On foot.
The true essence of Liguria is perhaps found by those who go walking along the coastal and hinterland paths. Walking has always been an important activity in Liguria: it was the only way of reaching certain places, the only means of carrying out essential work activities, such as grape-harvesting in the Cinque Terre or transporting slate from the quarries of Cogorno to the port of Lavagna. There are no paths that do not show signs of the culture of seamen or rural labourers, quite simply because every path was built buy and for them, so as to maintain the vital connections between the land and the sea, which has always nourished Liguria and its inhabitants.
Besides these inevitable signs, the tourist will also be enchanted for many other reasons: the wild, uncontaminated natural scenery, which alternates with rural and coastal landscapes, the little drystone walls, the cultivated terraces, the seaside towns huddled on the rocks, and the alleyways of the old town areas. In the space of a few kilometres, you can go from the coast to the hillside, from the hillside to the mountains, contemplating the wide variety of flora and fauna and getting to know the signs of the past. It is up to individual tourists to choose the itineraries most suitable for their age and fitness and personal interests: you can choose to follow in the footsteps of the mediaeval monks and pilgrims or of the inhabitants of the coastal towns as they fled inland from the pirate invaders or of the merchants who took the routes through the mountain passes.
Trekking enthusiasts have a number of itineraries to choose from through the wonderful green areas, above all the many protected nature reserves. One interesting novelty is the "cultural park" - itineraries which use the theme of a famous person or a historical event, or the work of a poet or novelist or a social phenomenon to make links between the various locations.