15 Enjoyable Issues to Do in Portofino, Italy

April 23, 2025

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Ah, Portofino — a coastal Italian city that defines luxurious. Beyonce, Princess Diana, and Madonna have all vacationed on this gem of the Ligurian coast.

The precise city of Portofino is sort of small — shockingly small, whenever you get there. As soon as a quiet Ligurian fishing village, Portofino rose in reputation and now attracts tons of vacationers with its colourful homes, slim streets, and picturesque harbor.

Since Portofino is definitely fairly small, I feel it makes extra sense as a day journey vacation spot. You may simply go to Portofino in just some hours, or longer if you would like some seaside time. Rapallo, Camogli, and Portofino’s next-door neighbor of Santa Margherita Ligure are higher Italian Riviera cities to base your self in.

One vital factor to find out about Portofino is that it’s fairly costly. My husband and I acquired two affogatti (espresso poured over gelato) at a restaurant, and we have been charged a whopping 30 euros — I believed it will be perhaps 10 euros, and that might be costly in comparison with the remainder of Italy!! However exorbitant costs apart, it’s value visiting this picture-perfect coastal city.

Prepared to find Portofino? Let me present you the most effective issues to do on this iconic Italian Riviera vacation spot.

This publish was revealed in January 2025 and was co-written by Adventurous Kate and Dale Peterson.

A small Italian seaside village with. big boats clustered in the harbor.

Finest Issues to Do in Portofino, Italy

Go on a strolling tour

Should you’re visiting Portofino on a day journey from Santa Margherita Ligure, this tour is the proper strategy to get acquainted with the city. You’ll start in Santa Margherita and take the ferry down the coast to Portofino.

Then you definately’ll discover the city on a strolling tour, making a cease for a focaccia tasting at an area bakery. For lunch, you’ll have a pesto-making class and luxuriate in your lunch overlooking the water.

That is adopted by free time to discover Portofino earlier than catching your return ferry.

A blonde woman walking past a Brunello Cuccinelli boutique. — Brunello Cucinelli is a model moneyed Italians LOVE. By way of Mate Karoly on Shutterstock

Take within the fancy boutiques

You wouldn’t anticipate it for such a small city, however Portofino is filled with luxurious boutiques. It might need the very best ratio of luxurious boutiques to sq. footage of a city in Italy!

You’ll discover the shops of iconic Italian designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Ferragamo, and Pucci, in addition to small luxurious manufacturers Italians love.

(My husband Charlie was amused by this. “Why would anybody purchase a bag that claims Celine on it?…This city wants an Apple Retailer. And a high-end bike store.”)

Even in case you don’t have the funds to splurge at certainly one of these shops, it’s at all times enjoyable to walk down the primary road of Portofino and window store.

A big yellow church on a hill flying a red and white England flag. — Chiesa di San Giorgio, St. George’s Church, through Shutterstock

Go to the church buildings

Take a while to discover Portofino’s church buildings, notably the Chiesa di San Giorgio and Chiesa del Divino Martino. Whereas neither of those church buildings is among the many most spectacular you’ll see in Italy, they’re each value a go to.

Chiesa di San Giorgio is a historic church providing spectacular views over Portofino and the harbor, which is at all times crammed with yachts and different boats.

Chiesa del Divino Martino is a fairly church with a singular striped facade that’s proper within the heart of city.

An old stone castle perched on a hill high above the sea in Portofino, Italy — Castello Brown, through Shutterstock

Go to Castello Brown

Castello Brown is a historic citadel perched excessive above the harbor of Portofino. This strategic location was used for army protection since Roman instances. Nevertheless, the citadel fell into disrepair after being deserted within the nineteenth century, till it was restored by an English couple who bought it within the Nineteen Fifties.

Now, you may go to the citadel and benefit from the panoramic views it presents over Portofino. To succeed in the citadel, it’s a straightforward however uphill 10-minute stroll from the middle of city.

Entrance to the citadel and grounds is 5 EUR ($5.50 USD) for many guests and free for youngsters aged 12 and below.

A small white lighthouse set on top of a cliff at the end of a forested peninsula. — What an cute lighthouse! Faro di Portofino, through Shutterstock.

Stroll to the Faro di Portofino

Should you’re already at Castello Brown, you may maintain strolling for one more 10 minutes to succeed in the Faro di Portofino, a working lighthouse on the sting of the peninsula. From the lighthouse, you may soak up sweeping views of the ocean.

There’s additionally a cocktail bar known as La Portofinese on the lighthouse if you wish to seize a drink or some gentle snacks whereas having fun with the view.

An outdoor garden museum with lots of flowers and a big rhino sculpture. — Museo del Parco in Portofino, Italy, through Shutterstock

Go to the Museo del Parco

Museo del Parco is a small open-air sculpture museum in Portofino. There’s not a ton to see right here, however if you wish to spend a while strolling round admiring the distinctive installations, this can be a good exercise to do in Portofino.

