an altarpiece by Domenico Piola (1676) and two sailors’ votive offerings from 1682 and 1715. Small, but a good insight into the village’s ties to the sea.

Bastione di Levante and beach with boats in Laigueglia

The Torrione

In the 16th century Laigueglia built three towers on the shore against pirate raids. Only one survives: the tower of 1564, also called the Bastione di Levante, standing on the beach next to the fishing boats. The other two were demolished, one to make way for the coast road and the other for Palazzo Rosso.

The tower recalls the village’s darkest years. In 1543 Barbarossa’s fleet shelled Laigueglia from the sea, and in 1546 the corsair Dragut landed, sacked the houses and took hostages. That is the episode the village re-enacts every summer.

The lanes and Via Dante

The old town is a grid of lanes running parallel and perpendicular to the sea. The main street, Via Dante, runs parallel to the beach and is the village’s living room, with shops, bars and trattorias. From the side lanes you step straight onto the sand or into small squares facing the water. This is what sets Laigueglia apart from many Riviera towns, where a road separates the houses from the beach.

Palazzo Musso-Piantelli, from 1698, is the building that best preserves its original appearance. Via Dante is also where Gio Batta Libero Badarò was born in 1798, a doctor who emigrated to Brazil and gave his name to the western promenade.

Laigueglia with the church of San Matteo and boats

The pier and the boat shed

The pier is the easiest walk in town: you stroll out over the water and get the best view of the village and the San Matteo towers. Next to it, on the beach, are the fishing boats and the shed where the nets are mended. There is a free public beach by the pier, handy if you don’t want to rent a sunbed.

Church of the Immacolata and the smaller churches

The church of the Immacolata Concezione, built in 1661, keeps votive offerings left by sailors and fishermen. The village also has the chapel of the Madonna del Carmine (1648) and the church of San Sebastiano in the cemetery, once the plague hospital.

Sanctuary of Nostra Signora delle Penne

On a rock of Capo Mele, sheer above the sea, this little chapel was built in the 17th century by the Catalan coral fishermen. Its name comes from an inscription at the base of the Madonna statue. A long flight of steps climbs to it from the Via Aurelia, on the Andora side of town. Every 5 August a ceremony is held here for sailors and fishermen.

Capo Mele and the lighthouse

The headland closes the bay to the west. At the top are the lighthouse, first lit in 1856, with a 25-metre tower and a range of 24 nautical miles, and an Italian Air Force weather station. The lighthouse belongs to the Navy and cannot be visited, but the paths on the headland give you views over the whole Baia del Sole as far as Gallinara island.

Colla Micheri

Above Laigueglia, at about 160 metres, is a tiny medieval hamlet of stone houses on the route of the Roman Via Iulia Augusta. It belongs to the municipality of Andora, but from Laigueglia it is less than an hour’s walk. In 1958 the Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl, of Kon-Tiki fame, settled here, restored the houses in their original style and died here in 2002. His ashes rest in the village. The full route with Capo Mele and the chapel is in our guide Colla Micheri and Capo Mele on foot.

Sea

Beaches in Laigueglia

Laigueglia’s beach is sandy and runs without a break in front of the village, from Capo Mele towards Alassio. The water stays shallow for a long way, which is why families with small children like it. In 2026 the Blue Flag was confirmed for the eastern shoreline.

Laigueglia sandy beach

In front of the old town

Beach clubsFree beach

beach clubs and a free beach by the pier, a few steps from the lanes and bars. The most convenient and the busiest stretch.

Towards Alassio

Beach clubsFree beach

the longest stretch, along the seafront promenade, with beach clubs and the largest free beach.

Towards Capo Mele

PebblesRocks

the beach narrows and the seabed becomes mixed, with pebbles and rocks near the headland. The quietest stretch.

Serviced free beach

Free beach

the town contracts out a free beach with facilities on the eastern side. Services and prices change each season.

In August, book a beach club in advance and get to the free beaches before 9 am. In June and September the sea is still warm and the beach is much quieter.

Crystal-clear sea at Laigueglia

Where to stay

Where to stay in Laigueglia

Laigueglia has hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses and plenty of holiday apartments. If you want to do everything on foot, stay in the old town or in the streets between the station and the sea: beach, restaurants and trains are minutes away. Sea-view rooms are the first to go, and in July and August you need to book months ahead.

Places along the Via Aurelia and towards Capo Mele are easier if you arrive by car, but always check that parking is included: spaces in town are scarce. If Laigueglia is full, Alassio and Andora are minutes away and have a wider choice.

