Eco Hotels in Liguria — Sustainable Stays on the Italian Riviera
Why Stay in Liguria?
Liguria is the Italian Riviera — a slender crescent of coastline arcing from the French border to Tuscany, where mountains plunge dramatically into the Ligurian Sea. This is Italy at its most cinematic: pastel-coloured villages clinging to terraced hillsides, fishing boats bobbing in tiny harbours, and the scent of basil and sea salt drifting through narrow lanes.
The region's crown jewel is the Cinque Terre — five UNESCO-listed villages (Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore) connected by one of the world's most famous coastal hiking trails. Each village has its own character: Vernazza's postcard-perfect harbour, Manarola's cliff-top vineyards, Monterosso's sandy beach. The Cinque Terre National Park protects not just the villages but the ancient dry-stone terraces and biodiversity that make this landscape so extraordinary.
Further west, Portofino needs little introduction. This tiny fishing-village-turned-luxury-hideaway has been drawing artists, aristocrats, and Hollywood stars for over a century. The pastel facades of the Piazzetta frame a harbour where superyachts mingle with wooden gozzi boats. The surrounding Portofino Regional Park offers some of the most rewarding coastal walking in Italy — with views across the Tigullio Gulf that stop you in your tracks.
Genoa, Liguria's capital, is one of Europe's great underrated cities. Its UNESCO-listed historic centre is a labyrinth of caruggi (narrow medieval alleys) that open suddenly onto grand piazzas and Renaissance palaces. The Palazzo Ducale, the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, and Europe's largest aquarium make Genoa a destination in its own right — especially if you love maritime history, having birthed Christopher Columbus and dominated Mediterranean trade for 500 years.
At Liguria's western end, the Riviera dei Fiori (Riviera of Flowers) stretches from Imperia to the French border. Sanremo, the region's glitziest city, is famous for its Belle Époque casino, the Sanremo Music Festival, and palm-lined cycle paths hugging the coast. Nearby, the medieval hilltop village of Dolceacqua enchanted Monet — he painted its humpbacked bridge multiple times — while Apricale and Triora (the "village of witches") offer mountain escapes minutes from the sea.
What makes Liguria truly special is the marriage of land and sea. The Mediterranean climate means mild winters and long, sun-drenched summers. The mountains behind the coast create microclimates where lemons, olives, and vineyards flourish. And the food — oh, the food — is extraordinary. This is where pesto alla genovese was born, where focaccia comes hot from wood-fired ovens every morning, and where seafood is pulled ashore and served within hours. Liguria's cuisine alone justifies the trip.
Liguria at a Glance
Things to Do in Liguria
Liguria packs an astonishing amount into its 300-kilometre coastline. Whether you're hiking, swimming, eating, or exploring medieval streets, every day delivers something unforgettable.
1. Hike the Cinque Terre Coastal Trail
The Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail) connecting all five Cinque Terre villages is one of the most famous walks in the world. The full route stretches 12 kilometres from Monterosso to Riomaggiore, climbing and dipping along terraced hillsides with the Ligurian Sea glinting below. Each section offers a different character — the path between Vernazza and Corniglia is particularly stunning, with olive groves and vineyards tumbling toward the water. Purchase the Cinque Terre Card for trail access and unlimited train travel between the villages.
2. Explore Genoa's Historic Centre & Aquarium
Genoa's UNESCO-listed centro storico is Europe's largest medieval quarter, a dense tangle of 40 kilometres of caruggi that have barely changed in 500 years. Wander through the Rolli Palaces — Renaissance mansions recognised by UNESCO — visit the stunning Palazzo Reale, and climb to Spianata Castelletto for panoramic views over the port. The Acquario di Genova is Europe's largest aquarium, home to dolphins, sharks, penguins, and jellyfish across cavernous pavilions built into the old port.
3. Visit Portofino's Harbour
The Piazzetta of Portofino is one of the most photographed squares in Italy. Pastel buildings frame a perfect semicircle of water, with the Castello Brown fortress perched on the headland above. Walk up to the castle for views across the Tigullio Gulf to Santa Margherita Ligure, or take the ferry to the secluded Abbey of San Fruttuoso — a thousand-year-old monastery accessible only by boat or footpath, with a submerged Christ of the Abyss statue beneath the waves.
4. Relax on the Beaches of Alassio
The Riviera di Ponente's most charming resort town, Alassio, boasts three kilometres of fine sand and a car-free seafront promenade lined with Liberty-style villas and beach clubs. The famous "Muretto" wall is tiled with celebrity signatures from the 1950s and 60s. Unlike the rocky coves that dominate much of the coastline, Alassio offers proper sandy beach days with gentle, child-friendly water. The medieval Budello alley behind the seafront is a treasure trove of independent shops and gelaterias.
