Santa Margherita
 

I'm looking for some info on Santa Margherita in the Italian Riviera. I'm getting married there in September but have never visited it. Is it expensive, can you recommend some nice, friendly restaurants, what is the weather like in September etc.

Thanks

I stayed in Rapallo in September, which is a 15 minute ferry ride away. The area is lovely and I think it is a great choice for a honeymoon.

We did not visit SML but we were able to find several moderately priced restaurants in Rapallo just wandering the streets, especially away from the water. In Italy, I have always found that there are plenty of choices to be had in all ranges. You just have to look a bit.

The area is great for daytrips and I know you will enjoy your stay.

I'm curious...how did you pick a place to get married in that you've never seen or know anything about?

As an aside though, Santa Margherita is a lovely place.

Santa Margherita Ligure is a great place to spend a few days and getting married there will yield the same results as doing it anyplace else.

Anyway you can take lots of little day trips from there very easily by train or bus to places like Rapallo, Sestri Levante, one of my favorites Camogli, Genova, or the Cinque Terre if you feel like going to a zoo. It is only about a 3km walk or 5 minute bus road for 1 euro to Portofino where you can take a couple of great hikes around the peninsula or up to the fortress Castell Brown. Next to the Amalfi coast I like this area the best for an Italian seaside location.

If you need a hotel, the Best Western Hotel Laurin is 4 stars, located at the marina and has a great sea view from every room and I paid only 110 euros there with a great buffet breakfast about a year ago. The weather in September will be much like summertime and plenty warm enough for swimming.

Have fun and good luck long term.

Larry J

We stayed in Santa Margherita last August when it was full of vacationing Italian families, which was a lot of fun. The town itself is lovely and very walkable. We did think that many of the pizzerias were overpriced for mediocre food, but there were a few trattorias where the food was made to order (!) and they were moderately priced. I will see if I can find the names of these in my files.

I don't know if you have accomodations yet, but I would highly recommend the Hotel Continetal, which is directly on the water and has a private beach.

The weather in September should be very nice.

Congratulations and have fun!

That should have been Hotel CONTINENTAL, obviously! Sorry for the misspelling!

I'll be at the Hotel Continental in September if you need a witness for your wedding. I plan to use SML as our base and explore the coastline via ferry and train.

Second hand opinion, but have a friend who adores the place. She original chose to stay there because it was more affordable than Portofino, then fell in love with it.

It's my all time favorite town in the world. I would live in SML if I could, and someday, I might. Here is a link to an article I wrote on the area, and the subsequent link is to a Fodors forum thread where I posted this once before:

http://www.postgazette.com/travel/20...fino0810p1.asp

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2

As far as I am concerned, this place is heaven. The Chiana Hotels are great, and try for the one where we spent our time, if you would like something special. The view and the privacy were just fabulous.

You can write me at [email protected] if you need further info. I hope the article helps. September there is great. You have picked the perfect place!

I stayed at Hotel Laurin a long time ago. We liked the area very much. You can read my trip report at

http://www.travelswithdiane.homestead.com/italy6.html.

If it is still there, the restaurant Da Baicin was great -- not fancy, but great food. Someone on this board had recommended it to us and we were not disappointed.

Popping over to Portofino is easy and quick.

Enjoy!!

Da Biacin is a really good place to eat. I had the most yummy fish stew there. It is casual and not expensive, but friendly and good. I second the rec.

Santa Margherita Ligure is the same train stop you would get off for Portofino. It is a lovely little town around the peninsula from Portofino but much more economical. I really liked it, we spent the morning in Portofino, and then walked to SML to have lunch and go shopping. The people, atmosphere, and locale are all wonderful. Where are you getting married at in SML - a church or have you rented a villa place?

No matter what you want to do in Italy, someone has already thought of it. Take a look at this web site: http://www.weddingsinitaly.com/honey...y%20BUDGET.htm

I may get married again when we go!

Hi Keedie,

We also stayed in SML rather than Portofino. From there we took the train to Riomaggiore and hiked (with lunch at Camogli) to Vernazza. Gellato stop. Train back to SML.

SML is a lovely town in it's own right, as others agree. Also stayed at the Hotel Lauren. Very comfortable. Our room had a private terrace facing the sea.

We also took the early morning boat over to Portofino, window shopped, and had a long, leisurely lunch with lots of wine at the marina. Watched the monster yachts wiggle into the tiny marina.

a very pleasant day!

Congratulations and buon viaggio!

