How to Get to Sestri Levante from Abroad: Airports, Trains and the A12

How to get to Sestri Levante: the quick answer

Most of our guests land in Genoa, Pisa or Milan, then do the last stretch by train. They step off the platform, roll their bags for a few minutes and smell the sea before they see it. That, honestly, is the easiest way to arrive.

Sestri Levante sits on the Ligurian coast, between Genoa and La Spezia. It has its own railway station on the Genoa–La Spezia line and its own exit on the A12 motorway. Here are the options in short:

• By plane: Genoa Cristoforo Colombo is the closest airport, about 50 minutes away by car. Pisa and the Milan airports are further but often have more flights.
• By train: regional trains from Genoa take around 45 minutes. From Milan the journey is about 2 hours 30.
• By car: take the A12 and leave at the Sestri Levante exit. The centre is about 5 minutes from the toll booth.

If you are planning a holiday without driving at all, I wrote a separate guide on visiting Sestri Levante without a car, with train times to the Cinque Terre and Portofino.

Which airport is closest to Sestri Levante?

Three airports make sense for Sestri Levante. Which one you pick usually depends on where your flight comes from, not on distance.

Genoa: the closest option

From Genoa airport, take the airport bus to one of the two main stations, Genova Brignole or Genova Piazza Principe. From there, regional trains towards La Spezia stop at Sestri Levante. Allow around an hour and a half in total, including waiting time.

Pisa: more flights, longer transfer

Pisa has many low-cost connections from the UK and Northern Europe. A shuttle train links the airport to Pisa Centrale. From there you travel north along the coast towards La Spezia and continue to Sestri Levante, usually with one change.

Milan: good if you want to see the city first

From Malpensa or Linate, get into Milano Centrale first. Trains to the Ligurian coast run through Genoa. Some are direct to Sestri Levante, others need a change in Genoa.

Getting to Sestri Levante by train

The train is the way I recommend to almost everyone. Sestri Levante station is on the Genoa–La Spezia line, and regional trains stop here in both directions throughout the day, all year round.

Indicative journey times:

• Genoa: around 45 minutes
• La Spezia: around 45 minutes
• Milan: around 2 hours 30, depending on the train

Times change by time of day and season, so check your exact train on the official Trenitalia website or app before you travel.

Tickets: what visitors from abroad should know

• Regional trains have no seat reservations. You buy a ticket for the route and get on any regional train.
• Validate paper tickets. If you buy a paper regional ticket at the machine, stamp it in the small validating machine on the platform before boarding. An unvalidated ticket can mean a fine.
• Digital tickets bought in the Trenitalia app work differently. Follow the instructions in the app before you board.
• Intercity trains have reserved seats and are worth booking ahead in July and August.

Once you are here, the station is right in town. Our apartment Due Passi dal Mare is 2 minutes on foot from the platform and 2 minutes from the sea.

Driving to Sestri Levante on the A12

If you are coming by car, the route is simple. The A12 motorway runs along the coast from Genoa towards La Spezia. Leave at the Sestri Levante exit and you reach the centre in about 5 minutes.

• From Milan: A7 to Genoa, then A12 east. Around 2 hours 30.
• From Genoa: A12 east, around 45 minutes.
• From France or the western Riviera: A10 to Genoa, then A12.
• From Pisa or Tuscany: A12 north past La Spezia.

Italian motorways have tolls. You take a ticket when you enter and pay when you exit, by card or cash. Avoid the lanes reserved for electronic toll devices if your rental car does not have one.

Two things catch drivers from abroad. First, the old town has a ZTL, a limited traffic zone watched by cameras. Do not drive in, even to drop bags. Second, parking in summer takes planning. I explain both in my guide to parking in Sestri Levante.

Train or car: which is better for Sestri Levante?

I'll be honest: in July and August, the train wins nine times out of ten. Traffic on the coast is heavy, parking fills up early, and the most popular day trips are easier by rail.

The Cinque Terre from Sestri Levante is the clearest example. Monterosso is around 20 minutes by regional train. By car in August it can take most of a day, and parking near the villages is scarce.

A car makes sense in some cases:

• you are travelling with small children and a lot of luggage;
• you want to explore inland villages that trains do not reach;
• you are coming in spring or autumn, when roads and car parks are quieter.

If you do drive, choose accommodation with a parking space. Our Due Passi Beach apartment has private parking and is 5 minutes on foot from the sea. You can compare both of our holiday apartments in Sestri Levante to see which suits your trip.

Your first half hour after arriving in Sestri Levante

Sestri Levante is small enough to walk everywhere. Once you have dropped your bags, leave the car where it is and go on foot.

1. Head to the sea. From the station, the nearest beach is the Baia delle Favole, a sandy bay about 1 km long. You can be on the sand within a few minutes.
2. Cross the old town. The historic centre sits on a narrow strip of land between two bays. Its lanes are called carruggi, the Ligurian word for narrow alleys. My guide to the Sestri Levante old town explains what to look for.
3. See the Baia del Silenzio. On the other side of the old town is the smaller bay, with fine sand and calm water. Read more in my guide to Sestri Levante beaches.

A small cultural note. Many shops close for a few hours in the early afternoon, and dinner usually starts around 7:30 or 8 pm. If you arrive mid-afternoon, a slice of focaccia from a bakery is the local way to bridge the gap.

When to travel to Sestri Levante

How you get here also depends on when you come. In August trains are full and motorways get busy on summer Saturdays. In June and September everything flows more easily, and the sea is still warm enough to swim. My guide to the best time to visit Sestri Levante covers the weather and crowds month by month.

For more ideas on the wider coast, start from our Sestri Levante travel guide. If Portofino is on your list, I also wrote about getting to Portofino from Sestri Levante without a car.

One last tip. If you land in Genoa late in the evening, check the time of the last regional train before you book. The last stretch is short, but you do not want to spend it waiting on an empty platform.