Soggiorna
Two things are worth knowing before you set off, and they are the ones that decide how the day goes.
Cervo has no railway station. And cars do not drive through the lanes: you park — down by the seafront or up near the castle square — and walk the last stretch, through lanes and staircases.
Neither is a problem if you know in advance. Both become a problem on arrival, with the suitcases in your hands.
By car
The exit is San Bartolomeo al Mare on the A10, then you continue on the SS1 Aurelia. You see the village from the coast road long before you reach it: the Corallini church at the top is the landmark.
Where to park
There are two different places to park, and the choice matters.
Up by the castle square. You can drive up: first you come to a free unpaved area, and a little further on paid parking. This is the choice if you have come for the village, because from there the walk down is short.
Down on the seafront. Paid parking areas, convenient if you have come for the sea, or if you have luggage and your accommodation is down below.
Payment does not apply all year round: read the signs on the spot, they are the only thing that counts.
In July and August, and on festival evenings, expect to drive around a bit or to come early. Cervo is small and the spaces are what they are.
By train
The reference station is Diano, about four kilometres away, served by regional trains. From there you continue by bus or taxi.
It is not the most convenient, and that should be said: anyone arriving by train has to allow for a change. But it is workable, and for anyone who would rather not drive the Aurelia in August it may be the better choice.
On foot, along the sea
From the seafront you can walk to Diano Marina: about twelve kilometres there and back, flat, along the water. It is a walk rather than a connection — but if you are staying down below and want to reach the neighbouring resort's services without a car, it is a real option.
Walking in: the Sentiero Liguria stage
Cervo is the end point of stage 24 of the Sentiero Liguria, which arrives from Andora through cultivated terraces, scrubland and the Ciapà municipal park.
The detail is in the stage's own page, but one thing is worth saying here, because it is about transport rather than hiking: it works without a car. You arrive by train at Andora, walk to Cervo and come back by bus. It is the finest way to arrive in this village, and it requires leaving the car nowhere.
The climb to the village
From the car park to the church forecourt you go up on foot: the village stands 67 metres above the sea and the paving is stone, with steps and slopes.
For anyone who walks well it is a few minutes. For anyone who struggles uphill it is a real difficulty with no flat alternative — there is no road that gets round it, and it is better to know now than in front of the first staircase.
Frequently asked questions
Does Cervo have a railway station?
No. The reference station is Diano, about four kilometres away, served by regional trains; from there you continue by bus or taxi.
Which motorway exit is it for Cervo?
San Bartolomeo al Mare on the A10, then the SS1 Aurelia.
Where do you park at Cervo?
There are paid areas on the seafront and behind the old village. If you have come for the village the second is better, because the climb is shorter; if you have come for the sea or have luggage, the first.
Can you drive into the old centre of Cervo?
No: you walk up into the village, through lanes and staircases. If you are sleeping in the old centre, ask your accommodation where the nearest access point is and how many steps there are, before booking.
Can you get to Cervo without a car?
Yes, in two ways: by train to Diano and then bus or taxi, or on foot along stage 24 of the Sentiero Liguria from Andora, arriving by train at Andora and returning from Cervo by bus.