Liguria with kids: all you need to know for an awesome family vacation

All you need to know to plan a family vacation in Liguria with kids: family-friendly beaches in Liguria, family hotels you may like, tips for visiting.

Liguria is a beautiful region in the northeast of Italy and one of my favorite places in Italy – a real place of the heart I never tire of visiting!

Liguria is where the Alps meet the Mediterranean. The region is a thin strip of land developing between tall mountains and beautiful blue waters and this peculiar position makes Liguria generous of beautiful landscapes and dramatic views.

The most famous part of Liguria is probably the area of Cinque Terre, which is indeed unique (as well as much more child-friendly than the web may lead you to believe!).

However, there are many other places in Liguria that are perfect for families and that you may enjoy even more than Cinque Terre: Family-friendly places with local atmosphere, amazing food, and fantastic sea, yet a little less ‘mainstream’ than Cinque Terre.

Today, I want to introduce you to some of the best places to visit in Liguria that you may not have heard about.

I hope this guide will inspire you to discover them!

If you are looking for a place in Italy where you can combine resting on a beach with sightseeing, amazing Italian food experiences (and even a trip to France!), Liguria is for you! These are the best places to visit in Liguria with kids.

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The best time for a family vacation in Liguria

Liguria is a place where to enjoy the sea, trails and small villages so the best time to visit is the late spring and summer.

This is the best time for kids to swim in the sea and make the most of Liguria’s beaches however, the downside is the crowds that, in summer, can be intense.

The winter is not ideal for visiting Liguria with kids.

While it is possible to enjoy Genoa city and, to an extent, the pretty towns and villages, you don’t go swimming or boating in Liguria in winter so kids and especially older ones may feel they are missing out.

The best months to visit Liguria with kids a June and September: they tend to strike the best balance between pleasant weather and crowds.

The beaches of Liguria: what you need to know

Liguria is a long and thin region, usually referred to as divided into two parts: Riviera di Levante and Riviera di Ponente.

Riviera di Levante (Eastern Riviera) is to the East of Genoa and it is the area with Cinque Terre and Portofino.

This is an area with many scenic villages and a high coastline, perfect for those who want to experience small coves, boating and hiking.

I recommend Riviera di Levante to families who want to mix beach time with sightseeing and exploration.

Riviera di Ponente (Western Riviera) is the stretch of Ligurian Riviera between Genoa and France and has some pretty towns and villages but especially some beautiful beaches, many of which are sandy and family-friendly.

Riviera di Ponente is the most traditionally family-friendly part of Liguria and the area we recommend if you want a relaxing vacation in Liguria with kids, basking in the wonderful Ligurian sun and easy stroller access.

Family-friendly beaches in Liguria: map + our top picks

Liguria is full of beautiful, family-friendly places so this list is by no means exhaustive. However, just because highly selected, I thought this short list of places could come in handy.

These are the places in Liguria we love the most for families with kids.

Family-friendly beaches and beach towns in Liguria di Ponente

Riviera di Ponente is the stretch of Liguria between Genoa and France and the area with the bigger, sandier beaches.

Fantastic family-friendly beach towns in the area are:

Diano Marina

Diano Marina is a lovely seaside town in the province of Imperia, not far from the Italian border with France.

The town has a lovely large sandy beach that is well equipped with beach clubs and cafes and it is ideal for kids as there is a lot of space to run around and the water is also reasonably shallow, allowing for relatively stress-free swimming.

The town itself is flat, stroller friendly and it is well-equipped with restaurants, shops and hotels.

While not overly charming if compared with more ancient villages, this is a great choice, especially for families with toddlers. We visited with a 2-year-old and 5-month-old and loved it!

Diano Marina is well served by the local train network so an added advantage of staying here is that you don’t have to bring the car.

Stay at: hotel Gabriella, a family-friendly hotel right on the beach with a pool, free wifi and private parking. Option to rent a stroller, play area for kids, the option of availing of babysitting service (extra charge), cafe on-site.

Alassio

Another family-friendly beach in Liguria is that of Alassio, a place with sand so soft, it regularly hosts a sandcastle-making competition!

Alassio has a long promenade on the sea, well-equipped beach clubs and a pleasant center with colorful homes that is great for lazy strolls.

