Seaside Serenity: Discovering the Tranquil Charms of Camogli, Italy

Beaches and Water Activities

Soak up the sun at the beach, which consists of coarse sand and large pebbles and offers lovely views over the water. There are beach clubs where you can rent lounge chairs and umbrellas.

Enjoy the water, either on a boat or in the sea snorkeling or scuba diving. Camogli is home to B & B diving that has two large diving quarries with four sunken ships and abundance of sea life.

Walking and Hiking

Walk along Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, the pedestrian street that takes you along the beachfront. Do this at the “golden hour” for beautiful sunset views.

Enjoy a hike along one of the many trails to San Fruttuoso (2.8 miles), Punta Chiappa (4.4 miles), or Portofino (6.2 miles)

Culinary Delights

Try Revello's famous cheese focaccia. This family owned shop often has long lines of patrons waiting for the local bread, pizza, and sweets, made fresh daily since 1964. Their signature item is focaccia al formaggio.

Take a guided winery tour and learn about local wine production while tasting some great Ligurian wines.

Take a cooking class in the home of a local and learn to make regional favorites, including the most popular - pesto

Travel to Camogli in mid- may and enjoy the sagra del pesce, a fish festival that the involves the whole town. First held in 1952 to honor San Fortunato, the patron saint of fishermen, the event is famous for the huge pan in which they fry the fish. What makes it really special is the night before, when there is an amazing firework display.

Day trips

Take a boat tour to Portofino

• Take in the scenery from the water

• Once in Portofino, enjoy the shopping, either as an admirer or a buyer, both are fun in these exquisite boutiques.

• Marvel at the huge yachts navigating the tiny harbor.

• Have lunch at a waterside restaurant and enjoy the people watching

Cinque Terre hike and wine tasting

• Depart by train from Camogli and travel to Monterosso and hike one-and-a-half hours to the town of Vernazza. Visit the village

• Continue hiking for an hour to Corniglia, stop for a snack and wine tasting

• Take the train back to Camogli

Take the train to Genoa, the sixth largest city in Italy

• Take a walking city tour, or explore by rikshaw or a hop-on, hop-off bus – don’t miss the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, the lighthouse, Campo Pisano or Palazzo Ducale (the old Doge’s Palace)

• Stop for sparkling wine and a pastry at Marescotti di Cavo

• Have lunch at Il Genovese or Vico Palla – try the pesto at either

Ostaia da o Sigu – Perfect location right along the waterfront and serves a large selection of fresh seafood dishes.

Izoa – One of the most beautiful views of all the many outdoor restaurants in Camogli. Izoa is more modern in both décor and menu options than many of the other restaurants in the town. Great spot for taking a photo at sunset

La Rotunda – You can choose to eat inside (year-round) or outside on the terrace (April to September). Good for lunch or dinner, they offer both casual fare like pizza and upscale seafood cuisine.

Il Doge – This beautiful upscale restaurant is located in the Hotel Cenobio Dei Dogi. The restaurant is inside the hotel and views are out of their soaring windows

La Playa – Also located on the grounds of Hotel Cenobio Dei Dogi but situated off from the main building and overlooking the beach. Excellent creative seafood options.

La Camogliese – Very small restaurant inside but where you want to be is outside at one of the many tables lining the promenade overlooking the sea. One of our best photos was taken here with the stunning water as the backdrop. They have excellent pasta and seafood, but the eggplant side dish was exceptional – I ordered a second!

U Caruggiu Bakery & Pastry Shop – They serve the traditional Focaccia alla Genovese, which is typically less than one-inch thick and a perfect balance of softness and crispiness. They also have a wide variety of other breads as well as lots of sweet pastry options. Perfect place to stop for an afternoon pick me up.

Il Barcollo - Fun local bar with great snacks. Many locals come here so it’s not too touristy, and with its beautiful view it makes it the perfect place to come for an aperitivo.

La Cage Aux Folles Pub - At the end of the promenade, this is a great place to stop for a cocktail or glass of wine and pair it with something from their large selection of quick bites, including multiple types of focaccia.