Liguria is an area full of colorful towns and epic landscapes of raging sea and cliffs. Even if you have never been to Liguria, you’ve probably heard of such places as Genoa, Cinque Terre or Portofino, as they are truly world-known locations. However, even in this, one of Italy’s famous areas there are still spots to head to off the beaten track and so we’ll go through some of the less famous villages and towns of Liguria. These are the best of Liguria’s hidden gems.
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Our guide to the hidden gems of Liguria gives you an overview of the locations, we’ll cover the best things to see and do, as well as how to get there from the major cities in the area. Come on in and discover these lesser-known parts of this glorious area of Italy. To make it easy we’ve taken the top 10 of Liguria’s best off-the-beaten-track spots.
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1. Sanremo, Liguria
Sanremo is a true “pearl” of the Ligurian coast – as it is one of the few places that has spacious sandy beaches. If you’re already familiar with Liguria, then you’ll know that the region doesn’t have many sandy beaches, but you’ll find them in Sanremo. Plus, local beaches are well-equipped and can offer everything you’ll need as a visitor. Besides beaches, Sanremo also has quite an interesting town center with the La Pigna area. It is a medieval district with narrow cobbled streets, impressive buildings, and tiny squares. It is almost all pedestrian and you can easily explore the area on foot.
Why visit San Remo in Liguria?
Sanremo is also a town of music festivals as well as a place for casino tournaments. Sanremo Casino is one of the most famous casinos not only in Italy but in the whole of Europe. San Remo is also a glorious place to stroll around local villas and gardens as they have quite exotic views. For instance, you can visit the Nobel Villa or Villa Ormond. If you are a true lover of Art, then visit the Rambaldi Gallery or Sanremo City Museum which both exhibit the works of Italian artists.
How to get to San Remo
The best way to visit Sanremo is from Genoa or Milan. In both cases, you can use public transport. For instance, it takes you about 2 hours to get from Genoa and about 3 hours to get from Milan by train. You can check out the current train timetable and purchase the tickets at Omio. By car, you can reach Sanremo along the #A10/E80 from Genoa and on the #A7 and A10/E80 from Milan.
- Distance from Genoa – 145 km (90 miles)
- Distance from Milan – 270 km (168 miles)
2. Alassio
We’ll stick with another Ligurian sandy beach for our second selection. Alassio is another coastal gem of Liguria which has an extensive sandy beach area. For a beach holiday, Alassio is perfect. You can find well-equipped beach areas with gentle entrances to the sea, perfect for a family holiday. Head off on a boat trip to Gallinara Island – it’s a protected area with a lot of attractions, such as the ruins of an old Benedictine monastery. It is a nice place for diving as well.
Why visit Alassio
There’s a lot to see, simply walking around Alassio. The local churches of the Madonna de la Guardia or Saint Ambrogio will impress with their authenticity. Both were built in the Middle Ages. Visit also the Wall of Muretto. This huge wall is adorned with autographs of various famous people, the first being Ernest Hemingway! Signatures of passing celebrities are turned into ceramic tiles, which then adorn the wall.
How to get to Alassio
Alassio has its own train station, so you can reach it by train from any large city, be it Genoa, Milan or Savona. The travel time varies from 1 to 3 hours, depending on the starting point. You can check out the current train timetable and purchase the tickets at Omio. The road route # A10/E80 leads from Genoa if you travel by car and it will (depending on traffic) take approximately 2 hours.
- Distance from Genoa – 100 km (62 miles)
- Distance from Milan – 220 km (137 miles)
3. Bordighera
Bordighera is one of those towns that has retained its historical heritage and if you like to explore architectural sites, then Bordighera is an excellent choice. The old town of Bordighera is a mix of narrow streets and tiny squares with a great number of architectural monuments, such as the church of St. Ampelius of the 11th century, the Town Gates, the church of Santa Magdalena of the 16th century and the Town Hall. The Garnier and Margarita villas are interesting to visit, to explore the different architectural styles.
Why visit Bordighera
After you’ve explored the narrow streets and architecture, then Bordighera is a perfect place to base yourself to visit the local area. The breathtaking Crozia and Nervia Valleys are located nearby. The areas include some tiny villages, ruins of castles, medieval bridges, vineyards, and olive groves. There’s good hiking and driving routes here too.
How to get to Bordighera
There is a direct train connection from Genoa to Bordighera. Trains depart regularly during the day, and the travel time is about 3 hours (mostly, the regional trains operate). It takes you about 4 hours to get to Bordighera from Milan. You can check out the current train timetable and purchase the tickets online here. By car, you need to follow route #A10/E80 via picturesque towns of Savona, Alassio and Imperia.
