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Imperia: What to See in 2 Days: A Seaside, City, and Village Itinerary
If you're looking for things to see in Imperia in two days , the best way to organize your stay is to avoid focusing entirely on the coast. Imperia deserves at least a full day to explore its two souls, Porto Maurizio and Oneglia , while on the second day you can expand your horizons and choose between two very different experiences: Bussana Vecchia and Cervo , if you want to continue exploring the sea and villages, or the hinterland of the Val Prino, between Montegrazie, Dolcedo, and Valloria , if you prefer something less traveled.
It's precisely this variety that we love about Imperia: in a short time, you can go from the narrow streets of Parasio to the port of Oneglia, from the sea to villages surrounded by olive trees. And without having to plan an overly complicated itinerary.
Table of Contents
Imperia in 2 days: a brief itinerary
Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
Day 1 | Porto Maurizio and Parasio | Oneglia | Dinner or a walk by the sea |
Day 2 – Classic itinerary | Old Bussana | Deer and sea | Return to Imperia |
Day 2 – alternative | Montegrazie | Dolcedo and Valloria | Return among the olive trees |
Our advice: dedicate the first day entirely to Imperia. On the second, choose a single itinerary. Trying to combine the coast and the hinterland in the same day would mean seeing everything too quickly.
Day 1: Porto Maurizio, Parasio, and Oneglia
To truly understand Imperia you have to start from a feature that often surprises those who arrive for the first time: the city has two distinct centers .
Porto Maurizio is the more historic and scenic part, while Oneglia is livelier and more commercial. The two areas were administratively united in 1923, but still retain very different characteristics today.
Morning: Go up to the Parasio in Porto Maurizio
I would start the day from Porto Maurizio , and in particular from Parasio , the historic centre that dominates the promontory.
There's no need to follow a rigid route here. The beauty lies in the slow ascent through alleyways, stairways, and narrow passageways that continually open up glimpses of the sea.
Among the stops that are worth a stop are:
the Basilica of San Maurizio ;
the Loggia of Santa Chiara ;
the streets of Parasio;
the panoramic points overlooking the coast;
the descent towards Borgo Marina.
The Parasio area is one of the places that the Municipality of Imperia indicates as one of the city's main tourist attractions.
How much time to dedicate: at least 2-3 hours, without rushing.
If you'd like to explore this part of the city in more depth, we've created a dedicated guide to Porto Maurizio, along the route we normally recommend to our guests.
Go down towards Borgo Marina and the sea
From Parasio, you can walk down to Borgo Marina , where the atmosphere changes completely. Here, the historic center gives way to the port, the waterfront, and the colorful houses overlooking the sea. It's a great spot to stop for lunch or simply take a stroll before heading to Oneglia.
If you're traveling in the warmer months, you can also include a few hours on the coast. In our guide to On the beaches of Imperia, you'll find the differences between Spiaggia d'Oro, Borgo Marina, and other areas of the city.
Afternoon: Discover Oneglia
In the afternoon, move on to Oneglia . If Porto Maurizio is the most scenic part, Oneglia is the one that allows you to see the daily life of Imperia .
You can start from Piazza Dante , stroll under the arcades, and then reach the port and Calata Cuneo. If you're interested in the history of the area and the culture of olive oil, you can also add the Olive Museum.
I wouldn't try to fill every hour with attractions, though.
Take the time to simply walk between the center and the sea: Porto Maurizio and Oneglia work precisely because they show two very different sides of the same city .
Where to close the first day
At the end of the day you can choose whether to stay in Oneglia or head back to Porto Maurizio.
If you stay in our Holiday Home Delo, the hillside location of Porto Maurizio allows you to escape the hustle and bustle of the city center while still being just minutes away from the sea and amenities . The house also features a terrace, fully equipped kitchen, and private parking , a particularly useful feature when traveling by car along the Riviera.
Want to use Porto Maurizio as a base for your weekend?
Discover the Holiday Home Delo vacation home in Imperia and check availability.