Hi: I was there September 2001. We were supposed to fly out on the 12... When we finally got there, it was absolutely fabulous. The people...are really special. Resturants I can't remember, but they were all great. Stick to local fish, and porcini mushrooms, and you'll be in heaven. We stayed right on the water. I put together a dvd photoalbum of the town, and if you'd like I' d be glad to send you a copy. Have a fabulous time, enjoy everything, and especially go to Portofino, right up the road. Thats worth a trip from anywhere.

Thank you so much everyone. I'm 100% confident of my decision now. We're getting married in Villa Durazzo are have just to chose a restuarant now - might take a look at Da Biacin. DCW, your article is fab, will probably drop you a mail offline. NMeinke - would love to see your photo album.
Thank you again folks.

Hi folks,

I was wondering - has anyone ever ate at any of these restaurants in SML. La Stalla, Trattoria da Martino and La Ghiaia. Which do you think would be most suitable for a wedding reception dinner?

I was wondering - has anyone ever ate at any of these restaurants in SML. La Stalla, Trattoria da Martino and La Ghiaia. Which do you think would be most suitable for a wedding reception dinner? Also - any recommended hotels?

Hotel Continental--ask them about receptions--lovely setting.

Hi Keedie!

I am getting married at the Villa Durazzo on 4/16/05. We are having our reception at the Hotel Miramare. Our wedding planner Carolyn (www.destinationitalia.com) has been getting everything in order. She went to both places to check them before we signed contracts. We (and all of our guests) are staying at the Best Western Hotel Laurin.

Send me an email so we can chat. I also found this site today that has a write up about another couple that got married there too.
http://www.destinationidomag.com/art...p?ArticleID=13


http://www.destinationidomag.com/art...p?ArticleID=13

Hi Brooke! I just saw your response yesterday, have sent you an e-mail. Can't wait to chat.
keedie

I would highly recommend a lunch at Hotel Splendido, sit outside on the patio overlooking the MED. Liguine and Lobster, great experience!

Please see my trip report "Mostly Emilia Romagna" posted yesterday for some suggestions. I visited the Villa Durazzo - lovely location for a wedding.

For those who have taken the train from Genoa to Santa Margherita - is it difficult to purchase tickets upon arrival? Trenitalia.com does not seem to have an advance purchase option for that particular journey. Is the train station in Santa Margherita far from town and how convenient is it to get from the station to a boat or cab in order to go to Portofino? I am looking for the most convenient transfer from the Genoa airport to Portofino, but hopefully this can be done less expensively than via private car or cab.

Thanks

Hi M,

The train station in SML is up a hill from the sea level of town. We took a cab from the station to our hotel, the Lauren, and it was very short. We walked with our luggage on the return, although there are some stairs to deal with gonig uphill.

Without luggage you could easily walk to the marina for a boat to Portofino. Maybe 5 minutes.

Santa Margherita Ligure is a beautiful town. From there you can visit, Rapallo, Portofino, and Camogli. All of these are a short drive away. Pisa and Florence are 2 1/2 hours away. I would recommend a car. There is a magnificent hotel in SML which I believe is the Imperiali, it is not on the water, but a large white hotel, 5 star, halfway up the hill overlooking the harbor. September is a down time for the Italian Riviera, shouldn't be so hot and crowded. There is a magnificent church on top of a high hill in Rapallo, you take a finicular to get there. It is worth seeing. Enjoy.
Alberto

mgertz: There are ticket machines and windows in the Genoa train station. Very easy to purchase tickets to SML.

sera and Dayle,

Thanks for your replies. I was also wondering about pleasure boating options from Portofino - the hotel where we are staying (Splendido) offers 1/2day and full day sailing and motor boating but the prices seem very high. Are there other options for getting out on the water that are less expensive, other than the standard ferry boats that go to the Cinque Terre, etc.?

We are planning a visit to Riviera di Levante and hoping to base in Santa Margherita and Monterosso.

Many of you speak of Hotel Laurin in SML. Any remarks on Hotel Regina Elena?

SML seems like a perfect spot to travel from to see the nearby towns of the Riviera and then to drive east to CT, park the car and walk/hike.

Would love to hear remarks on the above hotel, and any restaurant suggestions in these towns.

Thanks, as always.....

The Laurin is better located in the heart of town--the Regina Elena is at the north edge.

Hotel Laurin is best situated within around the corner from the shopping district.
Boats can be rented there inexpensively.

Alberto