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Table of Contents:
Climate and weather of Liguria
Why to go to Liguria
Liguria is a picturesque region located in the north-west of Italy, washed by the Ligurian Sea, and borders France in the north. The “calling card” of Liguria is its rocky shores and colorful buildings hidden on rocky terraces. Liguria is considered to be a region that is both harsh and beautiful. The “severity” of the region lies in the fact that the shores here drop off into the raging sea, and local farmers have to grow grapes right on the slopes of the mountains. Liguria is beautiful with its colors, including the blue of the sea, the green of forests and vineyards and the diversity of local residential buildings.
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 Liguria. I figured out how to get to the region, where to stay & what to see and do there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Liguria.
Liguria has a lot of natural and historical attractions, so it is pretty popular as a travel destination among independent tourists. The natural landscapes are mesmerizing; the historical monuments are admirable; add convenient ways to get there and developed infrastructure, and the region will turn out to be one of the best places to travel. Liguria is also suitable for a beach holiday. There are not many sandy beaches here; most of them are concentrated in the north of the region, including the resorts of Alassio, San Remo, Savona, Imperia. As I found out, the swimming season in Liguria lasts from June to September.
Climate and weather of Liguria
Based on my research, the climate of Liguria is typical Mediterranean with three distinct seasons – spring, summer and autumn. Winter is considered to be the off-season. In fact, the microclimate in Liguria is unique; on the one hand, the region is washed by the warm currents of the Ligurian Sea, on the other hand, it is sheltered from winds by mountain ranges. Coupled with the coniferous forests growing in the area, the place is an ideal holiday resort. The swimming season here lasts 3-4 months a year, and the average sea water temperature in the summer months varies from +23 to +25 C (or 73-75 F).
The weather in Liguria is characterized by sunny springs and summers, while as winter approaches, short-term rains occur more often. Summers are the ideal time of year for a beach holiday in Liguria, while spring, autumn and winter are perfect for the excursions and long-distance strolling around.
How to get to Liguria
The administrative center of Liguria is the historical city of Genoa, which, among other things, has its own international airport. Flying to Genoa is the fastest way to get to the resorts of Liguria. Trains run daily from Genoa to both the southern and northern parts of the region. Direct and connecting flights to Genoa are operated by various European carriers with a change in one of the European capitals.
In addition to flying to Genoa, there is one more way to get to Liguria. As an option you can also fly to Milan and then take a train to the desired resort of Liguria. Milan is located approximately 150 kilometers from Liguria, so traveling to your destination by train or by car can take you from one to several hours, depending on the distance (see on the map). The advantage of flying to Milan is that there are many more flights per day than to Genoa.
You can check flight timetables and purchase tickets in advance via the different online services that allow you to compare available offers for your trip destination. You can try, for example, such service as Aviasales:
Aviasales is an online search service for 728+ more airlines and ticket sellers in the world.
I often use Aviasales online service as it helps me a lot to compare different flight options and to choose the optimal one. I can totally recommend it.
✓ During the daytime, the airports have a public transport system that provides access to the city. So, for example, you can get from Malpensa Airport in Milan to the railway station by Malpensa Express trains (run from terminal No. 1) and buses (depart from both terminals and go to the central railway station). Next, you need to change trains to Genoa or one of the Ligurian resorts.
✓ From J. Columbus Airport to Genoa, you can take the Volabus (goes to the Genoa Brignoli railway station). At night, the only available option is a taxi or a transfer service. You can order individual transfer services from Milan or Genoa airports using special services:
Kiwitaxi is a system for ordering taxi transfers from airports, train stations and hotels around the world;
Intui.Travel is a system for self-booking tourist transfers to/from hotels via the Internet.
Based on my research, these online services have a lot of positive reviews that is why I can recommend them. For sure, there are a lot of other taxi services available at the airport.
Public transport in Liguria
To my mind, the most convenient way to get around Liguria is by train or by rented car. The distances between cities are small, so such trips will not take much time. When planning your route, it is worth considering that all trains in Liguria go via Genoa, but this does not prevent you from moving around the region quickly and comfortably. Both regional (slower and cheaper) and high-speed (fast, but usually more expensive) trains run in all directions. The current train timetable can be checked at the Raileurope ticket service. It is one of my favourite online planners and it always helps me a lot to organize my trips around Europe, so I can definitely recommend it.
It is worth keeping in mind that some destinations in Liguria cannot be reached by train (there is no railway network). This, in particular, applies to the resort of Portofino and the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, which can only be reached by regular bus or by car. To be fair, it must be said that there are not many such destinations, and Portofino and San Fruttuoso are almost the only exceptions.
As I discovered, in the summer, water transport is also popular. For example, quite a lot of water boats depart from the port of Genoa to various destinations in Liguria. This way of getting to the desired resort takes a little longer, but is more than compensated by the picturesque views that open from the water to the shore.
