5 or 6 days in Liguria...and maybe Pisa? And/or Lago di Como?

Are you taking the rental car back to France or are paying the ~$800 one way drop fee?

From where do you fly home?

If you can provide a bit more detail on the rest of your trip, you will likely get better ideas from the participants here.

Why are you skipping the cream of the crop (Rome, Florence and Venice?

Lucca, Pisa and CT are great places as are the northern Italian lakes, but those places are minor league to the big three.

Venice is special, its history dates back to its founding in the 5th Century when the Roman Empire in the West was near collapse and its founders sought safety in a small group of islands away from marauding Huns and Goths. The Venetian Republic lasted until the early 19th Century. There is nothing like it in the World.

Florence is a Renaissance gem. The Renaissance was born in Northern Italy and Florence led the way. The art, history and culture there is amazing.

Rome has the incomparable Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's, and many ancient Roman sites that should not be missed. It was the Capital of Western Civilization for centuries.

Of course, you can't see all this in 6 days, but perhaps you can come back for another trip. If you are from North America, save your beach visit for Florida or the Caribbean, the European beaches are not much to brag about.

I think options 1 or 2 are best. Five days for the Liguria area is great. My second trip to the area was five days, I originally intended on basing in Santa Margherita but couldn't find a hotel I liked in my price range so stayed in Rapallo and loved it. I did one day trip to the CT villages by train, another day I took a boat trip which stopped at the CT villages but went down to Portovenere and loved that. Another day I did a boat trip to Santa Margherita and Portofino. Easily filled up five days without Genoa. A totally different trip I did go to Genoa and was very pleasantly surprised by it, definitely worth a day trip. So that would be your option #2, spend the whole time in one base. But if you were not that interested in Portovenere and Portofino then going down to Lucca/Pisa for a couple days would be a good choice. Every place will be crowded in August, I was there in July and wasn't bad, but it will be worth it despite the crowds. Getting an early start on the day is the best advice.

And actually you do not need a car for any of this. I'll admit the trip from Nice to Rapallo by train was a bit of a slog (would have been smart to pre book the tickets, which I did not do) but you don't really need a car for this area and in fact it will probably be more of a pain. Where are you flying out of?

Here's my trip report. The Liguria portion starts about post # 45 (though Aix is up earlier in the report, you said you will also be there).

https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/photo-safari-to-the-south-of-france-the-italian-rivera-and-the-swiss-alps-990300/page3/

The photos are here: https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/p946045812
Genoa photos - https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/p923350972

Like isabel, I'd stay the entire time in one location and day trip. SML is a good hub and there is plenty to do without even heading inland to Pisa and Lucca (which is about 2 hours each way by train). Genoa has a great aquarium and it is interesting to wander the old center to get a feel for an Italian city. We spent a week in Camogli last autumn and loved it. We have been to the Cinque Terre 4 times prior and it was nice to see another side of Liguria. That said, it will be busy in August as Italians flock to the water!

To avoid drop fees, drop the car in Nice, take the short train ride to Ventimiglia or Sanremo and pick up the next car.

Please read this to avoid expensive tickets in Italy.

https://media.sumo.com/3edd7a94b19350d13b81f277e1c2f5b5c0f917d5965b529d238da52daa2b93f6

We took the train from Villefranche Sur Mer with a transfer in Genoa. We love Santa Margherita and have visited it many times, although in June, Twice we have taken the train to CT, many years ago, and it was already so overrun with tourists we hurried back to SM. We enjoy the walk to Portofino and love the ferry ride to Camogli where you will find the best focaccia. There is the lovely Hotel Cenobio Dei Dogi for a splurge stay or a very nice lunch with amazing views. Both of our then teen daughters love SM with its perfect size for strolls to the waterfront and beaches, the restaurants and a few shops and dining and warm evenings with a gelato in hand. Being by the water in August should be more comfortable than inland. Depends too what city you are flying home from.. If flying from Milan Como is close. You really don't need a car especially when trying to park.

Thank you, RS forum participants! Your advice was very helpful and greatly appreciated. We have decided to opt for 5 nights in the SML area (scenario 2), with day trips into CT and Pisa. (Isabel, your blog was especially helpful--thanks so much!) .