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Table of Contents:
How to get to Imperia from Genoa
How to get to Imperia from Milan
When to travel to Imperia
Imperia is a typical tourist town on the Northern shore of Liguria. Imperia attracts tourists, first of all, with its sandy beaches, historical sights and developed infrastructure for yacht sport. There is even a separate port for yachts in Imperia. All these advantages, combined with a mild climate, make the town tourist-friendly. A little to the west of Imperia there is a more pretentious resort called Sanremo, but the most attractive sandy beach area is located exactly in Imperia and then covers Alassio and some other towns east of Imperia.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Imperia. I figured out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to see there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Imperia.
To my prospective, the best time for visiting Imperia is the period from June until October when swimming and sunbathing are available. The weather is sunny and warm this time of the year. The other period from October until May is good for excursion purposes, trying local gastronomy and exploring natural surroundings. Winters in Imperia can be quite rainy though.

How to get to Imperia
Where do you fly into to get to Imperia? Imperia can only be reached via Genoa or Milan, where international airports are located. You can check the current flight timetable to both cities via specialized online services such as Aviasales and other similar ones. I often use this online service as it helps me a lot to compare different flight options and to choose the optimal one. Then, high-speed and regional trains run to the resort from those cities. You can also use transfer services or rent a car for travelling on your own.
How to get to Imperia from Genoa
As I found out, the route from Genoa to Imperia runs via Savona, Finale Ligure and Albenga and is about 115 km.
By train: The trains between Genoa and Imperia run once an hour during the day. The duration of the trip is about 1 hour 45 minutes. You can check the current train timetable in advance and purchase tickets, for example, at the Raileurope booking service. There are also indirect trains with a change in Savona. In this case, the travel time is about 2 hours. I truly recommend using Raileurope when planning your trips around Europe as it has a very convenient search with a lot of useful filters.
By taxi: As an option, travellers can also take a taxi car after arrival or book a transfer service in advance to reach their travel destination. It is especially useful when arriving at night when public transport does not operate. To order a car transfer in advance you can use different online services such as Kiwitaxi and other similar ones. The travel time from the airport is about 1 hour 35 minutes.
By rented car: Travellers can also rent a car for travelling on their own. To rent a car you need to have a passport, a driver`s license and a bank card for paying the services. Car rental offices can be found at the airport of Genoa or at the city center. You can also book a car in advance via various international services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. To my mind, both online services are good and I would recommend comparing them to discover the best available variants. Genoa and Imperia are connected with #A10/E80 motorway. The travel time by car is approximately 1 hour 45 minutes (see on the map).
How to get to Imperia from Milan
The distance between Milan and Imperia is about 240 km, the cities are connected by road and rail.
By train: Direct trains to Imperia depart from Milan Central Station a few times a day, with a travel duration of 3 hours 15 minutes. It is also possible to go by indirect train with a change in Genoa. In this case, the travel time is about 4-5 hours. You can check the current train timetable in advance and purchase tickets, for example, at the Raileurope booking service. It is one of my favourite planners for comparing available railway connections between the towns in Europe. It helps me a lot as it can filter the results by duration of a trip, departure and arrival points, number of changes, prices, etc.
By rented car: Some tourists prefer to travel on their own that is why they decide to rent a car. It is a pretty popular option in Milan as there are a lot of interesting destinations around, including Ligurian shore. You can find car rental points at Milan airports be it Malpensa, Linate or Bergamo. You can also find some offices at the city center. Travellers often book a car in advance to choose the best available variant and save their time on the spot. You can also book a car in advance via various online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. Milan and Imperia are connected with #A7 and A10/E80 motorways. The travel time is approximately 3 hours (see on the map). In my point of view, both online services mentioned above have a decent search so you can compare the results and choose the best available car rental options.

