Where to stay in Liguria

Liguria is a long, narrow arc of coast, and the real question isn’t “which hotel” but “which area“. In short: for a beach holiday with children and sandy beaches, choose the west (Riviera delle Palme and Riviera dei Fiori); for villages, hiking and boat trips, the east (Golfo Paradiso, Tigullio, Cinque Terre and the Gulf of Poets); for a city weekend with museums, Genoa. If you travel without a car, stay in a town with a station on the coastal line: the train links almost the whole region.

This guide splits Liguria into six areas, explains who each one suits and points you to the pages for each town and to the places to stay we’ve already selected. At the end you’ll find tips by type of trip: families, couples, no car, hikers and budget.

The six areas at a glance

Area	Main towns	Best for	Beaches
Riviera dei Fiori	Sanremo, Bordighera, Ventimiglia, Imperia, Diano Marina	Long stays, mild winters, the Côte d’Azur	Pebbles and coarse sand, some sandy beaches
Riviera delle Palme and Savona	Alassio, Loano, Finale Ligure, Noli, Varazze, Celle	Families, beach, outdoor sports	The longest sandy beaches in the region
Genoa and Golfo Paradiso	Genoa, Nervi, Recco, Camogli	City, museums, weekends	Small, pebbly
Tigullio	Santa Margherita, Rapallo, Chiavari, Sestri Levante	Couples, boats, Portofino	Mixed, sand at Sestri and Lavagna
Cinque Terre and Levanto	Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola, Levanto	Hikers, first trip to Liguria	Few, the largest at Monterosso
Gulf of Poets	La Spezia, Lerici, Portovenere, Sarzana	Budget base, sea and villages	Sand at Lerici and San Terenzo

Riviera dei Fiori

This is the far west, in the province of Imperia, between the French border and Cervo. It has the mildest climate in the region, and for a century these towns were the winter retreat of Northern European travellers: it’s still the best area for long and off-season stays. Sanremo is the largest town, with hotels of every category, the old Pigna quarter and a long seaside cycle path. Bordighera is smaller and more elegant, with its village on the Capo and British villas: its areas are explained in where to stay in Bordighera. Ventimiglia is the handiest base if you also want to visit Menton, Monaco and Nice by train.

Further east, Imperia has two centres, Porto Maurizio and Oneglia; Arma di Taggia and San Lorenzo al Mare are right on the cycle path; Diano Marina has a long fine-sand beach with shallow water, perfect for families, and Cervo is a seaside village for couples. Inland are the hill villages, from Dolceacqua to Apricale, Pigna and Triora: staying there makes sense if you have a car and want quiet. For the full picture, read our Riviera dei Fiori guide.

Recommended places to stay in Sanremo

To combine the sea, the hill villages and the Côte d’Azur without changing hotel, Bordighera is one of the most convenient bases in the area: Menton is 25 minutes away, Dolceacqua 15–20 and Sanremo 8–10 minutes by train. See day trips from Bordighera.

Riviera delle Palme and Savona

From Laigueglia to Varazze, in the province of Savona, is the most family-friendly coast: long sandy beaches with facilities, seafront promenades and towns with plenty of hotels and residences. Alassio has more than three kilometres of fine sand and one of the widest choices of hotels in the region; Albenga, a few minutes away, is generally cheaper. Laigueglia, Loano and Pietra Ligure are built for beach holidays with children, with promenade, station and beach all on foot.

Finale Ligure is Liguria’s outdoor capital: for biking and climbing, stay in Finalborgo; for the beach, in Finalmarina or nearby Varigotti. Noli and Bergeggi are small and quiet, while Savona is convenient if you’re boarding a cruise. Towards Genoa, Celle Ligure and Varazze combine beach and trails in the Beigua Park. From Genoa, Finale is about an hour by train, Alassio under two. More in our Riviera di Ponente guide.

Genoa and the Golfo Paradiso

Genoa deserves at least two nights: the old town, the Palazzi dei Rolli, the Porto Antico and the Aquarium. It also has the most accommodation and is the most convenient base if you fly in or arrive by train from Milan. How to choose between the old town, Castelletto, Albaro or Nervi is explained in where to stay in Genoa.

East of the city begins the Golfo Paradiso: Bogliasco, Recco, home of focaccia col formaggio, and Camogli, the village of tall, colourful houses, about 25 minutes by train from Genova Brignole. Beaches here are small and pebbly, but the Portofino headland trails and the boats to San Fruttuoso are on your doorstep. Camogli is small and fills up early; Recco often has more availability and lower prices. To the west, Arenzano is a seaside town half an hour by train from Genoa.

Tigullio

The Gulf of Tigullio runs from Portofino to Sestri Levante: elegant small towns, palm-lined promenades and boats. Portofino has few hotels, almost all upmarket: the best base is Santa Margherita Ligure, with a station plus daily buses and boats to Portofino. Rapallo is bigger and generally cheaper than Santa Margherita.

Further east, Chiavari and Lavagna are real towns with wide beaches and more affordable prices, good for families. Sestri Levante, with the Baia delle Favole and the Baia del Silenzio, is a favourite with couples, under an hour from Genoa on the fastest trains. Moneglia is quieter, with a beach in a bay between two headlands. For the whole eastern coast, see our Riviera di Levante guide.