See hotels and prices

Getting there

How to get to Laigueglia

By car

Take the A10 Genoa–Ventimiglia motorway. From Genoa, exit at Albenga and follow the Via Aurelia (SS1) south through Alassio; from France and Sanremo, exit at Andora and follow the Aurelia north past Capo Mele. On summer weekends the Aurelia is often congested: allow extra time.

By train

Laigueglia station is on the Genoa–Ventimiglia line, a few minutes’ walk from the sea. From Genoa the regional train takes about two hours, but not every train stops here: if you can’t find a convenient connection, book to Alassio, which has more stops, and walk along the sea or take the bus. Timetables on Trenitalia.

By bus

TPL Linea buses run along the coast and link Laigueglia with Alassio, Albenga and Andora. Useful for getting back after the walk to Alassio or for reaching nearby towns without a car.

By plane

The nearest airport is Genoa, about 100 km away: just over an hour by car. Nice Côte d’Azur is about 120 km away; from there you can also take the train, changing at Ventimiglia.

Parking

The old town is wedged between the beach and the Via Aurelia and has no large car parks. There are pay-and-display spaces (blue lines) and some free parking near the seafront and the centre, but in July and August they fill up early. Arrive in the morning, or leave the car in Alassio or Andora and take the train: it’s one stop. If you’re staying in town, ask your accommodation about parking.

Laigueglia43.9788, 8.1574
Open in Google Maps →Interactive map →

By car

A10, Albenga exit (from Genoa) or Andora exit (from France), then the Via Aurelia

By train

Laigueglia station in the village (Genoa–Ventimiglia line); not all regional trains stop

By plane

Genoa (about 100 km, just over 1 hour); Nice Côte d'Azur (about 120 km)

The guide

Things to do in Laigueglia

  • Walk to Alassio: the seafront promenade links the two towns along the bay. It is about 3 km on the flat, around 45 minutes at an easy pace. In Alassio you find the Budello lane and the famous Muretto; come back by train or bus.
  • Hike up to Colla Micheri: a steep flight of steps and a path lead to Heyerdahl’s village; from there the ridge continues to Capo Mele.
  • Longer hikes: the Alta Via della Baia del Sole follows the ridges from Albenga to Colla Micheri; the Laigueglia–Monte Chiappa–Cervo traverse takes a full day.
  • Road cycling: the climb to Colla Micheri is a classic of the Trofeo Laigueglia race and of local riders.
  • Boat trip: boats from Alassio harbour circle Gallinara island, where landing is not allowed.

Events in Laigueglia

  • Trofeo Laigueglia (late winter): professional road race founded in 1963, the traditional opener of the Italian season. Past winners include Eddy Merckx and Felice Gimondi. The 2026 edition was held on 4 March.
  • PercFest (June): a jazz festival dedicated to percussion, with concerts in the squares.
  • Sbarco dei Saraceni (late July or early August): costumed re-enactment of Dragut’s 1546 raid, with a night battle off the pier and fireworks. It has been held since the 1970s; check dates on the town website.
  • Madonna delle Penne (5 August): ceremony for sailors and fishermen on the headland.
  • Fiera di San Matteo (September): on the weekend closest to 21 September, a crafts and food market and the patron saint’s procession.

What to eat in Laigueglia

This is fishing-village food: oily fish, vegetables from the hills, Riviera olive oil.

  • Sarde ripiene: the village dish, sardines opened, stuffed and baked or fried.
  • Anchovies: fried, marinated or stuffed, the fish most tied to the coast’s traditions.
  • Baci di Laigueglia: almond and hazelnut biscuits joined by chocolate cream, not to be confused with the better-known Baci di Alassio.
  • Gobeletti: small shortcrust tarts filled with jam.
  • Farinata and focaccia: the all-Liguria snack, best eaten on the promenade.

Day trips from Laigueglia

  • Alassio: just north-east along the bay, reachable on foot by the sea. Budello, Muretto and the gardens of Villa della Pergola.
  • Albenga: the town of medieval towers and an early Christian baptistery, a few minutes away by train.
  • Cervo: the hilltop village above the sea beyond Capo Mele and Andora.
  • Diano Marina: beaches and the Riviera dei Fiori cycle path, which now reaches Andora.
  • Imperia: Oneglia with its harbour and Porto Maurizio with the Parasio quarter.
  • Loano: towards Genoa, with its promenade and marina.
  • Andora: the neighbouring town, with its medieval castle and the path to Colla Micheri.

