Hello,

My husband and I (50's) will have 5 days to explore the Italian Riviera in the middle of July. We will be based in Santa Margherita Ligure. We don't like to be bored, and, to use my husband's words, "we like to pack it in" (although we are getting a little older than we used to be). We like to see the highlights and what makes a place special.

We are obviously coming to the Italian Riviera to see the breathtaking views, but we will probably not want to spend more than one day just hiking (i.e., when all we do the entire day is hike). We will go to a museum or church or two, but only well known ones, and we definitely do not need to see every little church or sculpture in every town. We are not renting a car because we hear that would be insanity. We like shopping (not chain stores and not Rodeo Drive-type things that we can't afford or touristy souvenir type dime-a-dozen things, but more upscale home and art things). We like nicer restaurants. We like to ride bikes (although it sounds like that is tough in the Italian Riviera unless you are a more serious cyclist) and people watch. We will go see the beach (but maybe for an hour only).

Although we have obviously done a lot of research on our own, please give us the towns that most fit this description and/or the things that we "can't miss" based on this description.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thank you!

I'm not sure who told you that it would insanity to rent a car, but I'd completely disagree. It's not like the Amalfi coast for traffic and every time we've stayed in SML we;'ve had a car and used it a lot and it's been invaluable. We've never been bogged down in traffic in the area. It gives you the chance to see Genoa (mind the ZTL) and explore the Ligurian peninsula to see Camogli, Rapallo and Portofino if you must.

We enjoyed nearly all of the 20 places we visited last fall. Here is our trip report if interested: Rapallo/Cinque Terre/20 Places/8 Nights Sept/Oct

We had a car but used it maybe one or two days out of eight. Very easy and inexpensive to get around by rail and bus a couple times.

I spent a great five day trip based in Rapallo. Loved it. I did not have a car and while it might not be 'insanity' I really don't thinks it's necessary and would probably be more trouble than it's worth. Here's my trip report which describes what I did and about how long it took . Sounds like your travel style is a lot like mine. I did not do Genoa on that trip but I did do it as a day trip (from Milano) on another trip and really enjoyed it more than I thought I would. So if you have a day I would consider that as well

Photo Safari to the south of France, the Italian Rivera and the Swiss Alps

You want to scroll down to post #46 where the Italian Riviera section begins.

The photos are now at: https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/p946045812

We have had two wonderful stays in SML and would happily return. We picked up our car at Milan MXP. Not a bad drive to SML, all autostradas.
Of course you must see Camogli. We visiting the Cinque Terre separately on a different trip. Both times, we went to Portofino but probably will not go there again. We loved SML, did a boat ride out to Frutosso(?) but otherwise enjoyed the town and surrounding area.
We also have stayed in the other section of the Italian Riviera, between Genoa and Ventimigilia, in the charming town of Noli.