Your gateway to Portofino, Genoa and the Ligurian Coast
Where will your perfect day on the Italian Riviera take you?
Designed for Cruise Passengers
Helping cruise passengers make every hour ashore count.
Explore Genoa, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure and the Ligurian coast with carefully selected shore excursions designed around your cruise schedule.
Cruise-day planning
Your Day Ashore
Where will your perfect day on the Italian Riviera take you? Choose the experience that fits your hours ashore — then build everything around your ship’s schedule.
Historic Cities
Genoa’s harbour, palazzi and old-town lanes — Liguria’s maritime capital in one carefully timed day.
Coastal Villages
Portofino, Santa Margherita and colourful Ligurian harbours made for unhurried wandering.
Food
Focaccia, pesto and seaside tables — taste Liguria without losing your ship buffer.
Scenic Drives
Cliff roads and Mediterranean viewpoints that turn the transfer into part of the day.
Small Groups
Intimate vehicles, clearer pacing and a calmer day than large coach tours.
Family Friendly
Shorter walks, flexible stops and days that still feel special with children aboard.
Luxury
Private pacing, premium routing and Riviera days shaped around your party alone.
Choose Your Riviera
How Would You Like to Experience the Italian Riviera?
From Genoa's palazzi and Portofino's harbour to Savona's walkable old town and Ligurian food culture, choose the experience that best fits your interests and time ashore.
Historic Cities
“Genoa's palazzi, caruggi and harbour light — Liguria's great maritime capital within a cruise-timed day.”
- Guided introduction to historic Genoa
- Striped palazzi and narrow lanes
- Harbour viewpoints and cathedral squares
- Roughly 45–60 minutes from Savona each way
- Best on a long port call
Coastal Villages
“Portofino's pastel harbour and Santa Margherita's elegant promenade — the Riviera at its most photogenic.”
- Iconic Portofino harbour
- Santa Margherita waterfront stroll
- Coastal paths and viewpoints
- Full-day excursion from Savona
- Editor's Choice for long calls
Savona Old Town
“Priamar fortress, cathedral lanes and harbour life — a complete city day minutes from the gangway.”
- Walk from Palacrociere Savona terminal
- Priamar and waterfront views
- Via Paleocapa and historic piazzas
- Focaccia and Ligurian lunch stops
- Ideal for shorter port calls
Food & Wine
“Focaccia, pesto, olive oil and seafood — Liguria by the plate along the coast.”
- Regional focaccia and farinata
- Coastal seafood and trattorie
- Pesto and Ligurian white wine
- Village stops on scenic drives
- Food woven into the route
Scenic Riviera Drives
“Cliff roads, village colour and Mediterranean horizons — breadth without rushing one famous harbour.”
- Curated coastal routing
- Photography stops built in
- Villages beyond the headline names
- Cruise-timed return to Savona
- Best when you want variety
Private Riviera Touring
“Your vehicle, your pace and one carefully chosen Ligurian route shaped around your party.”
- Flexible stops and walking pace
- Useful for families and mixed mobility
- Photography and lunch timing
- One realistic coastal anchor
- Cruise-first return planning
The Italian Riviera revealed
Spirit of Liguria
Liguria blends cliff-hung villages, pastel harbours, Genoa's mercantile grandeur and one of Italy's most distinctive regional cuisines.
A cruise day from Savona could mean walking Priamar fortress, wandering Genoa's caruggi, photographing Portofino's harbour or tasting focaccia beside the Mediterranean.
Every route reveals another shade of the Riviera.
Harbour villages
Genoa palazzi
Coastal drives
Future Riviera exclusives
The Wow Collection
“A future collection of distinctive small-group Ligurian days, developed around local expertise, thoughtful pacing and the realities of a Savona cruise call.”
The collection is still in preparation. Proposed experiences include an Exclusive Portofino Day, a carefully paced Genoa Discovery and private Riviera routes. None should be treated as currently bookable until partners, access and sailing-specific logistics are confirmed.
Flagship product
Signature Riviera Discovery
“A future small-group journey along the Ligurian coast — designed around your ship, not a generic day tour.”
Our flagship Signature Experience is in development — a curated small-group Riviera day that will become the primary recommendation on this site. The homepage is designed so this slot becomes your first choice without a redesign.
Editor's Collection
The best excursion for your kind of traveller
Not every passenger wants the same Riviera. Our editorial team recommends the strongest option for each traveller type — honest picks, not catalogue listings.
Editor's Choice
Portofino & Santa Margherita — the Italian Riviera's defining harbour day on a carefully timed excursion from Savona.
View our top pick →Best First-Time Tour
Portofino and Santa Margherita for first-time visitors with a long port call and appetite for coastal road time.
