Santa Margherita Ligure 5 or 7 nights?
 

HI
we are off to Italy for 8 weeks in May and part of our stay includes SML. I have booked for 7 nights, but am now reconsidering a 5 night stay instead and then 3 nights in Piedmont (Monferrato/Langhe) on the way to Malpensa airport.
We travel with 2 children aged 11 and 8. What would you recommend? We will have a car. It will be in late May.
I am torn as there is so much to see in Italy and we are trying to keep our stays to a week or so. We will also be staying in Turin later in the trip for a week.
Thanks

We love SML! From there you can take a daytrip by train to Cinque Terre, Camogli and a boat ride to Portofino.
i think I would stay 5 nights vs. 7, and then drive to Piedmonte for a change of scenery. We have done that trip and it is an easy car ride. You will love it. Enjoy your trip!

Don't overlook Genoa for either a daytrip or an overnight. The kids will love the aquarium and the boats in the port.

Holly makes a good point. I had a very successful trip combining Piedmont and Liguria, but I wonder what kid friendly attractions Piedmont would offer. (Though Alba smells like chocolate--we were disappointed to find the factory does not do tours.)

Was going to say thing about Genoa. I would do 7 days and include a day trip there. Besides the places mentioned there is Portovenere and Rapallo. I did 5 days, didn't get to Genoa on that trip (did on a later trip), and wished I had more time. Here's my trip report - scroll past France to get to the Italy part - https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...s-alps-990300/

Photos -http://andiamo.zenfolio.com/p946045812

Thank you all so much. Hadn't thought of Genoa as a day trip, but that looks amazing! I know there is never enough time for places, we do love to travel slow though, isabel...off to read your report. x

In Rapallo there is a funicular that goes high above the city to a chuch, lovely park / walking path and a restaurant with an expansive terrace and view. I'm not sure it is much promoted or known about, but it is a lovely way to spend several hours.