Italian Riviera Dolce Vita

Day 1: Welcome to the Italian Riviera!

Benvenuto! Welcome to the Italian Riviera! Check-in at your boutique hotel in Santa Margherita Ligure right on the sea. You’ll be welcomed by your local Azzurro Dream Travel representative upon arrival, who will give you a first day by day itinerary orientation. Relax after a long trip and start feeling the Italian atmosphere! Dinner at the hotel in the beautiful town of Santa Margherita Ligure. (D)

Day 2: Live La “Dolce Vita” in Portofino and Beyond

After breakfast, your private tour guide will pick you up at your hotel and together you’ll enjoy the ferry to Portofino village. Explore the picturesque villages in the heart of Portofino Natural Park at your own pace with your knowledgeable and passionate local guide. Start from the scenic village of Santa Margherita Ligure, once called the “salotto” of the entire Gulf, famous for its painted facades, lush gardens, and villas overlooking the sea. Enjoy a panoramic trip by public boat and reach the charming village of Portofino. You’ll be fascinated by the arch of colorful houses and the lovely “piazzetta” overlooking the water. Then, by boat, arrive at San Fruttuoso, an amazing cove with a medieval abbey built right on the beach, restored and protected by FAI, the Italian National Trust. Here you will have lunch with local specialties in a lovely trattoria. Return to Santa Margherita by ferry in the afternoon. (B, L)

Day 3: Rapallo Foodie Tour and Pesto

After breakfast, depart for the town of Rapallo. Meet your host, Guido, and enjoy a welcome aperitivo. Visit his emporium filled with local specialties and learn to make pesto the traditional way with mortar and pestle. The tour continues through the narrow alleys of the picturesque old center of Rapallo towards the vibrant food market where you will learn the ingredients of local cuisine. Discover traditional shops, from the artisanal pasta factory to the focaccia bakery and many other “bottegas” where you will delight your tastebuds with tastings of local delicacies, ending with a refreshing gelato. In the afternoon, enjoy some time on your own to take a stroll on the beautiful sea promenade before heading back to Santa Margherita. (B, tastings during the tour) 

Day 4: Authentic Genoa

After breakfast, make your way to the city of Genoa where you will meet your local guide and discover the town with an insider’s perspective. Wandering through the “Carrugi” alleys is a unique experience and we believe that by just walking through this maze of historic streets, you’ll find Genoa’s true essence. Discover the largest medieval old town in Europe by walking along its narrow alleyways, stopping in the squares, and admiring the Renaissance streets of the old town. Stroll down Via Garibaldi, a Unesco World Heritage Site which will leave you speechless with its painted palaces built by noble families in the XV century. Visit traditional shops passed down over generations, and feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. For lunch, taste local specialties such as vegetable pies and fried anchovies in a traditional trattoria. 

Enjoy an afternoon at leisure exploring this fascinating town before returning to Santa Margherita in the afternoon. (B, L)

Day 5: Cinque Terre with Lunch in the Vineyards

Today, after breakfast, embark on an adventure through the villages of the Cinque Terre by local train. Spend the morning visiting Vernazza and Manarola, two of the most iconic villages. At lunch, reach a gorgeous wine estate nestled just above the village of Monterosso, a true oasis of peace and tranquility surrounded by vineyards and olive trees. Here, enjoy a lunch with local specialties paired with excellent Cinque Terre wines. Relax on the lawn sipping a Limoncino prepared with the lemons from the farm. In the afternoon, take a walk through the narrow streets of the village of Monterosso until you reach the bright promenade and the Capuchin convent from which you will enjoy a magnificent view of the bay. (B, L)

Day 6: Olive Oil Tour and Cheese Focaccia in Camogli

In the morning, enjoy an exclusive and sustainable experience on the slopes of Portofino Mountain. Here, you will visit an olive farm owned by a local family, passionate about the traditional practice of olive growing and oil making. The location is breathtaking: a beautiful country estate surrounded by terraced gardens and olive trees. From here the view extends over the entire Gulf of Portofino, completely private for our group since the family opens the

doors of their gorgeous home just for our guests! Accompanied by the producer, you will have an exclusive and private tour among the olive groves of this authentic farm and taste the unique olive oil they produce. Learn the story of Ligurian olive oil and the huge job of this family to recover and resume production on abandoned lands. After this special experience, continue on to the picturesque fishing village of Camogli for a special lunch overlooking the sea enjoying the famous cheese focaccia. At the end of the lunch, experience a walking tour of the village admiring colorful fishermen’s houses and the tiny port. (B, light lunch)

Day 7: Chiavari Artisans and Flavors

Today, after breakfast, discover the most authentic side of the Italian Riviera just a few minutes away from the famous Portofino village. With your expert and passionate local guide, discover Chiavari: a hidden gem not yet touched by tourism. Wander along the old alleyways lined with ancient arcades, explore the lively open-air food market and old food shops passed down from generation to generation. Be charmed by the traditional artisan shops, such as the shops of a woodcarver or even a candle maker, making candles for the last five hundred years. Enjoy a relaxing pause in an old pastry shop and taste local cookies. Enter a traditional “trattoria” and taste the delicious farinata, a sort of chickpea flour pancake that will delight your taste buds!

Enjoy an afternoon at leisure and in the evening join us for a farewell dinner to celebrate your time in the Italian Riviera. (B, light lunch, D)

Day 8: Arrivederci!

Today, you say farewell, Arrivederci, to la bella Italia. See you soon! (B)