Top Village

Keen to get to the seaside? There are several black-sand or shingle public beaches around Cogoleto (10 minutes’ drive), where you can kickback on loungers, drink cocktails in lido bars or snorkel around the rocks in clear water. A promenade backs the waterfront, and there’s plenty of parking too. Staying on the Ligurian coastline, you can easily spend a day discovering the ornate 16th-century palaces, cathedral and aquarium in historic Genoa (half an hour). For additional cultural days out, explore the ancient centre of seaside Arenzano (10 minutes), or tour the art nouveau mansion at Villa Negrotto Cambiaso and Parco Comunale (10 minutes). The handsome Parco Storico Villa Duchessa di Galliera (20 minutes) is also worth seeing, for its formal gardens and picnic spots with views of Genoa. If you’d rather be out and about in the fresh air, there’s a golf course just five minutes’ drive from your base camp, and a wild swimming spot at Lago Nega Crave (10 minutes by car). Beigua Regional Natural Park (20 minutes) also has many hiking and cycling options through the forested hills, giving stunning views of the coastline.