Close your eyes and imagine a fishing village in Italy:
- colorful balconies,
- a long sandy beach,
- little white boats working in the harbor…
You can open your eyes now. 🙂
You've arrived in Camogli.
What to see and do in Camogli
Enjoy a beach day
Almost right across from the train station exit, you'll find stairs like these heading down to Camogli's coastal area.
When you reach the bottom, you can:
- Slip down one of the little alleys that keep winding down to the fine pebble beach hidden behind the buildings.
- Or turn right and be dazzled by one of Camogli's most beautiful views, with its wide sandy beach stretching right below the town.
From here, you can head down to the beach and find your favorite spot, either in the narrow public areas or in one of the paid “lidos” with sun loungers and umbrellas.
And if that’s your whole plan for the day, you're all set.
Relax and enjoy. 😉
Photo tour of Camogli
Strolling through Camogli is an absolute delight.
You'll find a thousand and one angles to snap with your camera—the hard part will be picking your favorites later. 😉
I've marked a few spots of interest on the map where you should head to take in the views (with or without a camera):
- At the start of the promenade.
- At the viewpoint next to the church.
- Two spots at the end of the harbor pier.
My advice? Walk slowly and keep your eyes open.
Camogli is packed with charming details, no matter where you look.
Savor Italian gastronomy
- Lunch and dinner: you'll find plenty of restaurants of all kinds in Camogli (pizzerias, seafood spots, trattorias with delicious fresh pasta…).
- However, our favorite was always the Fatamorgana bar. For the food? Not particularly, although it was fine. We actually always went there for the vibe: an outdoor terrace (shaded from the sun), with views of the harbor and colorful facades, covered in huge, lush green ivy. Could a meal get any more charming?
- Focaccia to go: one of the most affordable and delicious Ligurian specialties (a great alternative to pizza).
- Although we tried other “focaccerias” in Camogli, our go-to was always Cose Buone, especially their Recco focaccia and the onion one.
- Gelato and “semifreddi”: do you know what “panera semifreddo” or simply panera? If you love coffee and cream, all I can say is you're going to love it to pieces. 😉
- The ice cream shop with the most delicious panera I've ever tasted in my life is the one that used to stop foot traffic under the arch of Camogli. And I say "used to" because while writing this article (March 2020), I can't find the business online. In any case, I've marked its location on the map.
Visiting Portofino Natural Park
Camogli is a perfect starting point for visiting Portofino Natural Park.
How?
- On foot: a trail (marked with two red dots) leaves from Camogli, climbs up to San Rocco, and from there splits towards:
- Punta Chiappa.
- San Fruttuoso.
- Portofino.
- By boat: tourist boats leave from the harbor to Punta Chiappa and San Fruttuoso. Once there, you can soak up the sun and enjoy a beach day, or lace up your hiking boots and hit one of the natural park's trails.
- For example? The trek connecting San Fruttuoso with Portofino.
- By train: another way to reach the park is starting from the other end, in Santa Margherita Ligure, and hopping along the southeast coast from beach to beach all the way to Portofino.
How to get there
Although there are a few parking areas on the southeast edge of the town (marked on the map at the end of this post), I definitely recommend visiting Camogli by train.
The train lines passing through its station connect it directly to major cities like Genoa or La Spezia.
When to go
If you want to spend the day at the beach, the best time is from mid-June to mid-September—basically, in summer.
However, on top of being pretty hot, you'll also find the sunbed areas and the streets packed with tourists, both international and Italian.
So, if you can skip the swim (or don't mind cold water dips), any other time of year will be much quieter and more pleasant for exploring Camogli.
Where to sleep
Since I lived for 5 years in Genoa, just a quick 30-minute train ride from Camogli, I never had to look for accommodation in this area.
However, if I were to visit again, I'd try to stay at one of the hotels and B&Bs in Camogli.
I'd love to wake up early (or stay out late) and make the most of wandering its colorful, nearly empty streets.
What will it be like?
Useful links
- National train network – Trenitalia.
- Boats Camogli – San Fruttuoso.
- Official website of Portofino Natural Park (in Italian).
- Accommodation deals in Camogli.
- Flights to Italy: Trabber, eDreams, Momondo, and Vueling.
- 5% discount when booking your travel insurance with IATI.
Traveling around Liguria? Then you might also love these destinations:
- Hiking route from San Fruttuoso to Portofino.
- Hiking route from Camogli to Punta Chiappa.
- Beach hopping from Santa Margherita to Portofino.
- Exploring the 5 villages of the Cinque Terre.
- Where to eat in Genoa.
- Hiking between Monterosso and Vernazza.
- Hiking between Vernazza and Corniglia.
And not too far away…
- Photo road trip through Tuscany.
- Florence in a weekend.
- What to do in Rome.
- Venice in low season.
- Road trip through Umbria, have you been?
- Thermal baths in Lake Garda.
- Romantic getaway to Lake Como.
- Amalfi Coast itinerary.
Map
Did you also fall in love with Camogli while visiting Portofino Natural Park? Tell me all about it! 🙂