Italy · LIGURIA TOURS
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 liguria tours worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
See sharks, dolphins, penguins, seals, and 5,000 animals at Genoa Aquarium, with skip-the-line entry and optional focaccia or lunch.
“The best: the Seesterne und the Mantas Verbesserung: maybe a Show with the Dolphins?”
Review of Genoa’s boat tour to Camogli, San Fruttuoso, and Portofino, with timing, costs, practical tips, and honest advice on each stop.
“Great taxi shuttle boat. Good value. Left slightly early a few times so don’t be late. We split our time as such Camogli 10-1 breakfast swimming and drinks. SAN Fruttuoso 1.30- 3.10 lunch and a quick swim. Portofino 3.30- 4.50. Walk around and an ice cream. This worked well for us as comogli was the most relaxing and portofino was small and expensive.”
Review of the $79 Cinque Terre boat tour from La Spezia, with stops in Portovenere or Riomaggiore, Monterosso, and Vernazza.
“This was a fantastic day from beginning till end. I highly recommend that you book this. As a solo traveller from Australia, I felt completely welcomed! Special thanks to Rosa and Marco!”
Review of Genoa’s 24 or 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus, covering the historic center, Boccadasse, practical tips, routes, value, and drawbacks.
“We went to 2 tours at one bus stop then took the bus to have a complete route to view the city. It worked out well for us.”
Review of Genoa Aquarium with lunch: exhibits, Tender Café views, price, timing, crowds, accessibility, and practical booking advice.
“Le point de rencontre a été difficile et j’ai eu de la difficulté à rejoindre le vendeur mais il s’est présenté. Sa ma cause un peu de stress . Par contre la visite était parfaite c’est un bel aquarium avec des lamantins et le repas était offert inclus dans notre billet . Je recommande.”
Review of the Cinque Terre day tour from Florence, with small groups, boat and train rides, village stops, costs, and practical tips.
“What an incredible trip! Jonathan was kind, helpful, and incredibly knowledgeable. I loved hearing all the rich history of Italy—these tours have truly been amazing for that. The guides share insights only locals would know, and Jonathan was a true wealth of knowledge. He was so accommodating to everyone in the group. My daughter and I wanted to swim, and thanks to his suggestions, we got to enjoy the water in both Monterosso and Vernazza. Highly recommend this experience!”
Cruise from Genoa to Portofino for coastal views, Camogli, San Fruttuoso Bay, and free time in Italy’s famous Riviera village.
“This was something amazing for us! The view was breathtaking. The guide was also great and explained everything completely. We can recommend this trip for you and your friends! 😊”
Review of the La Spezia to Florence and Pisa tour, with timing, transport, optional tower climb and Accademia access.
“This was a great tour, despite the rainy day. Alexander our guide and Martina our driver were fabulous. Highly recommend this tour and hopefully you’ll end up with the same crew as ours.”
Review of the La Spezia to Pisa shore excursion, with transport, free time, Leaning Tower options, timing, value, and practical tips.
“I liked the fact that I could call the tour guides so I never felt stressed. Also, the bus ride was comfortable, (Martina and excellent driver), and our guide, Alessandro, was helpful, (knew the best ice cream joint in Pisa), and considerate, (gave us his number so we could contact him if there was a problem). It was an excellent experience all round; one I highly recommend”
Review of the $70 Cinque Terre train excursion from La Spezia, with four villages, a local guide, practical tips, walking demands, and value advice.
“We love how our tour guide, Lara, made sure that all of the people are together. She gave us enough time to shop and told us good spots where to eat and take the best photos. Thank you so much for taking care of us.”
Review of the Cinque Terre hybrid boat tour from Monterosso, with village views, swimming, Ligurian snacks, drinks, pricing, and tips.
“We were told when we booked that we would be picked up at ship. When we went for pick up, we were told the pick up was over an hour away. We called and were told there was no pick up and no other tours available. We asked for a refund since they did not pick up as promised and it was rejected. Very disappointed with Viator.”
Review of Genoa’s four-hour Pelagos Sanctuary whale-watching cruise, with biologist guide, dolphin sightings, practical tips, price, and honest drawbacks.
“Lovely afternoon trip to try to see whales, dolphins and other animals. Boat was clean and comfortable. The guide was knowledgeable. There were three spotters and they did find two whales, two turtles and a few dolphins.”
Search for whales and dolphins in Italy’s Pelagos Sanctuary with a marine biologist, open-sea views, conservation lessons, and a free return option.
“Giornata molto bella, dal punto di vista meteo, mare calmo, peccato che di balene non ne abbiamo viste. Compensate in parte da dei delfini stupendi che giocavano intorno alla barca.”
Explore Vernazza, Monterosso, and Riomaggiore by train from La Spezia, with free time, a guide, and a taste of local limoncino.
“We both had a really good time with this trip! Serena was an excellent tour leader, very friendly and clear with her instructions to where to go, when to get off the train and what time we were moving on. I would recommend this tour if you are unsure of how to travel the Cinque Terre or have a shorter amount of time to see the villages. We both thought that there was enough time spent in each place to be able to get a good feel of the area. Thank you!”
Explore Genoa’s Old Town, Rolli palaces, cathedral, and museums on a bilingual two-hour walk for $16.
“Very good way to discover Genova and its city center. This city is full of little place hard to find when you don't know where to go and the City Guide was a perfect way to get more familiar with these littles streets and places. I strongly recomand :)”
Pick a ruin, a gallery, a kitchen or a boat.
