Cruise Port Guide · 14 cruises visit Santa Margherita →

Santa Margherita Cruise Port

The bucket-list things to do — and the private, expert-led way to do each.

Here’s the bucket list for your day ashore: the most extraordinary thing to do at each stop, and the private, small-group, or expert-led way to make it yours — your own pace, real access, none of the crowd.

In port at Santa Margherita, the bucket-list move is Private Boat Tour of the Portofino Marine Reserve. GetYourGuide – Local Expert Skippers (Santa Margherita Ligure) runs it — a private, expert-led experience at your own pace, not a 40-person coach. Below: all 6 bucket-list things to do on a Santa Margherita port day, each with the independent way to make it yours.
Private Boat Tour of the Portofino Marine Reserve
1water

Private Boat Tour of the Portofino Marine Reserve

Glide through the protected waters of the Portofino Marine Reserve on a private crewed boat, anchoring in hidden coves for swimming and snorkelling. This is the Ligurian Riviera at its most exclusive — on your own terms, at your own pace.

Book it withGetYourGuide – Local Expert Skippers (Santa Margherita Ligure)From EUR 400 per private group (up to 6); approx. EUR 70–90 per person for small-group departures
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Portofino Kayak Tour with Snorkelling in the Marine Reserve
2adventure

Portofino Kayak Tour with Snorkelling in the Marine Reserve

Paddle the dramatic Portofino coastline on a small-group sea-kayak tour, dipping into sea caves and snorkelling the crystalline Marine Reserve. A visceral, human-scale encounter with one of Italy's most celebrated stretches of coast.

Book it withPortofino Kayak (official operator, Santa Margherita Ligure)From USD 64 per person (approx. EUR 59)
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Boat Tour to Portofino & San Fruttuoso Abbey — Small Group
3history

Boat Tour to Portofino & San Fruttuoso Abbey — Small Group

Sail by sea to both Portofino and the breathtaking 13th-century San Fruttuoso Abbey, set in an unreachable-by-road cove. Two of Liguria's greatest icons in one unforgettable small-group day on the water.

Book it withServizio Marittimo del Tigullio (official ferry & boat operator)From EUR 25–35 per person for scheduled coastal boat; private small-group charters from EUR 450
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Cinque Terre Private Full-Day Excursion from Santa Margherita
4scenic

Cinque Terre Private Full-Day Excursion from Santa Margherita

A private, chauffeur-driven full-day journey to the UNESCO-listed Cinque Terre — five jewel-like villages clinging to vertical cliffs above a cobalt sea. This is the quintessential Ligurian landscape, explored with expert, personalised guidance.

Book it withItalyVacations (private tour operator, Santa Margherita Ligure)From USD 418 per private group; train tickets and guide included
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Portofino & Santa Margherita Ligurian Gems — Private Half-Day Tour
5culture

Portofino & Santa Margherita Ligurian Gems — Private Half-Day Tour

A private guided immersion into the twin jewels of the Ligurian Riviera — the glamorous harbour village of Portofino and the elegant promenade of Santa Margherita Ligure. Art, gardens, hidden alleys, and the very soul of la dolce vita.

Book it withAAA TripCanvas / Local Private Guide NetworkFrom USD 418 per private group (up to 6 guests); 4–6 hours
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Pelagos Sanctuary Whale Watching Cruise from the Ligurian Coast
6wildlife

Pelagos Sanctuary Whale Watching Cruise from the Ligurian Coast

Venture into the Pelagos Sanctuary — a protected international marine park shared by Italy, France, and Monaco — in search of fin whales, sperm whales, and dolphins in one of the Mediterranean's richest cetacean habitats.

Book it withWhale Watch Liguria (official operator, Genoa/Ligurian coast)From EUR 75 per adult; private charter pricing on request
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