A provincial capital and major port city, Savona is an authentic, lively destination, often overlooked by tourist flows yet rich in history and sea. Its emblem is the Priamar fortress, the great sixteenth-century citadel facing the water, but the city is also an important cruise call and an old town of medieval towers and palaces. It’s a practical, affordable base for exploring the Savona coast, with lower prices than the more celebrated destinations. The addresses we suggest we choose one by one, never by hearsay.
Savona is also the “city of the popes”, birthplace of the della Rovere family and of two pontiffs; it keeps a Sistine Chapel all of its own, next to the cathedral. The port, still one of the main cruise home ports, makes it very convenient for those departing or arriving by sea, while its closeness to the Turin motorway makes it the favourite sea outlet for Piedmontese travellers. A blend of city, port and beaches that’s worth the stop.
Compared with the nearby seaside resorts, Savona offers the advantage of a real city, alive all year round, with services, shops and restaurants, together with the convenience of the sea and beaches within reach. It’s the ideal choice for those who want a down-to-earth, good-value stay, for a city break, or as a base for exploring the Riviera delle Palme without paying the rates of the more touristy spots. And its position, halfway between Genoa and the western coast, makes it a surprisingly practical base for the whole of Liguria.
Where to stay in Savona
The heart where it’s best to sleep is the area between the old town, the port and the Darsena: from here you have everything on foot, from the alleys to the sea, and the cruise terminal within reach. It’s a human-scale city, where distances are short and you get around comfortably without a car. Good to know: the offer is mostly of well-kept small hotels and B&Bs, often set in buildings in the centre. The addresses we choose:
NH Savona Darsena
A four-star in the Darsena district, five minutes from the cruise terminal, with an in-house restaurant and air-conditioned rooms. The unbeatable convenience for those departing or arriving on a cruise, with the centre and the sea a couple of steps away. Ideal for a pre- or post-embarkation stop, or as a base for the city.
B&B La Magnolia
A bed and breakfast with garden and terrace, a few steps from the sea, with carefully prepared breakfasts and air-conditioned rooms. The pleasure of a welcoming, green base in the heart of the city, with the warm hospitality of a small property. Ideal for those seeking quiet and attention to detail.
Art&Kitchen
A family bed and breakfast a few steps from the sea, with a garden, a shared kitchen and free parking. The freedom of a simple, convivial base, with room to cook and a parking space included, precious in the city. Ideal for those travelling at leisure or staying a few days.
All the small hotels in Savona →
What to see in Savona
The emblematic monument is the Priamar Fortress, the imposing citadel built in the sixteenth century on the sea, which today hosts museums and events and is the hub of the city’s cultural life. Going down towards the port you come across the Torretta, the fourteenth-century Leon Pancaldo Tower, a symbol of Savona, and the maze of alleys of the old town, dotted with ancient medieval towers.
Not to be missed are the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and its Sistine Chapel, commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere, a Savona native, as a family mausoleum. The centre is lively, with workshops, markets and bars facing the alleys, and keeps the charm of an authentic port city. And then there’s the sea, with the city beaches and the promenade, an ideal starting point to discover the whole coast and the nearby protected areas, such as the island of Bergeggi.
When to go
Savona is well worth visiting all year round, but spring and summer are the best seasons, between the sea, outdoor life and the summer programme of events “Estate al Priamar”, with cinema, concerts and shows inside the fortress. Autumn stays mild and pleasant for walks and culture, while winter is quiet and handy for a city stay or for an off-season cruise embarkation.
How to get there
Savona is on the Genoa–Ventimiglia railway line, with a well-connected main station; by car you arrive via the A10 motorway (towards France) and above all the A6, the “Turin–Savona”, which makes it the nearest and handiest sea outlet for those coming from Piedmont. It is also a major cruise port, among the main Italian home ports. For the full picture on trains and connections, see how to get to Liguria. From here you quickly reach Finale Ligure and the Riviera delle Palme, and to the east Genoa.
This guide is part of our grand journey through the region: discover all the destinations and areas in Where to Stay in Liguria.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we’re asked most often about where to stay in Savona.
What is the best area to stay in Savona?
The old town and the port and Darsena area: from there you have the alleys, the sea, the attractions and the cruise terminal all on foot. It’s the most convenient and lively part of the city, where the best-kept small hotels and B&Bs are. Savona is human-scale, so wherever you sleep in the centre you’re well placed.
Is Savona handy for a cruise departure?
Yes, very much so: Savona is one of the main Italian cruise ports, with the terminal in the Darsena a couple of steps from the centre. Sleeping in the city the night before embarkation, or the night after disembarking, is the most practical, stress-free solution. Several hotels, like the NH Savona Darsena, are designed precisely for cruise travellers.
What is there to see in Savona?
The emblematic monument is the Priamar Fortress on the sea, with museums and events. Also worth seeing are the Torretta on the port, the old town with its medieval towers, the Cathedral and the Sistine Chapel commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV. And then the port, the city beaches and the seafront promenade.
Is Savona a good base for the Riviera delle Palme?
Yes: from Savona you easily reach Spotorno, Bergeggi, Noli and Finale Ligure, the loveliest villages on the Savona coast, by train or car. It’s also more affordable and more of a city than the seaside resorts, and for those coming from Piedmont it’s the nearest sea outlet thanks to the Turin–Savona motorway.
