Santa Margherita Ligure.
- WHAT TO DO
- WHAT TO SEE
- WHAT TO EAT
- WHAT TO EXPERIENCE
Trawlers bump against the quayside at four in the afternoon, unloading crates of sweet red prawns under the eyes of watchful harbour cats and men with clipboards. Behind them rise five storeys of trompe-l'œil windows and painted cornices, a tidy Ligurian trick to avoid window taxes centuries ago. It has grand hotels from the steamship era, but the bakeries on Via Palestro still sell warm focaccia col formaggio by the quarter-kilo. Santa Margherita Ligure is worth visiting if you want proper Ligurian seafood and coastal footpaths without the manicured stagecraft of neighbouring Portofino.
Last updated 6 Sept 2026
Field notes
Photographs · Wikimedia Commons
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What to do in Santa Margherita Ligure Liguria Italy
The town wraps around the Gulf of Tigullio, balancing grand Belle Époque facades with a genuine working harbour. Days naturally split between morning walks along the promenade, slow lunches over local shellfish, and afternoons on the shingle beaches. It suits independent travellers who appreciate good rail connections, flat streets, and authentic Ligurian neighbourhood life alongside their coastal swimming.
24 hours in Santa Margherita Ligure Liguria Italy
Pick up warm focaccia on Via Cavour by 8:30 AM before exploring the manicured gardens of Villa Durazzo. Walk thirty minutes along the seaside corniche to Paraggi for a swim, then take the local bus back for grilled red prawns near the marina. Finish with an evening stroll along Piazza Martiri dell'Olivetta as the fishing fleet ties up. Select 1 Day above to see it.
2 days in Santa Margherita Ligure Liguria Italy
Catch the 20-minute morning ferry to the secluded bay of San Fruttuoso to explore the medieval abbey. Hike the shaded ridge trail up into the Monte di Portofino park, descending into Santa Margherita for dinner of pansotti pasta with walnut sauce and a glass of chilled Pigato at an unpretentious backstreet osteria. Choose 2 Days to expand the plan.
3 days in Santa Margherita Ligure Liguria Italy
A third day lets you hop the local train seven minutes north to the quieter slate-roofed town of Chiavari for its morning market, or ride fifteen minutes south to Camogli for fried anchovies on the breakwater. Return to Santa Margherita for late afternoon bobbin-lace shopping and a quiet bench along the pier at dusk.
Santa Margherita Ligure Liguria Italy itineraries by interest
Local Seafood in Santa Margherita Ligure Liguria Italy
Watch the late afternoon auction for gamberi rossi, then order them raw with olive oil or tossed over taglierini at harbour trattorias.
Coastal Walks in Santa Margherita Ligure Liguria Italy
Walk the paved 5-kilometre seaside path out to Portofino, passing Paraggi bay with clear swimming coves and shaded stone pine benches.
Street Food in Santa Margherita Ligure Liguria Italy
Grab greasy paper squares of crisp focaccia di Recco stuffed with melted crescenza or dark farinata chickpea tart straight from copper pans.
Sacred Architecture in Santa Margherita Ligure Liguria Italy
Step into the 17th-century Basilica di Santa Margherita on Piazza Caprera to see heavy gilded stucco, Murano chandeliers, and votive ships.
Historic Villas in Santa Margherita Ligure Liguria Italy
Climb the terraced citrus groves to 16th-century Villa Durazzo, wandering frescoed salons and Italianate gardens overlooking the Gulf of Tigullio.
Wine & Vineyards in Santa Margherita Ligure Liguria Italy
Order carafes of crisp Vermentino and mineral-heavy Bianchetta Genovese pressed from steep terraced plots behind the coastal hills.
Markets & Produce in Santa Margherita Ligure Liguria Italy
Morning stalls on Piazza Mazzini sell wild borage, taggiasca olives, sweet pine nuts, and bunches of small-leaf Genovese basil for mortar pesto.
Maritime History in Santa Margherita Ligure Liguria Italy
Examine 16th-century defensive bastions built against North African corsairs, perched directly on the rocky water's edge above the docks.
Beaches & Coves in Santa Margherita Ligure Liguria Italy
Rent a striped umbrella on the pebbled town shoreline or walk twenty minutes to the emerald waters and sandy seabed of Baia di Paraggi.
Hiking Trails in Santa Margherita Ligure Liguria Italy
Head up into the Monte di Portofino regional park along mule tracks connecting San Fruttuoso abbey through chestnut and holm-oak woods.
Craft Traditions in Santa Margherita Ligure Liguria Italy
Look for traditional bobbin lace, known locally as pizzo al tombolo, still worked on cylindrical pillows in quiet residential side alleys.
Boat Trips in Santa Margherita Ligure Liguria Italy
Board the public ferry at the main pier for water-level views of the cliffs, running regular runs to Camogli and San Fruttuoso cove.