I Would Choose Santa Margherita Not for Its Status, but for How Easy It Is to Live Here
I know Santa Margherita not only as a real estate agent. Our family has a home here.
When we chose a place by the sea, what mattered to me was not only how beautiful it was. I wanted a location we could reach from Milan not just for a long summer holiday, but also for a few days or a weekend.
That, in my opinion, is one of Santa Margherita's greatest advantages: you can live a normal life here.
You can go out for groceries, walk to a restaurant, reach the sea on foot, take the train or stay for several weeks or months without feeling that you are living only inside a holiday resort.
For a second home, that simplicity has enormous value.
ELENA'S NOTE
I have often seen buyers begin by searching for the most spectacular possible view and, after a few viewings, start asking completely different questions: “Can I walk? Where do I buy groceries? How will my parents get here? Do I need a car every day?” In Santa Margherita, these questions are particularly good at separating a beautiful property from the right one.
Centre or Hillside?
This is probably the most important choice.
An apartment in the centre or close to the waterfront can give you something most panoramic villas cannot: everyday freedom from the car.
You can leave home and walk to the promenade, a restaurant, a shop or the beach. For someone who comes for short periods, this is a major advantage.
A hillside villa offers something different: views, tranquillity, a garden, more privacy and sometimes a swimming pool. But the price is often greater dependence on the car, more complicated access and additional maintenance.
So I would not choose between an “apartment” and a “villa”. I would choose between two different ways of living an ordinary day.
Walkability in Santa Margherita Has Real Value
In Santa Margherita, you can find apartments only a few dozen metres from the sea, as well as a completely different type of property — large hillside villas with gardens, swimming pools and panoramic views.
These are not simply different property types. They are different lifestyles.
When a listing says “10 minutes from the centre”, I would still walk the route myself. Is there a steep gradient? Stairs? A pavement? How pleasant is the walk back in the evening? Would you do it carrying shopping bags, with a dog or with elderly parents?
On the Ligurian coast, a short distance on a map can feel completely different in real life.
BEFORE YOU BUY
Leave the property and walk to the waterfront. Then walk back. The return journey often tells you more about the property than the first twenty minutes of the viewing.
In an Older Building, Check the Lift Before You Fall in Love with the Apartment
Many apartments in Santa Margherita are located in traditional Ligurian buildings where a lift or concierge should not automatically be expected.
For a lower-floor apartment, this may not matter. For a penthouse, it is a very different story, particularly if you frequently arrive with luggage, have young children or receive elderly guests.
I would also check the stairs, the width of the entrance, the condition of the common areas and how easy it is to bring large items into the building.
Beautiful high ceilings and old Ligurian details can be wonderful. But everyday comfort begins before you reach the apartment door.
A Terrace May Be More Valuable Than an Extra Room
In a seaside town, outdoor space works differently from in a large city. If you genuinely use the terrace for breakfast, lunch, dinner and part of the day, it effectively becomes another room.
So I would evaluate apartments and penthouses with terraces very carefully: not only the size, but also orientation, sunlight, wind, privacy, noise, the view while sitting at the table and whether the space is usable during the hottest hours of the day.
A large terrace without shade may be considerably less practical than a smaller one with the right orientation.
Check Santa Margherita in the Morning, Evening and in August
Seaside towns change throughout the day and throughout the year.
An apartment that feels extremely quiet at 11 a.m. may have a completely different atmosphere in the evening. The waterfront in August is not the same waterfront as in November.
If you are seriously considering a purchase, I would not do only one viewing. Come at different times, open the windows, listen to the noise, watch the traffic and check the restaurant or bar below the apartment when it is actually open.
For a hillside villa, I would do the opposite test: drive into the centre and back several times.
Repetition is what shows you how comfortable the location will really be.
Winter Sunlight Matters More Than It Seems in July
This is one of the things I would check particularly carefully in Liguria.
The terrain around Santa Margherita means that two nearby properties may have completely different exposure.
On a beautiful summer day, the problem may be almost invisible. In winter, it is not.
If you plan to visit throughout the year, ask when the sun reaches the main rooms, how many hours it remains on the terrace, what happens in the garden and whether a neighbouring hill blocks a significant amount of light.
I would not buy a second home in Liguria thinking only about August.
