The town is compact and easy to walk. The peninsula with the old town, both bays, and the main churches and viewpoints is small enough to cover entirely on foot in an afternoon. The main beaches are a 10-minute walk from the train station.
Sestri Levante is on the Genova–La Spezia rail line, making it easy to reach by train from Genova (around 1 hour) or La Spezia (around 30 minutes). The train is the obvious way to make day trips along the coast. The station is close to the Baia delle Favole promenade.
For day trips to Portofino, Camogli, and the Cinque Terre, trains are the most convenient option — driving and parking on this stretch of coast is difficult in summer.