The town is one of the most popular in the area and is very well equipped to welcome visitors: as well as the beach, the town has a nice center with shops, cafes and restaurants and the typical ‘caruggi’ of this area, the narrow historical streets that make this area so charming.

Stay at: Residence San Marco Suites and Apartments, clean large apartments close to the beach with self-catering kitchen, terrace (some)

Laigueglia

Laigueglia is a small village not far from Alassio known for its characteristic historical center and a wonderful sandy beach.

Here, the water is clean, the sand soft and degrades gently into the sea, which means it is particularly indicated for small children. Some of the beach clubs have play areas.

The town is small but charming and very pleasant for a relaxing holiday and has free playgrounds as well as the WOW Waterpark, an inflatable water park that is excellent for active kids (and adults)!

Finale Ligure

Finale Ligure has lovely sandy beaches that are perfect for kids.

Awarded both Blue Flags (for clean waters) and Green Flags (kid-friendly approved beach), Finale has both free beach and beach clubs, several of which are equipped with kids’ playgrounds and beach toys.

The town has a family-friendly promenade with some green areas and offers quite a variety of activities when you want to leave the beach and get exploring.

Cool ones for kids are the boat tours to see whales (this area is a whale sanctuary), canoeing and kayaking, snorkeling and even mountain biking, since the mountains are nearby.

Close to both Alassio and Finale you also have the Acqua Park Caravelle, which has water slides and fun for all ages.

Stay at: Hotel San Giuseppe, family hotel 5 minutes walk from the beach, with family rooms, a swimming pool, restaurants on site, on-site parking and free wifi.

Varigotti

Varigotti is a delightful village near Finale very popular due to its charming historical center and clean waters. Varigotti has a beach of sand and small pebbles in parts, so it can be handy to have water shoes, but super clean and shallow waters that make it particularly good for kids.

The historical town center is close to traffic and has a peculiar architecture with some Moorish elements that are unique in Liguria.

Stay at: Hotel Liliana, a family hotel close to the beach with family rooms, a changing room with baby changing facilities/food preparation station, stroller rental, a restaurant on-site with kids’ menu, an all-inclusive option, play area at the hotel and on the beach.

Celle Ligure

When looking at family friendly beaches in Luguria we cannot forget Celle Ligure, a town so kid friendly to have received as recognition as ‘citta’ dei bambini‘ (children’s town).

Here you have a nice sandy beach, clean waters, and several kid-friendly beach clubs with equipment for babies and toddlers such as baby changing facilities, a baby food heating area, a baby club and a pool.

Away from the beach, the town is pleasant and has a flat promenade, playgrounds, crazy golf course and, in nearby Varazze, you can also enroll them in sailing courses for kids.

Stay at: Family-Friendly Hotel Adriana, close to the beach and well equipped for kids with family rooms, an onsite restaurant, a terrace, board games for kids, free wifi.

Best beach towns in Liguria for kids on Riviera di Levante

Riviera di Levante is the part of the Ligurian coast east of Genoa, the part of the region that eventually borders with Tuscany.

Riviera di Levante is home to some very famous destinations and the most popular with overseas tourism, mostly flocking here to see Cinque Terre and Portofino.

Riviera di Levante is my place of the heart: while the sandy beaches of Riviera di Ponente are wonderful for kids and much softer than the beaches here, I love the tall coastline of this part of Liguria and always have fun with the excursions by ferry available here.

The best beach towns for families in Liguria Riviera di Levante are as follows.

Levanto

Levanto is a wonderful town in Eastern Liguria, close to Cinque Terre and an ideal base to discover the area, should you wish to combine time on the beach with hiking and sightseeing in this scenic area.

The town is particularly good for families with kids since it has some of the charms of Cinque Terre without the logistical challenges: Levanto has a nice beach (small pebbles), flat promenade, a nice cycling path and it is a great base to discover Cinque Terre by train and boat.

Stay at: Hotel Carla, family-friendly hotel close to the beach, with family rooms.

Find here >>> our guide to visiting Levanto with kids

Chiavari

Chiavari is a wonderful, local, family-friendly town east of Gena and one of my favorite places to visit in Liguria with kids!

The town has a pleasant city center with beautiful palazzi, several green areas, wonderful kids’ playgrounds, a flat and kid friendly promenade and tons of beach clubs and services for families.

We adore it!

