Looking for that classic balmy summer getaway in the Italian Riviera? Santa Margherita Ligure could be the one.

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Adored for its old-fashioned promenade, where ice-cold spritzes are served noon until night, not to mention its handsome seafront and sweeping hillsides, this charming resort strikes the perfect balance between sun-seeking sabbaticals and rewarding outdoor pursuits.

Couples and honeymooners will love the ocean-facing resorts, like Hotel Helios and Hotel Continental, to name a couple, where entire days can be spent reclining on sunloungers while slurping on frozen cocktails. And if the idea of tasting some of Italy’s best seafood takes your fancy, just head down to the colourful thoroughfare of Largo Giovanni Amendola, where restaurants serve plates of Liguria’s world-famous red shrimp.

Up in the hillsides, families can hike through Portofino Natural Park in search of paths to hidden beaches. Meanwhile, diving enthusiasts will want to plummet into the marine-protected waters that surround the resort, where a thriving ecosystem of sealife and fluorescent coral reef are waiting to be discovered. Combine all that with the summery, pastel-imbued apartments and exquisite 17th-century churches that overlook the bay and you’ll quickly realise the irresistible charm of Santa Margherita Ligure.