5. Tour Sanremo's Old Town & Casino
Sanremo is the Riviera's grande dame — a Belle Époque city with wide boulevards, a Russian Orthodox church (built for the 19th-century Russian aristocracy who wintered here), and the famous Casino Municipale, an Art Nouveau masterpiece still in operation. The medieval old town, La Pigna, climbs a hillside in concentric circles of stone alleys and tiny squares. Visit the morning flower market — one of Europe's largest — where the blooms that gave the Riviera dei Fiori its name change hands before dawn.
6. Go Whale Watching from Imperia
The Ligurian Sea is part of the Pelagos Sanctuary for Mediterranean Marine Mammals, a 87,500-square-kilometre protected area stretching to Corsica and Sardinia. From Imperia, half-day whale-watching excursions head into deep water where fin whales, sperm whales, striped dolphins, and Risso's dolphins are regularly spotted between April and October. The sanctuary protects one of the Mediterranean's richest cetacean feeding grounds, and encounters with fin whales — the second-largest animal on Earth — are not uncommon.
Where to Stay in Liguria
Choosing where to base yourself in Liguria depends on your holiday style, but each area offers a dramatically different experience. Here are the most rewarding places to call home during your visit.
Cinque Terre Villages
Stay in one of the five UNESCO villages for the ultimate Ligurian experience. Monterosso has the best beach and most hotels, Vernazza is the prettiest, Riomaggiore is the liveliest. Wake up to church bells echoing off the cliffs, hike before the crowds arrive, and eat seafood with your feet practically in the water. Ideal for walkers and photographers.
Genoa Centro Storico
Europe's largest medieval centre delivers extraordinary value. Stay in a converted Renaissance palazzo or a boutique hotel tucked into the caruggi. Genoa is a real, working city — not a tourist stage-set — so prices are lower, restaurants are more authentic, and the cultural depth is staggering. Perfect for food lovers, history buffs, and anyone who wants to feel the pulse of a great port city.
Portofino Peninsula
For those seeking Ligurian glamour, the Portofino peninsula — including Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, and Portofino itself — offers the region's finest hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, and yacht-watching. Santa Margherita is the sweet spot: elegant without the Portofino price tag, with a lovely waterfront promenade, Art Nouveau architecture, and a 10-minute bus ride to the Piazzetta.
Riviera dei Fiori (Sanremo & Imperia)
The western Riviera is Liguria's sunniest stretch, blessed with warmer temperatures, wider beaches, and a distinctly French-influenced elegance. Sanremo offers Belle Époque glamour and a casino, while Imperia and Diano Marina provide family-friendly resort towns with palm-lined seafronts and gelaterias. Ideal for beach holidays, cycling the coastal path, and day trips to Nice and Monaco — both under an hour away.
Sustainable Hotels in Liguria
Every hotel listed below is bookable through Eco Hotels IMPT at the same price you'd pay on major booking platforms — but with 1 tonne of CO₂ removed per booking and 5% cashback rewards on every stay.
Walking & Hiking in Liguria
Few regions in Europe reward walkers as richly as Liguria. The dramatic geography — mountains plunging into the sea — creates trails of jaw-dropping beauty, from gentle coastal promenades to lung-busting mountain traverses. Here are the essential routes to lace up for.
- Cinque Terre Sentiero Azzurro — Monterosso to Riomaggiore 12 km · 5 hours · Moderate · The classic coastal trail linking all five Cinque Terre villages. Stone steps, terraced vineyards, and heart-stopping sea views. The section between Vernazza and Corniglia is the most rewarding. Requires a Cinque Terre Card (€7.50/day) for trail access and village-to-village train returns.
- Portofino Regional Park Trails 5–15 km · 2–5 hours · Easy to Moderate · A network of well-marked paths crisscross the Portofino promontory. The walk from Santa Margherita Ligure to Portofino (5 km, 1.5 hours) hugs the coast and delivers the iconic Piazzetta reveal. Continue to San Fruttuoso (another 5 km) for the Abbey and swimming in the cove. The full loop via Monte Portofino (610 m) rewards with views to Corsica on clear days.
- Alta Via dei Monti Liguri — Selected Sections Up to 440 km total · Variable · Moderate to Challenging · This epic long-distance trail runs the entire length of Liguria along the mountain ridge that separates the coast from the Po Valley. For day hikers, the section above Finale Ligure offers superb sea-views and accessible trailheads, while the stretch behind Genoa (Monte Beigua Regional Park) delivers alpine-like landscapes with the Mediterranean glittering below.