Discover the Riviera →Best Historic City
Genoa Highlights — palazzi, caruggi and harbour grandeur within a cruise-timed day from Savona.
Explore Genoa →Best Food & Wine
Ligurian Coast Experience — focaccia, pesto, olive oil and seafood without leaving the coast behind.
Taste Liguria →Best Private Tour
Compare private versus coach pacing — flexible routing for parties who value control on Riviera roads.
Compare touring styles →Best Photography
Italian Riviera Discovery — cliff roads, village stops and harbour light designed for the camera.
Photograph the coast →Best for Families
Savona city or a gentler coastal day keeps road time sensible and allows mixed-age families to set an easier pace.
Compare family days →Best Independent Day
Walking from Savona port — Priamar, cathedral, lanes and waterfront with a generous ship buffer.
Use the DIY guide →Signature Riviera Discovery
Signature Riviera Discovery — a future maximum-eight-guest coastal day, currently in preparation and not bookable.
In preparationHonest advice
Do You Need a Shore Excursion in Savona?
The honest answer: you can enjoy Savona independently. An excursion becomes worthwhile when you want to reach Genoa, Portofino and the wider Italian Riviera within a cruise day.
You can explore Savona independently — and many passengers do
Savona's old town is compact and close to the terminal, making an independent day realistic for most passengers:
- ✓ Priamar fortress and waterfront
- ✓ Cathedral and Via Paleocapa
- ✓ Focaccia shops and harbour cafés
- ✓ Promenade back to the terminal
Set a 60–90 minute return buffer and confirm your all-aboard time. The ship will not wait.
The wider Riviera needs more planning
Genoa and Portofino are too far from the terminal for casual exploration. Organised transport and disciplined timing matter for:
- →Genoa — palazzi, caruggi and a full day of urban walking
- →Portofino — coastal roads, harbour crowds and photography time
- →Santa Margherita Ligure — elegant promenade often paired with Portofino
- →Scenic coastal drives — best reached with a realistic route and return buffer
When you're ready
Featured shore excursions
Bookable experiences from Savona — priced in euros and planned around your ship.
Historic Cities · €148
Genoa Highlights
Italy’s great maritime city — palazzi, harbour light and caruggi lanes within a carefully timed day from Savona.
Coastal Villages · €168
Portofino & Santa Margherita
Two of the Riviera’s most photographed harbours — colourful piazzas, yacht basins and Ligurian light.
Scenic Drives · €150
Italian Riviera Discovery
A broader Ligurian day — coastal roads, village colour and time to breathe in the Riviera.
Walking Tours · €115
Savona Walking Tour
Stay close to port and discover Savona’s old town, fortress silhouette and Ligurian everyday life.
Small Groups · €142
Ligurian Coast Experience
Colourful harbour villages, coastal roads and the unhurried rhythm of Liguria.
Plan with confidence
Everything you need for Savona
01
Shore excursions
Carefully selected Genoa, Portofino, Santa Margherita and Ligurian coast experiences designed around cruise timing.
Browse excursions →02
Port & Riviera guides
Honest advice on how far Genoa is, how to visit Portofino, taxis, walking from the terminal and cruise tips.
Read the guides →03
Cruise ship schedule
See which ships call at Savona and plan your day ashore around real arrival windows.
View schedules →Keep planning
Your Italian Riviera planning hub
Use these guides and comparisons to shape a port day that matches your ship hours, energy and curiosity — whether you stay in Savona or travel the coast.
Genoa or Portofino?
Compare Liguria's two headline days — urban history versus coastal harbour glamour from Savona.
Is Portofino worth it?
Honest guidance on road time, crowds, scenery and who should choose another day.
Walking from Savona port
Priamar, cathedral, old-town lanes and harbour with a realistic return-to-ship plan.
Compare Riviera experiences
Choose between Genoa, Portofino, Savona and scenic drives with candid trade-offs.
Private or coach touring
Compare private versus coach pacing and short-port realism before you book a coastal day.
Savona cruise schedules
Check your published port hours before committing to Genoa or Portofino.
Savona shore excursion FAQs
Is Savona a good cruise port for the Italian Riviera?▼
Yes. Savona is a practical gateway to Genoa, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure and the wider Ligurian coast, with a walkable old town beside the terminal.
Can I visit Portofino from Savona in one day?▼
With a full day in port, yes. Road time is significant, so choose a cruise-timed excursion and protect a 60–90 minute return buffer.
How far is Genoa from Savona?▼
Typically about 45–60 minutes by road each way, depending on traffic and your exact meeting point.
Do your excursions include a return to ship guarantee?▼
Yes. Bookable excursions are planned around your cruise call. Confirmation details explain the assurance that applies to your booking.