10 Things to Do in Santa Margherita Ligure That You Shouldn't Miss

January 24, 2018 Enedina Augsburger

Set on the Gulf of Tigullio between Rapallo and Portofino, the resort/fishing town of Santa Margherita Ligure really couldn’t be in a better neighborhood. Fashionable but much quieter than Portofino, life in Santa Margherita Ligure centers around the lovely palm-laden harbor, where boating and simple sunning are the orders of the day. The town has some good shopping options, lovely cafes and interesting sights like its 16th-century castle and the 17th-century Basilica di Santa Margherita.
Restaurants in Santa Margherita Ligure

1. Parco Naturale Regionale di Portofino

Viale Elia Rainusso 1, 16038, Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy +39 0185 289479
Excellent
76%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 618 reviews

Parco Naturale Regionale di Portofino

The Promontory of Portofino, the most northern protected coastal area of the western Mediterranean, shows scenery and landscapes amongst the most famous in the world. Formed by giant conglomerate deposits overlying limestone banks, mainly of marl, it has geomorphologic and microclimatic characteristics which provide, in a limited territory, an extremely varied environment. Within short distances, we can find the cool Forests of the northern mountainside and nearby the sunny cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean world, from the civilization of chestnut to the olive one, from the peasant traditions to the sea and the fishing traditional industry. The Park of Portofino has been a protected area since 1935 and it hosts one of the largest concentrations of flora of the Mediterranean, a large variety of birds and invertebrates as well as important historical and architectural treasures such as the abbeys of San Fruttuoso di Capodimonte and San Gerolamo della Cervara. A network of over 80 km of trails allows walking and hiking excursions of various lengths and difficulty, with the opportunity to enjoy the peculiarities of the whole area in the best way possible.

Reviewed By TravelerMikePlano - Plano, Texas

Portofino looks like a postcard. There are a lot of tourists, and cruise lines like to drop their share there, but that's what to expect when you go to a top tourist destination. Good restaurants and hotels. Great sight with places to walk to and historic sights that the glitterati favor.

2. Santa Margherita Ligure

Riviera di Levante, Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy +39 02 7010 5646
Excellent
67%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1 reviews

Santa Margherita Ligure

Reviewed By uncorked834 - Galloway, New Jersey

We stopped here on are way to portofino and had lunch. The views are magnificent and the town is very elegant with a beautiful beach and crystal clear water seems like a great place to spend an hour or a week if you have to time. It is well worth the trip if you are in the area.

3. Chiesa di Santa Margherita d'Antiochia - Santuario di Nostra Signora della Rosa

Piazza Caprera, Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy +39 0185 290290
Excellent
59%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 132 reviews

Chiesa di Santa Margherita d'Antiochia - Santuario di Nostra Signora della Rosa

Reviewed By John L - London, United Kingdom

This beautiful church, right in the centre of Santa Margherita Ligure is within easy reach of most of the centrally located hotels and is very handy for the 10.00am Mass each weekday. If there is no one there if you arrive early don't worry because the locals are aware that Mass does't usually start until around 10.15am!

4. Villa Durazzo

Piazza San Giacomo 3, 16038, Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy +39 0185 293135
Excellent
51%
Good
41%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 332 reviews

Villa Durazzo

Reviewed By Elizabeth P - Neston, United Kingdom

We enjoyed a lovely stroll through a park (it is uphill) to get to this elegant villa. Unfortunately as it was a Sunday we couldn't view it inside and a wedding was about to take place, but the views from the top were great and the turtle pond was interesting.

5. Baia di Paraggi

Via Paraggi a Mare, 16038 Paraggi, Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy
Excellent
76%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 69 reviews

Baia di Paraggi

Reviewed By Louis B - Montreal, Canada

In Santa Margherita, low cost activity will be walking and go to the public beach. Tourism bureau has done a fantastic job in promoting walking along the ocean coast, from Rapallo to Portofino, they have installed a red carpet. Simple thing but the sight seeing, various views, villas, Beaches, Gardens and access to the Parco Naturale, are worth it. If in Portofino take the time to walk back to Baia di Paraggi, amazing views with boats anchored, and the walk is in the shade. If in SM, longer walk to get there but worth it, about 4 KM. There are public accesses to the water on the rocks before you get to the beach in Paraggi. Just beautiful

6. Chiesa Di San Giacomo Di Corte

Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy +39 390 105 4851
Excellent
62%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 69 reviews

Chiesa Di San Giacomo Di Corte

Reviewed By preglad - New York

After experiencing the wonders of the Sanctuary of the Rose below near the sea in SML, it's almost stunning to discover high above the commanding Church of Saint James in its glorious surroundings and vistas all about. This has to be one of the most peaceful environments imaginable for such a magnificent expression of fidelity,
A fortuitous bonus is that Chiesa DI San Giacomo Di Corte's location filters out the hoards who would rather indulge in a double coned gelato than trek to what many might determine such a relatively demanding setting.
So much the better for us : the slightly more adventurous!

7. Abbazia di San Girolamo al Monte di Portofino - Complesso Monumentale La Cervara

Lungomare Rossetti | Via Cervara, 10, 16038, Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy +39 080 065 2110
Excellent
81%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 63 reviews

Abbazia di San Girolamo al Monte di Portofino - Complesso Monumentale La Cervara

Reviewed By Mary C - Randolph, New Jersey

Our tour of Portofino was short but sweet. The view after the climb to the top of the harbor is truly a stunning and classic adventure with uneven stones and a somewhat treacherous slope coming back down, but oh, the view! Stop in the shops on the walk down and find some lovely treasures, including handmade lace.

8. Seghezzo

Via Cavour, 1, 16043, Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy +39 0185 287172
Excellent
62%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
5%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 69 reviews

Seghezzo

Reviewed By Leslie W - Natick, Massachusetts

We came upon this, not easily and went in to check out some wines. There were so many wines and other alcoholic beverages it was staggering. Then there was the fresh food and nuts and veggies and and and....It went on forever, it seemed. Everyone there was so nice and helpful and we had a great experience. Don't miss this!

9. Oratorio di Sant'Erasmo

Sori Liguria, 16038, Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy
Excellent
70%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 39 reviews

Oratorio di Sant'Erasmo

Reviewed By preglad - New York

The Oratorio of Saint Erasmus is a bit of an oddly unique confluence of the sacred and the mundane. It speaks clearly of both faithful piety and calloused hands. It's unusual to see powerful crucifixes surrounded by vessels and vestiges of the sea, and an altar and walls adorned with marine history.
I strongly doubt most have ever encountered anyhing quite like it elsewhere. This humble oratory's definitely worth a peek as a respite so simply fascinating and conveniently located as a break on the way up to decidedly loftier settings.

10. Spiaggia Minaglia Beach

Via Milite Ignoto, 16038, Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy +39 392 042 1906
Excellent
62%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 69 reviews

Spiaggia Minaglia Beach

Minaglia Free beach, no ticket. Ping pong table, kayak and pedalo. Food & Drink. Blue flag 2017. Welcome

Reviewed By Jazsmine15 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Beautifully organized, walking distance to the beach, for aperitif, to the restaurants, beautiful scenery, great sea water for summer!! Just living v it!!Thanks for your visit we are happy to have had as guests, we hope to meet again thanks

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