- Distance from Genoa – 157 km (97.5 miles)
- Distance from Milan – 280 km (174 miles)
4. Savona
Savona is well-known as a port and is a popular cruise port too. The old town of Savona preserved numerous historical monuments. Walking around the old town area, (once the abode of Christopher Columbus!) you can visit the beautiful Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary of the 19th century or the Priamar Fortress dating from the 16th century. Savona is also famed for being the home of the second Sistine Chapel.
Why visit Savona?
Other attractions worth visiting in Savona are the Pancaldo and Brandale Towers, which date from the late Middle Ages. As you stroll around the central streets you’ll also see a lot of palazzos in Baroque and Classic styles. If you’re missing the beaches, then Savona has a few stretches of beach around – they tend to be sandy or pebble with a gradual entrance. Some of them are public, and some of them are private. Savona is one of the closest places to Genoa where tourists can find a beach in Liguria.
How to get to Savona
There is a direct railway connection between Savona and Genoa, and the journey time is just 30 minutes. This quick connection means that it’s a great option for a day trip from Genoa. The journey time from Milan is about 2.5 hours, and this is also via direct train. You can check out the current train timetable and purchase the tickets here. Traveling by car, you’ll need to follow route #A10/E80 from Genoa and the #A7 from Milan.
- Distance from Genoa – 48 km (30 miles)
- Distance from Milan – 170 km (105.5 miles)
5. Ventimiglia
At just 7.4 kilometers (4.3 miles) from the French border, Ventimiglia is known as the gateway to the French Riviera resorts. (so perfect if you want a jaunt into France!). Ventimiglia is an authentic colorful tiny town with charming landscapes and surprisingly well-preserved architecture.
Why visit Ventimiglia?
We recommend paying attention to the old part of Ventimiglia called “Alta”. It’s here that you’ll find the archaeological complex of Antiquarium, the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, several medieval churches, and the fortress. Don’t miss the Hanbury Botanical Park – it contains about 6, 000 species and looks like a Mediterranean paradise.
If you have more time, then head out from Ventimiglia – explore Balzi Rossi or Red Stones – an important archeological site in the area. It contains some ancient caves and a secluded beach, which is nearby. The beaches here are pebbly but with a sloping shoreline.
How to get to Ventimiglia
It’s easy to get here by train from Genoa in just 2 hours. (check times and book a train ticket here)
Don’t forget that Ventimiglia is a gateway to the French Riviera resorts of Nice and Cannes, so if you have enough time, you can also visit them as well. The trains between Ventimiglia and the French towns run regularly. You can reach Nice within 1 hour or Cannes within 1.5 hours.
- Distance from Genoa – 162 km (100.5 miles)
- Distance from Milan – 285 km (177 miles)
6. Imperia
Imperia is a charming Ligurian resort, which has both an extensive beach area and plenty of activities to keep you occupied. Visit the old center of Imperia where numerous historical monuments have been preserved. One of the most well-known is the Cathedral of St. Mauritius – considered to be the largest Catholic Cathedral in Liguria. The Cathedral of San Giovanni is another religious site that is worth visiting.
Why visit Imperia?
Along with the old town, head to the Villa Grock and its associated gardens. It’s an eccentric building with glorious green gardens. Liguria is famous for the production of Olive Oil (my guide to food to eat in Genoa is here) and it’s here in Imperia that you’ll find an Olive Oil Museum. You can learn about Olive Oil as well as see modern and ancient ways of producing this amazing foodstuff. A glorious sea promenade along the seafront in Imperia provides magnificent views of the port.
How to get to Imperia
It is easy to get to Imperia either from Genoa or Milan. There is a direct train connection from both cities. A trip from Genoa takes on average about 1 hour 45 minutes; a trip from Milan usually takes slightly more than 3 hours. You can check out the current train timetable and purchase the tickets here. It’s also an easy drive to Imperia. The road # A10/E80 leads from Genoa; the roads # A7 and A10/E80 lead from Milan.
- Distance from Genoa – 116 km (72 miles)
- Distance from Milan – 240 km (149 miles)
7. Albenga
Albenga is a lovely relaxed destination – the town has numerous historical architectural monuments. You will be charmed by the labyrinth of narrow streets, tiny squares, and majestic Gothic towers.
Why visit Albenga?
The historical center of Albenga is full of attractions. For instance, you can start by visiting the Cathedral of St. Michael. It has Romanesque features, you should take a look at the facades, and the exquisite Baroque features inside. This mix of styles makes the Cathedral unique. The old center of Albenga is mostly built in Gothic style, but there are also the ruins of a Roman amphitheater here.