Where to stay in Imperia
As I discovered in Imperia there are hotels of different star categories, ranging from bed and breakfast hotels without stars to hotels with full 4 stars, which are ready to offer their guests additional services. The prices of the hotels in Imperia, as well as in neighboring Ventimiglia and Bordighera, are considered to be affordable, so some tourists prefer to stay at these resorts and then make radial trips to neighboring towns and attractions.
Hotel Rossini Al Teatro, 4* is located in the town center, near the harbor. Rossini Al Teatro Hotel offers guests a terrace with beautiful views, a lounge bar and a reading room. Paid public parking is available nearby. Luggage storage, dry cleaning and laundry are also provided. The hotel has rooms of different categories to stay in;
Locanda del Mar, 3* is located in the closest surroundings of Imperia, within walking distance of the beach and sea. There is an outdoor swimming pool and a garden at the hotel area. The hotel has a limited number of rooms and a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. Free private parking is available, but reservations are required. The hotel has rooms of different categories;
Hotel Ariston, 3* is located on a quiet street, not far from the historical center. The shore is 50 meters from the hotel, within walking distance. Private paid parking is available on site (reservation is required). As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that the luggage storage and laundry services can also be found at the spot. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel;
Hotel Corallo, 3* is located within walking distance from the nearest beach. It features a relaxing terrace and a restaurant with panoramic sea views. You can stay in rooms of varying categories. Some rooms have balconies. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Private parking is provided on site upon reservation. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and offers luggage storage services;
Villa Giada Speace Resort, 3* is surrounded with an olive grove and offers 2 swimming pools. The rooms offer panoramic sea views. There is a pizzeria and a bar on site. Guests can stay in studios and apartments of various categories. Breakfast or half board is offered. Wi-Fi is available in public areas and is free of charge. Private parking is provided on site upon reservation and at an additional cost.

What to see in Imperia
The town was founded at the beginning of the 20th century and is considered one of the youngest in Italy. However, Imperia was not founded from scratch, but on the site of two ancient settlements called Oneglia and Porto Maurizio, from which the town inherited many attractions and interesting places, so Imperia is rightly considered to be one of the most beautiful and cozy towns on the shore of the Ligurian Sea.
Conventionally, Imperia is divided into 2 areas, which are naturally separated by a river. On one side it is the former settlement of Oneglia, which is famous for the production of local varieties of olive oil. On the other side it is Porto Maurizio, which is an old town with narrow streets, ancient quarters and authentic attractions.
To my prospective, when exploring the historical center of Imperia, it is worth paying attention to the cathedrals that have been preserved here. For example, the Cathedral of St. Mauritius, or as it is called in Italy, San Maurizio, is considered to be the largest Catholic cathedral in Liguria. The construction of the cathedral dates back to the mid-18th century; it was made in the neoclassical style; the exteriors are decorated with columns, and the interiors with sculptures and paintings.
If the Cathedral of San Maurizio is located in the Porto Maurizio area, then another important religious monument called the Cathedral of San Giovanni is located on the opposite bank – in the Oneglia area and was built in a magnificent Baroque style. Of course, the Cathedral of San Giovanni cannot compete with San Maurizio in scale, but it certainly deserves attention for its stained glass windows, frescoes and elegant interior and exterior decorations. The church was also built in the mid-18th century and is located on the pedestrian square also called San Giovanni.

The Grock Villa and Gardens are another tourist attraction in Imperia. Here, on the territory of the complex, you can see a three-story mansion in which there is a museum of the famous Swiss clown Grock, who was the owner of this area. It is definitely worth taking a stroll through the gardens surrounding the villa. In addition to lush vegetation, you can see sculptural compositions, columns, gazebos, fountains, arches, bridges and even a small lake, so the Grok Gardens are an excellent place for walking at any time of the year. The alleys of the garden are decorated with cedars and cypresses. There is some useful information for visiting that I discovered:
- Villa Grock is open from 10 am to 1 pm on Monday and Friday; from 2 pm to 5 pm on Wednesday; from 10 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays;
- The entrance fee is 6 euros.
Once in Imperia, it would be unfair not to visit the Olive Oil Museum for which the region is so famous. The Olive Oil Museum tells visitors about the centuries-old history of the development and production of olive oil, and in the adjacent garden, where century-old olive trees grow, you can see ancient mills built in the 17th and 19th centuries. I found out detailed information for visiting the museum:
- Olive Oil Museum is open from 10 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 6 pm;
- The entrance fee is 5 euros.
As I see it, Imperia is a charming town among the other no less beautiful towns of Ligurian shore. Imperia can offer a lot to see, including architectural attractions, historical sights and interesting museums. Besides excursions, Imperia can also offer a great beach holiday with its great sandy areas and turquoise sea.

Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Simone Bosotti

Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…