Day 2: Bussana Vecchia and Cervo, between villages and the sea
For the second day I would leave Imperia and build a day that shows two very different sides of the Riviera dei Fiori .
The first stop is Bussana Vecchia, to the west. The second is Cervo, to the east.
It means traveling a few extra kilometers, but the two locations are so different that the contrast makes the day particularly interesting.
Morning: Bussana Vecchia, the artists' village
Bussana Vecchia is unlike any other town in the area.
The village was severely damaged by the 1887 earthquake and subsequently abandoned. Beginning in the twentieth century, it was gradually repopulated by artists and artisans, becoming what is now often referred to as the artists' village .
There's no need to arrive with an endless list of things to see.
Stroll between:
alleys and stone houses;
shops and ateliers;
remains of the oldest buildings;
the area of the Church of Sant'Egidio;
glimpses that open towards the coast.
It is precisely this combination of ruins, art, and contemporary life that makes Bussana Vecchia special.
How much time to spend: About 2 hours is enough for a leisurely visit.
Afternoon: Completely change scenery and reach Cervo
In the afternoon it returns towards Imperia and continues eastwards to Cervo .
Here you find the sea again, but in a completely different context.
Cervo is a historic village built on the slope above the coast, with pedestrian alleys that climb up to the Church of San Giovanni Battista, also known as the Church of the Corallini . The churchyard is one of the most recognizable panoramic points in the village.
The best way to visit is to leave your car outside the historic center and walk up. Don't rush: the route itself is part of the visit.
What to see in Cervo in a few hours
With an afternoon at your disposal, focus mainly on:
alleys of the historic center;
Church of the Corallini;
panoramic square;
Clavesana Castle;
walk towards the sea.
If the season permits, you can end the day right on the coast.
Cervo is one of the locations that we also recommend in our guide dedicated to Riviera dei Fiori , because it manages to bring together a village, history and sea in a very small space .
An alternative to the second day: the hinterland that many skip
Bussana Vecchia and Cervo are probably the most obvious choices if it's your first time in the area.
But if you prefer something lesser known, I would completely change direction.
A few kilometers from the coast, Liguria begins, a region of olive groves, small villages, and roads winding up through the valleys . To discover it, you can plan your second day around three stops: Montegrazie, Dolcedo, and Valloria.
It's an itinerary I'd especially recommend to those who have already seen the Riviera's most famous locations or don't want to spend the entire weekend in tourist hotspots.
First stop: the Sanctuary of Montegrazie
Leave from Imperia and go up towards Montegrazie .
Here is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace , surrounded by olive trees and overlooking the Porto Maurizio valley.
The current building dates back to 1450 and preserves important 15th-century frescoes. The location is also worth the trip: from the sanctuary, the view opens out over the valley and towards the sea.
However, don't treat it as a regular attraction with continuous opening hours: access inside may be limited , so it's a good idea to always check opening times and visiting hours before leaving. The Sanctuary website provides updated visiting instructions.
Even if you find it closed, the surrounding landscape still makes the detour interesting.
Second stop: Dolcedo
Then continue towards Dolcedo , the main centre of the Prino Valley.
It's the kind of place where you don't need a specific plan. Stroll through the center, cross the bridges over the stream, and observe how the town grew around water and oil production.
Among the most characteristic features are the Ponte Grande , the Church of San Tommaso, and the architecture of the historic center. The Province of Imperia identifies Dolcedo as the main village in the Prino Valley.
The area is deeply rooted in olive growing: it's no coincidence that the regional tourism promotion describes the Prino Valley as one of the areas where the landscape and tradition of olive oil production are still particularly evident.
I would also stop here for lunch , instead of trying to include another location.
Third stop: Valloria, the town of painted doors
The last stop is the most curious.
Valloria is known as the village of painted doors : the wooden doors of houses, cellars, and old farm buildings have been transformed over time into works of art by numerous artists. The village is very small, and that's precisely its charm.
Here you don't have to look for a single monument: the visit consists of walking slowly through the alleys and discovering the doors one after the other .
