The Italian Riviera
One of the most beautiful and charming seaside strips of villages is along the Italian Riviera. We’ve recently managed to see several of these and have a few pointers that may help you better navigate your adventure.
The Italian Riviera spans along the Ligurian Sea from the Ventimiglia area, one of the westernmost shores, up to Genoa and then down to La Spezia. Our travels are often food and drink-centric while seeking sights to photograph. This region checks all of the boxes! While the beaches from Genoa to La Spezia are known for more of a Tuscan-influenced food culture, all are well known for their Pesto, Focaccia, Paniccia, and many sea-related dishes.
Related Posts
The Island of Capri ⋆ Staying at Capri Tiberio Palace ⋆ Positano and The Amalfi Coast ⋆ Staying at Casa Buonocore in Positano ⋆ A Visit to Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius, and Naples ⋆ The Naples Pizza Battle ⋆ The Path of the Gods ⋆ Gastronomic Trekking on the Amalfi Coast ⋆ Exploring the Cinque Terre with a Local ⋆ Portofino ⋆ The Italian Riviera ⋆ Parma ⋆ Bologna
Rapallo
The city of Rapallo, in my opinion, is the perfect place to stay when visiting the eastern side of the Italian Riviera. To the south you have the Cinque Terre and La Spezia and you are just a ferry-ride away from Santa Margherita and, one of my personal favorites, Portofino.
Where To Stay
Hotel Riviera
A 3-Star Hotel nestled in the heart of the port, just steps from the water. The rates are low, the lodging is basic and the included breakfast was perfectly Italian! It’s a great place to stay for the low price and the staff was incredibly kind.
Spend your money on food, wine, and experience on this trip as you won’t be in your hotel except to sleep!
Where To Eat
La Trattoria
This is one of those places that you come to and feel warm and cozy like you’re with family. The restaurant is small and intimate, serving up excellent food. It was one of our absolute favorites while there! What’s not to love about dining beneath an old olive tree?
Belle Napoli
When in Italy, eat pizza. This is one of the hotspots for Rapallo and they serve up hot delicious pizza and fresh seafood!
What To Do
Rapallo Castle
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montallegro
Catch a Ferry to Santa Margherita and Portofino
Get a train ticket and go explore the Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre
Related Post: Exploring the Cinque Terre with a Local
Please don’t steer away from the Cinque Terre based on it’s higher levels of tourism. These five small villages embody incredible character and are a jewel to this region. In the above linked post, we reviewed our visit with a local, Emilio. Click for a full breakout of our experience! It was such a great day and we made wonderful memories.
If you want to avoid the crowded season, go in Spring and early Autumn. We are planning to return next year to hike village to village at a slower pace so we can dig deeper into each location.
The Villages from Rapallo towards La Spezia
Monterosso al Mare
Vernazza
Corniglia
Manarola
Riomaggiore
Santa Margherita Ligure
With a quick 15-minute ferry from Rapallo, you’ll find yourself in the gorgeous seaside village of Santa Margherita. If you want, you can spend a relaxing day there exploring or even just a couple hours and then rejoin the ferry and see Portofino as well!
Where To Eat & Drink
Gelateria Gepi Mare
It’s popular for a reason! The gelato at Gepi Mare is perfection.
Karalis
Ligurian fare stepped up a bit! Feeling a bit fancier than the usual restaurant, Karalis is a great option. The food is fresh, beautiful, and delicious.
Angolo 48
Simply great food! You’ll find a good wine and beer selection at Angolo 48 and excellent traditional Ligurian fare. The staff here is wonderful and the restaurant itself has a classic cozy feel.
What To See & Do
Castello di Santa Margherita Ligure
Basilica of St. Margaret of Antiochia
Abbazie della Cervara
Portofino
Related Post: A Day in Portofino
This small clustered village of pastel buildings is located between Genoa and La Spezia on the Italian Riviera and it’s calling your name! Stunning views, delicious food, and loving people fill this charming location. As mentioned, we had many places to visit so stayed in Rapallo, but Portofino is absolutely worth staying for an night if you are on a multi-location trip. Portofino is just a short ferry ride away Rapallo with just a quick stop in Santa Margherita. A day trip is plenty to enjoy this amazing village!
Where To Eat & Drink
Al Faro di Portofino Lounge Bar
The walk to this point is sure to have proven to be more than worthwhile. The views are striking, and you’ll be sure to have excellent photos to document your adventure! Grab a table at Alfaro di Portofino Lounge bar and relax and unwind. Light snacks are available as well as an extensive menu of cocktails, wine, and of course - gelato! We spent around 3-hours just chatting, taking a few photos, and sampling the delicious fresh drinks! The walk back was downhill so quite easy, especially after knocking back a few cocktails!
Taverna del Marinaio
This region is famous for its pesto, and you'll quickly see why. It’s incredible. The menu is guaranteed to please, but I have to recommend the Pappardelle al pesto “corto,” a small pasta starter course before your main. It’s the best example of simplicity on a plate and being a perfect dish. For your main course, there are plenty of fish options and most likely fresh specials. The staff was incredible, and we enjoyed the selection!
What To See & Do
Shop in the City Center
Chiesa di San Giorgio
Castello Brown
Finale Ligure
On the west side of the Italian Riviera, you will find larger beaches for those craving fun in the sun. I’m accustomed to the beaches off the US’s Carolina coast so Finale Ligure seemed like a city worth visiting! The shores are more pebble than sand but it definitely did the trick! Pizzerias, Gelato Creamerys, and other restaurants line the beaches. As you would expect with Liguria there is no shortage of fish, shrimp, and delicious white wines.
Where To Stay
Hotel San Pietro Palace
A 4-Star Hotel overlooking the sea with a beautifully renovated interior. The building itself has been a hotel for over a century but you wouldn’t know by the looks of it. This is one of the best options for Finale Ligure and does so at decent pricing!
Where To Eat
Il Muma
Seeking a fantastically adorable restaurant nearby that overlooks the sea? It’s far superior to many other more expensive restaurant options nearby, in fact, we ate at a Michelin 1-Star location that was over twice the price. Il Muma was far better. They offer an excellent selection of wine and of the regional fare.
Osteria Grotesque
No taxi or drive is required for this little gem. Osteria Grotesque is mere steps from the center of town and has wonderful food at low prices. The Fritto Misto, fresh pasta pesto, pasta pomodoro, and daily specials are worth the consideration!
What To See & Do
Hit the Beach
Walk Through the Village!
Hike to Castel Gavone - Link
Eat Gelato. Plenty of Gelato!
I'm a US expat, blogging photographer and world-traveler who may or may not like tequila a bit too much.