Things to Do in Santa Margherita Ligure
We discovered Santa Margherita Ligure a couple of years ago and liked it so much, that we’ve been back. To us, it’s one of the nicest towns in Italy.
Santa Margherita has it all: a cute historic center, splendid beaches, delicious food, gorgeous hotels, and warm guests. The city is perfect for a short getaway or a longer vacation. Your choice.
We have prepared this guide we our favorite things to do in Santa Margherita Ligure. We are convinced you will fall in love with it as much as we did!
Get Lost on the Streets of Santa Margherita
The city’s old town is small. Its epicenter is Piazza Caprera, meters from the coast. You have to check the Antica Drogheria Saghezzo. Opened in 1905, it sells top quality Italian products. Their prosciutto is to die for!
From there, walk along Via Cavour. Don’t forget to check the side streets too. In particular, parallel Via Palestro and narrow Via Cairoli, both lined with all types of bars and restaurants.
The center is totally safe. In fact, walking at night is magical. You will see mostly locals strolling about. A couple of bars open till late.
Visit the Cathedral
There are 7 churches in the city. All of them are interesting. However, the Nostra Signora della Rosa Church is in a league of its own.
Locals call the Cathedral Santa Margherita Church. It stands tall on Piazza Caprera. Giovanni Battista Ghiso designed the temple in 1658. It’s one of the best examples of Ligurian baroque.
If you think the exterior looks great, wait till you get inside. It holds the remains of Santa Margherita and tons of art. The church is pretty much alive, with locals praying, so be respectful. Free entrance.
Visit the Villa Durazzo
From Piazza Caprera walk along Via della Vittoria for 5 minutes until you reach the park that surrounds Villa Durazzo. The 17th Century grand villa crowns a small hill overlooking the sea.
The gardens around the villa are beautiful. We love the fountain with its cute turtles. Go inside the villa and prepare to be dazzled. It’s full of art!
Once done with the villa go to nearby Chiesa di San Giacomo di Corte e Santuario di Nostra Signora della Lettera, a baroque masterpiece. Stop for coffee at The Coffee House Villa Durazzo. It’s next to the temple and offers the best views in Santa Margherita.
Walk along the Sea
Walking along the sea is a must. Begin you walk at the Statue of Cristopher Columbus from 1892. You will stumble upon the Santa Margherita Ligure Castle. The 1550 castle offers views over the sea.
Keep walking and you’ll see the Sant Erasmo Church on your right and Santa Margherita’s Port on your left. For panoramic views of the city walk along the pier. Keep walking for as long as you want.
In fact, we’ve walked all the way to Portofino in about an hour and loved it! Don’t rush and enjoy. If you get tired, you can hop on a bus.
Hit the Beach
Our favorite beach is Spiaggia Libera, in the center. You can pay to enter one of the organized sections with umbrellas. We stay at the public free beach. Tiny Piazza del Sole is to the north. It offers memorable views over the city.
From there you have to walk 15 minutes south along the coast to the next beach, Margherita Beach. The organized Bagni Sirena are to the north, next to the pier. The small free section is in the middle.
On your way to Portofino, stop at Paraggi Beach. It’s a tiny beach surrounded by forests and crystal blue water. We’ve even spent a night there at the Hotel Argentina and had a great time.
Go to Portofino
Who hasn’t dreamt of going to Portofino? The world-famous beauty is just 3 miles (5 km) from Santa Margherita. Buses depart every half an hour in front of the train station and take 20 minutes.
Though you can go to Portofino on a day trip, we strongly recommend spending at least one night. The city is gorgeous but very packed during the day. However, nights and early mornings are magical.
If you can afford it, stay at the incredible Splendido Mare Belmond, on the main plaza. Another option is the wonderful Piccolo Hotel, a gorgeous property 10 minutes from the center and overlooking the sea.
Try Delicious Italian Cuisine
You will eat and drink like a king in Santa Margherita. We always have lunch at Trattoria da Pezzi, on Cairoli Street. The family opened it in 1964 with a passion for authentic Genoese recipes.
For dinner, head to our favorite restaurant in the city: Zi’ Ninella Ristorante Gourmet, tucked in a little street near the port. It’s owned by an Italian-Thai couple and the food is out of this world!
If you are into wine, visit Vineria Macchiavello on Cavour Street. They have an astonishing selection of wines. For the best cakes and focaccias in town head to Panificio Dama on Palestro Street.
Where to Stay in Santa Margherita
Our favorite hotel in the city is the Imperiale Palace Hotel. The 1889 property is perched on a hill overlooking the sea. The treaty ending World War I was signed here. It’s got its own beach and a salt water pool.
The other historic property is the Grand Hotel Miramare. Guglielmo Marconi himself lived in the hotel and transmitted from the terrace. The pool is in the middle of extensive gardens and it has its own beach club.
Finally, the Hotel Laurin is next to Santa Margherita Castle. All of the rooms have sea views! It has pool and impeccable service.
How to Get to Santa Margherita
Most people visit Santa Margherita from Genoa or Cinque Terre. Genoa is only 18 miles (28 km) from the city. There are countless trains from Genoa Brignole Station from 5 AM till midnight that take between 30 minutes to an hour.
Trains link Monterosso al Mare (the closest Cinque Terre town) and Santa Margherita in around an hour. There are trains from 5 AM till midnight.
You can also come from or continue to Pisa, 90 miles (145 km) to the south. Many trains a day link both cities in approximately 2 hours. We believe the best route to take is Genoa-Santa Margherita-Cinque Terre-Pisa (or vice versa).
Moving Around
We love walking. It’s one of the reasons why we enjoy Italy so much. You can walk everywhere. The hills are not tall so you can go everywhere.
Though we like biking, it can be tricky to do so in the center. However, we’ve rented bicycles from Ciclomania (Luigi Bozzo Street) and had a blast. You can bike across the hills and next to the sea.
As mentioned, you can walk to Portofino or take bus 782 there. You can even walk or bike to Rapallo to the north!