While there are beaches here, most are owned by local hotels, so you’ll either need to stay at one of these hotels or pay a daily rate to access them. Beaches in Albenga are sandy with a gentle sloping entrance to the sea.
How to get to Albenga
There are mainline train connections between the larger cities like Milan or Genoa and Albenga. The trains run all day long. A trip from Genoa takes approximately 2 hours while a trip from Milan takes about 3 hours. Check the timetable and buy tickets here. By car, you can travel along the motorway # A10/E80 from Genoa and # A7 and A10/E80 from Milan.
- Distance from Genoa – 92 km (57 miles)
- Distance from Milan – 215 km (133.5 miles)
8. Finale Ligure
Visitors to Finale Ligure usually come for the beach, and there are extensive beaches here, but Finale Ligure has a variety of worthy historical monuments to visit too. The Castelfranco Castle is 14th century and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is 17th century. There are also magnificent lush palazzos and the baroque basilica of Sant’Biagio will enchant you.
Why visit Finale Ligure?
The old town of Finale Ligure is tiny but picturesque and it is a delight to explore the atmosphere of the town, walking along narrow streets and long canals. Take a trip from here to the inspiring Capra Zoppa mountains – local hiking trails in the foothills and unusual caves with rock paintings make for interesting excursions. And while most of the beaches here are private, the local beaches are both spacious and sandy.
How to get to Finale Ligure
You can use the train to get to Finale Ligure from Genoa or Milan. The timetable is here. It is just 45 minutes from Genoa and 2.5 hours from Milan. Drivers should head along the road # A10/E80 from Genoa or # A7 from Milan.
- Distance from Genoa – 76 km (47 miles)
- Distance from Milan – 200 km (124 miles)
9. Porto Venere
Porto Venere is sometimes called the sixth village of Cinque Terre, as it has similar architectural features with bright and colorful buildings, narrow streets, and tiny squares all caught up between the mountains and the sea. If you want to enjoy all these features but with fewer crowds then come to Porto Venere.
Why visit Porto Venere?
Besides colorful houses located on the coast, Porto Venere has many preserved historical monuments, starting with the Castle in the town. It was built in the 13th century and has kept its original facade. The Doria Castle is located on a hill, which provides an excellent panorama of the town and the Ligurian Sea. Check out also the Church of San Pietro. The church was built in the 12th century and it is also located on a cape, so incredible views are guaranteed.
The preserved towers, gates, and churches of Porto Venere contributed to the town being inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987. A visit to Porto Venere is often combined with a trip to the Cinque Terre National Park as they have similar architectural features and are located quite close to each other.
How to get to Porto Venere
There is no direct train connection to Porto Venere (there’s no train station here) First, you need to head to one of the Cinque Terre towns or neighboring La Spezia town, from which you can take a regional bus directly to Porto Venere. Buses run regularly. As an option, you can rent a car in Genoa or Milan and then travel along the Ligurian coast. The road # A12/E80 leads to Porto Venere from Genoa, it takes about 2 hours. The roads # A1 and A15/E33 lead from Milan and the trip takes approximately 3 hours.
- Distance from Genoa – 126 km (78 miles)
- Distance from Milan – 240 km (149 miles)
10. La Spezia
La Spezia is quite a large city in the Liguria region but is often underrated by visitors. It’s known for its seaport and ferry port, giving access to various Italian islands.
Why visit La Spezia?
La Spezia has preserved some truly unique architectural and historical sites. The castle of San Giorgio, which was built in the 12th century, has retained not only the original architectural features but also has glorious views. The castle is also the Museum of Archeology of La Spezia.
Within the city, there are many lovely churches – the main ones of interest are the Church of Santa Maria Assunta and the Church of San Augustino. Take a look also at the villas Marmori and Crozza whose elegant style really is rather charming. Don’t miss taking a walk along the local sea promenade, where you’ll see the Gulf of La Spezia, usually teeming with yachts and colorful fishing boats.
How to get to La Spezia
One of the best ways to get to La Spezia is to take a direct train from Genoa. The travel time varies from 50 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes depending on the type of train. If you travel from Milan, you also can take direct trains. The travel time from Milan usually takes about 3 hours. You can check out the current train timetable and purchase the tickets at Omio. By car, you need to follow the route #A12/E80 from Genoa and # A1 from Milan.
- Distance from Genoa – 113 km (70 miles)
- Distance from Milan – 225 km (140 miles)
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Final Words on Liguria’s Hidden Gems
While the food and major cities of Liguria are well known it doesn’t take much to get off the beaten track here in this glorious region of Italy. So take a little time, perhaps rent a car, or use the fabulous train network here, to discover more of Liguria outside of Genoa and Cinque Terre – these Ligurian hidden gems are worth a visit and will definitely enchant you!
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