There are so many incredible things to do in Liguria: Italy’s region widely known as the Italian Riviera. Made famous by romantic seaside towns such as Cinque Terre and Portofino, you won’t want to miss extending a portion of your trip here to bask in the sun and the sea. Below I’ve compiled a list of some of my personal favorite and best things to do in Liguria, Italy.

Visit Portofino

Portofino and Cinque Terre probably tie for being the two most-visited places in Liguria, and for good reason! While Cinque Terre has more to see given it is divided amongst five villages (check out its dedicated section further down on this post), people tend to be surprised at how small Portofino is!

It still drips with that old-school Italian charm, but prepare yourself for the surplus of tourists, especially if you’re visiting during the peak season. While peak season used to mean June-August, the shoulder seasons are also beginning to become quite crowded.

The glamorous Portofino name comes with a glamorous price tag, meaning many people opt to just take the boats or buses into the town for the day. Therefore, the morning and late afternoon/evening are magical and peaceful times to walk around Portofino.

Then Visit Santa Margherita Ligure

If I had to choose, I personally prefer visiting Santa Margherita to Portofino (I know, I know – I apologize to any of the influencers who swoon over Portofino). As I mentioned above, Portofino just gets too packed for my liking. Santa Margherita is larger so even if there are just as many people, it doesn’t feel as claustrophobic. In fact, if you really want to blend in with the Italians, most are spending their weekend meandering Santa Margherita, not Portofino.

To maximize your time and experience the best of both worlds, I suggest starting in Santa Margherita Ligure and walking to Portofino! There is a beautiful, paved path that brings you along the seaside and straight into the center of Portofino. It’s much preferred instead of being crammed onto the overpacked (and sweaty!) buses!

Read how you can do it and see some teasers of the views here: Walk from Santa Margherita to Portofino Guide.

Do a Walking Tour of Genova

I absolutely love walking tours when I explore new cities. It helps me get the lay of the land and familiarize myself. I’ll admit that unfortunately you won’t find many walking tours along Liguria’s coastline unless you hire a private guide given how tiny the towns are. However, Genova, Liguria’s large port city, has several options of informative and fun tours.

My favorite is Spyro’s Free Walking Tour. Not only is he an absolutely entertaining and engaging guide, he adapts the walking tour to the group’s preferences and doesn’t maintain a set end time. For instance, my group loved him, so I think we walked around for 3.5 hours with him.

At first impression, Genova can seem like a grimy port city, so a walking tour across the town will open your eyes to all of its hidden gems.

Eat Cheesy Focaccia

Not to be dramatic, but eating the focaccia in Liguria changed my life. It literally altered the chemistry in my brain and since I first tried it the serotonin boost never left. So, unless you are lactose-intolerant, sampling the focaccia con formaggio is one of the best things to do in Liguria.

Check out my post for the inside scoop related to the special way of making Ligurian focaccia here: Discovering Focaccia col Formaggio in Recco, Liguria.

Meander the towns of Cinque Terre

Did you know you can actually complete a day trip of Cinque Terre from Milan? I was skeptical, but when my brother was in town we had limited time.

If your schedule is more flexible, I’d try to allot at least 3 days in Cinque Terre. Staying in the towns can be expensive since overnight options are limited, so for anyone on a budget I suggest staying in La Spezia and commuting into the towns each day. It’s quick, easy, and will save you money (to spend on boat rides and spritzes!).

Each of the five towns has a unique feel, so I urge you to visit each of them, even if just for a few hours. Once in Cinque Terre you can take a pesto making class, hike town to town, enjoy a kayaking tour, or sign up for a sunset aperitivo. The opportunities are unless!

Eat the Specialty Pasta Dishes!

You can’t come to Italy and not eat as much pasta as possible. Did you know that pasta dishes actually vary significantly depending on which region you visit?

The two most famous types of Ligurian pasta you must eat in Liguria are pansotti and trofie. Pansotti are typically served with a walnut sauce (yum) and trofie often served with a pesto sauce (double yum). My advice? Eat and try everything.

Rent a Boat

Did you know renting a boat in Italy is actually fairly simple and not very expensive? If you drive the boat yourself and don’t pay for a captain, it’s quite cost/effective. Obviously you won’t be lounging on a luxury yacht, but if your goal is to explore some of the coastline and jump into the sea, it’s a great option.

For instance, last summer my friends rented a small boat for 6 people that cost us €200 for 4 hours. Do some digging as many websites may try and rip off tourists and oversell, but the prices should be somewhat reasonable. You’ll find better deals in larger ports such as Rapallo or La Spezia.

Hike All Over!

One of the best things to do in Liguria is HIKING. There are hikes for any and all levels. In order to choose the best hike for the city you’ll be in or near, I recommend checking out Komoot, which gives a fantastic breakdown of the trail, the difficulty, the average time, etc. Plan wisely so you either complete the hike in a town connected by train to loop back to the start or you specifically choose a trail with a loop.

Rent a Beach Bed at a Lido

While you can find free, public beaches in Liguria just know that you may be a bit uncomfy. Most beaches (until you start getting more north on the coastline) are made up of pebbles and rocks. This is why I recommend renting a bed/umbrella from a lido, or beach club.

The rentals can range from €15 for a bed/umbrella (summer 2024 pricing in Sori, Liguria) to €50+ depending on the city. However, it is reserved as your space the entire day, you get access to a bathroom, showers, and changing rooms, and some even serve food and beverages or have an on-site restaurant.

Keep in mind there is a lot of controversy regarding the lidos in Italy. Most Italians view them as price-gauging and believe they’ve monopolized the space that could be better suited for free beaches.

Watch Fireworks on the Beach

During the summer there are plenty of fireworks planned along the Ligurian coastline. There are a couple famous firework shows that take place in Rapallo and Recco. If you want to have a “good spot” I suggest booking a place at the restaurants near the seaside – you’ll need to reserve in advance.

You can also see a pretty spectacular fireworks show in Sori and other smaller towns for Ferragosto celebrations (August 14).

Eat Seafood!

Ok, I promise this is the final section dedicated to food and eating. However, it’s hard not to focus on some of the yummy dishes you can try in Liguria. Given it’s perfect location with a large coastline, there is no shortage of delicious seafood in Liguria.

Fried fish, grilled fish, mussels, octopus, and more are all delicious items you’ll find in restaurants across Liguria. Again, I suggest trying them all.

As you can see, there are endless opportunities of things to do in Liguria. Let me know which activity is your favorite!