Daytrip's Italian Riviera guide
Visit Italy for the Riviera's cliffside villages β loved for its pastel harbors, hairpin coastal roads, hidden coves, and a pace of life set by fishing boats rather than traffic.
Stretching along Liguria's coastline from the French border to Tuscany, the region takes its name from the Italian word for shore, and Genoa has served as its maritime capital for centuries, once ruling one of the great trading republics of the Mediterranean. Further east, the five villages of the Cinque Terre cling to near-vertical terraces first carved by hand over a thousand years ago, now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site and national park.
Between them sit Portofino's postcard harbor, Santa Margherita Ligure's palm-lined promenade, and La Spezia's naval port opening onto the Gulf of Poets, so named for the writers it once drew, including Byron and Shelley.
Main airports:
- Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA)
- Pisa International Airport (PSA)
- Milan Malpensa Aiport (MXP)
About the author
Anica Mancinone is an Australian writer with Italian roots based in Europe. She first visited Cinque Terre in 2024 on a whirlwind trip that sheβll never forget.
Towns along the coast
The Italian Riviera strings pastel villages along cliffs and coves from Genoa to La Spezia. Hike coastal trails between the Cinque Terre villages, sail past Portofino's harbor, wander Santa Margherita's piazzas, and taste pesto where it was first invented centuries ago.
The Italian Riviera strings pastel villages along cliffs and coves from Genoa to La Spezia. Hike coastal trails between the Cinque Terre villages, sail past Portofino's harbor, wander Santa Margherita's piazzas, and taste pesto where it was first invented centuries ago.
When to go
Spring
Best overall for hiking trails and mild weather. Skip crowds by visiting in April. Go to Cinque Terre for wildflowers along the coastal paths.
Summer
Best for the beach at Monterosso al Mare. Skip crowds by basing in Genoa instead. Go to Portofino for peak sailing season.
Autumn
Best overall for quiet trails and golden light. Skip crowds after September ends. Go to Cinque Terre for the sciacchetrΓ wine harvest.
Winter
Best for Genoa's museums without the queues. Skip crowds along the whole coast now. Go to Genoa for Christmas markets in December.
Best things to do
The Riviera rewards travelers who get outside the resort towns. Hike cliffside trails, eat where pesto was born, and explore harbors that shaped centuries of maritime trade. Here's how to spend your time well across the coast.
The Riviera rewards travelers who get outside the resort towns. Hike cliffside trails, eat where pesto was born, and explore harbors that shaped centuries of maritime trade. Here's how to spend your time well across the coast.
Hike the coastal trails
The Italian coast isnβt just for hitting the beach. Hike these coastal trails for amazing views of the sea, forests, and cliffsides the Italian Riviera has to offer.
- Sentiero Azzurro β hike between Cinque Terre's five villages.
- Monterosso to Vernazza β walk the trail's most scenic stretch.
- Portofino promontory β trek through pine forest to the lighthouse.
- Santa Margherita to Portofino β walk the coastal path along cliffs.
- Via dell'Amore β stroll the short path above Riomaggiore.
Savor Ligurian cuisine
Whatβs a trip to Italy without a full plate? Try the rich, bold regional specialties Liguria has to offer, such as trofie al pesto and focaccia di Recco.
- Pesto alla Genovese β try it where it was invented, in Genoa.
- Focaccia di Recco β eat this thin, cheese-filled bread nearby.
- Anchovies β sample Monterosso's famous salted local catch.
- Trofie al pesto β order this twisted pasta at a Genoa trattoria.
- Farinata β snack on this chickpea flatbread at a local stall.
Explore maritime history
The shores of the Italian Riviera have seen more than their fair share of history as regional powers fought for control of the coast. Visit the merchantβs ports, lighthouses, and fortresses that shaped Liguria over the centuries.
- Genoa's Old Port β walk the docks once ruled by medieval merchants.
- Galata Maritime Museum β learn Genoa's seafaring history.
- Naval Museum β see model ships and relics in La Spezia.
- Lanterna lighthouse β view Genoa's historic harbor landmark.
- Portovenere's castle β tour this fortress guarding the gulf.
Sail and sightsee by boat
Travel by boat, the same way merchants, soldiers, and fishermen have gotten around these parts for centuries. Rent a private boat for the day, or take a sunset cruise. There are plenty of options at each harbor.
