Liguria’s Coast and Landscapes

• The Riviera di Ponente is the western coastal stretch of Liguria; the Riviera di Levante lies east of Genoa.
• Riviera dei Fiori and Riviera delle Palme are tourist areas associated with different towns and localities.
• Along the Levante, the Golfo Paradiso, Tigullio, Cinque Terre and Golfo dei Poeti follow one another.
• Beyond the sea, hillsides and valleys rise inland; map distance is not a reliable guide to travel time or route difficulty.
• Choose your base according to the terrain, transport and your plans for the day, rather than relying on a general Riviera name.

The Riviera di Ponente runs from the area around Genoa towards the French border. In the west lies the Riviera dei Fiori, associated with places such as Sanremo and Bordighera, the Imperia area and the villages beyond. The name refers to a tourist region, not an administrative provincial boundary. A stay in the area might therefore include a seaside promenade, a historic old town, a garden or a hillside village.

The coastal towns each have their own pace. Sanremo is a larger city with links to music and sport; Cervo is a historic village perched above the sea; Badalucco is more closely associated with the inland area and olive growing. The regional guide to the Riviera dei Fiori illustrates this variety through individual towns. When choosing accommodation there, consider whether evening activities by the sea or a quieter base in a valley matters more to you.

If you are planning an excursion inland, it is worth checking the route and return journey in advance. Short distances can take longer because of elevation changes, winding roads and town-centre traffic. If you want to include wine, olive oil or a historic town centre, it is better to plan around one main destination than to make several spontaneous detours. The province of Imperia connects the coast with the inland area, but each place to stay offers different access to these destinations.

East of the Riviera dei Fiori area lies the Riviera delle Palme, a tourist designation associated with coastal towns in the province of Savona. It is not an interchangeable name for the entire western coast. The regional guide includes Toirano, Varigotti, Savona, Albenga and Albisola, among others. The options range from beaches and colourful townscapes to caves, urban history, ceramics and historic lanes.

These places suit different kinds of day out. In Savona, you can combine the city with the Priamar fortress; Albenga has a historic town centre, while Toirano makes a good standalone excursion for its caves and village. Coastal towns such as Varigotti have a different appeal. The best base depends on whether you want to spend a lot of time on foot, stay by the sea or reach a destination inland. The Riviera delle Palme guide is a starting point, not a guarantee of opening hours or seasonal activities.

The Riviera di Levante begins east of Genoa. On the way to La Spezia, you pass the Golfo Paradiso and Tigullio, among other areas, before the landscape changes again around the Cinque Terre and the Golfo dei Poeti. Camogli, Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure, Chiavari and Sestri Levante each offer a different base for a trip. Some visitors look for a harbour and old town; others prioritise a train connection or a convenient starting point for excursions.

These names can help you sketch out a route, but they are no substitute for checking the specific location. Along the Levante, steep hillsides can reach close to the coast; routes between the station, accommodation and waterfront are not always flat. So check the exact address and look at contour lines or street views if short walks are important. Staying near a station can make a day trip easier, while a hillside location may offer better views but also mean more steps.

Consider the Cinque Terre and the area around Portovenere and La Spezia as distinct, though neighbouring, parts of a trip. The villages, viewpoints and trails of the Cinque Terre can easily fill a day with plenty to see. Portovenere and Palmaria Island offer a different focus on the Golfo dei Poeti. Train and boat connections, trail access and visitor regulations can change, so check the latest information for the day you plan to visit.

La Spezia can be a practical base if you want to combine museums, the railway station and excursions around the gulf. If you would rather spend as much time as possible in a coastal town, you might prefer accommodation in one of the villages or a nearby town. Luggage, season, budget and your preference for peace and quiet or variety all matter. Avoid a day plan that links several stretches of coast based on straight-line distances alone.

Beyond the coast, the terrain rises and the character of the trip changes. Olive groves, terraced vineyards, forests and small valleys offer a different experience from the seafront promenades. Elevation changes, narrow paths or uneven surfaces can make a hike more challenging than a short stretch on the map suggests. Choose a route and footwear that suit your fitness level, and check access, weather and trail conditions.

The inland area is not just an alternative when the beach is crowded. It brings history, agriculture and local food into the trip: a village square, a small trattoria or a view of the terraces can become the focus of the day. A car and flexible timing can be useful for some excursions; elsewhere, you may be able to combine train and bus. Check the specific return journey rather than assuming services run frequently.

If you want to combine the Riviera dei Fiori, olive-growing towns and western villages, compare accommodation in the province of Imperia. For coastal towns on the Riviera delle Palme, the guide to the province of Savona is a good starting point. Along the Levante, compare options in Genoa and its surroundings with those in La Spezia.

Choose according to the focus of your stay: city culture, coastal strolls, food, hiking or a mix of these. Consider whether you want to change locations every day or use one fixed base. That way, the landscape becomes more than a list of names on a map: it becomes a trip with realistic travel times and room for the places that genuinely interest you.

Photo: www.enit.it