The doorway payment to the museum is 5 EUR ($5.50 USD.) Along with the sculptures, you may soak up fabulous views of the harbor from right here.

A small pebbly beach in Italy leading to bright turquoise water — Baia di Paraggi on a surprising day, through Shutterstock

Chill out on the seaside

Though Portofino is on the coast, it’s not a typical seaside vacation spot with extensive, sandy seashores. Nevertheless, there are a number of seashores in and round Portofino the place you may swim within the clear, refreshing waters of the Ligurian Sea.

Baia di Paraggi is the most effective seaside close to Portofino, and it’s situated about 20 minutes from the middle of city on the street towards Santa Margherita (it’s also possible to take a five-minute bus journey on the 782 bus). This pebbled seaside has solar loungers for hire and is surrounded by cafes and eating places.

Baia Cannone is only a five-minute stroll from Portofino, and it’s accessible by steep, slim steps main all the way down to a small seaside. Nevertheless, it’s a terrific spot for swimming!

An overhead view of a huge yellow church perched on a beach in front of turquoise water. — San Fruttuoso, through Shutterstock

Hike to the San Fruttuoso Abbey

Should you’re up for an lively journey, you may’t miss the hike to San Fruttuoso Abbey. This Tenth-century abbey in a secluded cove is simply accessible by boat or by foot.

The hike from Portofino takes about two hours, however when you arrive, you’ll be rewarded with wonderful historical past and a terrific seaside the place you may chill out and funky off with a swim.

There are a number of eating places across the abbey, primarily serving seafood. I like to recommend packing your personal snacks for the hike, and perhaps bringing your personal picnic lunch, too.

An aerial of Portofino's big bay filled with lots of boats, the tiny village on shore. — Think about touring this bay by boat! By way of Suratwadee Rattanajarupak on Shutterstock.

Get pleasure from a ship tour

You may’t go to Portofino with out getting out on the water at the very least as soon as. Top-of-the-line methods to do that is with a ship tour.

This small group tour is the proper strategy to end off a day in Portofino as you watch the sundown whereas having fun with a glass of prosecco and a few gentle snacks.

For a very particular expertise, it’s also possible to constitution a ship in Portofino. This boat constitution contains snorkeling gear and drinks onboard, and you’ve got management over the place you go and the way lengthy you cease.

A couple jumping from a cliff into bright turquoise water. — With coasteering you are able to do jumps like these! By way of Shutterstock.

Go coasteering

Should you’re up for an adrenaline-pumping exercise, you may strive coasteering in Portofino. This combines climbing, leaping, and swimming alongside the rocky shoreline. With assist from an skilled information, you’ll be scaling and leaping off seaside cliffs prefer it’s nothing.

This coasteering tour contains virtually all the pieces you’ll want, together with all security gear, a helmet, a life jacket, and a full-body wetsuit. The one merchandise you’ll want to deliver is waterproof footwear with a very good grip because you’ll be scaling moist, rocky surfaces.

A path along a cliff high above the sea in Italy. — Climbing paths in Portofino Park, through Shutterstock.

Hike by means of Portofino Pure Park

If the thought of mountain climbing two hours every strategy to San Fruttuoso Abbey isn’t sufficient for you, there are much more choices! Portofino Park is a nature park spanning a lot of the peninsula, and it accommodates almost 50 miles of mountain climbing trails.

There are many scenic treks you are able to do throughout the park. You may even hike from Portofino to a different village like Camogli or Santa Margherita Ligure taking the scenic route by means of the high-elevation hills of the peninsula.

A group of stand-up-paddleboarders paddling past a cliff in the ocean. — Stand Up Paddleboarders, through DepositPhotos

Go kayaking or paddleboarding

One other enjoyable strategy to get out on the water in Portofino is by going kayaking or paddleboarding. This paddleboarding tour means that you can see Portofino from a special perspective as you paddle by means of the Baia di Paraggi. You’ll get a better view of the city from the water than you’ll in case you have been on a ship.

An alternative choice is this kayaking tour which helps you to discover the Portofino Marine Protected Space. You’ll additionally get to entry small inlets and caves that aren’t accessible by boat. You too can select to ebook a kayaking plus snorkeling tour, or get pleasure from a sundown kayaking tour.

A small, busy pebbly beach in Italy with lots of people lying on towels. — Head down the street for seaside time in Santa Margherita.

Take the ferry to Santa Margherita Ligure

Santa Margherita is a big city close to Portofino that’s effectively value a go to. It has a whole lot of the identical attraction as Portofino, however there’s much more to it than a tiny village. Whereas nonetheless an upscale place (with BOATS on BOATS on BOATS), Santa Margherita feels extra for “common folks” than Portofino.

