{"id":46890,"date":"2024-08-13T05:45:10","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T05:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/what-to-see-in-liguria-the-complete-guide\/"},"modified":"2026-10-08T21:03:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T21:03:11","slug":"what-to-see-in-liguria","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/what-to-see-in-liguria\/","title":{"rendered":"What to see in Liguria: a guide from west to east"},"content":{"rendered":"

Liguria is not a one-stop trip. Along less than 300 kilometres of coast you get stone villages in the hills, botanical gardens above the sea, a major art city in Genoa, the Portofino promontory, the Cinque Terre and footpaths that run high above the water. If your time is short, these are the four things not to miss: Genoa<\/strong>, Portofino and San Fruttuoso<\/strong>, the Cinque Terre with Portovenere<\/strong> and, to the west, Dolceacqua and the Hanbury Gardens<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This guide is not a list of towns (for that, see towns and villages of Liguria<\/a>). It covers the sights and experiences worth the trip, grouped by theme and ordered from west to east, from the French border towards Tuscany. At the end you will find three ready-made itineraries of 3, 5 and 7 days, plus answers to the most common questions. Every entry links to the full destination guide, with opening times, parking and practical tips.<\/p>\n

Medieval hill villages<\/h2>\n
\"Dolceacqua<\/figure>\n

A few kilometres inland, Liguria changes completely: stone villages perched on hillsides, stepped alleys, castles and humpback bridges. Many visitors skip this side of the region, yet it often gives the most memorable days, especially outside high summer. You will almost always need a car; local buses exist but run only a few times a day.<\/p>\n

Dolceacqua and Apricale<\/h3>\n

In the Nervia valley, about ten kilometres from Ventimiglia, Dolceacqua<\/a> is instantly recognisable: the humpback Ponte Vecchio over the stream, painted by Claude Monet in 1884, and above it the Doria Castle, restored and open to visitors, with a panoramic walkway over the valley and the Rossese vineyards (see Doria Castle<\/a>). A few kilometres further up, Apricale<\/a> is one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy”: houses all facing south, a square that feels like a stage, murals in the lanes and the Lizard Castle. Do both in one day, adding Pigna<\/a> and Rocchetta Nervina<\/a> if you have time.<\/p>\n

Triora, the witches’ village<\/h3>\n

At 780 metres, at the top of the Argentina valley, Triora<\/a> is famous for the witch trial of 1587\u20131589, triggered by a famine: around thirty women accused, torture, but no executions. The Ethnographic and Witchcraft Museum tells the story with period documents; the covered alleys, old gates and castle ruins do the rest. The real history, separated from legend, is in our piece on the witches of Triora<\/a>. From Arma di Taggia it is about 30 km of mountain road.<\/p>\n

Bussana Vecchia and Seborga<\/h3>\n

On the hill above Sanremo<\/a>, Bussana Vecchia<\/a> was left uninhabitable by the earthquake of 23 February 1887 and stood empty for sixty years; from the late 1950s artists moved in and rebuilt houses among the ruins. Today you walk between studios and the roofless church of Sant’Egidio. Above Bordighera, at 500 metres, Seborga<\/a> is a well-kept village with views of the sea and the Alps, known for its self-proclaimed “principality”, recognised by no state: the story is in the Principality of Seborga<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cervo, Albenga and Finalborgo<\/h3>\n

Cervo<\/a> steps down the hill to the sea, crowned by the baroque fa\u00e7ade of the Corallini church; in summer its square hosts the chamber music festival<\/a>. Albenga<\/a> is the town of towers: a brick centre laid out on the Roman grid, with 12th\u201313th-century towers and an early Christian baptistery. Further east, Finalborgo<\/a> is enclosed by 15th-century walls, with four gates and two castles on the heights (route in Finalborgo’s castles<\/a>). Near Loano<\/a> you can add the Toirano Caves, visited on guided tours booked online.<\/p>\n

