Visiting Camogli, Italy: A Hidden Gem on the Italian Riviera

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Last month, we kicked off our summer vacation exploring the French and Italian Riviera, and it was even more magical than I expected! While planning our trip, we had two days between our stays in Monacco and Cinque Terre. When deciding where to spend those, we randomly picked Camogli, Italy. It ended up being one of my favorite stops on our three-week European summer trip!

I am excited to tell you all about Camogli today because I fell in love with it. Of course, it is picturesque, with tall, colorful houses and a black rock beach. However, it was the people, the atmosphere, and the views that made it even more incredible for me. It’s no wonder that many Italians choose Camogli for their own holidays!

Our Visit To Camogli, Italy

Our family stayed in Camogli, Italy, for two days in early June 2024. We were traveling by train along the Ligurian coast with our two teenagers for this Italian Riviera trip. We chose Camogli because it looked like a charming coastal town where we could take it easy for a couple of days. Plus, it was a very convenient stop right along our train route.

restaurant in Camogli Italy and blue water Ligurian Sea

I was immediately drawn to its beauty! The vibrant, colorful houses immediately caught my attention. They are built tall and thin, with bright colors and sea-facing windows, to help the ship captains find their way home while their loved ones keep watch for them.

Today, this lovely Italian coastal town is rich in history and a popular holiday destination for Italians, often overlooked by tourists from abroad. Fishing is still popular, and the cheese focaccia is the staple snack!

Where Is Camogli, Italy?

So, where exactly is Camogli, and how do you get there? Well, as you can see by the map below, it’s nestled along the Ligurian Sea in Northwestern Italy. It’s close to Portofino, located on the other side of the Peninsula, and day trips to Portofino are popular!

To the north, Genoa is the nearest large city and often where you will pass though on your way to Camogli. If you keep heading south along the coast, you will reach the Cinque Terre, which is actually where we went next on this family trip to Europe!

How Do You Get To Camogli?

For most, the train will be the most popular way to get to Camogli, and it is very convenient. The Camogli-S. Fruttuoso Station is right in the heart of town, making it just a short walk to most accommodations in Camogli. This also means that it’s a great option for a quick half-day stop if you don’t have time to stay overnight. You’ll be able to see most of the area in a few hours!

TIP: We love using Trainline to purchase and keep our train tickets organized when traveling in Europe.

Another popular way to visit Camogli is by boat. Several boat day trips from Genoa stop at both Camogli and Portofino.

You can also choose to visit by car, although parking is going to be tricky. So, some people opt to take a private car or taxi from the airport in Genoa (approx 20 miles away) or elsewhere. Honestly, the train is 100% the way to go if you ask me!

Where To Stay In Camogli, Italy

I highly recommend staying a night or two in Camogli. It’s such a hidden gem on the Italian coast! Two nights will allow you to have a full day to either enjoy the beach or take a boat to San Fruttuoso Abbey. I will share more about that and the things to do in the following section.

Most of the accommodations in Camogli are short-term rentals, and many use independent Italian rental companies. However, I recommend using Booking.com to browse the hotels and vacation rental listings in Camogli and to book your accommodations.

READ: The Many Reasons Why I Love Using Booking.com In Europe

We booked through an Italian company, and while I loved the location of our rental, the beds were very uncomfortable, and it had a damp smell. The reviews on their site didn’t reflect that. However, if I had looked at their listing on Booking.com, I would have seen that recurring feedback and chosen something else.

Here are some rentals that I would have chosen instead!

You will want to stay in the heart of town on the main two streets up from the water. The options higher up from there will require a steep walk in both directions. There are a few boutique hotels in Camogli, Italy as well. If visiting during the hot summer months, look for places with air conditioning or ample windows that open for airflow.

Click here to browse all of the Camogli rentals on Booking.com!

Camogli, Italy: Things To Do On The Italian Riviera

Now that you have your transportation and accommodation lined up, what is there to do in Camogli, Italy?

What I loved about Camogli was that there wasn’t actually too much to do! It was compact, and while there were some options, I didn’t feel the need to check a bunch of things off the list. I was able just to enjoy the downtime and relax.

A short list of things to do in Camogli include:

dining
shopping
beach & beach clubs
Basilica Di Santa Maria Assunta
Castle della Dragonara
hiking near Camogli
San Fruttuoso Abbey
day trips by boat

Dining & Shopping in Camogli

I loved the great dining in Camogli! We ate several small meals all three days allowing us to eat and/or grab a drink at over a dozen restaurants in Camogli. Abby and I had the most incredible lunch at La Rotonda, enjoying pizza and pesto as the waves crashed onto the rocks next to us.