Public transport in Genoa includes buses, metro, ferries, funiculars and elevators. All of the above types of transport are convenient and allow you to easily move around the city, which is famous for its hilly landscapes.
Car rental in Liguria
It is difficult to overestimate the usefulness of a car when traveling around Liguria. Firstly, by car you can get to places where trains do not go. Secondly, this is an opportunity to discover new picturesque landscapes. Thirdly, this is the freedom to plan your trip and no need to adapt it to public transport schedules, especially if you want to see as much as possible.
You can rent a car in Liguria mostly in Genoa and in several other large towns, although a wider selection of cars is still available only in Genoa. Most often, tourists rent a car right at the airport, immediately upon arrival. This allows you to resolve the issue of transfer to the resort and freely plan your trip around the region. At Genoa airport, 15+ more different car rental providers operate daily. The number of cars available at the airport is more than 200 units in different classes.
Car rental providers include such well-known international and local companies as Thrifty, Locauto, Sicily by Car, Enterprise, Maggiore, Budget, Hertz, Keddy, Europcar, Avis, Sixt and many others. To rent a car, you need to have a passport, an international driving license, and a bank card to pay for services. You can book the desired class of car in advance via the different online services:
Discover Cars is a service for searching, comparing and saving on car rentals;
Economybookings is a search service for cheap car rentals around the globe.
I can recommend both online services as they have a decent search with a lot of useful options to find out the best available car rentals. I would also recommend comparing their results to choose the best variants.
When registering a car at a rental office, you will also be offered to take out car insurance. Traffic rules, signs and markings on the roads of Italy are similar to international ones. In Italy they refuel with gasoline with an octane number of 95 or 98, as well as diesel. The country has toll highways; you can travel either along them for an additional fee, or along free duplicated roads.
Towns of Liguria
In Liguria, almost every town is a resort, because almost every settlement in the region has natural or historical attractions worthy of the attention of a traveler. But there are also recognized tourist centers in Liguria that are very popular among tourists due to certain conditions. Further information about each resort you can find in our separate articles:
Genoa is a city famous for its historical sights. In my opinion, among the “must-see” of Genoa, it is worth noting the ancient street Via Garibaldi, dotted with palaces and architectural monuments; the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, which mixed Gothic and Romanesque styles; Ferrari Square, where all the main streets of the city merge; numerous palazzos scattered in the old part of the city; the Aquarium of Genoa, located in the port of the city;
Sanremo, a beach resort famous for its song festival, offers sandy beaches, casinos and theaters, historical streets and Orthodox monuments, cathedrals, museums, villas open to the public, as well as extensive park and promenade areas. It’s also convenient to travel from Sanremo to the Cote d’Azur region, because there is only 50 km to the border with France;
Alassio is one of the best beach resorts in Liguria. It is in Alassio that you can find sandy beaches stretching for many kilometers along the shore. As I found out, the resort entertainment options include boat trips to the Gallinara Islands and sightseeing. Do not miss, for instance, such attraction as the Muretto Wall of Fame;
Portofino is a secluded resort surrounded by pine forests and mountains. Tourists are attracted with a castle, a lighthouse, a local church, as well as with natural observation decks offering panoramic views of the Gulf. But there is a lack of beaches in Portofino. There are only stone platforms from which tourists can dive into the crystal clear water of the Gulf of Tigullio. However, the resort fascinates with its unique vibes;
Cinque Terre is a national park consisting of five villages and is one of the most visited places in Liguria. Natural landscapes and historical monuments together attract a considerable number of tourists here every year. You can move between towns partly on foot, along the “Path of Love”, partly by public transport (by trains or by buses). In one of the five settlements called the village of Monterosso, you can find the long-awaited sandy beach. In my point of view, Cinque Terre is an absolute “must-see” of the Ligurian shore;
Rapallo is a large seaside resort with a developed tourist infrastructure. Often a visit to Rapallo is combined with a visit to neighboring Portofino. For tourists, there are long promenades for walking, well-groomed squares, historical attractions, including a medieval castle built in the 16th century, and a cable car with the best views of the Gulf of Tigullio. Disadvantages include a small number of beaches suitable for swimming;
Santa Margherita Ligure is perhaps the most sophisticated and elegant resort of the Riviera Levante. Cobbled streets, a beautiful embankment, palm trees, villas along the shore – all this makes Santa Margherita Ligure a little like Nice in France, only in miniature. There are also many historical attractions here. To my mind, a big advantage of the resort is the beaches, which, although not large in size, still offer opportunities for a beach holiday in Liguria;
Portovenere is a small but extremely picturesque town located in the southern part of Liguria. The closeness to the Cinque Terre often allows tourists to include it in their tourist itinerary. In Portovenere there is the beautiful Doria Castle, located on rocky cliffs extending into the sea; several of the same picturesquely located churches, as well as the famous colored buildings for which the Cinque Terre in particular and Liguria in general are so famous;
Savona is a major seaport in the north of Liguria. The city is rich in attractions and historical monuments. The city also has sandy beaches, some of them have even been awarded with the Blue Flag mark as the cleanest beaches in the World;
Ventimiglia is the northernmost town of Liguria, located on the border with the French Riviera. The historical part of the town is full of attractions. In addition, in Ventimiglia there is a natural park and a botanical garden. The beaches stretch for many kilometers along the shore here, however, it is worth considering that the beaches in this part of Italy are pebbly.
