The Ligurian coast is located in northern Italy on the shores of the sea of the same name. The nature of Liguria, its climate and numerous beaches have contributed to the development of a large number of coastal resorts. The western part of the Ligurian coast is the Riviera di Ponente, the eastern part is the Riviera di Livante.
There are prestigious and expensive resorts here, some of the best in Italy. And there are lesser-known, quiet, but very hospitable places, caressed by the sun and warm sea. The resorts of Liguria have long been a popular holiday destination among tourists from all over the world. And the transport accessibility of most of them allows you to combine a vacation by the sea with a visit to the historic cities of Italy.
Popular beach resorts in Liguria
Santa Margherita Ligure
The prestigious resort is located in the bay of Golfo di Tigullio. It attracts tourists with its picturesque nature, true Italian flavor and magnificent Mediterranean climate. From here it is convenient to go on an excursion to the Cinque Terre National Park or go to the San Frutuoso Bay to see the statue of Christ on the seabed with your own eyes. Santa Margherita Ligure is a great place for water skiing and scuba diving.
Pietra Ligure
On the one hand, the resort is bounded by the sea, and on the other - by a limestone rock, after which it got its name (“pietra” - “stone” in Italian). The entire tourist infrastructure is located along the city embankment: modern hotels, beaches, restaurants. If you go for a walk through the city blocks, you can see courtyards drowning in flowers, laundry drying on the street and neat houses connected to each other by stone arches.
Portofino
The rocky coastline, crystal waters and surprisingly calm atmosphere of Portofino attract celebrities and wealthy people to the resort. Among them are George Clooney, Sharon Stone, Demi Moore, as well as many famous politicians and financiers. The city is located near Genoa in a national park. Mostly Portofino consists of private villas. By the way, not everyone succeeds in building a house here - the authorities are very reluctant to issue permits even to influential applicants.
Varigotti
In the western part of Liguria, there is a small village of Varigotti, known since the time of the Byzantine Empire. There is a very clear sea, well-equipped beaches and incredibly beautiful architecture - the colorful houses of local residents face right on the coast. On weekends, there are a lot of people at the resort, mostly Italian families, who come to sunbathe on the weekend.
Sestri Levante
The resort is located on a peninsula surrounded on two sides by bays, which have very melodic names: the Bay of Silence and the Bay of Fairy Tales. It is considered one of the most picturesque in this part of the coast. Sestri Levante is suitable for a relaxing holiday amid the unhurried provincial life, which is an undeniable advantage for families with children. For entertainment and shopping, it is better to travel to neighboring, larger cities.
Portovenere
Asylum of Venus - this is how the name of this small resort in the province of La Spezia can be translated. Of the sights worth paying attention to the castle of the Genoese family Doria, the Romanesque church of St. Lawrence and the Gothic Church of St. Peter. Nearby is the Cinque Terre National Park, and by sea you can reach the picturesque islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto.
Varazze
A resort in the province of Savonna, where rather long beaches alternate with rocky coastlines, forming a landscape unusual for this part of Liguria. The beauty of Varazze has always attracted artists and poets who sought inspiration here. Today the city boasts a comfortable tourist infrastructure and hotels that provide good service.
Baudriguera
Once, Claude Monet wrote that he was fascinated by Baudriguera. Most travelers would agree with him today. The town is located near the French border in the province of Imperia. Until 1999, the International Salon of Humor was held here. The historic center of Baudrighera seems to look the same as it did centuries ago: colorful houses, family trattorias, slightly ragged walls.
Alassio
Located in the province of Savonna, Alassio attracts tourists with long sandy beaches and a convenient location - you can get here from almost any part of Italy by train. At the same time, the road will not take long. Alassio has many shops, restaurants, nightclubs, bars, sports fields, and boat rentals.
Rapallo
The resort is quite large compared to the same Portofino or Portovenere. It is located on the shores of the bay of the same name near Genoa. Almost all of Rapallo's beaches are paid, there are only small swimming areas with free access. Holidays at the resort are suitable for both youth companies due to the large number of nightclubs and entertainment, and for couples who prefer comfortable infrastructure and peace.
Monterosso al Mare
The city is located within the territory of the Cinque Terre National Park, here is the largest sand beach in the vicinity. Monterosso al Mare is divided into an old and a modern part, the tower of Aurora serves as a border. The most convenient way to get to the resort is by train from Genoa, the journey takes no more than 2 hours. In addition to swimming and sunbathing, tourists explore hiking trails among the green hills.
Bogliasco
The resort attracts tourists (mostly Italian) with a large number of free beaches, low prices for hotels, restaurants and, in general, a less pretentious atmosphere. Bogliasco is located in the province of Genoa and has a population of no more than 5 thousand people. A foreign traveler is not a frequent visitor to these places, so the residents show a special cordiality and excessive curiosity towards strangers.
Camogli
The village is located on the shores of the Gulf of Paradiso. Despite the fact that it has long been turned into a resort, it still retains the unique atmosphere of a small fishing town and retains the charm of the Italian province. There are few beaches in Camogli, but the ones that exist satisfy all modern needs. The main attraction of the place is the castle of Castello della Dragonara, built in the X century.
Diano Marina
Since the 13th century, the town has been famous for producing the best olive oil on the coast. Today it is better known as a seaside resort with an excellent climate, clear sea and picturesque surroundings that you can wander around for hours. Some beaches are even marked with the Blue Flag, which speaks for itself. Diano Marina is just 15 km from Alassio, and you can reach Genoa in an hour.
Arenzano
An ideal place for a relaxing break in a peaceful setting. Diving and water activities are very popular here. You can also go kayaking or go fishing. Active tourists can rent a bike and drive around the coniferous groves surrounding Arenzano, enjoying the magnificent views along the way. Connoisseurs of architecture will find many attractions on the streets of the city.
Spotorno
Despite its modest size, Spotorno will provide a place for shoppers and gourmets alike - the number of restaurants and shops even seems excessive. The resort is located between Finale and Savona. You can come here not only to sunbathe on local beaches, walking along the ancient streets and visiting attractions will bring no less pleasure to any tourist.
Ceriale
Not far from Ceriale, there is Le Caravelle, the only water park on the Ligurian coast, where tourists from all the surrounding resorts come. The rest of the town is like a dozen of its fellows, offering guests a quiet and relaxing holiday in the picturesque Italian province. Small, well-kept beaches, family hotels, dinners in trattorias and walks in the surrounding area.
Arma di Taggia
The resorts of San Remo and Armu de Taju are separated by only 5 km of coastline. You can easily get from one to the other on foot, provided you love long walks. The town is divided into two parts - the one closer to the sea is a full-fledged tourist area, the other is a historical quarter with interesting monuments, narrow medieval streets and castle ruins.
Zeros
The resort combines the authentic features of a medieval town with the characteristics of a modern tourist center. People come here to sunbathe on the beaches marked with the Blue Flag, walk along the embankment decorated with palm trees, look at the ancient towers - the remains of city fortifications, as well as spend warm summer evenings on the terraces with a glass of excellent Italian wine.
San Remo
The name of the resort is known to every tourist thanks to the legendary music festival that takes place here every year at the end of winter. San Remo is one of the most luxurious resorts on the Ligurian coast. It is buried in parks and flower alleys, boutiques, restaurants and casinos hospitably open the doors to tourists. But despite all the advantages, local beaches are much inferior in quality to other resorts.
