The Italian Riviera: 8 Classic Cities and Towns

The Ligurian coast—renowned as the Italian Riviera—unfurls a tapestry of postcard-perfect seaside gems and pastel-hued villages that have enchanted visitors for centuries. Stretching from the French border to Tuscany, this picturesque stretch of Liguria boasts charming, colorful towns like San Remo, Genoa, Alassio, and Portovenere, each exuding a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. In a landscape where rugged mountains meet the shimmering sea, centuries-old fishing village identities persist, offering a glimpse into a storied past that harmonizes with the relaxed, sun-drenched ambiance of modern coastal life.

This mesmerizing region, with its reliable 300 days of sunshine per year, thrives under the gentle protection of the Alps and the Apennines. Its serene harbors and vibrant coastal communities invite leisure and exploration, standing in gentle contrast to the glitzy French Riviera just across the border. The Italian Riviera’s rich heritage, coupled with its stunning natural backdrop of lush hillsides and crystal-clear beaches, continues to be a magnet for travelers who seek both luxury and a taste of authentic local charm.

Here’s a list of classic Italian Riviera cities, and the towns dotted around them, that you should make time for:

Portofino

Portofino epitomizes the Italian Riviera: pastels shimmering above an emerald harbor, its tiny quay made all the more dramatic by the occasional superyacht for scale. Maritime pines fan like natural umbrellas across verdant cliffs, punctuating patches of scrub and framing tiers of ochre, lemon, and terracotta homes strung with fluttering naval flags. The cobbled square gleams underfoot—polished by centuries of footsteps yet blissfully car‑free—its timeless charisma having lured poets such as Guy de Maupassant and statesmen like Winston Churchill.

An unmissable stop, Portofino charms with boutique‑lined lanes, harborside restaurants, and the ritual of an afternoon aperitivo by the sea. For the quintessential vista, follow the winding lane up to the church or continue to Castello Brown, where panoramic views reward the ascent. Easily reached by bus, ferry, or Uber from Santa Margherita Ligure and Rapallo (parking is virtually nonexistent), this compact gem invites you to linger long into the firefly‑kissed evening.

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre (“Five Lands”) is the epitome of Italy’s irresistible combination of rugged beauty and human ingenuity. Tucked between Genoa and Pisa along a six‑mile stretch of the Italian Riviera, these five traffic‑free fishing villages—Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore—are straight out of a fairy tale: candy‑colored houses tumbling down sheer ravines, medieval castles perched on rocky promontories, and terraces carved into the cliffs where olives and grapes have been cultivated for more than a millennium. So enchanting that it inspired Disney’s 2021 film Luca, Cinque Terre today draws some 2.4 million visitors a year, eager for jaw‑dropping sea vistas, world‑class pesto and waterfront wine.

Yet the region’s very popularity is its greatest challenge. Day‑trippers swell the narrow lanes and train platforms by mid‑morning, snapping pictures for the ’Gram before hastening back to the coast. The antidote? Slow down. Stay for three or four nights, trade your Fiat fantasies for pebbled beaches and seaside cafés, and you’ll discover why locals—calloused hands, sun‑kissed skin—are among the happiest people you’ll ever meet.

Protected as a National Park and enshrined as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cinque Terre offers more than charming villages: some 120 km of footpaths thread through wild olive groves and vineyards perched hundreds of meters above the Ligurian Sea. Hike between abandoned hamlets, pause to watch waves crashing against the rocks, then toast the sunset with a glass of locally produced Sciacchetrà. In Cinque Terre, every turn is a postcard moment—and if you linger, you’ll find its true magic lies not in the snapshots, but in the unhurried rhythm of this extraordinary coastline.

To make the most of your stay, arrive in the shoulder seasons—late April/early May or September/October—when wildflowers bloom on the terraces and crowds thin just enough for solitude on the Sentiero Azzurro. Wake before dawn to capture Vernazza’s pastel facades in golden light, sample a plate of trofie al pesto in Riomaggiore’s harbor, then board the local train to Corniglia for panoramic views that rival any on the Amalfi Coast. Evenings call for a table on a cliff‑side terrace: savor anchovies preserved in Ligurian olive oil, sip chilled Rossese di Dolceacqua, and watch as the sea mirrors the sunset’s changing hues.

Above all, remember that Cinque Terre was built by hands hardened by centuries of sweat and salt spray. Respect the paths, support family‑run agriturismi, and carry out what you carry in. Do that, and this jewel of the Italian Riviera will reveal itself not as a fleeting snapshot, but as an enduring love affair with la dolce vita.