- Portofino harbor β board a boat toward the open gulf.
- Cinque Terre coastline β view all five villages from the sea.
- Golfo dei Poeti β cruise La Spezia's scenic gulf by boat.
- Santa Margherita marina β rent a boat for a private day out.
- San Fruttuoso Abbey β arrive by sea to this hidden cove.
Relax on the beaches
Whatβs a trip to the Italian Riviera without experiencing its biggest claim to fame- the beaches? Soak in the sun, snorkel in the shallow waters, and peek around rocky coves that dot the coast.
- Monterosso al Mare β relax on the region's widest sandy beach.
- Paraggi Bay β swim in Portofino's turquoise, sheltered cove.
- Santa Margherita's lido β rent a lounger by the promenade.
- Riomaggiore's coves β find a quiet swim spot below the cliffs.
- Baia delle Favole β sunbathe near Sestri Levante's twin bays.
Wander historic old towns
The towns along the Ligurian coast have shaped Italy and the broader European cultural landscape for centuries. Wander the cobbled paths, visit towering castles, and let your imagination take you to another world.
- Genoa's caruggi β get lost in Europe's largest medieval quarter.
- Portofino's piazzetta β browse boutiques around the harbor.
- Vernazza's old town β climb toward the clifftop castle ruins.
- Santa Margherita's seafront β stroll palm-lined promenades.
- La Spezia's market streets β shop where locals buy produce.
What to eat, drink, and order
Every region has a lot to offer, and Liguria pairs a seafood-driven, pesto-heavy kitchen with crisp local wines, hearty peasant soups, and centuries-old traditions carried down through generations of coastal cooking.
Every region has a lot to offer, and Liguria pairs a seafood-driven, pesto-heavy kitchen with crisp local wines, hearty peasant soups, and centuries-old traditions carried down through generations of coastal cooking.
Pansotti al Preboggion in Genoa
Ravioli filled with wild foraged greens, served in a rich Ligurian walnut sauce.
SciacchetrΓ in Cinque Terre
A sweet raisin wine made from grapes grown on the villages' steep, terraced vineyards.
Mesciua in La Spezia
A hearty soup of beans, chickpeas, and wheat, born from the port's frugal dockworker kitchens.
Vermentino in Portofino
A crisp, mineral white wine grown along the coast, made to pair with the day's fresh catch.
Torta Pasqualina in Santa Margherita
A savory pie layered with artichokes, eggs, and cheese, eaten around Easter.
Ciuppin in Monterosso al Mare
A rustic fish soup blended smooth, born from whatever fishermen couldn't sell that day.
Getting around
Roads along this coast are narrow, winding, and often clogged in summer, while Cinque Terre's villages sit largely closed to cars altogether. Public transport connects the main towns but runs on tight schedules and gets crowded fast in peak season. A private transfer handles the navigation for you, moves at your own pace, and reaches Portofino, Cinque Terre, or hillside vineyards without the wait for a bus or train seat.
Our recommended routes along the Italian Riviera
Genoa to La Spezia
1h 24min β’ 101km (62.8mi)
From β¬300
Volterra to Monterosso al Mare
2h 31min β’ 182km (113.1mi)
From β¬499
Rome to Santa Margherita Ligure
5h 4min β’ 481km (298.9mi)
From β¬1004
Modena to Genoa
2h 54min β’ 260km (161.6mi)
From β¬527
Como City to La Spezia
3h 3min β’ 275km (170.9mi)
From β¬555
Lucca to Portofino
1h 44min β’ 141km (87.6mi)
From β¬384
Ferrara to Cinque Terre
3h 34min β’ 284km (176.5mi)
From β¬771
Genoa to Cinque Terre
1h 48min β’ 103km (64.0mi)
From β¬296
Genoa to Monterosso al Mare
1h 25min β’ 89km (55.3mi)
From β¬294
Florence Airport to Monterosso al Mare
2h 8min β’ 177km (110.0mi)
From β¬474
Malpensa Airport to Santa Margherita Ligure
2h 28min β’ 208km (129.2mi)
From β¬423
La Spezia to Portofino
1h 19min β’ 88km (54.7mi)
From β¬367
Day trips from the Riviera's main cities
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