Alassio, Italy

Capital City

This Ligurian beach town thrives on seasonal tourism, with winter health retreats and summer crowds packing its sandy shoreline. The Budello pedestrian street gives old-world charm, but don’t expect big-city amenities—Alassio shuts down by November, leaving expats reliant on neighboring Savona for serious shopping. The French border proximity means day trips to Nice, but Italian bureaucracy still moves at coastal pace here.

Retirees dominate the expat scene, drawn by the mild climate and walkable center. Summer rents spike as Italians flood in, while winter brings empty streets and limited services. The Muretto wall’s celebrity signatures hint at its faded glamour—this isn’t the Amalfi Coast, just a working-class resort town with decent pasta and reliable sunshine.