Table of Contents:
How to get to Savona from Genoa
How to get to Savona from Milan
When to travel to Savona
Savona is considered to be the largest city in Northern Liguria, second in size after Genoa. In addition, Savona is an important seaport, as well as a tourist center, which offers its guests many interesting attractions, beaches marked with blue flags, spa complexes and other tourist sights. It should be noted that the beaches in Savona are one of the best on the Ligurian Riviera.
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 Savona. I figured out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to do there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Savona.
In my opinion, the best time to visit Savona is from June until October when the weather conditions suit for swimming and sunbathing. The other time of the year is good for sightseeing and trying local gastronomy. In general, winters in Savona are quite mild and sometimes a bit rainy.
How to get to Savona
Where do you fly into to get to Savona? You can get to Savona via Genoa or Milan, where direct flights land from different cities around the world. You can check the current flight timetable to both cities via specialized online services such as Aviasales and other similar ones. The most convenient and fastest ways to get from the these airports directly to Savona are a train, a taxi car and a rented car.
How to get to Savona from Genoa
Based on my map research, the distance between Genoa and Savona is about 55 km. You can get to Savona from Genoa either by train, by taxi or by rented car.
By train: Direct high-speed trains from Genoa to Savona start running at 9 am. They run up to 6 times a day. The travel time is 30 minutes. The last train departs from Genoa at 10 pm. You can check the current train timetable in advance and purchase tickets, for example, at the Raileurope booking service or at the Genoa Piazza Principe Railway Station.
By taxi: A taxi from Genoa to Savona is pretty convenient because there is no need to adjust to the train schedule, and you can go to the desired point at any time suitable for you, even at night. A taxi will also be useful if you have a large amount of luggage. You can order a taxi directly at the airport or in advance via the international online services, for instance, Kiwitaxi and others. According to my research, Kiwitaxi has a lot of positive reviews. For sure, there are a lot of other taxi services available at the airport.
By rented car: As an option travellers can also take a car to travel to Savona and other great destinations in Liguria. There is a lot of rental offices in Genoa airport and at the city center. To rent a car, you need to have a passport, a driver`s license and a bank card. You can also book a car in advance via different online services, for example, via such well-known services as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. The cities are connected by highway No. A10/E80. The travel time is about 1 hour (see on the map). The online services mentioned above have a very convenient search and, based on my experience, I can recommend using them both to compare the results.
How to get to Savona from Milan
The distance between Milan and Savona is approximately 180 km. To get from one city to another, you can use a train, a taxi car or a rented car.
By train: There are direct high-speed EC-type trains, running between Milan and Savona. The travel time is 2 hours 20 minutes. Trains depart from Milan Central Station and arrive at the main railway station of Savona. Trains start running from 7 am. There are up to 6 direct trains per day, departing from Milan to Savona. The last one departs at 8 pm. You can check the current train timetable in advance and purchase tickets, for example, at the Raileurope booking service. I truly like Raileurope as it helps me a lot to plan my trips around Europe. You can filter the results by duration of a trip, number of changes, departure and arrival time, etc., which is very helpful, in my point of view.
By taxi: Trains from Milan to Savona do not run at night, that is why some tourists order a taxi car to get to the resort. It is also convenient when travelling with a lot of baggage pieces. By taxi the travel time is about 2 hours. You can order a taxi directly at the airport, or in advance via different online services such as Kiwitaxi, Intui.Travel and others. I read the reviews of the online services and most of them are positive so I can recommend them both.
By rented car: Travellers can also rent a car to travel around Liguria region, including Savona and other picturesque destinations. They are connected with the highway No. A7 via Genoa. As an option, tourists can book a car in advance using different online services. It will save your time on the spot. A car for rented can be booked in advance via Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. The travel time from Milan to Savona by car is approximately 2,5 hours (see on the map).
Where to stay in Savona
In Savona you can find hotels of 4, 3 and 2 stars, as well as B&B hotels; among the accommodation places there is also such a category as apartments. Some hotels are located in the historical center, some have access to the beach. To my mind, in this regard you should focus on the type of vacation you prefer.
Mare Hotel 4* is located close to the beach area of Savona and has its own access to the sea. Guests of the hotel can also enjoy an outdoor swimming pool and a terrace. The city center can be reached in 5 minutes by public transport or by car. The hotel offers free public parking nearby, or paid private parking on site. Wi-Fi is available free of charge throughout the hotel;
NH Savona Darsena 4* is located in the historical center of the city; nearby you can find numerous restaurants, cafes and bars. Savona railway station and the main highway are located a few kilometers away. Paid parking is available near the hotel (reservation is not required). Wi-Fi is provided free of charge throughout the hotel;
Hotel Spot Varazze 2* is located 9 km from the center of Savona in the suburb of Varazze. The advantage of the hotel is that it is located right on the first line of the beach, away from the bustle of the port and is perfect for a beach holiday. The hotel has its own terrace and garden. There is also a bar and a restaurant on site. Wi-Fi is provided free of charge.
B&B Hotel Savona is a small vintage-style B&B hotel, located in the city center and has its own terrace and free Wi-Fi. The hotel offers views of the sea. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that there is a shared lounge and a shared kitchen for the guests of hotel.
What to see in Savona
Savona may boast its historical monuments, museums, as well as sea promenades stretching along the shore throughout the city. Savona is a major seaport, so you can often find cruise ships mooring at the local port. Many tourists visiting Savona are from cruise ships who come to the city for one day, but Savona deserves more, and is equally suitable for both sightseeing and beach holidays.
Main attractions of Savona include the 19th-century Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and the 16th-century Priamar Fortress. Also, on the territory of the city, several fortress walls and towers have been preserved. The real “pearl” of the central streets of Savona are the palazzos that once belonged to the noble families of the city.
The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary attracts, first of all, with its façade, made in a magnificent Baroque style. But it’s worth visiting the cathedral not only from the outside. Renaissance sculptures are kept inside the building, and in the treasury adjacent to the cathedral you can find works by famous Italian artists. Near the cathedral you can see the Sistine Chapel, the interior of which was created by the most famous masters of their time, so it is also worth visiting from the inside.
Among the historical monuments on the Savona waterfront, you can find the Pancaldo Tower, built in the 16th century, and on the hills of the city you can see the medieval Brandale Tower. Both of them have an eventful history; in fact, these towers are the only surviving historical buildings of the city from the Middle Ages, not counting the Priamar fortress. This fortress dates back to the beginning of the 16th century, then it was expanded and rebuilt several times, and now there is a museum of Archeology and a Museum of ceramics within its walls.
In my point of view, the must-see attractions of Savona include the Pinacoteca, which is an art museum with a rich collection of works by masters of Northern Italy. In total, the museum has about 22 rooms, some of them are dedicated to Ligurian artists and sculptors. There is also a separate room dedicated to the works of Savona masters.
Walking along the central avenues of the city, you can see numerous palazzos from the early 20th century, which were built for the most noble families of the city. Some buildings have very original architecture and intricate exterior facade decorations.
Beaches of Savona
It is necessary to say a few words about the beaches of Savona. The beaches of Savona are sandy, gently sloping areas with a total length of about 4 km. One part of the beach area belongs to certain hotels that have their own entrance to the sea; the other part is public and accessible to anyone who wants to relax by the water. Several of Savona beaches, such as Fornace, Scaletta and Natarella, are even awarded with blue flags, which means that Savona beaches are considered to be one of the cleanest in the World. According to my research, free beach areas can be found west of the Priamar fortress.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out a travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerged medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase an 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: raffaele sergi
The author is Julia Mam
Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more…
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Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more…