Take a look at the photo above. Isn’t it such a gorgeous place to dine? Plus, all of the food was inexpensive and delicious!

For shopping, there are a variety of cute shops in town selling everything from art to Italian linen apparel.

The Beaches & Beach Clubs in Camogli

If you visit in the summer, you’ll want to enjoy the black rock beach. The water in the Ligurian Sea is the most incredible shade of blue! Several beach clubs offer chair and umbrella rentals. Or, you can set up your towel and just enjoy the beach on your own.

Basilica Di Santa Maria Assunta & Castle Della Dragonara

The beautiful church you see is the Basilica Di Santa Maria Assunta, built in the twelfth century, and next to it is the Castle Della Dragonara.

You can visit the Basilica Di Santa Maria Assunta, which is still used for worship today. Like in most Italian churches, it is respectful to cover your shoulders and knees.

The Castle Della Dragonara is not open to visitors, but you can admire it from the outside!

Hiking From Camogli

There are a few different hikes from Camogli and several paths beyond that in Portofino Park! Many of the popular hikes are too long to do both ways, so you will likely want to take trains or even boat taxis in one direction. Or, you can always head out on a trail for 30 or so minutes and then just turn around!

You can view a map of the various trails here. As you can see, there are many trails near Camogli and Portofino! You may want to consider a guided hike from Camogli like the one below.

One of the most popular among experienced hikers is the Trail of the Batteries, which connects Camogli to San Fruttuoso. It can take about 3 hours to get there and requires multiple steep includes, making it a high-difficulty trail in Camogli.

If you are up for a long (half-day) hike that’s a little easier than the one above, you can take the path from Camogli to Portofino and even on to Santa Margherita.

Visiting The San Fruttuoso Abbey & Boat Trips

This is definitely one of the most popular things to do in Camogli! Day trips by boat are offered from Camogli and larger cities to the north and south, so this area can get very busy in the summer with day trips coming and going. Therefore, it’s recommended to get there early.

You can choose to simply enjoy the beach and the few restaurants/bars located in this little cove. Additionally, tickets are required to enter the San Fruttuoso Abbey.

If you are not staying in Camogli but want to experience Camogli, San Truttuoso, and Portofino, many great boat tours cover them all! It’s also possible to hire boats from Camogli to visit other Italian coastal towns.

5 Tips For Visiting Camogli, Italy

If you decide to visit Camogli, I have five tips to help you make the most of your trip!

#1 Places Close Mid-Day

When we arrived at around 2 pm at the beginning of June, most businesses were closed, and we panicked a little! Turns out, it’s customary for them mid day for a few hours. So, plan your meals accordingly!

#2 Don’t Miss The Grocery Store

It’s very easy to miss the grocery store because it’s located down a short flight of stairs. The Doro Supermercati is located along Via XX Settembre at the center of everything and is walkable to pretty much any rental and the train station. Also, there are also some small specialty shops and wine shops to shop at.

#3 Camogli-S. Fruttuoso: The Easiest Train Station Ever

Speaking of the train station, it is also walkable to most rentals and very small, so you don’t need to arrive super early. We enjoyed a nice breakfast after checkout and then strolled right up 5 minutes before our train arrived. I monitor the train in my Trainline app to make sure it’s on schedule.

Colorful homes and church in Camogli italy

#4 Try The Cheese Foccacia

The Foccacia in Camogli was incredible and very different than other places! It was thin and crisp with the most flavorful cheese. It’s on the menu at most places.

#5 Embrace The Locals

As I mentioned before, Camogli is a popular holiday destination for Italians and home to some of the nicest people! It’s not a Disneyland-style tourist stop for Americans. Take a minute to embrace the slower pace, talk with people in restaurants, and imagine what it would be like to be visiting or living there as a local. These people are sharing their home with you, so make sure to spend money at the shops and restaurants.

Plan Your Trip to The Italian Riviera

If you are planning to visit the Italian Riviera, you’ll want to see all of the popular destinations, such as the Cinque Terre.

However, you will be missing out if you don’t visit at least one of the other lesser-known coastal towns in Italy. I think Camogli, Italy is just perfect, but you can also consider nearby Santa Margherita Ligure, which is larger than Camogli but much smaller than Genoa.

More Family Travel Inspiration

If you enjoyed hearing about our visit to Camogli, Italy, and the Italian Riviera, you’ll love my other family travel blog posts! Our family loves traveling to Europe, US travel destinations, and more. Follow along on all of my social media platforms below, too!

Here are some of my travel guides and travel tips that you may enjoy: