Excellence Luxury Villas · Liguria
Luxury Villa Rentals in Liguria
Sea-view villas on the Italian Riviera, from the palaces of Genoa to Portofino, Lerici and the Cinque Terre
As featured in
A thin strip of coast where the mountains meet the sea
Liguria is a narrow crescent of Italy pressed between the Apennines and the sea. Almost every town clings to a slope, and the houses are painted ochre, rose and saffron. The coast west of Genoa is the Riviera di Ponente, with Sanremo and the olive groves of Imperia. To the east lies the Riviera di Levante, with Portofino, the Cinque Terre and the Gulf of La Spezia.
Our Liguria collection runs to 80+ villas and apartments. They range from hillside villas with infinity pools above the Gulf of Poets to grand apartments in Genoa and in old palazzi near Portofino, and the largest has 16 bedrooms. Most have sea views, which on this coast is less a luxury than a matter of geography.
This guide covers where to stay, how to get around and what to eat once you are here.
Liguria at a glance
- Villas
- 80+ on the Italian Riviera, with up to 16 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £2,400 to £10,500 a week, from around £1,400
- Best areas
- Genoa, Portofino and Rapallo, La Spezia, Lerici and Porto Venere, and the Cinque Terre
- Best time
- May, June and September for walking and swimming; July and August are the busiest months
- Getting there
- Genoa airport for the centre and Portofino; Pisa for La Spezia and the Cinque Terre; Nice for the western Riviera
Browse all 80+ villas in Liguriaor see them on the map
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa San Michele Genoa: Luxury 5-Bedroom Villa with Stunning Sea Views – Genoa5 bedrooms
Villa Le Fontane Italy12 bedrooms
Villa Monte Pisano Italy11 bedrooms
Santa Gemma | 16-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Lucca Capannori16 bedroomsWhere to stay in Liguria
Genoa for palaces, markets and city life, the Portofino promontory and Rapallo for the classic Riviera, and La Spezia, Lerici and Porto Venere for the Gulf of Poets and easy access to the Cinque Terre.
A merchant city of palaces and alleys
Genoa tends to be underrated, and the Genoese are quite happy to keep it that way. The old town is a maze of narrow alleys called caruggi. Above it, along Via Garibaldi, stand the Renaissance palaces of the Strade Nuove and the Palazzi dei Rolli, which are listed by UNESCO.
The old harbour has the city's large aquarium and views of the Lanterna, the ancient lighthouse. Boccadasse, a small fishing quarter on the eastern edge of the city, is the place for an evening walk and a gelato. Villas and apartments here suit people who want a city and the sea in the same week.
Browse villas in Genoa
Yachts, an abbey and a fish festival
East of Genoa, the Portofino promontory is a protected regional park of pine and holm oak. Portofino's harbour is as polished as its reputation suggests. Santa Margherita Ligure and Rapallo are livelier and more lived-in, with seafront promenades and good everyday restaurants.
The abbey of San Fruttuoso can be reached only on foot or by boat. A bronze statue, the Christ of the Abyss, stands on the seabed of its bay. Camogli, a fishing town with tall painted houses, holds its Sagra del Pesce each May, when fish is fried for the crowds in an enormous pan.
Search villas in Liguria
The Gulf of Poets and five coastal villages
The Gulf of La Spezia earned its nickname from Byron and Shelley. Shelley spent his last summer at San Terenzo, near Lerici, in 1822. Lerici has a castle above a small harbour, and Porto Venere has the Romanesque church of San Pietro on its rocky point. Boats run from Porto Venere to the island of Palmaria.
Just to the north are the Cinque Terre: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Together with Porto Venere and its islands they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A villa near La Spezia makes a sensible base. You can take the train to the villages in the morning and be back by your own pool before the day-trippers leave.
Browse villas in La Spezia
Pesto, focaccia and a long, gentle season
Pesto alla genovese was invented here, and it is best eaten with trofie, the short twisted local pasta. You will also find farinata, a thin chickpea pancake, and focaccia di Recco, filled with soft cheese. The Ponente produces small Taggiasca olives, and the Cinque Terre make Sciacchetrà, a sweet wine from grapes grown on vertiginous terraces.
May, June and September are the best months: warm sea, open paths and fewer crowds. July and August are hot and busy on the coast. Our concierge can arrange boat days to San Fruttuoso, guided walks in the Cinque Terre, restaurant tables and transfers.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Liguria
Villa Basilico | 5-Bedroom Villa in Portofino5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £13,746 a week
Palazzo Punta Liguria: Spacious 6-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Seaview & Pool – Liguria6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £13,594 a week
Fattoria Pigna Genoa: Luxury 6-Bedroom Apartment with Sea Views & Pool – Genoa6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £13,496 a week
Villa dei Poeti | 6-Bedroom Villa in La Spezia Cavanella Vara6 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £13,059 a week
San Colombano Italy6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £12,900 a week
Villa Elixir Italy7 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £12,647 a week
Rent Villa Meridienne Italy3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £12,376 a week
Casa Cardoso | 3-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Sarzana Liguria3 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £12,017 a weekWhy book your Liguria villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Liguria's coast is steep and its roads are slow, so we know which villas let you walk to the harbour or the station and which need a car for every errand. With 80+ properties in Liguria, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Boat days to San Fruttuoso and Palmaria, guided walks in the Cinque Terre, restaurant reservations in Portofino and Genoa, car hire and transfers from Genoa, Pisa and Nice. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in Liguria?
The Portofino promontory, Rapallo and Santa Margherita Ligure have the classic Riviera feel. La Spezia, Lerici and Porto Venere are the best bases for the Cinque Terre, and Genoa suits those who want a city with the sea on its doorstep. The western Riviera around Imperia is quieter, with olive groves and old hill villages.
When is the best time to visit Liguria?
May, June and September are ideal, with warm weather, a swimmable sea and fewer visitors on the coast paths. July and August are the busiest months. Spring and autumn are especially good for walking in the Cinque Terre.
Do I need a car to visit the Cinque Terre?
No, and you are better off without one. The roads are narrow, parking is scarce and the villages are largely car-free. The coastal railway links all five villages with La Spezia and Levanto, and from spring to autumn boats also run along the coast.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Liguria?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in Liguria cost?
Across our 80+ villas in Liguria, weekly rates typically range from £2,400 to £10,500, with the most affordable from around £1,400 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
Which airport is best for Liguria?
Genoa airport is closest for the city, Rapallo and Portofino. Pisa is around an hour from La Spezia by road, which makes it the usual choice for the Cinque Terre and the Gulf of Poets. Nice serves the western Riviera near Sanremo and Imperia. Our concierge can arrange private transfers.
Are there villas in Liguria for large groups?
Yes. Our Liguria collection includes properties with up to 16 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
Explore More Destinations
Find your villa in Liguria
80+ villas on the Italian Riviera, booked direct with our concierge on hand