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Part of the Royal Geographical Society collection, travel from top to toe and explore Italy’s famous landmarks. Visit iconic cities Venice, Florence and Rome and discover the hidden gems of Pompeii, Sicily and more.
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Discover the Italian Riviera’s unique blend of glamour, history and natural beauty.
The Italian Riviera runs along a stretch of northern Italy’s coastline. Here, pastel-hued towns cling to cliffs and pine-scented hills drop to a sea that shifts in colour from intense cobalt to rich turquoise.
You can wander Belle Époque promenades past café terraces, watch luxury yachts glide into pocket-sized harbours, then ride a cliffside train to medieval towns to shop in designer boutiques and enjoy spectacular views.
With Travelsphere, you’ll experience the best of the Riviera’s glamorous flair and authenticity – and still have time to unwind by the pool or dip your toes in the sand.
If you’ve been dreaming of Italian Riviera holidays that balance discovery with comfort, consider this your invitation.
The Italian Riviera, or Riviera Ligure in Italian, is a slender stretch of coast in Liguria, northwest Italy.
It curves along the Ligurian Sea from the French border near Ventimiglia to Tuscany near La Spezia. Genoa sits roughly in the middle and splits the shore into the Riviera di Ponente (west) and the Riviera di Levante (east), the latter home to the Cinque Terre.
Here, the Maritime Alps and Apennines plunge straight into the turquoise Ligurian Sea, creating a rugged backdrop of bays, coves and working harbours.
The area is famous for its collection of charming and colourful towns, each with its own character. These include the cliffside villages of the Cinque Terre, glamorous Portofino, and elegant Sanremo.
The Riviera offers a quintessential Italian coastal experience – a blend of old-world charm and modern style. Medieval alleyways open onto sunlit piazzas; elegant waterside promenades offer spectacular views, fishing boats bob in calm waters and pine-covered headlands shelter pebble coves and deep blue bays.
Discover 30 interesting facts about Italy to impress your fellow travellers.
Portofino is often dubbed the jewel of the Italian Riviera. This tiny, picturesque fishing village is known for its crescent-shaped harbour lined with luxury yachts and pastel-coloured buildings.
A chic haven for the international jet-set, its main square doubles as a catwalk for visitors to the designer boutiques. Relax at one of the waterside cafés here with a coffee or glass of wine and enjoy some people-watching.
Alternatively, a short, scenic uphill walk brings you to the 16th-century fortress Castello Brown. This fortress offers spectacular panoramic views over the colourful harbour and the Ligurian Sea. Continue past the castle to visit Portofino’s lighthouse.
A popular stop on the way to the castle is the historic Church of St Giorgio, which provides another fantastic viewpoint of Portofino.
Discover why Portofino is one of Europe’s most beautiful destinations on a Travelsphere tour.
Nicknamed the ‘Pearl of Tigullio’, Santa Margherita Ligure is an elegant town situated between Portofino and Rapallo.
The town is known for its beautiful palm-lined promenade, colourful buildings and a scenic working harbour filled with fishing boats and sleek yachts.
Visitors can enjoy walking along the waterfront from the marina towards the historic Basilica di Santa Margherita di Antiochia. The town is also home to grand aristocratic homes, most notably Villa Durazzo, an opulent 17th-century villa. Strolling through the villa’s elaborate Italian gardens provides an excellent opportunity to take photos of stunning bay vistas overlooking the sea.
Hidden between forested cliffs, the 8th-century Abbey of San Fruttuoso fronts a pocket-sized beach and crystalline water. Arriving by ferry, the cove opens up suddenly with its stone arcades, pebble beach and a slow-travel hush broken by excited divers and the gentle swell of the waves.
While here, make time to step beneath the abbey’s arches and explore the small museum. San Fruttuoso is full of hidden secrets, including the underwater statue of Christ of the Abyss.
As part of our Italian Riviera tour, you can enjoy a coastal cruise linking San Fruttuoso, Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure – expertly timed so you can enjoy the scenic splendour at a leisurely pace.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Cinque Terre comprises five cliffside villages situated high above the sea, along a dramatic sweep of terraced hillsides and picturesque fishing coves. On Travelsphere’s tour, you’ll focus on three of the most atmospheric places: Riomaggiore, Manarola and Vernazza, with Monterosso and Corniglia joining the picture as neighbouring spots along the coast.
Riomaggiore spills down a cleft in the cliffs to a tiny harbour guarded by black rocks. Tall houses in faded sorbet shades stack one behind the other, and washing lines flutter between windows. Stroll the lanes to the water for a classic Ligurian scene – fishing boats drawn up on stone ramps, the scent of sea spray and basil in the air.
With its colourful houses stacked like sugar cubes above a rocky inlet, beautiful Manarola offers a classic postcard view of the Italian Riviera. Take the short walk to Punta Bonfiglio for views of the vineyards, church towers and the Ligurian Sea.
Vernazza is a small, centuries-old village that opens like a natural amphitheatre around its harbour, protected by a stone breakwater and watched over by a slender tower. A tiny piazza by the water is ideal for sipping a coffee or a glass of local white wine, while narrow alleys and stepped paths climb to the castle and viewpoints. Boats fill the pretty marina, and fishing life sits side by side with holiday buzz. Views from the village and nearby trails are especially lovely in the evening, when the light deepens the colours of the harbour.
The other two villages – Monterosso al Mare, with its sandy beach and promenade, and quiet, cliff-top Corniglia, reached by steps or shuttle – complete the Cinque Terre set.
When visiting the Cinque Terre, it’s important to help preserve this area. Stay on marked paths to protect fragile terraces and vegetation, and consider supporting local businesses by sampling regional specialities such as pesto, focaccia and anchovies.
Genoa (also known as Genova) combines Renaissance and Baroque grandeur with a labyrinth of caruggi – narrow medieval laneways – that capture the scents of coffee, sea air and freshly baked focaccia.
While here, wander down the Via Garibaldi to the UNESCO-listed Palazzi dei Rolli (Palazzo Rosso, Bianco and Tursi), where frescoes, marble staircases and gilded salons reflect the wealth the city’s merchant princes once enjoyed.
Art and history lovers on our Travelsphere tour can add an optional guided day in Genoa to their trip. This introduces travellers to a diverse mix of contemporary, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, grand palaces and a selection of museums and galleries.
North of the Riviera, the Apuan Alps rise like pale cathedrals, their ridges lined with Carrara marble – the pure white stone prized since Roman times.
Visiting the quarries reveals an otherworldly landscape – stepped mountainsides and brilliant white interiors where blocks are cut with precision, sunlight bouncing off pale walls in a soft glow. It’s easy to understand why sculptors such as Michelangelo have sought this exquisite stone for their masterpieces.
As part of our Italian Riviera, Portofino & the Cinque Terre tour, you’ll have the opportunity to visit Carrara to witness marble extraction deep within the mountain.
Our tour of the Italian Riviera offers the perfect balance between discovery and downtime, with ample opportunities to enjoy a few hours at a nearby beach or by the hotel pool.
Tuscany’s Versilia coast, around Lido di Camaiore and Marina di Pietrasanta, offers a classic beach holiday scene: long ribbons of golden sand, neat rows of sun loungers and parasols and promenade cafés with a view of the shimmering Apuan Alps inland.
Inland, visitors can explore Pisa’s Piazza dei Miracoli, home of the famous Leaning Tower, and marvel at the well-preserved medieval and Renaissance architecture of the quiet town of Lucca. You can see these iconic towns as part of the full-day optional addition to our escorted holidays to Portofino in Italy.
The region’s light dishes are made with simple ingredients, typically enhanced by fragrant basil and good olive oil. Specialities include:
Pesto Genovese with trofie – Twisted trofie pasta tossed through a green, silky pesto, served with fresh green beans and potatoes.
Focaccia – Golden, olive-oily slabs still warm from the tray; the cheese-filled focaccia di Recco is a moreish, molten treat.
Fresh anchovies – Enjoy fried, marinated in lemon, or layered in tielle – salty-sweet and surprisingly delicate.
Seafood pasta – Think fresh tagliolini with clams, scampi and cherry tomatoes, or spaghetti alle vongole with a pinch of parsley.
Sweet bites – Try handmade canestrelli biscuits dusted with sugar or a gelato on your evening stroll.
Wine lovers will want to try the local Vermentino. Its crisp character and citrusy, herbal notes pair well with Pesto Genovese or seafood pasta. When in the Cinque Terre, consider a glass of Sciacchetrà, a sweet, honeyed dessert wine – best slowly sipped as you watch the sunset.
Our Italian Riviera tour includes a visit to Cantine Lunae Winery in Luni, featuring a guided wine tasting and a lunch of various regional dishes in a serene cellar setting.
Learn more about The Delicious Flavours of Italy.
Spring and early summer (May–June) bring warm, sunny days, gardens in bloom, and a little more breathing space on promenades and trains.
September is lovely, too, with warm sea temperatures and a soft late-summer light that photographers will appreciate.
July and August are the height of the season on the Italian Riviera, so expect more crowds, especially around the Cinque Terre and Portofino.
Shoulder seasons suit walkers and culture-seekers, and they pair beautifully with slow lunches and golden-hour boat rides.
With Travelsphere, you experience the Riviera’s flair and its authenticity – coastal cruises to secluded coves, scenic train rides between cliffside villages, tastings with local producers – and still have time to unwind by the pool or dip your toes in the sand.
If you’ve been dreaming of Italian Riviera holidays that balance discovery with comfort, consider this your invitation.
Discover the scenic beauty of northern Italy’s secret lakes, where tranquil waters, unspoiled nature and delicious cuisine await.
Discover the allure and mesmerising natural beauty of Lake Maggiore and be wowed by the captivating charm of Lake Como.
This relaxing tour takes in the iconic monuments of Pisa and Florence, beautiful medieval towns, and the stunning vineyards of Chianti.
Revel in the glamour and scenic highlights of the Italian Riviera as you explore by road, rail and boat.
Part of the Royal Geographical Society collection, travel from top to toe and explore Italy’s famous landmarks. Visit iconic cities Venice, Florence and Rome and discover the hidden gems of Pompeii, Sicily and more.
