A Slow Summer Guide to the Italian Riviera — With Kids (and Taste)
You might think Liguria is all Cinque Terre crowds and overpriced lemon-scented souvenirs. And you’d be… 40% right.
But the other 60%? It’s quiet coves, pastel towns with fewer hashtags, and slow lunches that last until your toddler naps at the table.
This is your curated summer guide to Liguria with kids — minus the stress, plus a bit of style.
📍 Where to Stay (With Beauty and a High Chair)
1. La Sosta di Ottone III — Levanto
Tucked in the hills above Levanto, this boutique hotel has only a handful of rooms, panoramic views, and a chef who doesn’t mind adjusting the menu for picky eaters. Bonus: hiking trails just outside the door, and the quieter side of Cinque Terre 10 minutes away.
🧺 Best for: parents who want charm without chaos
2. Relais del Maro — Borgomaro
A village stay in the olive-studded hills. Family-run, eco-friendly, and they serve homemade cake at breakfast. Rooms are large enough for cots, and the village piazza becomes your child’s playground.
🧺 Best for: slow travel families who love barefoot charm
3. Grand Hotel Alassio Beach & Spa Resort — Alassio
If you want the convenience of a proper resort but refuse to give up design, this beachfront spot is your answer. Kids’ club, crèche, and a Thalasso spa you’ll dream about for weeks.
🧺 Best for: parents who want a glass of wine in peace (with childcare on-site)
🎠 What to Do (Beyond Just Gelato)
• Mini boat trip from Portovenere
Small wooden boats take you past caves and sea archways — a hit with kids and surprisingly peaceful. Ask for early morning rides.
• Parco Naturale Regionale di Portofino
Shaded trails, stroller-friendly paths, wild herbs, and sea views. Bring snacks, stop often, wear linen.
• Villa Durazzo Pallavicini (Genoa)
Not your average garden: part botanical park, part surreal storybook. There are faux temples, grottos, and peacocks.
• Laigueglia Beach
Low-key, sandy, and family-loved. The water stays shallow for meters, and locals bring vintage parasols and focaccia.
• Museo Luzzati (Genoa)
Art + illustration museum with interactive zones for kids. Small, friendly, and never overcrowded.
🍴 Where to Eat (No Screens, No Plastic Chairs)
• La Brinca — Ne (yes, that’s a town name)
Slow-food osteria with traditional Ligurian recipes and a garden for kids to roam. Try the handmade pansotti.
• U Giancu — Rapallo
Cartoon-covered walls and a chaotic-fabulous vibe that children adore. The food? Classic and comforting.
• Agriturismo Cà Sottane — Imperia hills
You’ll eat under vines, your child will feed the donkey, and you’ll wonder why you ever dined indoors.
• Ristorante Rosa — Albenga
Simple, elegant seafood that doesn’t scream “fine dining,” but very much delivers. Staff happily warms bottles and brings crayons.
👗 What to Pack (And Why It Matters)
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Linen shirt-dresses (easy, elegant, heat-proof)
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Inner Tiger’s summer knit set — comfy enough for the beach, sharp enough for dinner
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Wide straw hat with "don’t talk to me, I’m parenting" energy
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Swimsuit you feel great in — because there will be photos
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Soft leather sandals that don’t make you cry by 3 p.m.
🌊 Final Note
Liguria isn’t built for rush.
It’s built for sea-scented naps, barefoot breakfasts, and dinners that last past bedtime.
Traveling here with kids doesn’t mean giving up pleasure.
It means slowing down enough to actually notice it.
