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Travelling to Liguria
Arrival day with the longest drive of the trip. Set off early and take the Alpine passes at a relaxed pace.
Have your Swiss vignette and cash/toll for Italy ready.
Long stretch — plan in some breaks.
This is where your trip begins. Tank full and roof tent on the roof, you head south over the Gotthard or San Bernardino.
After the long Alpine leg, you arrive in the small coastal town of Noli, one of the best-preserved medieval settlements in Liguria, complete with towers and a town wall. A quiet campsite close to the water serves as your first base, and in the evening the beach beckons with its view of the old town.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
Arriving on the Riviera di Ponente
A quiet day to recover after the journey. No change of location.
Noli is one of Liguria's most beautiful borghi: narrow lanes, fishermen's houses and the Romanesque church of San Paragorio. The town is compact and relaxed — ideal for settling into holiday mode over focaccia and espresso.
Noli's long sand-and-pebble beach invites you in for your first swim. The water is still pleasantly warm in September, and with the medieval towers in view, the swim feels almost historic.
Swimming and borghi
Swim in the morning, explore Finalborgo in the afternoon.
There's level parking on the edge of Finalborgo.
Finale Ligure combines a lively seaside resort (Finalmarina) with the dreamy historic core of Finalborgo inland. With its town walls and cobbled lanes, Finalborgo is one of Italy's most beautiful villages and a popular spot for climbing and hiking.
A wide beach with both free and paid sections, good water quality and a lovely promenade. Perfect for a leisurely morning swim.
A family-run campsite in the hinterland behind Finale, with terraces and views over the valley. Cheaper than the sites right on the coast, and a good base for Finalborgo.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
Cave and seaside resort
Cave in the cooler morning, swimming in the afternoon.
Short drives, relaxed pace.
An impressive cave system with stalactites, stalagmites and prehistoric traces of humans and cave bears. The guided tour takes around an hour and makes a pleasantly cool change from the beach, even in the heat.
See tickets on Tiqets(affiliate link)
Alassio is famous for its mile-long fine sandy beach, elegant promenade and the Muretto, a wall decorated with ceramic tiles signed by celebrities. The town is lively, with plenty of cafés and shops, and the water is especially shallow and family-friendly.
An affordable campsite near Andora, conveniently placed between Alassio and Sanremo. Close to the water and a good springboard for continuing west.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
A hillside village above the sea
Cervo in the morning, then an easy drive on to Sanremo.
There's level parking on the edge of Cervo; walk into the village from there.
Cervo climbs picturesquely up a hillside above the sea, crowned by the Baroque church of San Giovanni Battista. The narrow, traffic-free lanes, the sea views and the peaceful atmosphere make this one of the loveliest borghi on the Riviera.
Sanremo, the city of flowers, combines a glamorous casino, the exotic-feeling old town of La Pigna, and long seafront promenades. The weekly market and pastry shops are ideal for sampling regional specialities.
A campsite right on the sea on the western edge of Sanremo, with its own access to the rocky shoreline and a pool. A bit pricier, but ideally placed for both town and swimming.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
Town, market and sea
No change of location — a rest day with a stroll around town and a ride along the cycle path.
The westernmost point of the trip. From here you head back east towards Genoa.
The medieval old town of La Pigna winds up the hillside through narrow lanes and steps to the Santuario della Madonna della Costa. At the top, a sweeping view over the town and the sea rewards the climb.
The former railway line, now a cycle path, runs traffic-free right along the sea and is perfect for a walk or a hire bike. Along the way there are coves for swimming and bars for a break.
Great port city
A longer stretch in the morning, afternoon for Genoa.
Don't drive into Genoa's narrow caruggi — park outside and go on foot.
Genoa's old town is a dense maze of caruggi, with grand palaces along Via Garibaldi and the striking Cathedral of San Lorenzo. The old harbour with its aquarium, the Palazzi dei Rolli and the little trattorias make the city one of Liguria's most exciting destinations.
Italy's largest aquarium, at the Porto Antico, is home to sharks, dolphins, penguins and tropical reefs. Well worth a stop if you want to experience the marine life of the Mediterranean and beyond up close.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
A campsite on a hillside east of Genoa with sea views, well connected to the city by train or car. A peaceful base for visiting Genoa without having to stay right in the centre.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
Riviera di Levante
Visit Portofino early or in the late afternoon to avoid the crowds.
Parking in Portofino is expensive; taking the boat from Santa Margherita is more relaxed and often cheaper than the car park.
Santa Margherita Ligure is an elegant seaside resort with a palm-lined promenade, colourful house façades and a lively harbour. Less crowded than its neighbours, it's ideal for strolling, swimming and a coffee with a sea view.
The legendary fishing village of Portofino charms with its tiny, pastel-lined harbour bay and the walking trail up to Castello Brown. Since the access road is narrow and parking expensive, it's best to arrive by bus or boat from Santa Margherita.
A campsite near Sestri Levante, the pretty town with the Baia del Silenzio. A good base for the eastern Riviera and a springboard for a brief Cinque Terre detour.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
A brush with the Cinque Terre
Deliberately just brush past the Cinque Terre: one village by train is enough to avoid the crowds.
Leave the car in Levanto — parking in the Cinque Terre is barely possible.
The Baia del Silenzio in Sestri Levante is one of the loveliest bays on the Riviera, with soft sand and colourful houses crowding around the water. A peaceful spot for a swim before your brief visit to the Cinque Terre.
Levanto sits at the gateway to the Cinque Terre and offers a long beach, a relaxed atmosphere and good rail connections. From here you can take the train for a quick look at Vernazza or Monterosso, without spending the whole day in the crowds.
Vernazza is considered the most photogenic of the five Cinque Terre villages, with its small harbour and houses stacked on top of one another. You deliberately just brush past it by train from Levanto, to avoid the worst of the crowds.
Farewell to the sea
A more driving-intensive day, but still under five hours behind the wheel.
The lake is a good spot for a relaxed arrival and one last swim.
One final leisurely morning swim on the wide beach of Sestri Levante. The water is still warm in late summer — perfect for a farewell swim.
Heading back north, the route takes you through the green Ligurian hinterland, with chestnut woods and quiet hillside villages. A lovely contrast to the coast, easing you gently into saying goodbye.
A large, well-equipped campsite on Lake Maggiore, ideal as a stopover on the way home. You can have one more swim in the lake before heading over the Alps the next day.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
Heading home
Homeward day with a long but manageable stretch.
Have your vignette and border documents ready.
One last walk along the waterfront promenade at Lake Maggiore, with views of the Borromean Islands, before setting off for home. A good spot for breakfast by the water.
Arrival back in Freiburg after a relaxed crossing of the Alps via the Simplon or Gotthard. The end of a trip full of sea, hillside villages and Ligurian cuisine.
See tickets on WeGoTrip(affiliate link)
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