We will be staying in Santa Margherita for 5 days the middle of October. We will not have a car. We plan to use the train to see Cinque Terre, Genoa, Portofino. I am looking for ideas for other places I should not miss - using the train or, possibly, the ferry. We have been to Pisa and Lucca. Please help

Carrara for the marble works

Camogli is an interesting little town, also on the train, and San Fruttoso looks cute -- but can only be visited by boat or on foot over the hills. If you hike, there is a hike over the Portofino peninsula.

But no need to rush around ticking destinations off a list. Take time to relax and enjoy la dolce vita.

We thought Santa Margherita Ligure was lovely. You can spend quite a bit of time wandering about the waterfront, eating gelati and admiring all the expensive yachts.

There was an old mansion we visited, on a hill not far from the centre of town, it was lovely inside. They had a couple of enormous Murano glass chandeliers, very intricate and unique. It was sort of like a National Trust place - but not, if you see what I mean. Cost a couple of euros to go in and they gave us a sheet of paper explaining things in English.

We visited a fantastic bakery in SML, in the centre of town, that had huge pies, savoury and sweet and they would cut you a wedge. You just gesture with your hands if you want it bigger or smaller. We would buy far too much good stuff then go and sit on a park bench near the waterfront and pig out. Mmmm, we still talk about it, years later.

You could easily spend all 5 days just visiting the 5 Cinque Terre villages, they are all different and very picturesque.

Wish I was going!
Kay

emiller

I'm sure you probably already know this, but I thought I would add that you can't get to Portofino by train.

You can get to La Spezia, though and take a bus or cab to Portovenere which is lovely.

But I'm happy in SML just passing time in the sun. There ought to be a lot of fantastic yachts about; I believe the Genoa boat show is around that time.

An unusual trip would be for a meal in Recco, where there a couple of well known restaurants. Not a particularly scenic town, though.

The New York Times just ran a story on Genoa that you might find interesting:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...amp;sec=travel

Also, you might find your schedule plenty full between Santa Margherita, Genoa, CT, and Portofino in 5 days.

Hi EMiller - If you visit Camogli, go by bus from SML - not train.

The bus ride gives you lovely views on both sides of the peninsular ...

Steve