Parking Can Change My Evaluation of an Apartment
Especially if you often arrive by car from Milan.
A private garage or parking space close to the centre can be far more valuable than it appears during a remote property search.
Check its actual dimensions, the width of the entrance, the manoeuvre required and the distance from the car to the apartment.
For a hillside villa, I would check the entire final section of the road: the gate, turning space, parking for guests and how easy it is to arrive in the evening or during the busy summer season.
Santa Margherita is more practical than many small Ligurian destinations, but that does not mean every individual property will automatically be convenient.
Santa Margherita or Portofino?
These two locations should not be compared on beauty. They are both beautiful, but they suit different lifestyles.
I would choose Portofino for rarity, privacy, international recognition, the special character of the address and a willingness to accept certain compromises for a unique property.
I would more often choose Santa Margherita for repeatable convenience: services, transport, a wider choice of homes, walkability and easier living during longer periods of the year.
Portofino may be the home you choose for its exceptional character. Santa Margherita often becomes the home you use more frequently than you expected.
If You Have a Dog, Children or Elderly Guests — Test Real Life
This may sound too practical for prestigious property. But these are exactly the details that determine satisfaction after purchase.
Where will you walk the dog in the morning? Is there a comfortable route without stairs? Can a child walk safely to the centre? Can an elderly person leave the house easily? Do you need to get into the car every time?
A property can be highly prestigious and still be a poor fit for your family.
I see no reason to hide these compromises. It is better to understand them before making an offer.
DON'T MISS THIS
Luxury is not only marble, views and square metres. If your parents cannot comfortably get from the garage to the house, that is also a characteristic of the property.
Not All Property in Santa Margherita Is Publicly Advertised
In a small town, confidentiality has particular meaning. A property can often be recognised from the view, façade or terrace.
That is why some owners choose off-market property in Italy.
If your search is precise — walking distance to the centre, three or four bedrooms, a garage, large terrace, tranquillity, sea view or minimal stairs — it makes sense to communicate your criteria even when the right property is not currently on the website.
LOOKING FOR PROPERTY IN SANTA MARGHERITA LIGURE?
Tell us how you plan to use the property, your preferred distance from the centre, budget and the three characteristics you are not prepared to compromise on. In Santa Margherita, a good search often begins with one question: “On foot or by car?”
A Good Purchase in Santa Margherita Should Work on an Ordinary Day
I would make the final test very simple.
Imagine not an August holiday, but an ordinary Tuesday in October.
You wake up. You need coffee. The dog needs a walk. Then groceries. A restaurant in the evening. The next day you return to Milan or go to the railway station.
How easily does your property work in this scenario?
That, in my opinion, is one of Santa Margherita's greatest advantages.
Here, luxury may be not only what you see from the terrace, but how little organisation is required simply to enjoy the sea.
BY THE WAY... DO YOU OWN A PRESTIGIOUS PROPERTY IN SANTA MARGHERITA LIGURE?
Your next buyer may live outside Italy. You can
offer your property to LuxuryVillaItaly's international audience or choose a confidential sales strategy.
Elena Manzhos is a licensed real estate agent and the founder of LuxuryVillaItaly. She has worked regularly in Liguria for many years, and her family has a home in Santa Margherita Ligure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Property in Santa Margherita Ligure
What is better — an apartment in the centre or a hillside villa?
An apartment closer to the centre suits a buyer who values walkability, the sea, restaurants and less dependence on a car. A hillside villa may offer better views, a garden, privacy and tranquillity, but usually requires more complicated everyday logistics.
Do you need a car in Santa Margherita?
Not necessarily if you live close to the centre and waterfront. For many hillside properties, a car becomes considerably more important. This should therefore be decided before choosing the area.
What should I check when buying an apartment in a historic building?
The presence and size of the lift, stairs, condition of the common areas, future condominium works, parking and how easy the building is to use with luggage, children or elderly guests.
How is Santa Margherita Ligure different from Portofino?
Portofino is more focused on rarity, privacy and unique status properties. Santa Margherita generally offers more everyday services, transport connections and easier logistics for longer or more frequent stays.
Are there off-market properties in Santa Margherita?
Yes. Some owners prefer a confidential sale, so not all prestigious properties are publicly advertised. A clear budget and precise search criteria make it easier to work with relevant private opportunities.