Finale Ligure is a charming coastal town located in the Liguria region of northwestern Italy, nestled between the Mediterranean Sea and the Ligurian Apennines. It is located in between Nice (France) and Genoa (Italy) with good rail access and functional local bus network.
Getting to Finale Ligure by Car
Driving to Finale Ligure is straightforward, with good motorway connections from major Italian and French cities. The town lies just off the A10 Autostrada dei Fiori (E80), which connects Genoa to the French border near Ventimiglia.
- From Genoa: Approx. 1 hour (75 km) west on A10
- From Milan: Approx. 2.5 hours (200 km) via A7 and A10
- From Nice, France: Approx. 2.5 hours (170 km) via A8 and A10
Note that the Autostrada is a toll road. You can check traffic conditions and toll prices on the Autostrade per l’Italia website.
Getting to Finale Ligure by Train
Finale Ligure has a train station called Finale Ligure Marina. It is located close to the seaside and about 1km from the mediaeval village Finalborgo. See where is Finale Ligure station>
From Italy
Finale Ligure is on the Genoa–Ventimiglia railway line, with frequent InterCity and regional trains operated by Trenitalia.
- From Genoa: Around 1 hour, with frequent direct regional trains
- From Milan: Around 3 hours, sometimes requiring a change in Genoa
- From Turin: Around 3.5 hours with one or two changes
Tickets & timetables for all trains in Italy
Visit Trenitalia for Italian train schedules and tickets. You can see all the connections and seat availability. Buying a ticket online requires a name and date of birth for each passenger. You can also buy train tickets from any Italian train station from vending machines or ticket offices.
Validate your printed tickets on Italian trains
Just remember if you have a printed ticket, you have to validate it before your train departure, or you risk getting a fine. Validate each ticket by inserting it to a machine next to all the platforms on the train stations. Align the ticket to the left side of the slot in the machine, as the arrow shows on them and push it to the end, until you hear a noise. This physically prints the current date and time on the ticket, showing when you intend to use it.
Note: Genoa in Italian is Genova, so you’ll see this in all the station signposts.
From France
If you’re coming from the French Riviera, you can take a TER train from Nice or Marseille to Ventimiglia, the Italian border town. From Ventimiglia, change to a Trenitalia regional train toward Genoa and get off at Finale Ligure.
- SNCF Connect – for French train timetables and tickets
- Trenitalia – for Italian trains
Long haul bus services
If train connections don’t work out for you, try long haul bus services like Flixbus. Be aware though that some of these buses travel hundreds of kilometres, so there are some considerable delays at times. Just think if your bus has started from Paris and is headed to Rome, it may easily be delayed by 1-2h due to some motorway traffic.
- Flixbus – long haul bus services in Europe
- Omio is a great app for checking bus & train timetables and for buying their tickets
Getting to Finale Ligure by car sharing
You may be able to catch a lift to Finale by ride sharing. It is affordable travel and a great opportunity for meeting new people. The most popular car pooling app in the area is BlaBlaCar.com.
Check out also forums the Finale Ligure rock climbers Facebook page, perhaps someone is already in the area and can help you out with a ride!
Getting to Finale Ligure by Air
There are three main international airports that offer access to Finale Ligure:
1. Travel from Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA) to Finale Ligure
- Distance to Finale Ligure: ~65 km
- Travel time: ~1 hour by train or car
How to get there:
- Take the Volabus shuttle from the terminal to Genova Aeroporto Cristoforo Colombo railway station (~5 minutes)
- From there, catch a Trenitalia regional train toward Savona/Ventimiglia and get off at Finale Ligure Marina
Useful links:
Tickets: You can buy Volabus tickets on board with contactless payment directly from the driver.
Train tickets can be purchased online at Trenitalia.com for a specific train. Alternatively buy a ticket to the next train when you get to the station. Go to the ticket counter or use the vending machine—be sure to validate the printed train tickets before boarding.
