Santa Margherita Ligure
Santa Margherita Ligure is a working harbor town on the Italian Riviera in Liguria, northwest Italy. Stay here for boat trips to Portofino and walks on the coast paths above the sea.
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Santa Margherita Ligure is a harbor town on the Tigullio Gulf, in Liguria, northwest Italy. The seafront promenade runs past palm trees, and boats leave the harbor for Portofino and other villages along the coast. Go for the sea, the walks above the shore, and simple Ligurian food: focaccia and seafood, eaten outdoors.
Use the town as a base if you want a slower trip on the water. Boats and walks reach Portofino, and trains run along the coast toward Genoa and La Spezia, so you can take a day trip and return to the same hotel. Late spring and early autumn suit swimming best, when the sea is warm and summer crowds have thinned. Plan at least two or three nights to cover Portofino and one coast walk.
Santa Margherita Ligure in five
- Use it as a base for PortofinoPortofino is a short boat ride or a coastal walk away, and rooms here cost less than in the village. You also get a station on the main Genoa to La Spezia line.Portofino
- Check the boat timetable the evening beforeBoats link the harbor with Portofino and San Fruttuoso in season, and sailings change with the sea. Keep a bus or walking plan in case a service is cancelled.
- Walk the coast path to PortofinoThe path runs along the bay past Paraggi and takes a couple of hours at an easy pace. It has stairs and uneven stretches, so check for closures after storms.
- Take the train to Genoa and the Cinque TerreGenoa is the closest big city, and the villages of the Cinque Terre are reachable by regional train with a change in La Spezia, so plan a long day if you try it.Cinque Terre
Things to do in Santa Margherita Ligure
See all attractions in Santa Margherita Ligure
Need to know
- Airport
- Genoa (GOA), about 1 hour by train or road
- Getting there
- Regional or intercity train on the Genoa to La Spezia line
- Getting around
- On foot; boats and buses along the gulf
- Best base
- Near the harbor or the station
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 nights as a base; half a day as a stop
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain12 rainy daysHigh11°Low7°Quiet, closuresJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 153 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, closures
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Cool, calmFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 158 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, calm
- MarchRain12 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Early springMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 155 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Early spring
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low11°Fresh, greenAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 111 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fresh, green
- MayRain14 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Warm, walkableMayRain
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 150 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, walkable
- JunePartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh24°Low19°SwimmingJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Swimming
- JulyClear6 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 32 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear8 rainy daysHigh27°Low22°Peak crowdsAugustClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak crowds
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh23°Low19°Warm sea, calmSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 138 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea, calm
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low15°Mild, quieterOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 282 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Rain, windNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 204 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, wind
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low8°Quiet, coldDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 173 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, cold
Average daily high and low in Santa Margherita, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Santa Margherita Ligure
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
15
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 51%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Portofino
09:39 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today18°11°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue18°13°3%Tuesday: Clear. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed17°11°5%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Thu17°12°7%Thursday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Fri16°10°21%Friday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 21%.
- Sat16°13°15%Saturday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Sun16°12°26%Sunday: Rain. High 16°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 26%.
Updated 07:02 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Portofinoabout 15 min by boat or about 2 hours on footA tiny harbor village and a short coastal walk.Read the guide
- Genoaabout 40 min by trainA big port city with a historic center.Read the guide
- Cinque Terreabout 1 to 1.5 hours by train with a changeFive villages, trails and the park card.Read the guide
Before you go to Santa Margherita Ligure
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Rules for Santa Margherita Ligure, checked
- Italy is in the Schengen area. Most non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Check entry rules on the Italian visa site before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Cover shoulders and knees before entering churches in town, since staff may refuse entry to visitors who are not dressed for it.
- Check with the Italian Ministry of Culture before you buy antiques, since some cultural objects need an export licence to leave the EU.Source
Plan around Santa Margherita Ligure
Regions, cities and the rules every visitor needs
Read the guidePortofinoThe village a short boat ride away
Read the guideGenoaThe Ligurian capital, about 40 min by train
Read the guideCinque TerreVillages and trails down the coast
Read the guideThe Italian RivieraCoast towns from the French border to Tuscany
Read the guideSan RemoThe western Riviera resort
Read the guideSanta Margherita Ligure FAQ
Is Santa Margherita Ligure worth visiting?
Yes, as a relaxed Riviera base with a pleasant promenade and good train links. It has few big sights, so most travelers stay to visit Portofino and the coast rather than for the town itself.
Should you stay in Santa Margherita or Portofino?
Santa Margherita for lower prices, more restaurants and a station. Portofino for the setting and a quiet harbor after the day-trippers go, with higher prices and fewer rooms.
How do you get from Santa Margherita to Portofino?
By boat in season, by local bus along the coast road, or on foot along the coast path in a couple of hours. Check boat and bus timetables, since they change with the season.
Can you visit the Cinque Terre from Santa Margherita?
Yes, by regional train with a change in La Spezia, in roughly one to one and a half hours. It makes a long day, so a night nearer the villages is more relaxed.
When is the best time to visit Santa Margherita Ligure?
May, June and September for walking and swimming without the crush. July and August are warm and busy, and many places close or run limited hours from November to March.