Page 212 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italian Riviera

210  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Liguria is a narrow and relatively small region, train or by boat). In terms of reaching Liguria,
so moving from place to place is usually easy. Genoa has one of Italy’s major airports. There
This is particularly true of the coast, which are also long-distance train and coach
has good train and bus services, as well as a services, with good links from France and
decent road network (though traffic can be from other parts of Italy. There are various
a problem in high season). While there are ferry services, too, though most of these
buses to the main inland towns, visitors need operate from within Italy. Of more use to
a car to explore inland areas. A car can be a visitors are the ferries which ply between the
hindrance on the coast in summer, however, main Ligurian resorts in summer. For those
when parking is virtually impossible in some with a private yacht, there are plenty of
places, including in the Cinque Terre (to marinas. Most of these can offer good
which you are advised to travel on foot, by facilities and moorings for all sizes of craft.
Arriving by Air
The main airport in Liguria
is the Cristoforo Colombo at
Genova-Sestri, west of the city.
Ryanair and BA flights arrive
here direct from the United
Kingdom. Alternative entry
points are Nice (with easyjet,
British Midland and BA), an easy
train ride from the Riviera di
Ponente, and Pisa (with Ryanair
and BA), just 85 km (53 miles)
from La Spezia. The closest
airports receiving flights from
North America are Milan
and Rome. A stretch of the motorway linking Liguria’s main towns
Regular buses link Cristoforo
Colombo airport with the ferry the best part of 24 hours, you motorways link the coast with
terminal and Principe and would do better to fly and hire Parma, Milan and Turin. The
Brignole train stations in Genoa, a car on arrival. The main rental other principal route is state
and run from 5:30am to 11:45pm. companies have desks in the road no. 1 (SS1), the so-called
There is also a small airport airport, but car hire in Italy can Via Aurelia, first laid by the
at Villanova d’Albenga, on be expensive – you’ll often get a Romans. It runs the length of
the Riviera di Ponente, but better rate if you arrange the the coast, sometimes offering
at present this receives only car before leaving home. glimpses of the sea. Inland
domestic flights. A motorway (autostrada) – roads tend to be narrow and
the A10 and its continuation winding but are in good
the A12 – provides fast access condition and pass through
Travelling by Car along the Ligurian coast, often stunning scenery.
Since driving to Liguria though this route can become If you plan to drive, note
from the UK (either via the Swiss busy in holiday season and at that parking in the resorts
Alps or the French riviera) takes weekends. Heading inland, can be difficult (and stressful)
in high season. Also note that
petrol stations are scarce in the
hinterland once you head away
from the main towns, with few
opening on Sundays or in
the evening.

Travelling by Train
It is much simpler to reach
Liguria by train than it used
to be, though it is a more
expensive option than flying.
Genoa’s port and airport, both busy traffic hubs From the UK, you can take the

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