HV1651263723
Italian Alps
Italian Alps
Winter in the Dolomites
An infinity pool, heated all year
The Hidden Voyage guide
Liguria and the Italian Riviera
Portofino, the Cinque Terre and the villas of the Riviera.
Best months
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Ideal stay
7 nights
Fly into
GOA · NCE · PSA · MXP
Getting around
Driver for transfers; trains and boats along the coast
Our villas here
9 private villas
Why go
Why choose Liguria and the Italian Riviera
Liguria curves along the sea between France and Tuscany, a narrow ribbon of coast where mountains drop steeply into the water. Pastel villages cling to the cliffs, terraced vineyards climb impossible slopes and every harbour seems made for a long lunch. From Portofino's glamour to the wild beauty of the Cinque Terre, a villa here puts the Riviera at your feet.
It suits couples, sailing enthusiasts, walkers and families who love the sea. Life here is simple and refined: swimming from rocks, aperitivo in the piazzetta and fresh pesto, with Genoa's palaces and the French Riviera within reach.
Ideal for: Couples, Sea and walking, Combining with the French Riviera · Easygoing, by boat, train and on foot
Our villas of the month · October 2026
Chosen this month by our team
HV1557152267
Colfosco
Italian Alps
Winter in the Dolomites
Twenty six skiers, one chalet
HV1651263719
Italian Alps
Italian Alps
Winter in the Dolomites
Your own spa, in Cortina
Getting there
Airports and arrivals
GOA
Genoa Cristoforo Colombo
about 20 minutes by car to central Genoa, about 50 minutes to Santa Margherita Ligure
The region's own airport, with European and domestic routes
NCE
Nice Côte d'Azur
about 1h by car to Sanremo, about 45 minutes to Bordighera
Large international airport, ideal for the Riviera di Ponente
PSA
Pisa Galileo Galilei
about 1h by car to La Spezia and Lerici
Best gateway for the Cinque Terre and the Gulf of Poets
MXP
Milan Malpensa
about 2h by car to Genoa
Intercontinental gateway for longer itineraries
- Trains run from Milan to Genoa in about 1h30, and from Rome to La Spezia in about 3h30.
- Ferries from Genoa sail to Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily, Barcelona and Tunis.
- Seasonal boats link Genoa, Camogli, San Fruttuoso, Portofino and Santa Margherita, while others connect La Spezia, Portovenere and the Cinque Terre.
We arrange private transfers, drivers, boats and helicopters for every villa.
Where to stay
Choosing your base
Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure
Couples, luxury seekers
The glamorous heart of the Riviera, with yachts, boutiques and elegant villas.
Camogli
Couples, food lovers
A colourful fishing town with tall harbour houses and a relaxed atmosphere.
Sestri Levante
Families
A town between two bays, with sandy beaches and calm water.
Cinque Terre and Levanto
Walkers, couples
Five cliffside villages linked by trails and trains, with Levanto as a quieter base.
Lerici and the Gulf of Poets
Families, couples
An elegant bay beloved by Byron and Shelley, with castles and coves.
Riviera dei Fiori
Combining with the Côte d'Azur
Sanremo, Bordighera and inland villages near the French border.
Positions are approximate: the exact address is shared once your stay is confirmed.
What to see
The highlights
01
Portofino
A tiny harbour of painted houses beneath a green headland. Walk up to Castello Brown and the lighthouse for the views.
02
San Fruttuoso Abbey
A medieval abbey in a cove reachable only by boat or on foot. The Christ of the Abyss statue lies on the seabed nearby.
03
Cinque Terre villages
Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore form a UNESCO landscape. Each has its own character.
04
Portovenere
A colourful town on the Gulf of La Spezia, with the church of San Pietro on its rocky point. Part of the same UNESCO site as the Cinque Terre.
05
Genoa's Strade Nuove and Palazzi dei Rolli
Grand Renaissance and Baroque palaces, a UNESCO site, many now museums.
06
Genoa Aquarium
One of Europe's largest aquariums, on the Old Port.
07
Hanbury Botanical Gardens
Terraced gardens with exotic plants above the sea near Ventimiglia.
08
Dolceacqua
A medieval village with a castle and a single arched stone bridge painted by Monet.
What to do
Experiences worth planning for
Private boat to Portofino
Explore coves and swim off the headland, with lunch in the harbour.
Hiking the Sentiero Azzurro
The coastal trail between the Cinque Terre villages offers sweeping views.
Pesto making class
Learn to make pesto with a mortar and pestle in Genoa or the Riviera.
Whale watching
Boat trips from Genoa into the Pelagos Sanctuary in summer.
Sciacchetrà tasting
Taste the rare sweet wine of the Cinque Terre in a terrace vineyard.
Via dell'Amore
Walk the famous clifftop path from Riomaggiore to Manarola.