2. Travel from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE), France to Finale Ligure
- Distance to Finale Ligure: ~150 km
- Travel time: ~2.5 to 3 hours
How to get there:
- From the terminal, either walk (~20 minutes) or take Tram Line 2 to Nice St-Augustin train station (2 stops; ~5 minutes)
- From Nice St-Augustin, take a TER regional train to Ventimiglia
- At Ventimiglia, transfer to a Trenitalia regional train or InterCity heading to Genoa and get off at Finale Ligure Marina
Useful links:
- Nice Airport
- Lignes d’Azur – Nice tram Info
- SNCF French train tickets & timetables
- Trenitalia Italian train tickets & timetables
Tickets: Tram Line 2 is free for airport passengers—just collect a free “aeroport” ticket from machines in the terminal. TER train tickets can be bought online, at the station, or via the SNCF app. You can buy Trenitalia tickets at Ventimiglia station or online via their app or website.
3. Travel from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) to Finale Ligure
- Distance to Finale Ligure: ~230 km
- Travel time: ~3.5 to 4 hours
- The train station is called Finale Ligure Marina, located in the heart of the coastal town
How to get there:
- Take the Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale station (approx. 50 minutes)
- From Milano Centrale, take a long-distance train direct to Finale Ligure or transfer at Genoa to a regional train to Finale Ligure.
Useful links:
Tickets: Malpensa Express tickets are available from machines, online, or via the Trenord app. For Milan–Finale Ligure trains, book in advance, especially for high-speed or Intercity trains between Milan and Genoa.
Note: It is good to know that Genoa in Italian is Genova.
Getting Around in Finale Ligure
By Bike
Finale Ligure is a paradise for cyclists and mountain bikers. You can rent high-quality bikes from local shops like Oddone Bici in the centre of the Finale Ligure by the sea. The trails begin near town and are accessible without a car. The roads climb steeply from the sea, so get prepared for a lot of vertical meters when you plan your routes. Ebike is a great option in Finale Ligure!
By Car
If you arrive by car, it is good to plan your parking well. In Finale Ligure town there are several parking areas in Finale Ligure. The main options include:
- Piazza Donatori di Sangue (near the beach)
- Via Torino Parking Garage
- Piazzale Buraggi (harbor area)
Note that the parking around the hiking and climbing sites can be very crowded on spring and autumn weekends. Summer is very busy close to the coast, so most Italians avoid moving their car during their holiday on the coast.
The street parking is metered, especially close to the beach and old town Finalborgo. You can use the mobile app Easypark to pay for parking.
By Bus
Finale Ligure has a reliable local bus network connecting the main town with villages such as Finalborgo, Orco Feglino and Varigotti. Buses are operated by TPL Linea and most of the buses stop on the bus stand in front of Finalborgo close to the small Despar supermarket, as well as the bus stop in front of the Finale Ligure Marina train station.
Bus 34 north to Orco
Bus 34 goes from Finale Ligure train station to Feglino and Orco, where many hiking and climbing trails start. Search for Linea 34 on TPL website
Bus 40/ east from Finalborgo to Varigotti, Noli and Savona
Bus 40/ or 40barr travels east along the coast between Finalborgo and Savona. Search for Linea 40barr on TPL website.
This bus is great if you want to hike the Varigotti – Noli path called the Pilgrim’s trail. The bus stops at:
SAVONA – VADO LIGURE – BERGEGGI – SPOTORNO – NOLI – VARIGOTTI – Finale Ligure train station (FINALE STAZIONE) – FINALBORGO
Bus 40 from Finale Ligure west to Pietra Ligure, Albenga and Andora
Bus 40 travels west along the coast to Andora, past Borgio Verezzi and Albenga. Search for Linea 40 on the TPL website
Bus tickets: You can buy bus tickets at any Tabac kiosks in the area or in cash only directly on board. The ticket carnets from the Tabacs are cheaper than the tickets bought from the bus.
Getting a Taxi in Finale Ligure
You can always ask at your accommodation if they can help you to get there from the train station. Alternatively, call a local taxi operator:
- Taxi Bertone +39 393 6252525
- Taxi Finalpia +39 393 6444444
- Ricky Taxi +39 393 8373737
Finale Ligure is well-connected and relatively easy to reach whether you’re driving, flying, or arriving by train. With stunning coastal views, mediaeval alleys, and a buzzing outdoor sports scene, it’s well worth the journey.
Boat transport to Finale Ligure
There are no boat services to and from Finale Ligure. You can get to Finale Ligure by catching a ferry to Savona or Genoa and take a train along the coast to Finale Ligure.
Savona has ferry connection to Corsica and Sardinia. Genoa has ferry connections to Barcelona, Morocco, Tunis and Palermo in Sicily, as well as Corsica and Sardinia.