Move Over Amalfi! This Coastal Region Of Italy Is Just As Beautiful And Cheaper To Visit

Amalfi is Italy’s trendiest vacation destination for a reason: a coastal strip interspersed with pastel-colored towns that bestride sea cliffs and picture-perfect pebbly beaches, it draws millions every year.

With its stunning popularity, however, comes a downside:

It is getting increasingly crowded, and prices are rising the trendier it gets.

At this point, a coastal hotel in Positano costing around $200-a-night, at a minimum, is an absolute find, and if you’re going on a little island getaway to Capri, be prepared to blow the budget by the thousands of euros.

Yep, Amalfi isn’t for the budget-conscious.

Fortunately for us, not all of Italy is like this.

There is a beautiful stretch of coast in the north of the country, near the border with France, that’s not as packed, and where hotel stays start from an affordable $79:

Italy's Hidden Gem Lining The Turquoise Mediterranean

The northwestern-most province of Italy, just over the border from Côte d’Azur in France, Liguria is best known for having a turquoise coastline, Instagrammable towns, and delicious gastronomy.

In fact, it comprises much of the so-called Italian Riviera, which many tend to conflate with the more famous Amalfi further south.

However, that’s a title claimed by Liguria, and rightly so.

Take Camogli, for instance:

A charming harbor town lined with rows of colorful fishermen's houses, it is still busy but largely frequented by Italians, which makes it all that more authentic.

Whatever you do, don’t leave town without trying Latterie 1978’s melt-in-your-mouth pistachio gelato, and make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to sunbathe down in Spiaggia Libera, a dark-sand-and-gravel beach licked by the warm Mediterranean.

Ancient Towns Oozing Old World Charm

For the culture buffs out there, who wouldn’t mind adding a little side visit to a museum or two amidst beaching, Noli boasts a fascinating past, with a well-preserved medieval Old Town and an enviable collection of Romanesque churches.

For a deeper cultural immersion, you should consider taking a detour inland to Cervo, a hilltop settlement traversed with cobble-paved streets and offering breathtaking views of the coastline.

Oh, and if you’re there in time for dinner, send the great guys at Ristorante Serafino our regards—they serve the richest, most delicious red wine, and you just can’t go wrong with their Michelin nod-deserving Trofie al Pesto.

Encroaching on the romantic Gulf of Ports, Tellaro is yet another secret spot with your typical pastel-hue buildings, etched onto the side of cliffs, in Amalfi fashion, except it has none of the latter’s hectic scenes.

Wait, we’re not done yet.

Our absolute favorite spot in Liguria has to be an off-path Ventimiglia, the last Italian city before France, and an unspoiled 15th-century gemstone that retains much of its original charm.

The buildings were not painted bright, vivid colors to attract Instagrammers, and as visitation numbers are low and comprise mainly the French, prices have not been “Americanized”.

We’re talking $8-10 pizzas and $4 (or less) for a cheeky Spritz.

How Affordable Is Liguria As A Destination?

In general, Liguria is a surprisingly affordable destination.

A private beachfront apartment in Ventimiglia will cost you $79 per night, or as little as $39.50 per adult, while a double room with a sea view in Camogli, within walking distance of the main beach, should set you back by $156 as a couple, or $78 each.

You could easily spend an idyllic week village-hopping along Liguria’s 218-mile coast while keeping expenses under $1,300, around $800 for hotels (based on crude estimates), and the remaining sum for food and other daily expenses.

As a pair of travelers, that’s only $650 each.

Now, it all depends on where you go, and which season.

The lower end of prices typically reflect the lesser-known, more “local” Liguria.

Everywhere in Italy these days has a higher-end, and mid-range “zones”, and you should expect to pay significantly more if spending time in Portofino, Sanremo, Cinque Terre and the like.

That being said, there are ways you can still save up money visiting Liguria’s tourism hotspots.

For starters, when it comes to the world-famous Cinque Terre, both a nature preserve and a quintet of dreamy villages facing the sea, you can opt to sleep in the far more reasonably priced La Spezia, just outside the national park, instead of Riomaggiore or Manarola.

Similarly for Portofino, the nearby town of Rappallo offers budget-friendly hotels and affordable food.

Naturally, prices can vary depending on season, and the summer months are undoubtedly a less-economical period to be visiting, but in general, local prices are lower than in Amalfi.