By the sea
Beaches and coves
Baia del Silenzio, Sestri Levante
A sheltered bay of fishing boats and pastel houses.
Paraggi
An emerald cove near Portofino with exclusive beach clubs.
Monterosso al Mare
The largest sandy beach of the Cinque Terre.
Baia dei Saraceni, Varigotti
Clear water and a sandy beach on the western Riviera.
San Fruttuoso
A pebbly beach beneath the abbey, reachable by boat or on foot.
Portofino Regional Park
Trails through Mediterranean scrub connect Camogli, San Fruttuoso and Portofino.
Where to stay
Private villas in Liguria
At the table
Food and wine
What to eat
Pesto genovese
Basil, pine nuts, garlic, cheese and olive oil, served with trofie or trenette.
Focaccia di Recco IGP
Thin layers of dough filled with melting cheese.
Focaccia genovese
Soft, oily flatbread eaten at breakfast or with an aperitivo.
Farinata
A thin chickpea pancake baked in wood fired ovens.
Pansoti with walnut sauce
Herb filled pasta with a creamy walnut sauce.
Acciughe di Monterosso
Anchovies, fresh or salted, a Cinque Terre speciality.
What to drink
Cinque Terre DOC and Sciacchetrà
Dry whites and a sweet wine from the terraces above the sea.
Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC
A light, aromatic red from the western Riviera.
Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOC
Includes fresh Vermentino and Pigato whites.
Colli di Luni DOC
Vermentino and reds from the hills on the Tuscan border.
Beyond the villa
Day trips
Genoa
about 45 minutes by train from Santa Margherita
The historic port city, with palaces and the old town.
Portovenere
about 30 minutes by car from Lerici
A colourful harbour and Palmaria island.
Monaco and Nice
about 45 minutes by car from Sanremo to Monaco
The glamour of the Côte d'Azur.
Lucca and Pisa
about 1h by car from La Spezia
Walled Lucca and the Leaning Tower in Tuscany.
When to go
The year, season by season
May to June and September to October; July and August for the sea.
Spring
Flowering gardens and mild weather. Ideal for walking the trails.
Summer
Warm, sunny and busy, with beach clubs and boat trips in full swing.
Autumn
Grape harvest on the terraces and quieter villages. The sea is still warm in September.
Winter
Mild, with sunny days on the Riviera. Many boat services stop.
Weather month by month
Bars: hours of sunshine a day. Above: average daytime high. Below: sea temperature. Shaded: the best months.
Full weather table
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime high, °C | 12 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 21 | 16 | 13 |
| Night low, °C | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 7 |
| Sea, °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 18 | 16 |
| Sunshine, hours a day | 3.8 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 6.4 | 7.1 | 8.2 | 9.5 | 8.6 | 6.7 | 5.6 | 3.7 | 3.6 |
| Rainy days | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 7 |
| Dry days | 25 | 23 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 24 |
Air: averages 1991 to 2020, Genoa weather station. Sea: average surface temperature at Portofino. Dry days have less than 1 mm of rain.
Events through the year
February
Sanremo Music Festival
Italy's famous song festival, broadcast nationwide.
Second weekend of May
Sagra del Pesce, Camogli
Fish is fried for the public in a giant pan by the harbour.
First Sunday of August
Palio del Golfo, La Spezia
A rowing race between the villages of the gulf.
September
Genoa International Boat Show
One of the Mediterranean's leading boat shows.
Planning Liguria and the Italian Riviera?
Tell us your dates and the group: we reply with availability and the full price, usually within one working day, and arrange transfers, chefs and boats.
Good to know
Practical tips
- The Cinque Terre villages are largely car free: arrive by train via the Cinque Terre Express from La Spezia or Levanto.
- The Cinque Terre Card covers trains and the coastal trails; prices vary with demand.
- The Via dell'Amore must be booked in time slots, is one way from Riomaggiore to Manarola and requires a Cinque Terre Card with a supplement.
- Sections of the Sentiero Azzurro may close after rain or landslides; check the national park website.
- Parking in Portofino is very limited; use boats or buses from Santa Margherita.
- Ferries along the coast run mainly from spring to autumn.
Questions
Liguria and the Italian Riviera: frequently asked
What is the best airport for the Cinque Terre?
Pisa (PSA) is the closest major airport, about 1h by car to La Spezia. Genoa (GOA) is about 1h30 away.
Do you need a car in Liguria?
Not on the coast, where trains and boats work well. A car is useful for inland villages and transfers.
Do you need a ticket to walk the Cinque Terre trails?
Yes, the main coastal trail requires a Cinque Terre Card in season. The Via dell'Amore needs a separate time slot booking.
Which is the best base on the Italian Riviera?
Santa Margherita Ligure offers elegance and connections, Camogli charm, and Levanto easy access to the Cinque Terre.
When is the best time to visit Liguria?
May, June and September offer warm weather and calmer villages. July and August are busy.
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