Active Italian Riviera Honeymoon: Genoa, Portofino, Cinque Terre & Lerici - 10 Days

Highlights

• Taste traditional dishes and the best gelato in Genoa with a local foodie guide
• Snorkel in the calm waters of a protected marine reserve near Portofino
• E-bike and hike across the beautiful Cinque Terre National Park
• Spend a relaxed afternoon kayaking in the Bay of Poets in Lerici

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Genoa, Self-Guided Walking Tour

Say ciao to Genoa when you step off the plane today. You've landed in a lesser-known Italian gem, and a private transfer will be waiting to drive you to your hotel in the city center. This underrated port city is located in the northwestern coastal region of Liguria and is famous as the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. The center is rich with medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Gothic architecture, and after settling in, you can spend the rest of the day exploring its historic palaces, monuments, museums, and waterfront harbor on your own.

Stroll down Via Garibaldi, the most famous street in Genoa, where you'll find many extravagant and luxurious Renaissance palaces. Buy a ticket to enter all the Rolli Palaces, which together make up the Strada Nuova Museums. Afterward, head down to the port to visit the Maritime Museum and enjoy a drink by the waterfront. Finally, return to the city center and get lost exploring Genoa's charming streets.

Day 2: Genoa Traditional Food Tour

Today you'll explore the best of Genoa with a local foodie as you taste your way across the city, trying traditional dishes and discovering history through food. You'll sit down at the best restaurants and traditional taverns to try the city's regional specialties, and pesto is sure to be a feature since the classic sauce made with pine nuts and basil was born in Genoa. You might also get to try local savory pies, focaccia with soft stracchino cheese from nearby Recco village, fried squids, stockfish cooked with pine nuts, local anchovies, and frisceu, a small fried pancake.

Naturally, the food tour will include a stop at one of the city's best artisan gelato shops, where you can choose from traditional and innovative gourmet flavors. Finally, end with an Italian espresso and bid farewell to your guide. After all that eating, decide whether you'd like to walk it off with more sightseeing around the city center or opt for a laid-back afternoon of sipping spritzes and people-watching around the port.

Day 3: Transfer to Portofino, Paraggi Bay Snorkeling Tour

After breakfast, a private driver will be waiting to transfer you an hour down the coast to Portofino. This fishing village turned jet-set retreat on the Italian Riviera is a luxurious spot filled with pastel-colored houses, fantastic waterfront seafood restaurants, and chic boutiques. Check into your accommodation, then change into beach clothes for this afternoon's aquatic adventure.

You'll join a fun one-hour snorkeling session in Paraggi Bay. This bay is part of a marine reserve, making it boat-free and safe to snorkel in the calm and crystal-clear waters. Meet your guide in Niasca, where you'll get all the gear and a quick briefing. Then, dive under the surface and discover a seabed rich in flora, fauna, and hidden treasures. You'll swim above one of the most extended posidonia meadows in the area (a native plant known as Neptune's grass) and later cross the bay to see other species of fish and marine life.

Day 4: Old Mill Pesto Cooking Class

After eating your way across Genoa earlier in the trip, today you'll roll up your sleeves and learn how to create the region's traditional dishes at home with a special cooking class. First, you'll meet your private guide and travel in a van through Portofino Natural Park, a lush Mediterranean landscape filled with olive groves and vineyards. Stop at a hops plantation, where you'll hear about the very first beer made in Portofino.

Then, it's time to get cooking. Meet a local chef and learn how to make fresh pesto with mortar and pestle, shape the region's handmade pasta called corzetti, and whip up a traditional dessert. After, sit down to savor your delicious feast along with local cheese and salami. You'll also get to try delicious local beer made with the hops you saw, or pair your meal with a glass of local white wine.

Day 5: Private Boat Trip Along the Portofino Coast

Much of today is yours to relax, kick back by the beach, and lean into the holiday vibes of Portofino. Later, you'll cap off the day with a quintessential Italian experience as you cruise along Portofino's scenic coast and enjoy an aperitivo on board. Board a private board and set off from town, gaining a new perspective on the impressive cliffs and coves of the coastline. You'll stop to admire the scenic cove of San Fruttuoso, with its medieval abbey built right on the beach.