Coming from further afield? Genoa is about two hours away by train, and the Cinque Terre and Portofino are better visited from a base on the Riviera di Levante.

Weather

Weather and best time to visit Laigueglia

June–September for the beach; autumn and spring for the Capo Mele trails

🌙
14°CNow · wind 10 km/h
  1. Sat 10🌤️22° 14° 
  2. Sun 11⛅23° 14° 
  3. Mon 12☀️24° 15° 
  4. Tue 13☀️24° 13° 
  5. Wed 14⛅21° 13° 
  6. Thu 15☀️23° 13° 

Forecast: MET Norway (Yr), CC BY 4.0 licence. Updated hourly.

Weather across Liguria →

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
SeaOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonPossibleGoodIdealIdealGoodPossibleOff seasonOff season
Sightseeing and hikingPossiblePossibleGoodIdealIdealGoodGoodGoodIdealIdealGoodPossible
CrowdsQuietQuietFew peopleFew peopleFew peopleBusyVery busyVery busyBusyFew peopleQuietQuiet
Don't missTrofeo LaiguegliaPercFestSbarco dei SaraceniSan Matteo Fair

IdealGoodPossibleOff season

Crowds:QuietFew peopleBusyVery busy

Gallery

Photos of Laigueglia

Laigueglia with the church of San Matteo and boats
Laigueglia with the church of San Matteo and boats
Bastione di Levante and beach with boats in Laigueglia
Bastione di Levante and beach with boats in Laigueglia
Baroque church of San Matteo in Laigueglia
Baroque church of San Matteo in Laigueglia
Crystal-clear sea at Laigueglia
Crystal-clear sea at Laigueglia
Laigueglia sandy beach
Laigueglia sandy beach
Colourful tiles on the Laigueglia wall
Colourful tiles on the Laigueglia wall
Sanctuary of Nostra Signora delle Penne in Laigueglia
Sanctuary of Nostra Signora delle Penne in Laigueglia

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Laigueglia

What can I see in Laigueglia in one day?

The church of San Matteo, the oratory of Santa Maria Maddalena, the 1564 tower, the lanes and Via Dante, and the pier. In the afternoon, hike up to Colla Micheri or walk along the sea to Alassio.

Does Laigueglia have a Blue Flag in 2026?

Yes, the Blue Flag was confirmed in 2026 for the eastern shoreline.

What is the sea like in Laigueglia?

The beach is sandy and the water gets deeper very gradually, ideal for children. Near Capo Mele the seabed becomes mixed, with rocks.

Are there free beaches in Laigueglia?

Yes: by the pier, on the stretch towards Alassio and near Capo Mele. In August, arrive early.

How far is Laigueglia from Alassio?

About 3 km along the sea. On foot it takes around 45 minutes on the promenade; by train or bus just a few minutes.

Can I get to Laigueglia by train?

Yes, the station is in the village, on the Genoa–Ventimiglia line. Not all regional trains stop: alternatively, get off at Alassio.

Where can I park in Laigueglia?

In the pay car parks near the seafront and the centre, which fill up early in summer. Arrive in the morning or come by train.

Who was Thor Heyerdahl and what is his link to Laigueglia?

The Norwegian explorer of the Kon-Tiki expedition. From 1958 he lived in Colla Micheri, the hamlet on the hill above Laigueglia, where he died in 2002.

When is the Sbarco dei Saraceni?

Between late July and early August, with a night battle off the pier and fireworks. Dates change every year: check the town programme.

Is Laigueglia good for families?

Yes: a sandy beach with shallow water, short distances, a pedestrian old town and a flat seafront promenade.

Nearby

What to see near Laigueglia

3 km as the crow flies

Alassio

Over three kilometres of fine sand, the Muretto, the Budello, Villa della Pergola and the Roman road to Albenga: a…

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7 km as the crow flies

Cervo

The coral fishers' village on the Golfo Dianese: a Baroque church by the sea, the Clavesana castle, car-free lanes, beaches…

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9 km as the crow flies

Albenga

Town of medieval towers: early Christian baptistery, cathedral, Roman shipwreck museum, Roman road to Alassio, beaches facing Gallinara island.

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11 km as the crow flies

Diano Marina

3.5 km of fine Blue Flag 2026 sand with shallow water, a seafront promenade, a museum with a Roman wreck,…

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