Sanremo

Of all the Italian Riviera cities, San Remo brings classic charm in spades. Discovered by tourists around 1860, it was the railway—now transformed into a shaded, seaside cycle trail—that truly launched the town’s golden age. English and German visitors flocked here for winter sun, yet it was the visit of the Russian Empress in 1874 that left the most enduring mark: invigorated by her stay, she gifted the towering palm trees that line the peach‑marble promenade, aptly renamed the “Empress Walk” in her honor.

The most visible symbol of San Remo’s Belle Époque glamour is its art nouveau casino—Italy’s oldest. With proportions and a neoclassical placement reminiscent of a grand town hall, its façade still beckons hopeful gamblers beneath wrought‑iron balconies and stained‑glass windows. But beyond the roulette wheels, the real treasure lies just off the beaten path.

Stroll under tumbling bougainvillea and past accordion buskers—we are in Italy, after all—and you’ll arrive at elegant 19th‑century seafront hotels whose faded grandeur hints at countless winter sojourns. A little further on, the Old Town—nicknamed “the Pine Cone” for its spindly, 15th‑century alleys that fan out like scales on a cone—invites you to lose yourself in its worn‑stone lanes. Here, time slows: quiet piazzette open onto unexpected vistas of red‑tiled roofs, and ancient churches peek through clusters of pastel façades.

Whether you cycle the old railway path at dawn, linger over espresso on the Empress Walk, or explore the maze of the Old Town as lanterns flicker to life, San Remo rewards every curiosity with a touch of imperial legacy, seaside serenity, and timeless Italian village spirit.

Porto Venere

Dubbed the “sixth Cinque Terre,” Porto Venere perches at the southern tip of the fabled Ligurian coast in the Bay of Poets (Golfo dei Poeti), its tall, candy‑coloured houses as inviting as a gelateria window display. Since Grand Tour travellers first arrived in the 18th century, its authenticity has endured: gozzo liguri bob on turquoise waters, reflecting the façades back at the UNESCO‑listed quayside, while the storm‑gray Gothic silhouette of the Church of San Pietro strikes a dramatic contrast atop its rocky promontory. Poetry and history mingle here—Lord Byron lived and wrote in these streets, and both a sea cave and a café still bear his name.

Porto Venere’s compact harbour serves as the first stop on the ferry route from La Spezia to Cinque Terre, making it equally popular in high season and delightfully serene once the October sailings conclude. Off‑season quiet simply reveals more of its medieval character: visitors can ascend the stairways to the 12th‑century Doria Castle for panoramic gulf views, explore the 13th‑century Church of San Pietro, trace cliff‑top paths to hidden sea grottos, and lose themselves in narrow lanes lined with artisanal shops, gelaterias, and family‑run trattorie.

During summer months, this medieval gem transforms into a gateway for coastal adventures. Scenic boat trips ferry guests to the nearby trio of UNESCO‑protected islands—Palmaria, Tino, and Tinetto—while local operators offer boat hires for swimming, snorkeling, or diving in secluded coves. Even at the height of tourist season, Porto Venere’s relative tranquility ensures that its history, stunning vistas, and warm hospitality remain the true highlight of any Riviera itinerary.

Genoa

Genoa, the storied capital of the Italian Riviera, wears its history on every stone. Renowned as the birthplace of pesto, its busy commercial port offers a striking foil to the candy‑striped fishing villages of the Ligurian coast—yet beneath the bustle lies a city of hidden marvels waiting to be discovered.

At the heart of Genoa is its UNESCO‑listed medieval centre, the largest intact example of its kind in Europe. A maze of flag‑stoned alleyways (vicoli) unfurls into compact piazzas, each graced by café tables, historic chocolate shops and windows brimming with freshly baked focaccia. Tucked among them stand the grand merchant palaces of the old Republic—Renaissance edifices whose ornate façades and gilded halls bear witness to centuries of maritime wealth.

More than a dozen of these palazzi open year‑round as museums, and an expert‑guided “Grand Tour of the Strade Nuove” can visit over 150 noble residences—among the most opulent lining the venerable Via Garibaldi. Here, frescoed ceilings, carved marble staircases and sumptuous salons recall the extravagance of Genoa’s Golden Age.

When the city’s frescoes and grotto‑like passages have filled the morning, a short tram ride leads to Boccadasse, a former fishing village now absorbed into Genoa’s urban sprawl. With its pastel‑washed houses and pebbled shoreline, Boccadasse feels a world away—offering the perfect seaside reprise after an immersion in one of Italy’s most historic cities.