Recommended places to stay in Santa Margherita Ligure

Cinque Terre and Levanto

The Cinque Terre are Liguria’s most popular destination, and the place where your choice of accommodation matters most. The five villages have few beds, nearly all in rooms, B&Bs and apartments in old houses, with stairs and no car access. Monterosso has the widest choice and the longest beach (where to stay in Monterosso); Vernazza is the most photogenic (where to stay in Vernazza); Corniglia is the quietest, high above the sea (where to stay in Corniglia); Manarola and Riomaggiore are closest to La Spezia (where to stay in Manarola, where to stay in Riomaggiore).

If everything is full or you want to spend less, stay outside: Levanto, just west of Monterosso, has more choice, a sandy beach and lower average prices; La Spezia is a few minutes by train from the villages. From 14 March to 1 November 2026, Cinque Terre Express trains run between Levanto and La Spezia roughly every half hour, on top of regular regional trains. Hotels and rooms village by village are collected on our Cinque Terre hotels page.

Gulf of Poets

La Spezia is a real city with a wide choice of accommodation and prices generally lower than in the Cinque Terre villages: stay near the central station and you’re on the train to Riomaggiore in minutes. Boats leave from the harbour for Portovenere, Lerici and Palmaria island. Portovenere, a UNESCO site together with the Cinque Terre, has few beds and high summer prices.

On the other side of the gulf, Lerici and San Terenzo have sandy beaches right in town and are perfect for families; Tellaro is a tiny village for couples looking for peace. Lerici and Portovenere have no station: you get there by bus from La Spezia. Inland, Sarzana is an art town with a station, handy if you want to combine Liguria and Tuscany.

Recommended places to stay in Lerici

Hotel, campsite or farm stay?

Already know what kind of place you want? We have dedicated guides: seaside hotels in Liguria (including pools, family and dog-friendly stays), camping and glamping and farm stays and spas.

Where to stay in Liguria by type of trip

Families with children

Look for sandy beaches, shallow water and car-free promenades: Diano Marina, Alassio, Loano, Pietra Ligure, Finale Ligure, Celle Ligure and Varazze in the west; Sestri Levante (Baia delle Favole), Lavagna and Lerici in the east. An apartment or residence near the sea gives you freedom with timings and meals. Avoid the Cinque Terre villages with buggies and heavy luggage.

Couples

For evenings in the alleys and sea views: Camogli, Portovenere, Tellaro, Vernazza and Manarola, the old town of Sestri Levante, Noli and Cervo. In winter and spring, Bordighera and Sanremo offer a mild climate and fewer crowds.

Without a car

Choose a town with a station on the coastal line and a place to stay a few minutes’ walk away: Genoa, Sanremo, Bordighera, Alassio, Finale Ligure, Camogli, Santa Margherita, Sestri Levante, Levanto, La Spezia and the Cinque Terre villages. Watch out for Portofino, Lerici and Portovenere, which have no railway (you arrive by bus or boat), and for inland villages, where buses are few and often weekdays only.

Hikers and outdoor sports

For coastal trails: the Cinque Terre and Levanto (see Cinque Terre trails), Camogli and Santa Margherita for the Portofino park, Noli and Varigotti for the Sentiero del Pellegrino. For biking and climbing, Finalborgo and the Finale area, with bike-friendly accommodation. For the mountains, Varazze with the Beigua and Triora inland in the west.

On a budget

The same areas cost much less if you move a few kilometres: La Spezia instead of the Cinque Terre, Rapallo or Chiavari instead of Santa Margherita and Portofino, Recco instead of Camogli, Albenga instead of Alassio. May, June and September are cheaper than peak summer and the sea is already warm.

Booking tips

• When: for July, August and spring bank holidays, book months ahead, especially in the Cinque Terre, Camogli, Portofino and Portovenere, where beds are few.
• Events: the Sanremo Music Festival, the Genoa Boat Show and the big village festivals fill up accommodation in the area; check the dates before you choose.
• Car: many old towns are limited traffic zones (ZTL) and parking is expensive. If you drive, choose a place with parking included or near a public car park.
• Stairs: in the villages many houses have no lift and can only be reached on foot. Always ask how many steps there are with luggage.
• Tourist tax: many towns charge one; it varies from town to town and is usually paid at the property.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best part of Liguria for a beach holiday?

For sandy beaches and families, the western Riviera between Diano Marina, Alassio, Loano and Finale Ligure. For villages and scenery, the east between Camogli, Sestri Levante and the Gulf of Poets.

Western or eastern Riviera?

The west has longer, sandier beaches, a mild climate and larger resorts, good for long stays. The east has smaller, more scenic villages, trails and boats, but smaller beaches and higher summer prices.

Where should I stay in Liguria without a car?

In a town with a station on the coastal line, such as Genoa, Sanremo, Alassio, Finale Ligure, Camogli, Santa Margherita, Sestri Levante, Levanto or La Spezia, with your accommodation a few minutes from the station.

Where should I stay to visit the Cinque Terre?

In one of the five villages if you want to enjoy them in the evening, booking well ahead. Otherwise in Levanto or La Spezia, with more choice, lower prices and frequent trains.

Where should I stay to visit Portofino?

In Santa Margherita Ligure, which has a station and daily buses and boats to Portofino. Rapallo and Camogli are good alternatives.

What is the cheapest area in Liguria?

Generally the cities, such as La Spezia, Savona and Imperia, and the towns next to the famous ones: Recco rather than Camogli, Rapallo and Chiavari rather than Santa Margherita, Albenga rather than Alassio, Levanto rather than the Cinque Terre.

Can I explore all of Liguria from one base?

It’s not ideal: the train from Ventimiglia to La Spezia takes several hours. Better to have two bases, one west and one east, or a base in Genoa for day trips in both directions.