Along the way, your captain will drop anchor so you can swim and snorkel, and you'll want to dive beneath the sea to see Cristo degli Abissi, a famous underwater statue. After, you'll reach Camogli, one of the most picturesque villages on the Italian Riviera. Admire its picture-perfect row of tall, colorful houses and the cozy fishing harbor, then enjoy a tasting of focaccia bread and local wine as you cruise back toward Portofino.

Day 6: Transfer to Vernazza, Cinque Terre Bike Tour

Continue your journey south as a private transfer takes you on the one-hour drive from Portofino to Vernazza. Enjoy the scenic route along the dramatic Ligurian coastline as you make your way to this special Cinque Terre village, often considered the most beautiful of the five. Upon arrival, drop your bags at your accommodation and meet your cycling guide, who will provide you with an e-bike and helmet for today's adventure exploring Cinque Terre National Park, including the surrounding countryside and its villages. 

Start in Vernazza with a tour of the town, winding through its narrow streets and sheltered natural harbor. Admire the church built right on the sea and the castle situated to protect the villagers from pirate attacks. Then, jump on your bikes and pedal uphill through terraced vineyards and lemon groves—all while enjoying sweeping views over the coastline. On the ascent, you'll stop at two historic sanctuaries and pause to rest with white wine and focaccia before finally reaching the town of Levanto. From here, catch a train back to Vernazza for the evening.

Day 7: Hike to Manarola in Cinque Terre National Park

You're off to explore more of Cinque Terre National Park again, but this time, you'll be hiking in the opposite direction. Today's goal is to hike from Vernazza to Manarola, a trek that will take around four hours. It's a popular route, so leave early to avoid too many other hikers and the heat. The trail winds through pine and oak woods before leveling off to a panoramic trail through terraced vineyards. Along the way, you'll enter the village of Corniglia, a great spot to stop and refresh with a picnic.

Finally, continue an hour to the classic seaside town of Manarola, the heart of Cinque Terre's wine production. After a long hike, the sea is definitely calling, so venture down for a refreshing dip, then dry off and go enjoy the town. You could find a cute wine bar to taste the local vino before taking a train back to Vernazza.

Day 8: Transfer to Lerici, Explore the Old Town

This morning, a private driver will transfer you from Vernazza to Lerici, another seaside town on the Italian Riviera whose star is on the rise due to its reputation as an under-the-radar alternative to the Cinque Terre. Drop off your bags, then spend some time soaking up the sunshine, sea breezes, and plentiful charms of this pretty coastal town. Along with the towns of La Spezia and Portovenere, Lerici overlooks the famous Gulf of Poets (formally known as the Gulf of La Spezia), famed for its associations with English Romantic poets like Byron and Shelley. 

Start your own self-guided tour of Lerici in the Old Town, where you'll find a sheltered port once used by the Etruscans and later the Romans. Visit the 12th-century Torre di San Rocco, built by the Romans as a watchtower, then explore the 11th-century Castello di Lerici, which dominates the small harbor and serves as a symbol of the city. Enjoy views over the Gulf of Poets from its elevated terraces and spot the many upmarket 18th-century residences that dot the coast, such as Villa Marigola.

Day 9: Free Morning in Lerici, Kayak Around the Bay of Poets

Spend the first half of today relaxing by the beach with a good book and an Aperol spritz, then enjoy a long lunch by the water, feasting on wood-fired pizzas and local white wine. Later in the afternoon, you'll set off on one last adventure as you paddle around the Bay of Poets by kayak. Discover hidden caves and coves, and stop at serene beaches to swim in the dewy evening light. Afterward, head back to the hotel to refresh before choosing a spot with a sunset view for your final romantic dinner of the trip.

Day 10: Transfer to Pisa, Depart

It's the last morning of your romantic vacation in Italy. When the time comes, a private driver will take you on the one-hour transfer to Pisa for your departing flight home or onward. Safe travels!

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