Santa Margherita Ligure

Santa Margherita Ligure—simply “Santa” to its suntanned locals—is the very picture of Ligurian elegance: a sun‑soaked, sea‑splashed mirage of pastel perfection on the Gulf of Tigullio. Bougainvillea‑brilliant facades tumble down to a palm‑fringed harbour where fishing skiffs and superyachts mingle, and the scent of salt air drifts through the old‑fashioned promenade.

Once a humble fishing village, Santa Margherita has gracefully reinvented itself as a chic coastal resort without losing its laid‑back charm. Nestled between buzzy Rapallo to the north and glamorous Portofino just a short stroll south, it offers all the Riviera’s pleasures—stylish boutiques, lazy cafés and seafood‑fresh trattorie—yet with noticeably lighter footfall. Here, mornings begin with espressos under striped awnings; afternoons drift by browsing artisanal shops or lounging on pebbled coves.

Above the waterfront, lush hills are crowned by stout belle‑époque villas whose pastel hues mirror the town below. History whispers through the 16th‑century Castello di Santa Margherita and the 17th‑century Basilica, both testaments to centuries of maritime prosperity and faith. Stroll winding lanes between tiled roofs and fragrant gardens, and you’ll feel the town’s enduring elegance.

Out on the undulating shimmer of the Ligurian Sea, the Marine Reserve and National Park of Portofino protect a wondrous biodiversity—bright parrotfish dart among submerged gorgonians, while peregrine falcons wheel above the cliffs. Whether you’re anchoring off in a yacht or hiking a wild coastal path, Santa Margherita Ligure is less a single destination than the perfect prelude to all the pleasures of the Italian Riviera.

Rapallo

Often seen as a convenient base for exploring Portofino and the surrounding coastline, Rapallo is far more than a waypoint—it’s a destination rich in charm and cultural pedigree. Nestled between wooded hills and the Ligurian Sea, this colorful town has long captivated literary greats. Nietzsche, W.B. Yeats, Ezra Pound, and Ernest Hemingway all spent time here, with Hemingway even penning a short story inspired by the town’s atmosphere.

Rapallo’s palm-fringed promenade and spacious beaches offer a relaxed, Riviera feel, while its 16th-century seaside castle—somewhat squat but undeniably endearing—serves as a symbol of the town. The fortification juts into the sea like a weathered, militaristic Noah’s Ark, its unique silhouette drawing both photographers and curious wanderers. Nearby, a peaceful public garden honors modernist poet Ezra Pound, another devoted admirer of Rapallo’s quiet magic.

The hills behind the town are dotted with villas and even a scenic golf course, but the real indulgence lies at the waterfront. At the historic Excelsior Palace Hotel, where Hemingway once stayed, diners can savor swordfish steaks with sweeping views of Portofino’s verdant hills and the glint of speedboats cutting across the bay. With waves lapping at the rocks below and seabirds wheeling overhead, Rapallo’s allure is both literary and leisurely—a refined retreat with timeless appeal.

Finale Ligure

Finale Ligure sits at the western edge of the Italian Riviera—often eclipsed by its flashier neighbors, yet quietly deserving of a spot on every Ligurian itinerary. Here, the sun warms broad, sandy beaches lapped by the turquoise sea, while just inland, the perfectly preserved medieval hamlet of Finalborgo reveals centuries‑old stone walls, winding alleys and secret piazzas.

Most travelers equate the Riviera with the crowded Levante stretch between Genoa and La Spezia—home to Portofino, Santa Margherita and the Cinque Terre. But Italians prize the gentler pace of the Riviera di Ponente, which arcs westward from Genoa toward the French border. Finale Ligure, at its heart, offers all the charms of coastal Liguria without the throngs: sun‑bleached umbrellas line the shore in summer, but never elbow‑to‑elbow with neighbors; sea breezes drift through beachside cafés, not tour‑bus parking lots.

In Finale Ligure Marina, mornings begin with espresso on the palm‑fringed promenade and end with aperitivi as fishing boats rock in the harbor. In Finalborgo, centuries of history linger in frescoed chapels and vaulted gateways, while family‑run osterie serve rustic fare—trofie al pesto, fresh anchovies and locally pressed olive oil. Whether you’re chasing waves on a SUP board, exploring limestone caves or simply watching sunset paint the cliffs gold, Finale Ligure unveils Liguria’s truest pleasures—calm, character and centuries of story.