Santa Margherita Ligure
 

I am heading to SML for three nights in July. I cannot much info on the town. Any suggestions on day trips, in town fun, restaurants, etc? Please help. I feel kind of clueless.

HELLO?

You don't say what kind of "in town fun" you are expecting, so I can't help you with that.

However, when I visited SML in 2003 we had a terrific meal at Trattoria Baicin on Via Algeria, 5, which is in the center of town, not far from the port (closed Mondays). The walnut sauce on ravioli was outstanding.

You can easily get to the Cinque Terre from SML via train. Either by bus or boat, visit the seaside resort of Portofino, and Camogli is another seaside town to consider visiting.

We also managed to visit Portovenere at the base of the Cinque Terre, but with only three nights that might be stretching it a bit for you.

What are you looking for in this vacation? Activity, relaxation, points of interest. Please tell us more.

I am so sorry for the typos and lack of clarity in my earlier post. I see you cannot type, make sense and talk on the phone:)
We really want to relax and enjoy great food and wine. A visit to a nearby town would be great, and my "in town" fun comment meant what is there to do in SML? Can you sit on a beach? Shop? Thank you!

Hi Pet - Portofino, Camogli and Rapallo are all within easy reach.

Camogli is nice by bus from S. Margherita - lovely ride over the hill.

Nicest beach IMO is Paraggi.

You might find this link useful:

http://www.santamargheritaturismo.it..._SML_ING-2.pdf

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Santa Margherita is a lovely town to base in for day trips to the surrounding area (Portofino, Camogli, and Cinque Terre).

Town itself is small- a handful of shops, some nice restaurants, and a beach that gets quite crowded in the summer. Some of the hotels offer private access to their own beach clubs/ beach, which is more a strip of sand with chairs than anything else.

The Thursday weely market in Rapallo is fun, from about 8 til noon down on the seaside promenade.
Hundreds of vendors.

madame petunia:

We stayed at the Laurel overlookig the yacht harbor...a clean, comfortable, affordable place...but do try to get to Trattoria Cesarina, about one or two blocks from the Yacht Harbor...excellent experience, run by two brothers and their momma..just let them bring you the food, don't bother with the menu (if they even have one). Their choices are marvelous ...for a party of four a few years back we did this, and the bill came to less than $50 total. I remember their choice of wines and dessert particularly....great.

We also dined one night at nearby Biacin suggested above by "Iam Kane"..very, very good.

Stu T. (be sure to take the frequent 20 minute boat ride to Portofino, and have a drink sitting on the terrace of the $800 a night Splendido Hotel, overlooking the harbor entrance. There is also a wonderfully scenic hiking trail from Portofino (not too steep) to San Frutuosso.Can also recommend the visit to Camogli.)