Hotel Regina Elena (Santa Margherita)

Italy , Liguria , Portofino

  • Family Holidays
  • Central Location
4/5
Inghams rating

We rate all of our accommodation based on their facilities, service level, character and customer feedback. Our ratings may vary from the official rating.

  • Lungomare, Via Milite Ignoto, 44, 16038 Santa Margherita Ligure GE

Facilities

  • Gym/Fitness Centres
  • Outdoor Pool
  • Bar
  • Kids Club
  • Children's Play Area
  • Single Rooms
  • Free Wi-Fi

Portofino area at a glance

  • Italian
  • Euro (EUR)
  • Manchester Int. (MAN), London Gatwick (LGW), Birmingham Int. (BHX), Bristol (BRS), Leeds Bradford (LBA), London Luton (LTN)

Included in your holiday

  • On holiday support and tailored advice from our Destination Experts based in Italy
  • Access to Inghams Digital Resort Guide with things to do, walks and useful information on holiday
  • Flights from the UK, transfers and accommodation on a bed & breakfast or half board basis

About Hotel Regina Elena

The Ciana family have run the Hotel Regina Elena since 1910 and make sure everyone feels welcome. It’s right on the seafront in Santa Margherita, the next door town to Portofino, which is just a 30-minute bus ride away.

When you arrive, head straight for the spectacular pool on the hotel’s rooftop (open May to mid-October). Lay back on a lounger or in the whirlpool and enjoy panoramic views over the gulf. Directly in front of the hotel you’ll find the exclusive beach club (charges apply during high season) with a bar and restaurant offering snacks or a light lunch.

Dinners in the hotel are taken in the Principessa Restaurant. You can sit down to a delicious meal of fresh, local dishes, along with an extensive wine list to complement your meal. You’ll also find the many bars and restaurants of Santa Margherita just a short walk away, as well as the train station, making it easy to explore other towns along the coast.

Exclusive Beach Club

Hotel guests have access to a beach club with sandy beach, children's playground, bar, restaurant and free Wi-Fi (normally open June to mid September, payable locally for approx. €50 per day for two sun loungers and an umbrella and a towel)

Family facilities

Hotel Regina Elena is a great choice for families. Children will enjoy the kid’s club, located in the beach club, with activities for children between 3-12 years old. There are plenty of games including painting, treasure hunts and dancing, as well as a dedicated children’s pool.

Hotel facilities

  • Heated rooftop pool with whirlpool and panoramic views over the coastline (normally open from May to mid-October)
  • Pool and beach towels are provided
  • Bicycle hire (payable locally)
  • Fitness room
  • Table tennis
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Parking Garage (approx. €25 per night, payable locally, subject to availability)
  • Airport transfer time: approx. 1 hour from Genoa airport or 2 hours from Pisa airport by private car.
  • 500 metres to the centre of Santa Margherita, approx. 5 minutes walking
  • Beside the seafront promenade
  • Access to the beach through an underpass
  • 300 metres to bars, shops and restaurants
  • 1.5 kilometres to the train station

You'll have a buffet breakfast where you can enjoy a variety of pastries, fresh fruit, bread and hot options. You’ll also find some typical Ligurian products including focaccia and honey from Mount Portofino.

Half Board is available for a supplement and includes a four course dinner, with choices, at Restaurant Principessa.

Restaurant Principessa offers a Mediterranean menu using high quality ingredients. Enjoy freshly-caught fish, local olive oil and delicious wines. The wine list is varied and includes the local DOC Golfo del Tigullio.

La Conchiglia Beach Restaurant is right on the beach and is a casual spot for a light lunch or refreshments.

This property caters for the following special dietary requirements:

  • Gluten Free

Please let us know about any dietary requirements at the time of booking. Allergies and intolerances not listed above cannot be catered for. All allergies and intolerances, even if listed above, are subject to confirmation by the accommodation. 

Board basis available: Half Board, Bed and Breakfast

Standard garden view rooms sleep up to three people and are located at the back of the hotel. They overlook the gardens and hills towards Mount Portofino. Rooms that sleep up to three people are available on request. 

Partial sea view rooms sleep up to two people and have views of the Gulf of Tigullio and the gardens around the hotel.

Front sea view rooms sleep up to three people and have a balcony. These rooms are available on request, please call to book. 

Single rooms with a French bed are available on request, please call to book. 