\"Finalborgo<\/figure>\n

Gardens and seaside villas<\/h2>\n
\"Moorish<\/figure>\n

From the 19th century the Riviera was the winter retreat of the British and of European aristocracy, who left villas and gardens full of exotic plants. Thanks to the mild climate many are open all year; spring is the best time.<\/p>\n

Hanbury Gardens<\/h3>\n

On the Mortola headland at Ventimiglia<\/a>, a stone’s throw from France, Thomas Hanbury began in 1867 an acclimatisation garden that now covers 18 hectares of terraces down to the sea, with around 5,800 species: palms, citrus, succulents. It is run by the University of Genoa. Allow at least two hours. Just west are the prehistoric caves of Balzi Rossi and their museum.<\/p>\n

Bordighera, Sanremo and Alassio<\/h3>\n

In Bordighera<\/a> the British colony left villas, palms and the Pallanca Exotic Garden, a hectare of cacti and succulents; Monet spent almost three months here in 1884 (see Monet in Bordighera<\/a>). In Sanremo the Villa Ormond gardens are public and free, close to the seafront. In Alassio<\/a> the Villa della Pergola gardens, 22,000 square metres of wisteria and agapanthus, can only be seen on a pre-booked guided tour. In Imperia<\/a> you will find Villa Grock<\/a>, the eclectic home of the Swiss clown Grock, now a clown museum.<\/p>\n

Villa Durazzo in Santa Margherita<\/h3>\n
\"Villa<\/figure>\n

In Santa Margherita Ligure<\/a> the 17th-century villa of the Durazzo and later Centurione families opens every day: stucco rooms and Genoese paintings, and a park of about three hectares with a citrus grove and pebble paths above the Tigullio gulf. In Genoa, in the same spirit, the Nervi parks<\/a> are historic villas with lawns and sea views.<\/p>\n

Genoa<\/h2>\n
\"Aerial<\/figure>\n

Genoa<\/a> deserves at least two days and is the right choice when the weather is not beach weather. It is a vertical city of lifts and funiculars, with one of Europe’s largest historic centres. For areas and hotels, see where to stay in Genoa<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Old town and the Rolli Palaces<\/h3>\n

Start in the caruggi<\/a>, the narrow lanes running down to the port, full of small shops, fry shops and hidden squares. Then climb to Via Garibaldi, the 16th-century Strade Nuove, where the Rolli Palaces<\/a> have been UNESCO-listed since 2006: some are museums, others open during the Rolli Days. Don’t miss the striped Cathedral of San Lorenzo<\/a> or the view from Spianata di Castelletto<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Old Port and Aquarium<\/h3>\n

The Porto Antico<\/a>, redesigned by Renzo Piano, is the city’s waterfront, home to the Genoa Aquarium<\/a>, the Galata Maritime Museum<\/a> and the Biosphere<\/a>. With children it is an easy half day. The city’s symbol, the Lanterna<\/a> lighthouse, can be reached on foot along a walkway through the port.<\/p>\n

Boccadasse and Nervi<\/h3>\n
\"Colourful<\/figure>\n

Boccadasse<\/a> is an old fishing hamlet inside the city: coloured houses, a pebble cove and boats pulled up on shore, best at sunset. Further east, Nervi has the Anita Garibaldi promenade, about two kilometres along the rocks. For what to order, from focaccia to farinata and pesto, read what to eat in Genoa<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Portofino and the Tigullio<\/h2>\n
\"Portofino<\/figure>\n

The Portofino promontory is a nature park and a marine protected area, with the Tigullio gulf on one side and the Golfo Paradiso on the other. The best way to see it is without a car: train to Santa Margherita, Rapallo or Camogli, then bus, ferry and footpaths.<\/p>\n