From here you can also easily visit Portofino and Cinque Terre: perfect if you want to experience a more local atmosphere without renouncing these two stunning destinations.

You can find here >>> my travel guide to Chiavari with kids

Santa Margherita Ligure

Santa Margherita Ligure or simply ‘Santa’ as many locals call it is a wonderful, upscale and child-friendly town close to Portofino and the closest train station to it (the station is called Santa Margherita – Portofino)

Santa Margherita is wonderful for families.

The atmosphere here is upscale and a little more international than in Chiavari or Levanto and this is reflected both in feel and prices.

However, it comes with the advantages of a wonderful and kid-friendly beach (a mix of sand and pebbles), beautiful hotels and access to premier services such as private boat tours to Portofino without losing its local charm and becoming snooty.

It’s a wonderful place for families!

Find here >> our Guide to Santa Margherita Ligure with kids (the photo at the top of this post is Santa Margherita! I took it last summer from the ferry!)

Rapallo

Rapallo is a beautiful and kid-friendly town just beside Santa Margherita Ligure and a wonderful, local place for a family vacation.

Rapallo grew quickly in the 60s and 70s, at a speed so significant, the Italian language now uses the word Rapallizzato (literally: Rapallized!) to indicate places that go through quick urbanization.

However, this doesn’t mean Rapallo is not appealing: it is actually a wonderful place!

A busy, buzzing coastal town, Rapallo is one of the biggest and best-served centers in the area with trains and ferries to many destinations.

Less upscale than Santa Margherita but in the same enviable position, Rapallo has some nice beaches, playgrounds, and services and it is perfect for those looking for a slightly bigger center.

Guide to Rapallo with kids coming soon!

Sestri Levante

Sestri Levante is a beautiful, colorful town in Liguria, east of Genoa, blessed with something almost unique in this area: wonderful and large beaches!

Sestri has a colorful city center, many playgrounds, lots of services and two beach areas that are wonderful for families: the smaller Baia del Silenzio (Bay of Silence) with sandy beaches and the larger Golfo delle Fiabe (Bay of Fairytales) with several beach clubs and facilities.

Sestri Levante is one of the nicest and best-served places for families and a great place to call home when visiting Liguria with kids!

Find here >> my Guide to Sestri Levante with kids

Camogli

Camogli is another beautiful and family friendly town in the Italian Riviera in Liguria, perfect to mix time on the sea and day trips!

Camolgi has good train and ferry connections with nearby areas, it has a nice and child-friendly town center with all you may need (shops, restaurants cafes etc) and a lovely beach of sand and pebbles overlooked by the colorful houses typical of Liguria.

A fabulous child friendly town!

Monterosso al Mare

Monterosso al Mare is one of the five Cinque Terre towns.

You may find it peculiar to see it listed as one of the best places to visit in Liguria with kids, since the Cinque Terre area is often mentioned as a quintessential child-unfriendly location (see below how I debunk this myth!).

However, Monterosso is great for kids!

Monterosso al Mare is a town divided into two parts: an old center with atmospheric, colorful streets and buildings in perfect Ligurian style. And a new part, mostly devoted to tourism and hotels, yet still pretty and welcoming!

In both parts, you find beautiful playgrounds for kids and plenty of restaurants and cafes. The old part is the one with the port, from where you can visit the other towns by ferry or private boat.

The new part is where you find the biggest beach clubs and the easiest sea access.

All of it is wonderful and super family-friendly in terms of vibe and services!

Read here >>> my guide to Monterosso with kids

Other places to visit in Liguria with kids

Genova – Genoa

Genoa is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy and a wonderful place to visit with kids. The city develops around two main areas, the historical center and the Old Port, both with plenty to do.

The historical center is lovely for sightseeing however, it is the old port that is a true powerhouse of kids’ activities: here you have the famous Genoa Aquarium, Genoa’s Children Museum, the Panoramic Bigo Elevator, Biosphere and ever a real pirate ships (well, kind of!): you can learn about this and all the things you can do in Genoa with kids here.

Cinque Terre

The area of Liguria visitors hear the most about is Cinque Terre, an area of great natural beauty and with unique, colorful houses that makes the landscape of the area one of the most photographed in the world.

If you are in the area, it is definitely worth visiting Cinque Terre however, the area poses some difficulties to families with small kids as it is very stroller unfriendly – unless you know where to go and what to expect!

once you do, Cinque Terre becomes a wonderful family destination!

