Genova
round-trip.
Sail a 7-day yacht charter from Genoa west along the Ligurian Riviera through Arenzano, Varazze, Savona, Albenga, Imperia and Vado Ligure. Mainland Liguria loop.
Day-by-day route
Click any pin on the map or any day in the Route summary below to see the daily stop, narrative, and photos.
Genova → Arenzano
12 nm shake-down W from Marina Porto Antico to Arenzano. Libeccio wind regime, 10-15 kn. Marina di Arenzano for overnight; Parco Negrotto Cambiaso behind village.
Distance
11 NM
Sailing
~2.2h at 5 kn
Route at a glance
Route summary
Click any day to jump back to the map and see its photos, narrative, and mooring tip.
Day-by-day journey
Named anchorages, restaurants, and route notes for every leg of the week — written by sailors who've actually run this passage.
Genova → Arenzano
12 nm shake-down west from Marina Porto Antico to Arenzano — Ligurian Riviera coast, summer wind regime is the libeccio from SW (more fickle than Adriatic Maestral) at 10-15 knots. Marina di Arenzano stern-to is the standard charter overnight; Parco Negrotto Cambiaso Renaissance gardens behind the village.
Things to do
Walk the Parco Negrotto Cambiaso gardens
Swim Spiaggia Libera pebble beach
Focaccia al formaggio at a hole-in-the-wall bakery
Hike the Beigua Park ridge trail
Mooring tip
Marina di Arenzano stern-to, €60-100/night, sheltered from N. Marina Porto Antico (Genoa) is the larger alternative for handover prep.
Arenzano → Varazze
8 nm short west to Varazze — Marina di Varazze is one of the largest Ligurian charter marinas, full services, lazy lines, 800 berths. The town behind the marina is a working-class Liguria seaside village; nonnas knit on seawalls in summer afternoons.
Things to do
Beachcomb sea glass at Spiaggia di Ponente
Snorkel the hidden reef off Capo Santo Stefano
Lemon-fritto-misto eaten from paper cones
Walk the Lungomare Europa promenade
Mooring tip
Marina di Varazze stern-to with lazy lines, €70-120/night peak, fully sheltered. Plenty of slot capacity.
Varazze → Savona
8 nm short west to Savona — historic Ligurian port, Christopher Columbus mended ships here. Old Port Marina (Marina di Savona) is the standard charter overnight, fully sheltered. Priamar Fortress on the headland (16th-c, originally to defend against Barbary pirates) is the headline shore activity.
Things to do
Climb the 16th-c Priamar Fortress walls
Swim the Mermaid's Grotto cove (south of port)
Salt-cured anchovies at Osteria dell'Acciughetta
Tasting Vermentino in a Riviera vineyard
Mooring tip
Marina di Savona stern-to, €70-110/night, fully sheltered. Vado Ligure 3 nm south is the smaller alternative.
Savona → Albenga
20 nm west to Albenga — Roman heritage town, Battistero Paleocristiano (5th-c Christian baptistery with original mosaics still in place) and the Centum Pagine Roman ruins underwater off the coast. Anchor near the underwater ruins for snorkel; mooring at Marina di Albenga stern-to.
Things to do
Visit the 5th-c Battistero Paleocristiano
Snorkel Centum Pagine Roman underwater ruins
Buridda fish stew at a medieval-tower trattoria
Tasting Pigato wine in a sea-spray vineyard
Mooring tip
Marina di Albenga stern-to, €50-80/night, sheltered from N. Anchor over Centum Pagine ruins on sand at 4-6 m for snorkel.
Albenga → Imperia
15 nm west to Imperia — twin-city, Oneglia (east) + Porto Maurizio (west) divided by the Prino River. Olive-oil capital of Liguria; the Museo dell'Olivo at Oneglia documents the local taggiasca olive tradition. Marina di Imperia is centred between the two halves.
Things to do
Visit the Museo dell'Olivo (taggiasca tradition)
Tasting peppery taggiasca olive oil
Swim Spiaggia d'Oro golden-sand bay
Sardenaira (Ligurian pizza) at a port trattoria
Mooring tip
Marina di Imperia stern-to, €80-130/night, fully sheltered. Plenty of slot capacity even in peak.
Imperia → Vado Ligure
24 nm east back to Vado Ligure — small working-class Riviera port (yachts secondary to fishing trawlers). Pista Ciclabile bike path runs from Vado east through 19th-century railway tunnels to San Lorenzo al Mare; rent a bike at the marina.
Things to do
Cycle the Pista Ciclabile coastal bike path
Anchor swim at Baia dei Saraceni
Seafood salad at Trattoria della Nonna
Walk the Vado old fishermen's quarter
Mooring tip
Stern-to in Vado Ligure marina, €40-60/night, sheltered from N. Marina di Savona 3 nm north is the larger alternative.
Vado Ligure → Cogoleto
20 nm east back to Genova via Cogoleto. Bergeggi Island marine reserve on the way — sea caves, snorkel-only access. Cogoleto is the birthplace of Christopher Columbus's grandfather; small Punta Martinetto watchtower above the village. Refuel at Marina Porto Antico before tying up.
Things to do
Snorkel Bergeggi Island sea caves
Swim under the Punta Martinetto watchtower
Pesto lasagna at a caruggi trattoria
Visit the historic Lanterna lighthouse (Genoa)
Mooring tip
Marina Porto Antico Genoa stern-to, €100-150/night peak, sheltered from N. Refuel at the entrance fuel berth before mooring.
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