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Santa Margherita Ligure
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
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Santa Margherita Ligure

Recommended stay: 1 day
Getting around: Santa Margherita Ligure has its own train station on the Genoa-La Spezia line, making it one of the easiest towns on this stretch of coast to reach without a car. The town center is compact and walkable, and frequent ferries and buses run to Portofino, a short and popular hop away.
Hours: The town operates on normal daytime hours without unusual closures; ferries to Portofino run more frequently in high season and are reduced or suspended in rough winter weather.

Santa Margherita Ligure is a genteel seaside resort town that functions as the practical, well-connected base for this part of the Ligurian coast, less glamorous than Portofino next door but with a real palm-lined promenade, grand belle-époque hotels, and its own pleasant beaches and harbor. It has good train links, reasonably priced restaurants relative to Portofino, and frequent short ferries to Portofino itself, making it the sensible choice for travelers who want easy access to the area's famous harbor views without Portofino's prices or parking headaches.

Santa Margherita Ligure FAQs

Should I stay in Santa Margherita Ligure or Portofino?

Santa Margherita is more affordable, has a train station, and is only a short ferry or bus ride from Portofino, making it the more practical base for most travelers.

How do I get to Portofino from Santa Margherita?

Ferries run frequently in season and take about 20 minutes; a local bus is a cheaper alternative along the same coastal road.

Is Santa Margherita Ligure worth visiting on its own?

Yes, it has a pleasant promenade, its own beaches, and a relaxed resort-town atmosphere that doesn't require a Portofino day trip to justify a stay.

Is Santa Margherita a good base for the Cinque Terre?

It's on the same rail line, so it's workable, though it's somewhat far; La Spezia or a Cinque Terre town itself is more central if that's the main focus.

Does Santa Margherita Ligure have its own beach?

Yes, small town beaches are available, though many visitors use the town as a base and take day trips to Portofino or San Fruttuoso rather than beach-focused stays.

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