Savona
Savona is a Ligurian port on the western Italian Riviera, known for its Priamar fortress, its cathedral choir and its ties to the popes.
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Savona is a port city on the western Italian Riviera and the capital of its province. It lies about 40 km west of Genoa, on the Ligurian Sea, near the French border close to Nice. As Liguria's second port after Genoa for passengers and goods, it has a cruise terminal, Palacrociere, that welcomes roughly one million tourists a year. Ferry passengers also use the nearby Vado Ligure terminal.
Many of the main sights are in the old town and on the old cathedral hill. The Priamar fortress was begun by Genoa in 1542. The Cathedral of the Assumption keeps a 16th-century carved wooden choir, and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mercy is the city's patron church. Savona is nicknamed the City of Popes because the della Rovere popes, Sixtus IV and Julius II, were linked to it. A cruise day covers the cathedral and the fortress, while a longer stay suits the coast, with trains to Genoa and the Fornaci beach district nearby. The warm, dry season runs roughly from May or June to September or October.
Savona in five
- Treat Savona as a cruise port or a quiet baseCruise ships dock beside the old town, so mornings can be busy. Outside port days the old center is calm, and rooms cost less than in the Cinque Terre or Portofino.
- Walk the Priamar fortress and the harborThe fortress above the port holds museums and a view over the bay. Check the city's official page for opening hours, since smaller sites close on some weekdays.
- Use the coastal train for Genoa and beachesRegional trains run along the coast to Genoa and Ventimiglia. Savona is a practical base for beach towns such as Albisola and Noli, and for Genoa in under an hour on a good connection.Genoa
- Check which cruise terminal your ship usesTerminals sit at the harbor, within a walk or short shuttle from the old town. Confirm the arrival time and the all-aboard time with your cruise line before booking a self-guided day.
Need to know
- Airport
- Genoa (GOA), about 45 km; Nice and Milan are farther
- Getting there
- Train from Genoa about 30 to 50 min; Intercity from Turin and Milan
- Getting around
- Walking in the old town; local buses and trains along the coast
- Best base
- The old town near the harbor, or Albisola for beaches
- Time needed
- A port day, or 2 to 3 nights as a coastal base
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Mild, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 114 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Mild, quietFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchRain12 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Spring startsMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 151 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring starts
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Mild, walksAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, walks
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Warm, sunnyMayRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 115 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, sunny
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh25°Low18°Beach seasonJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season
- JulyClear8 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear7 rainy daysHigh28°Low21°Hot, FerragostoAugustClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, Ferragosto
- SeptemberClear10 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Warm, calmSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 120 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- OctoberRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Mild, rainOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 258 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, rain
- NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh14°Low9°Rain, windNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 186 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, wind
- DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Mild, lightsDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 128 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, lights
Average daily high and low in Savona, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Savona
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
5
- Feels like
- 3°
- Humidity
- 70%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Savona
09:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today17°11°0%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 17°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue17°12°0%Tuesday: Clear. High 17°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed13°12°28%Wednesday: Rain. High 13°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 28%.
- Thu13°12°38%Thursday: Rain. High 13°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 38%.
- Fri13°12°55%Friday: Rain. High 13°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 55%.
- Sat14°12°23%Saturday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Sun15°11°34%Sunday: Rain. High 15°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 34%.
Updated 06:36 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- SepPalio di AstiPiedmont, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Genoaabout 30 to 50 min by trainAquarium, palaces and the old port in Italy's largest seaport.Read the guide
- San Remoabout 1.5 to 2 hours by trainA Belle Époque seaside city with a casino and a flower market.Read the guide
- Noli and Finale Ligureabout 20 to 30 min by trainWalled coastal towns with beaches, trails and climbing.
Before you go to Savona
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Rules for Savona, checked
- Italy is in the Schengen Area. Many nationalities enter visa-free for short stays. Check the rules on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs site before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Many Italian historic centres restrict car access (ZTL). Check the rules with the comune before you drive into the old town.
- Cover shoulders and knees when you enter the cathedral and the sanctuary. Tipping is not required, but restaurants may add a coperto (cover charge), so check the bill.
Plan around Savona
How the Riviera fits into a wider Italian route
Read the guideThe Italian RivieraLevante and Ponente, towns and trains
Read the guideGenoaA big port city with a historic center
Read the guideSan RemoFlower coast resort near the French border
Read the guideItaly by train, off-peakRegional and fast trains compared
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for cancelled cruises and trains
Read the guideSavona FAQ
Is Savona worth visiting?
Yes for a quiet Ligurian town with a fortress, a harbor and fewer crowds than the Cinque Terre. It is not a headline sight, so plan it as a base or a port stop, not a main destination.
How far is Savona from Genoa?
About 45 km by road, and 30 to 50 minutes by train depending on the service. Trains run frequently, though the fastest Intercity may need a seat reservation.
What can you do in Savona on a cruise day?
Walk the harbor, the old town and the Priamar fortress, then eat at a harborside trattoria. For a longer outing, take a train to Genoa, but leave an hour of margin before the all-aboard time.
Is Savona a good base for the Italian Riviera?
It suits a budget week, since it has train links to Genoa and the Ponente coast. For Portofino and the Cinque Terre, the Levante side is closer, so consider another base.
When is the best time to visit Savona?
May to June and September for warm days and open beach clubs; July and August are hot and busy. Winter is mild but many seaside places close.