You can read here >>> my guide about Cinque Terre with kids.

At a glance, this is what you need to know:

Monterosso is the easiest and most stroller-friendly. This is my favorite town for kids and for vibe. Read here >>> travel guide to Monterosso with kids

Vernazza is not very stroller-friendly but has a nice sandy beach to play on the sand if the sun is out. it is also super scenic! Read here >>>> travel guide to Vernazza with kids

Maranola is not very stroller-friendly but has a fab playground (one of the best playgrounds in Cinque terre! with a view so it’s totally worth it! Read here >> my travel guide to Manarola with kids

Corniglia has hundreds of steps between the train and the town (sometimes there is a bus up) so it is most suited to families with older kids. It has no beach. It is also the quietest! Read here >>> my travel guide to Corniglia with kids

Riomaggiore is scenic but full of steps to get to the cutest area which is the port. For families, it is my least favorite for vibe and access but it is definitely worth a stop for beautiful photos! (travel guide coming soon)

Portofino, Porto Venere, Lerici, Tellaro, Boccadasse

Liguria has many more beautiful towns that I can possibly mention in this guide. However, there are some I want to highlight for you because they embody the quintessential idea of Liguria many visitors come to these shores for!

There are not necessarily towns I’d choose FOR kids but places I believe families will enjoy visiting.

Portofino is world-famous and worth visiting for its stunning castle and views. Not a place for kids but a pleasant stop for lunch or a snack and one of the most beautiful places in Italy.

Porto Venere is a UNESCO World Heritage town with colorful houses close to Cinque Terre. Wonderful to see, it is not for kids as such, and you need to be happy to walk uphill to enjoy it, but it is stunning and family friendly in vibe

Lerci, Tellaro and Boccadasse are lovely towns with some of that Cinque Terre charm you only find in this part of Liguria. Perfect for a taste of this area!

Kids’ activities in Liguria: what to do

Liguria is a fun place for kids in summer especially. Aside from the endless fun of the beach, kid-friendly activities in Liguria include:

Canoeing, kayaking, sailing – several locations in Liguria (and on this list) offer courses for kids to engage and have fun in the sea. Check individual providers locally for age restriction and language of classes (most are in Italian)

Whale watching tours – this are is a whale sanctuary and there are several day tours to allow you to spot whales in their natural habitat.

Water and fun parks – Le Caravelle Water Park and WOW park are both fun waterparks in Liguria for kids of all ages

How to get to Liguria and how to get around

Liguria is crossed by the long Via Aurelia, connecting Rome to France and it is well served by an efficient train network so both car and train are good options to explore the area.

With kids in tow and in high season, the train is the best way to explore the area. The main towns are LA Spezia and Genova, connected to both Rome and Milan. However, many smaller towns also have direct train.s

Read here >>> our guide to using trains in Italy with kids

Efficient and clean, trains connect all the main localities, they are sustainable and kid-friendly, and take away the stress of driving, which in this area means dealing with winding, trafficked roads and difficult parking.

If you want to get away from the coast, for instance, to get an agriturismo on the hills, then the car is a must.

If you are driving in Liguria, it is worth choosing a hotel with private free parking – daily charges can be steep and free on-street parking often impossible to find.

Genova is the closest airport, and it is excellent. Milan is also well connected to the area by train and road: expect a journey of a 1.5h/ 2h.

What to eat in Liguria with kids

Liguria has some of the best dishes in Italy: the land of basil and focaccia, it is a dream place for kids who can dig into pizza and gelato, of course, but also delicious pesto, cheese focaccia, canestrelli (biscuits) and all the typical Italian child-friendly food they are used to in other parts of Italy such as tomato sauce pasta and cotoletta (fried chicken)

What to pack to visit Liguria with kids

What to pack for a family vacation in Liguria depends on the time of the year of your visit.

For summer, you need to pack for a beach vacation and expect heat and a lot of sun. If you are intending on visiting Cinque Terre, you also need hiking gear so I recommend you check our packing list for Cinque Terre instead.

In winter, you want to wrap up and be ready for rain especially.

In all seasons, I recommend you bring both a baby carrier and a stroller (opt for lightweight so you can fold it in restaurants etc).

This post was first published in 2021 and has now been fully updated with new photos and additional recommended destinations