I have 5 nights slated to stay in Cinque Terre with Monterosso al Mare as the home base beginning 05/24. I am planning to visit Portovenere(by boat) while there, for a day, and considering Santa Margherita. Does it make sense to visit Santa Margherita also as a day visit or do an overnight or more there.I would take the train. I will be flying out of Rome on 5/31. Just looking for advice on travelers who are familiar with the area.
Thanks,
Irene
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
I would keep S. Margherita as a day trip, for flexibility. In the northbound direction, plan ahead for which departure schedule you prefer - there's a direct train around 7:30 for commuters, but later departures (about hourly) each require one connection. Returning to Monterosso, travel time is a little faster.
Posted by
bedford, indiana
459 posts
We did a short trip up to Santa Margherita and did the short (mile or two) hike out to the Portofino harbor, fun cool hike on nice trail, much of it paved. We then had a couple of beers at the cool harbor and took the ferry back to Santa Margherita got back on the train went south to the Cinque Terre area. We actually stayed in Monegila and rode the train each day into the CT villages or up north toward Santa Margherita and up to Sestri Levante and up the hike on Punta Manara. The trains are very enjoyable and they make for quick day or half day trips up and down the coast....do a day trip to Santa Margherita!
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
Yes, it is quite easy to zip up and down the riviera by train. Santa Margherita Ligure is a nice town. You can take a ferry from there over Portofino and to the abbey at San Fruttuoso - not really a lot to see there besides the abbey, but you can get off there. And then you can take the ferry on to Camogli, another really lovely town to the north and take the train back to Monterosso from there if you want to end your day there.