Soggiorna
Imperia was created in 1923 by merging two towns that have stayed distinct: Oneglia to the east, Porto Maurizio to the west, a couple of kilometres apart and quite different in character. It is the first thing to know before booking, because "in Imperia" can mean two places that are nothing like each other.
By train, and the surprise about the station
In December 2016 the old coastal railway was replaced by an inland line, and the stations at Oneglia and Porto Maurizio went out of service. The town now has a single station, Imperia, which is not on the seafront but higher up and set back from the sea.
If you arrive by train, factor in an onward leg to reach the centre, the harbour and the beaches: local bus or taxi. It is not a problem, but it is an extra stage to plan — especially with luggage, or in the evening, when services thin out. Ask your host how that last stretch works and how long it really takes.
By car
Imperia sits on the A10, the motorway between Genoa and the French border. There are two exits for the town, one towards Oneglia and one towards Porto Maurizio: pick the one for the district you are staying in, and check the name on your satnav before setting off — crossing from one centre to the other along the coast road in high season takes longer than the map suggests.
Parking
You will not find a list of car parks here. Parking areas, tariffs and restricted-traffic zones change over time and with the season, and a wrong list is worse than no list.
Before you leave, ask your host where to leave the car, whether the space is private or public, guaranteed or merely likely, what it costs, and how much of a climb is left on foot. That last question matters more here than elsewhere: the Parasio, the old upper quarter of Porto Maurizio, sits on a headland, and the difference between a space down below and one up top is steps and gradient with suitcases in hand.
Oneglia or Porto Maurizio?
Oneglia is the more urban, commercial side: arcades, the market, everyday life, the olive oil tradition. Porto Maurizio is the old town on the headland, with the Parasio above and the beaches below. Neither is the "centre" of the other: they are two centres.
If you are travelling without a car this choice matters a great deal, because every trip between the two sides means a bus, a taxi, or a walk along the seafront.
Frequently asked questions
Is Imperia station near the sea?
No. Since 2016 the line has run inland and the station is set back from the seafront: you will need a bus or a taxi.
Do the Oneglia and Porto Maurizio stations still exist?
They are no longer in service: the town has a single railway station.
Can you walk between Oneglia and Porto Maurizio?
They are a couple of kilometres apart along the sea: walkable without luggage, less practical with suitcases or in the summer heat.