All rooms have:

  • Air-conditioning
  • TV
  • Bath or shower
  • Hairdryer
  • Slippers
  • Minibar
  • Safe

Additional information:

  • No. of rooms: 80
  • No. of floors: 5
  • Lift accessible: No
  • Lift serves all floors: No
  • Access ramp: No
  • A tourist tax of approx. €4 per person per night is payable locally (max 10 nights, guests aged 15+)

Travel to Portofino area

Depart: Any day

Fly into: Pisa airport

Transfer time: approx. 1 hour 30 mins by taxi 

Check availability

Travel by air

Flights to Pisa depart daily between 03 May-25 Oct 2025 and 02 May-24 Oct 2026

Fly from:

  • London Gatwick, London Luton Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Leeds Bradford

Transfer time:

  • Approx. 1 hour and 30 mins by taxi from Pisa airport
Inghams Rating: 4/5

We rate all of our accommodation based on their facilities, service level, character and customer feedback. Our ratings may vary from the official rating.

Walks and hikes

Walking Trails:
80km of walking trails
Terrain:
Varied from hilly terrain, to farmland and seaside promenades
More walking info

Discover Portofino area

  • Walk along sea-side promenades in pastel painted towns
  • Hop on a ferry from Portofino to the Cinque Terre
  • Walk through the Portofino Natural Park

The Ligurian towns near Portofino are an exciting mix of glamour and wealth, and down-to-earth, rustic charm; from the ‘dolce vita’ of Portofino itself, to Rapallo, popular with holidaying Italian families. Walking in the Portofino National Park reminds you that there's still a lot of rural land around these picture-perfect towns, just a stone's throw from the coast. Exploring on foot is a great way to get to know the real Liguria, where farmers still work on the land and old farm houses stand strong in the middle of the countryside.

More about Portofino area

Things to do in Portofino

In true Italian fashion, Portofino's a fantastic place to visit if you're an art lover. Walk up to the church of St Giorgio and check out the doors! They're reminiscent of Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise in Florence with several panels depicting various biblical scenes. The artist, Lorenzo Cascio, also has a gallery in Portofino full of his Ancient Greek inspired artworks. While you're in Portofino check out the international outdoor sculpture centre which displays sculptures from about fifty contemporary artists in an outdoor area overlooking the harbour.

Rustic Streets in Santa Margherita, Liguria, Italy

From Rapallo you can get a direct train to towns like Bogliasco, Sori and Zoagli. These towns are all hidden gems and full of locals. The beach in Bogliasco is very popular in the summer, set beneath rocky walls it's the ideal un-spoilt area to enjoy on a summer's day. Make sure you also check out the ancient Roman bridge, it's the perfect spot for an Instagram moment!

San Fruttuoso is a wonderful abbey set in a small cove of the Portofino promontory, between the lush green of the Portofino Regional Natural Park and the sea. This beautiful place, quiet, protected and difficult to reach, was the ideal place for monks to build a monastery.

There's a statue of Christ of the Abyss underwater in the Cove of San Fruttuoso. This eight foot tall bronze statue lives 17 metres under the Mediterranean sea and is a popular attraction for scuba-divers. Created by Guido Galetti in the 50’s, there are two more copies, one in Grenada and one in Key Largo, Florida. It was significantly placed exactly where Duilio Marcante, the first Italian man to use SCUBA gear died in 1947 and is dedicated to him. The stature shows Christ raising his arms as a symbol of peace.

A full day walking tour through the Cinque Terre Villages with spectacular coastal views. You'll start the day by heading into the town of Riomaggiore on the train and from there spend the day exploring villages perched above the sea and the hidden alleyways in each Cinque Terre town. Generally you'll get the chance to see three out of the five villages. You'll return to at the end of the day by train.

Details: Available from Santa Margherita or Rapallo. This excursion can only be booked locally.

Excursions are only available subject to availability and require minimum numbers to run, so can be subject to change. Prices will be confirmed at the time of booking. Details on how to book will be provided in your Digital Resort Guide closer to the time of departure. Please see our Terms & Conditions.

Experience the best of Portofino on this three hour long tour which combines boat, walking and foodie experiences: learn the ancient art of Pesto making, enjoy a ferry boat cruise along the Italian Riviera, stroll around Portofino with a professional tour leader, and enjoy a light lunch of trofie al pesto by the sea. The tour ends in Portofino where you'll get a ferry back to Rapallo or Santa Margherita.

