The Italian Riviera has long been the stuff of postcards and daydreams. Dramatic cliffs, pastel-hued villages, bougainvillea tumbling over sun-bleached walls.
But let’s be honest—some of it has become a little too popular. If you’re looking to sidestep the crowds without giving up the magic, there are still pockets of quiet along the Ligurian coast where the rhythm slows and the views stay just as breathtaking.
Here’s where to go if you’re craving silence with a sea breeze.
1. Tellaro – The Sleepy Village That Locals Whisper About
Perched on a cliff just south of Lerici, Tellaro is technically part of the Gulf of Poets—but you won’t find it splashed across Instagram like Cinque Terre.
Think cobbled alleys, a faded pink church clinging to the rocks, and the soft soundtrack of waves echoing through its tiny harbor. Famed Italian writer Mario Soldati once called it “paradise on Earth,” and you’ll see why the moment you arrive.
For those craving a quieter sailing experience along the Ligurian coast, Med Sail offers small-group trips that pass right by Tellaro’s secluded charm.
Stay: Look for guesthouses tucked into the upper village, where lemon trees grow wild in garden terraces. Most are family-run, with simple charm and terraces overlooking the water.
2. Bonassola – A Peaceful Alternative to Monterosso
If you love the idea of Cinque Terre but not the crowds, Bonassola is your answer. Just one train stop north of Monterosso, it’s easy to reach but somehow skipped over by most tourists.
The beach is broad, quiet, and free of the shoulder-to-shoulder sunbathers you’ll find next door.
Stay: Hotel Delle Rose and several agriturismos in the surrounding hills offer peace, homemade Ligurian meals, and front-row seats to some knockout sunsets.
Tip: Rent an e-bike and take the old rail tunnel path that now links Bonassola to Framura and Levanto—cool, shaded, and almost absurdly scenic.
3. Noli – Where Time Slows Down
Farther west, before the Riviera melts into the French borderlands, sits Noli—a medieval fishing town that somehow resists the pull of modern tourism.
The historic core is walled and peaceful, with narrow lanes where laundry flaps from shuttered windows and tiny trattorias serve up trofie al pesto without a hint of pretense.
Stay: Try a converted monastery or a B&B in one of the historic buildings tucked behind the city walls. Many have views of the sea or the hills, and most offer breakfast with locally baked focaccia.
4. Zoagli – A Secret Between Portofino and Rapallo
Wedged between the buzz of Rapallo and the glamour of Portofino, Zoagli barely makes a sound. And that’s the point.
Its pebble beaches are quiet, its waterfront promenade is uncrowded, and its hillside trails lead to olive groves and sweeping views of the Gulf of Tigullio.
Stay: Zoagli’s few boutique hotels and guesthouses are more personal than polished. If you’re after tranquility, a hillside stay with a sea-facing balcony is hard to beat.
Final Thought
You don’t need to go far off the grid to find peace on the Riviera—you just need to know where to look.
Whether you’re chasing a quiet cove or a village where time seems to pause, Liguria still has corners where the silence speaks louder than the crowds ever could.
