Riviera di Levante: Genoa to La Spezia

• The Levante begins east of Genoa and follows the Ligurian coast towards the Province of La Spezia.
• The Golfo Paradiso connects coastal towns such as Bogliasco, Sori, Recco and Camogli with nearby valleys.
• The Tigullio includes Camogli, Chiavari and Sestri Levante, among other towns; each has its own harbour and town centre.
• Farther east, the Cinque Terre and the coast around La Spezia shape the landscape.
• Genoese cuisine, Recco’s focaccia col formaggio and the history of its towns add specific cultural and culinary destinations to days spent swimming or exploring nature.

Genoa is a good choice if you want to focus on historic neighbourhoods, palazzi, museums and Ligurian cuisine. East of the city, the coast leads into the Golfo Paradiso, where harbour towns and small communities lie between the sea and the hills of the hinterland. Camogli offers a compact introduction to this maritime townscape. In Genoa, pesto made with Basilico Genovese DOP is one of the region’s culinary specialities. In Recco, focaccia col formaggio—a cheese-filled focaccia with protected designation of origin—is another reason to plan a food-focused excursion.

Towards the Portofino peninsula and farther east, the Tigullio begins, with towns that are easy to choose between based on the kind of day you have in mind. Chiavari combines a town centre defined by arcades with a history of local art and craftsmanship. In Sestri Levante, the old town and peninsula sit between two bays with distinct shapes. These local characteristics offer more useful guidance than the generalised idea of a coastline that is the same all the way along.

In the east, the Cinque Terre and the coastal towns of the Province of La Spezia are important points of reference for your trip. Here, steep slopes and towns clustered close to the sea create a different landscape from Genoa’s urban setting. The city of La Spezia adds museums, a harbour and urban culture to the coastal region. The guide to the Province of La Spezia considers the coast, culture and hinterland together.

The Levante is not a single holiday destination, but a succession of very different areas. Genoa works well as a dedicated city break; the towns of the Golfo Paradiso combine harbour views with short distances between the coast and the hillsides. The Tigullio adds compact town centres and varied bays. Farther east, the Cinque Terre define a steep, terraced landscape, while La Spezia adds urban amenities and museums. These differences are a good reason not to try to travel the entire length of the Levante every day.

For a stay of several days, you can either choose one city as a fixed base and visit individual coastal towns, or split your stay between two places if you want to explore the east and west equally. Before choosing accommodation, decide which places you actually want to see and whether you are more interested in old towns, harbours, hiking landscapes or regional cuisine. This helps you avoid unnecessary moves and plan a trip that suits your pace.

For travellers interested in culture, a selection of Genoa, Chiavari and La Spezia offers a range of experiences: palazzi and an old town, arcades and local history, and museums and a harbour. Plan hikes in the Cinque Terre as a separate excursion, checking trail access in advance.

If city history, museums and food are your priorities, compare the accommodation in the Province of Genoa by how close it is to your planned city and coastal itinerary. If you are staying farther east, the guide to accommodation in the Province of La Spezia can help. Staying near the sea is not automatically the best base for every destination: choose your location according to the stretches of coast and towns you want to visit.

Photo: www.terragalleria.com