Portofino<\/h3>\n

Portofino<\/a> is tiny, around 360 residents, and takes a few hours on foot: the Piazzetta on the horseshoe harbour, the climb to San Giorgio, Castello Brown above the bay and the walk to the Punta del Capo lighthouse. Arrive early or stay until evening, when the day-trippers leave. From Santa Margherita<\/a> you can walk there in about an hour and a half: route in Santa Margherita to Portofino<\/a>.<\/p>\n

San Fruttuoso<\/h3>\n
\"Diver<\/figure>\n

The Abbey of San Fruttuoso<\/a> sits in a bay reachable only on foot or by boat. Offshore, a few metres down, is the Christ of the Abyss, a bronze statue placed in 1954. From Portofino the trail takes about two hours with 250\u2013280 metres of climbing: details in Portofino\u2013San Fruttuoso trail<\/a>. Take the ferry back.<\/p>\n

Camogli, Rapallo and Sestri Levante<\/h3>\n

Camogli<\/a> is the postcard of the Golfo Paradiso: tall painted houses on the sea, a small harbour with wooden boats, the basilica on its rock; ferries leave from here for San Fruttuoso all year. In Rapallo<\/a> the castle stands in the water and a cable car climbs in about seven minutes to the sanctuary of Montallegro<\/a>, at 612 metres. Further east, Sestri Levante<\/a> has two bays side by side: the small Bay of Silence<\/a> and the Bay of Fables. Antique lovers should time a visit with the monthly market in Chiavari<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hotels, B&Bs and apartments all over Liguria: compare prices and availability.<\/p>

See hotels and prices<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n

Cinque Terre and the Gulf of Poets<\/h2>\n
\"Colourful<\/figure>\n

The Cinque Terre<\/a> are Liguria’s most famous sight and the most crowded: five villages on a steep coast of terraced vineyards, UNESCO-listed since 1997 together with Portovenere and the islands. Travel by train, never by car: the line links the villages in a few minutes (times and fares in Cinque Terre train timetable<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The five villages<\/h3>\n

Monterosso<\/a> is the largest and the only one with real beaches; Vernazza<\/a> has its square on the harbour and the Doria castle; Corniglia<\/a> sits on top of a headland, reached by the Lardarina<\/a> stairway of 377 steps; Manarola<\/a> is the one in the famous photo, houses on a rocky spur; Riomaggiore<\/a> runs down a narrow valley to a tiny harbour. Give them two days, not one: early morning and evening are a different world.<\/p>\n

Via dell’Amore<\/h3>\n

Reopened after years of works, the Via dell’Amore<\/a> is a 900-metre cliff path between Riomaggiore and Manarola. It now runs one way only, in that direction, with a ticket (from 10 euros) and a time slot booked on the official website. It is the easiest walk in the Cinque Terre; in high season book well ahead.<\/p>\n

Portovenere and Palmaria island<\/h3>\n
\"Palmaria<\/figure>\n

Portovenere<\/a> closes the Gulf of La Spezia with tall coloured houses on the harbour, the Doria castle and the church of San Pietro on the cliff. Opposite lies Palmaria, the largest island in Liguria, a short boat ride away: the loop trail is about six kilometres, two to three hours on foot (see Palmaria island<\/a>). From La Spezia<\/a> ferries run to Portovenere, the islands and the Cinque Terre.<\/p>\n

Lerici, Tellaro and Sarzana<\/h3>\n

Across the gulf, Lerici<\/a> has a castle on the sea and a promenade to San Terenzo; a coast road leads on to Tellaro<\/a>, a fishing village built on the rocks, with the pink church of San Giorgio by the water. Inland, a few kilometres from Tuscany, Sarzana<\/a> is an art town with two 15th-century fortresses (see Sarzana’s fortresses<\/a>) and a main street lined with antique shops.<\/p>\n

Coastal walks<\/h2>\n
\"Turquoise<\/figure>\n

Liguria makes most sense on foot. Coastal trails are mostly short, two to three hours, but with steep climbs and steps: wear hiking shoes, carry water and start early in summer. Always check trail status before you set off, as landslides often close sections.<\/p>\n