Work where others vacation

Why workation in Liguria works

The idea sounds almost too good: open the laptop in the morning with a Mediterranean view, swim at lunchtime, then hike through olive groves after your last call. Workation is no longer a trend but a realistic option for freelancers, founders and remote teams. Liguria is close to perfect.

The time zone fits Central Europe, the journey from Germany, Austria or Switzerland is short by car, train or flight. The climate is the mildest in Northern Italy, and the season for outdoor work starts in March and often lasts until November. The key is choosing the right place.

Why the climate is a real advantage

For many, light is as important as internet. Around Rapallo and Zoagli you can expect about 11 to 12 hours of sun per day in summer, and often around 5 hours even in winter. The long shoulder season is perfect for focused weeks by the sea.

That is why Zoagli is not just a summer place. For workation, the shoulder season is often the best: less traffic, more calm and a setting far more inspiring than grey home‑office weather.

The internet problem and the solution

The Ligurian coast has a reputation for unreliable internet, and in parts that is still true. Many older apartments have DSL with 5–10 Mbit, which is not enough for video calls. Mobile data works as a backup, but coverage in the hills can be patchy.

The good news: fiber rollout is progressing. Zoagli is among the Riviera di Levante towns with fiber connections. Instead of 10 Mbit DSL, you can get 100–1000 Mbit, stable and often symmetrical. That is more than enough for calls, large uploads and parallel streaming. Our apartment in Sant'Ambrogio has fiber for exactly this reason.

The perfect workation day in Zoagli

Espresso on the terrace at sunrise, then two focused hours before the heat. At lunch, down to the beach (10 minutes from the station, 15 from Sant'Ambrogio) or a break under the olive tree in the garden.

Afternoon work block, a video call on fiber, then a coastal walk toward Rapallo or a train ride to Portofino for an aperitivo by the harbor. Evening cooking with market produce from Chiavari or a small trattoria in Zoagli.

It feels like vacation, yet you work as productively as at home. Instead of grey office light: sea views and olive trees. Instead of cafeteria food: focaccia di Recco and pesto alla Genovese.

Why Zoagli and not the big towns?

Portofino, Santa Margherita and Cinque Terre are beautiful, but not ideal for workation. Portofino is extremely expensive and has few rentals. Santa Margherita is loud and crowded in summer. Cinque Terre often has weak internet and limited parking. Rapallo is practical but lacks charm.

Zoagli has the balance: small enough for calm and focus, large enough for daily needs. A train station for spontaneous trips, hillside neighborhoods with sea views and gardens, and proximity to the bigger towns when you want variety. Plus: living costs are lower than in the famous hotspots.

Our apartment as a workation base

From 2027 we rent out a 135 m² apartment in Sant'Ambrogio, Zoagli, designed for longer stays and remote work. Fiber internet, a quiet workspace with sea view, two private gardens for breaks and two private parking spots are included. Zoagli station is a 10‑minute walk, the Rapallo motorway exit 6 km away. Modern comfort with Ligurian charm.