Sestri Levante Without a Car: Station, Trains and Easy Day Trips

Can you visit Sestri Levante without a car?

Yes, and I would say it is the better way. Every week I watch guests arrive with one small suitcase, walk out of the station and reach the sea before their coffee has gone cold. The ones who come by car in August are often still looking for a parking space.

Here is why a holiday in Sestri Levante without a car works:

• The station is in town, on the Genoa–La Spezia railway line.
• Both bays and the old town are walkable, and the centre is largely pedestrian.
• Day trips run on the regional train: Cinque Terre, Levanto, Santa Margherita, Genoa.

If you are still planning the journey here, read my guide on how to get to Sestri Levante from the airports at Genoa, Pisa and Milan.

Sestri Levante train station: a few minutes from the sea

Sestri Levante station is not on a hill or out in an industrial area. It is part of the town. Walk out, cross towards the sea and you reach the Baia delle Favole in a few minutes. The old town and the Baia del Silenzio are around ten minutes further on foot.

Regional trains stop here in both directions throughout the day, every day of the year. Indicative times from Sestri Levante:

• Genoa: around 45 minutes
• La Spezia: around 45 minutes
• Milan: around 2 hours 30

Our apartment Due Passi dal Mare is 2 minutes on foot from the station and 2 minutes from the sea. A tip from experience: pack light, or bring a bag with good wheels. Old Ligurian paving is not kind to hard suitcases.

Day trips by train from Sestri Levante

This is where a car-free holiday really pays off. From one station you can reach most of the eastern Riviera. These are indicative regional train times; they vary by time of day.

Cinque Terre

The five villages are the most popular day out. Leave in the morning, hop between villages and come back for dinner. My full guide to the Cinque Terre from Sestri Levante covers the best order and the busiest hours.

Portofino

There is no station in Portofino. Take the train to Santa Margherita Ligure, then continue by local bus or by boat. I explain the options in my guide to Portofino from Sestri Levante.

Genoa

A good plan for a grey day. Trains arrive at Genova Brignole or Genova Piazza Principe, both within reach of the historic centre.

How Italian regional trains work

If you have never taken a train in Italy, a few rules will save you stress.

• No seat reservations on regional trains. Buy a ticket for the route and board any regional train.
• Validate paper tickets. Stamp them in the small machine on the platform before you get on. Inspectors can fine you for an unvalidated ticket.
• App tickets from Trenitalia follow different rules. Read the instructions in the app before boarding.
• Buy tickets at the self-service machines in the station, at the ticket office or in the app.
• Check the timetable the evening before, especially in summer and on Sundays.

For current times and fares, the official source is the Trenitalia website. One more thing: rail strikes happen in Italy now and then. They are announced in advance, so a quick look at the news before a day trip is worth it.

The tip I give every guest heading to the Cinque Terre in summer: the first trains of the morning are packed. Leave early, or wait until mid-morning when the crowds thin out.

Getting around Sestri Levante on foot

Inside Sestri Levante you do not need any transport at all. The old town sits on a narrow strip of land between the two bays. Its lanes, called carruggi, are narrow alleys made for walking, and much of the centre is closed to traffic.

• Station to Baia delle Favole: a few minutes on foot.
• Baia delle Favole to Baia del Silenzio: under ten minutes through the old town.
• Restaurants and bakeries: all within a short walk of the centre.

Local ATP Tigullio buses link Sestri with nearby towns such as Lavagna and Chiavari, and there is a taxi service in town. Honestly, most guests never use either.

If you only have one day, my one day in Sestri Levante itinerary is built entirely on foot.

Which beaches can you reach without a car?

All of the main ones. That is the point of staying in Sestri Levante.

Baia delle Favole

The closest beach to the station. A sandy bay about 1 km long, with beach clubs and stretches of free beach. In Italy, beach clubs (stabilimenti) rent out sunbeds and umbrellas, while free beaches (spiagge libere) cost nothing.

Baia del Silenzio

The smaller, sheltered bay on the far side of the old town. Fine sand, a gentle slope into the water and calm conditions on most days. I wrote a full guide to the Baia del Silenzio.

Riva Trigoso

One stop south on the train, about 5 minutes. Two pebble beaches and fewer people than in the centre. This is where locals go when Sestri is full.

For more detail on each bay, see my guide to Sestri Levante beaches.

When a car still makes sense

I'll tell you the truth: a car is useful in a few cases. Inland villages and some hill walks are hard to reach by train. Families with small children and lots of gear may also prefer driving.

If that is you, plan the parking first. My guide to parking in Sestri Levante explains blue lines, the limited traffic zone and the car parks. Our two holiday apartments in Sestri Levante cover both cases: Due Passi dal Mare for train travellers, 2 minutes from the station, and Due Passi Beach with private parking, 5 minutes on foot from the sea.

Without a car, you also eat better. You walk to dinner, you walk back, and nobody has to stay sober to drive.