More about hotels in Liguria
Liguria squeezes an entire holiday's worth of coastline into one thin, curling strip of cliffs. The Cinque Terre villages stack up the rock face in blocks of pink and ochre, joined above the water by the Sentiero Azzurro, a 12km footpath linking all five. Genoa's old lanes climb so steeply that lifts and funiculars do half the walking for you, and La Lanterna, its 16th-century lighthouse, has been guiding ships into the harbour since 1543. Portofino's little harbour somehow fits fishing boats and superyachts side by side without looking crowded. Add a plate of trofie al pesto (Genoa even hosts a pesto-making world championship every couple of years) or a slice of cheese-stuffed focaccia di Recco, and you've got a region that punches well above its size.
Whatever kind of trip you're after, there's a stay to match. Cliffside village charm, a grand harbourside hotel, or a quiet base in a bigger city with easy trains everywhere else. Liguria covers all of it.
Where to stay in Liguria
- Cinque Terre: five cliff-top villages joined by that 12km coastal trail, and home to the only proper sandy beach in the group, at Monterosso.
- Portofino: a postcard harbour ringed with pastel houses, where day-trippers and yacht crews somehow share the same tiny piazza.
- Santa Margherita Ligure: the calmer, more affordable base a few minutes from Portofino, with its own palm-lined seafront.
- Genoa: Italy's biggest port city, all steep lanes, hidden courtyards and a working harbour you can walk straight into.
- Sanremo: the "City of Flowers" on Liguria's western stretch, known for its flower-covered old town, La Pigna, and its annual music festival.
How much is Liguria accommodation?
Expect to pay around AU$210 a night for a double across the region, though Cinque Terre and Portofino run well above that through the summer peak, while Genoa and Sanremo stay noticeably kinder on the wallet.
- Backpackers/Hostels: From AU$45 per night. Shared dorms in Genoa's old town or La Spezia, the train gateway to Cinque Terre.
- Budget hotels/Guesthouses: From AU$95 per night. Family-run pensioni in the Cinque Terre villages or Sanremo's old town, usually booked out months ahead in summer.
- Mid-range/Apartments: From AU$160 per night. Self-contained apartments in Santa Margherita Ligure, handy for day trips to Portofino by ferry.
- Boutique: From AU$260 per night. Restored villas on the hillsides above Portofino and Liberty-era palazzos in Genoa.
- Luxury/Resorts: From AU$550 per night. Historic grand hotels along the Gulf of Tigullio with private beach clubs and sea-water pools.
Top-rated hotels in Liguria
- Hotel Porto Roca (Monterosso al Mare). Perched on the cliff above town, with an infinity pool overlooking its own sheltered bay.
- Splendido, A Belmond Hotel (Portofino). A restored 16th-century monastery on the hill above the harbour, wisteria and all.
- Grand Hotel Miramare (Santa Margherita Ligure). A century-old seafront hotel with a tropical garden and a salt-water pool.
- Hotel Bristol Palace (Genoa). A Liberty-style palazzo with a curved marble staircase, a few minutes' walk from the old port.
- Excelsior Palace Portofino Coast (Rapallo). A beachfront art deco hotel with two restaurants and sweeping views across the bay.
Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Liguria
- Book Cinque Terre rooms months ahead for summer. There are only five villages and not many beds between them, so prices climb fast once availability tightens.
- Stay in Santa Margherita Ligure or Rapallo rather than Portofino itself if you're on a budget. Portofino has very few rooms and the highest prices on the coast, and it's a short ferry ride from either town.
- Check whether your Cinque Terre hotel bundles a trail permit. Walking the coastal path between villages requires a Cinque Terre Card, and some stays include it in the room rate.
- Pick Genoa's old port area if you want to be close to the aquarium and the pesto-making classes some hotels run there, though expect steep, stepped streets if you're walking with luggage.
- Travel in May or September for much the same sunshine with far fewer crowds. The coastal trail and village piazzas get seriously packed through July and August.
Once you've picked a base, Liguria's compact size means the rest of the coast, and a side trip into Tuscany, is never far by train. It's worth checking flights and things to do on Traveloka alongside your stay to piece the whole trip together.