Liguria's official tourist promotion links Valloria to the Val Prino itinerary and also highlights the small Museum of Forgotten Things. After a first day spent between Porto Maurizio and Oneglia, this itinerary shows a completely different side of the region.
Sea or inland: which itinerary should you choose for the second day?
The choice depends above all on what you want to bring home from the trip.
Choose Bussana Vecchia + Cervo if:
it's your first visit to the Riviera dei Fiori;
you want to continue seeing the sea;
you like unique villages;
you want to alternate art, history and coast.
Choose Montegrazie + Dolcedo + Valloria if:
you already know part of the Riviera;
you prefer less crowded places;
you want to see the landscape of olive trees;
you are interested in inland Liguria;
You travel by car and have no problems with hilly roads and short journeys.
If we had to summarize it in one sentence: the first itinerary tells the story of the Riviera, the second tells the story of what lies immediately behind the Riviera .
How to get around Imperia in 2 days
For the first day, you can mostly walk, then move between Porto Maurizio and Oneglia depending on where you leave your car.
For the second day, however, a car becomes almost indispensable , especially if you choose the inland itinerary. The towns of the Prino Valley are scattered among the hills, and having your own vehicle allows you to organize your day with much more freedom.
This is also one of the reasons why, when guests ask us where to stay in Imperia, we consider private parking a real advantage and not just an additional service.
Where to stay for a 2-day visit to Imperia and its surroundings
For such a short stay, the right base must allow you to easily enter the city but also go out towards the coast and inland .
Porto Maurizio works particularly well for this type of itinerary.
Our Holiday Home Delo is located in a hilly area of Porto Maurizio , away from traffic but just minutes from the beaches of Borgo Marina and Borgo Prino. It offers 65 square meters, two bedrooms, an equipped kitchen, a terrace with an open view, and private parking , and can accommodate up to 6 people.
For a weekend it means having a base from which to:
easily reach Porto Maurizio;
move towards Oneglia;
leave towards Cervo or Bussana Vecchia;
go up towards Montegrazie and Val Prino;
return in the evening to a quieter area.
Are two days enough to see Imperia?
Yes, two days is a good amount of time to get to know Imperia and begin exploring its surroundings.
The first day allows you to understand the city through its two souls, Porto Maurizio and Oneglia. The second day instead explores the surrounding countryside: you can stay close to the coast with Bussana Vecchia and Cervo or climb through the olive groves towards Montegrazie, Dolcedo, and Valloria.
What I would avoid is trying to do both.
Imperia works best if you leave some time for walks, the sea and unplanned detours .
And that's the advantage of having a home base: you don't have to squeeze everything into one day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to absolutely see in Imperia in 2 days?
On the first day, spend time in Porto Maurizio, Parasio, and Oneglia. On the second, you can visit Bussana Vecchia and Cervo, or choose an inland itinerary through Montegrazie, Dolcedo, and Valloria.
What to see in Imperia on the first day?
Depart from the Parasio in Porto Maurizio, visit the Basilica of San Maurizio, and descend towards Borgo Marina. In the afternoon, head to Oneglia for Piazza Dante, the port, and the town center.
What to see near Imperia on the second day?
For a first visit, we recommend Bussana Vecchia and Cervo. If you're looking for something less touristy, you can explore the hinterland of the Prino Valley, including Montegrazie, Dolcedo, and Valloria.
What to see in the hinterland of Imperia?
Near the city, you can visit the Sanctuary of Montegrazie, Dolcedo, and Valloria, known for its painted doors. These three stops allow you to experience the olive grove landscape and a Liguria that's very different from the coast.
Where to sleep to visit Imperia and its surroundings?
Porto Maurizio is a convenient base because it offers easy access to both the sea and inland destinations. Holiday Home Delo sleeps up to 6 people, has two bedrooms, a kitchen, a terrace, and private parking.
Do you need a car to visit Imperia in two days?
To visit Porto Maurizio and Oneglia, you can plan part of the day on foot. A car is very useful for the second day, especially for reaching Bussana Vecchia, Cervo, or the villages of the Prino Valley.
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