Beaches in Liguria
In addition to the above-mentioned Sanremo and Alassio, you can also find beaches in other parts of Liguria:
Sestri Levante is a small but very cozy resort, located on a sandy spit surrounded by picturesque sea Gulfs. The main advantages of the resort are sandy beaches and a gentle entrance to the sea; the disadvantage is the lack of entertainment such as discos and nightclubs. In my opinion, the resort is more suitable for a beach holiday than for entertainment;
Camogli is a resort located relatively close to Genoa and offering tourists excellent pebble beaches. The sea in this part of Italy is crystal clear, and the beaches are perfect for swimming and sunbathing. Near Camogli there is also the village of Paraggi, where sandy beaches can also be found;
Bordighera is a resort in the Northern part of Liguria. Here you can find pebble beaches, suitable for both passive relaxation and active water activities. In addition, Bordighera is also suitable for those who want to have all kinds of entertainment nearby. As I discovered, the local entertainment includes the nightclubs, bars and open-air discos;
Lerici is the southernmost resort of Liguria, located on the border with Tuscany region. Lerici is a very small resort without famous attractions or noisy entertainment, but here you can find spacious sandy beaches, most of them are public ones. The only active entertainment you can find here is boat trips along the Ligurian shore;
Finale Ligure is one of the most popular beach resorts in Northern Liguria. The beaches in Finale Ligure are sandy, with a gentle entrance to the sea and are located in a secluded Gulf, which makes the sea water calm and the weather windless. It would be fair to say that there are quite a lot of historical attractions in the town too.
Speaking about the beaches of Liguria, it is also worth noting one more feature. As in the rest of Italy, many of the local beaches are private, i.e. belong to specific hotels. This does not mean that only the guests of the hotels can use the beaches, but as a rule, a fee is charged for entry or use of such beach accessories as sunbeds, umbrellas, etc.
This also does not mean that there are no public beaches in Liguria. Usually, they are adjacent to private areas, and they are easy to identify, because they are not equipped with anything. The quality of public beaches has no differences to private ones, i.e. if the private beach is pebble, then the public one will be also pebble, and if the private beach is sandy, then the public one will be also sandy.
Where to stay in Liguria
Liguria is a resort with a developed tourist infrastructure, so here you can find a large number of accommodation options for any budget. You can stay in the resorts of Liguria in standard hotels of various categories, in guest houses, and in bed and breakfast hotels; you can also rent apartments, studios or even a detached villa. My only recommendation for booking is to look for accommodation as far in advance as possible before the expected travel dates, because Liguria is a popular travel destination.
There are almost no all-inclusive hotels in Liguria. Such hotels are generally not common in Italy. Most often, hotels offer the option of “included breakfast” or, less often, half-board. There are also few chain hotels in Liguria; basically, they can only be found in “promoted” resort areas. If you come to a quiet and secluded Ligurian resort far from tourist centers, then be prepared that in terms of service everything here will be modest and minimalistic.
Another feature of Liguria hotels is their location in historical buildings. It is forbidden to demolish historical buildings here, so such buildings are often converted into hotels, while this does not affect the quality of service in any way, but adds additional vibes.
You can find a suitable hotel/apartment in the resorts of Liguria, as well as check availability for specific dates, using specialized services for searching hotel offers. When choosing a hotel, pay attention to such parameters as location, availability of a private beach area, type of food, availability of parking (if traveling by car).
Food in Liguria
The predominant cuisine in Liguria is Mediterranean. The closeness of the sea has an effect, and many cities in the region are ports. It is here in Liguria that you can try the freshest seafood and sea fish. You can cook it yourself by purchasing it at one of the local markets, or you can try it in fish restaurants or open-air cafes. So-called self-service restaurants are also popular in Liguria, but instead of the usual fast food, there are Italian dishes and a fish menu. You can dine in such restaurants inside, or you can take it away (which is convenient for many tourists).
As I figured out, the average bill in traditional restaurants in Liguria is from 20 to 40 euros, in cafes is from 10-15 euros, in self-service restaurants is also from 10-15 euros. Some of the must-try dishes in Liguria include ravioli with vegetables, meatloaves, stuffed vegetables, cod, focaccia bread and pesto. It is recommended to be careful and choose places that locals prefer to visit rather than tourists; this is the only way to try authentic Ligurian cuisine.
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: Kent Wang
Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…