Details: Available from Santa Margherita or Rapallo in the Portofino area. Return ferry tickets from Santa Margherita Ligure or Rapallo are included in the excursion price. This excursion can only be booked locally.

Excursions are only available subject to availability and require minimum numbers to run, so can be subject to change. Prices will be confirmed at the time of booking. Details on how to book will be provided in your Digital Resort Guide closer to the time of departure. Please see our Terms & Conditions.

Learn to make classic Italian dishes such as Lasagna, pesto and stuffed vegetables and finish off with a delicious lunch (included). This is a great way to meet like-minded people and chat about Liguria's wonderful foodie heritage.

Details: Available from Rapallo. This excursion can only be booked locally.

Excursions are only available subject to availability and require minimum numbers to run, so can be subject to change. Prices will be confirmed at the time of booking. Details on how to book will be provided in your Digital Resort Guide closer to the time of departure. Please see our Terms & Conditions.

Learn to make Pesto the old fashioned way, on this pesto making class. We have no electric blenders here, all the pesto is made by hand in a pestle and mortar, or a 'Mortaio Genovese', with only the freshest ingredients from Liguria. This excursion also includes a local wine tasting, during which you can choose the best wine to pair with your pesto!

Details: Available from Santa Margherita. This excursion can only be booked locally.

Excursions are only available subject to availability and require minimum numbers to run, so can be subject to change. Prices will be confirmed at the time of booking. Details on how to book will be provided in your Digital Resort Guide closer to the time of departure. Please see our Terms & Conditions.

You'll love this private Vineyard & cellar tour at Cantina degli Abissi winery. Stroll around the vineyard on a hot summer's day, smelling the perfumes of warm sun-kissed grapes and end with a delicious local wine tasting and a typical Ligurian lunch.

Details: Available from Sestri Levante. This excursion can only be booked locally.

Excursions are only available subject to availability and require minimum numbers to run, so can be subject to change. Prices will be confirmed at the time of booking. Details on how to book will be provided in your Digital Resort Guide closer to the time of departure. Please see our Terms & Conditions.

In a restaurant in central Sestri Levante, learn about the history of Liguria's national food, Pesto Genovese, and the traditional way in which it's made. You'll have the chance to try making pesto in a typical 'Mortaio Genovese' (pestle and mortar) as well as taste a glass of local red or white wine from Sestri Levante. Come away with your very own 'Pesto Chef Diploma' complete with recipe and trade secrets for making the perfect 'Trofie al Pesto' (Trofie- typical Ligurian pasta). To finish off the day, you'll have the chance to wander around the Piccola Bottega Ligure, a little shop selling local beer, wine and typical Ligurian products- it's a great opportunity to get some souvenirs to take home with you.

  1. Details: Available from Sestri Levante. This excursion can only be booked locally.

Excursions are only available subject to availability and require minimum numbers to run, so can be subject to change. Prices will be confirmed at the time of booking. Details on how to book will be provided in your Digital Resort Guide closer to the time of departure. Please see our Terms & Conditions.

Santa Margherita, Liguria, Harbour & St George's Cross

Spend the day in the beautiful town of Santa Margherita, walk along the promenade admiring the yachts in the harbour and grab lunch in one of the town's down to earth cafés. Excursion by public boat departing from different locations. You'll head into Santa Margherita and return at the end of the day by public boat.

Details: Available from Rapallo. This excursion can only be booked locally.

Excursions are only available subject to availability and require minimum numbers to run, so can be subject to change. Prices will be confirmed at the time of booking. Details on how to book will be provided in your Digital Resort Guide closer to the time of departure. Please see our Terms & Conditions.

Explore Portofino for a day, walk up to the Church of San Giorgio, have a lunchtime aperitivo by the harbour or explore the rustic streets, dipping in and out of art galleries and outdoor sculpture gardens. You'll head into Portofino and return at the end of the day by public boat.

Details: Available from Santa Margherita or Rapallo. This excursion can only be booked locally.

Excursions are only available subject to availability and require minimum numbers to run, so can be subject to change. Prices will be confirmed at the time of booking. Details on how to book will be provided in your Digital Resort Guide closer to the time of departure. Please see our Terms & Conditions.

Enjoy a day trip to the famous San Fruttuoso Abbey. Head over to San Fruttuoso by public boat and spend the day walking around the ancient cloisters and lounging on the beach in the sunshine. At the end of the day you'll also return by public boat.

Details: Available from Santa Margherita or Rapallo. This excursion can only be booked locally.

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