You may take a 15-minute ferry journey from Portofino to Santa Margherita, take a 15-minute bus journey, and even stroll. From Portofino to Santa Margherita, there’s a coastal path that could be a good, simple stroll of roughly 3.2 miles.

A pretty pastel town in Italy set on a gray pebbly beach with big turquoise waves. — Camogli is a stunner for certain.

Go to Camogli

One among my favourite locations to go to on the Italian Riviera is Camogli, and it’s so near Portofino! That is one other quaint Italian Riviera city that was as soon as a quiet fishing village and is now a well-liked resort vacation spot. It’s additionally fairly small, so you may discover it in a number of hours.

You will get to Camogli from Portofino two methods. Probably the most scenic possibility is taking the ferry. But when it’s not working, you may take a 15-minute bus journey to Santa Margherita Ligure, after which hop on the prepare one cease to Camogli.

Learn Extra: 11 Enjoyable Issues to Do in Camogli, Italy

A village of brightly colored home perched on cliffs, leading to a small harbor where people are swimming. — The steep city of Riomaggiore is a must-visit in Cinque Terre.

Spend a day in Cinque Terre

Probably the most well-known place alongside the Italian Riviera is Cinque Terre. With a reputation that means “5 Lands” in Italian, Cinque Terre is a string of 5 colourful coastal villages.

If you may get your self Santa Margherita Ligure by bus or boat, it’s only a 40-minute prepare journey to Monterosso al Mare, the biggest of the 5 cities. From there, you may then hop between cities on the regional prepare — it doesn’t take greater than 5 minutes to go between any of the cities.

Monterosso is dwelling to the one respectable seaside in Cinque Terre, however Vernazza, Manarola, and Riomaggiore are all impossibly charming and picturesque. I like to recommend heading to Manarola simply earlier than sundown. You may go to all 5 in a day, however if you wish to skip one, skip Corniglia.

Learn Extra: Information to the 5 Cities of Cinque Terre

Two glass bowls of vanilla gelato topped with espresso at a cafe. — The notorious affogatti. For what it’s value, they have been fairly massive!

How A lot Time to Spend in Portofino, Italy

How a lot time do you want for Portofino? I feel Portofino works greatest as a day journey vacation spot.

Should you’re simply dropping in for a go to, two hours or so is all you want – however if you wish to do extra of the issues on this listing, you can also make a full day of your go to.

People sitting on benches at a concrete waterfront, bright yellow and orange buildings in the background.

The best way to Get to Portofino, Italy

How will you get to Portofino? You have got a number of choices for reaching Portofino. There are buses and ferries from the encircling cities locations. Santa Margherita Ligure tends to be extra of a hub on this area because it has a prepare station, and from there, it’s a 15-minute bus journey to Portofino. You too can take a scenic 3.2-mile stroll alongside the coast to get to Portofino.

There’s additionally a ferry from Santa Margherita Ligure to Portofino, which takes about quarter-hour, and there are ferries from different locations like Rapallo, Camogli, and Genoa. Needless to say ferries generally don’t run in case of inclement climate.

The closest airports are in Genoa and Pisa. Genoa is nearer, however is a really small airport with a handful of flights round Europe; Pisa is a bigger airport and serves many extra European locations, totally on funds airways.

From Genoa, there’s a 20-minute quick prepare to Santa Margherita Ligure, whereas from Pisa, it’s a 2-hour prepare journey.

A street in Portofino lined with trees, bushes, and cafes against bright yellow buildings.

The place To Keep in Portofino, Italy

Questioning the place to remain in Portofino? Though it’s a small city, there are a variety of lodging choices in Portofino, starting from opulent luxurious accommodations to easy albergos, which generally confer with primary native accommodations in Italy.

When you can definitely go to Portofino on a day journey, it will also be used as a base to discover the Italian Riviera.

Staying in Portofino additionally means that you can benefit from the quiet city within the mornings earlier than the day journey crowds arrive, and within the night as soon as they go away.

These are the most effective locations to remain in Portofino:

Discover offers on locations to remain in Portofino right here.

Several white speedboats parked in a calm bay in the town of Portofino, some villas perched on a hill above the town.

Finest Time To Go to Portofino, Italy

What are the most effective instances to go to Portofino? Summer time is THE time of 12 months for the Italian Riviera, however don’t overlook the spring or fall, which will also be an exquisite time to go to!

Many small cities on the Italian Riviera, together with Portofino, are kind of shut down within the winter months, so I’d keep away from this time of 12 months. (Truthfully, I’m modifying this publish in January, and Google Maps is roofed with “Quickly Closed” companies throughout Portofino.)

Should you’re seeking to go to in summer time climate however barely off-peak, I’m a giant fan of early June, which is earlier than the crowds actually begin to are available, or late September, when the crowds have dropped off.

Portofino can get extraordinarily crowded through the summer time, particularly when giant cruise ships are docked in close by Genoa. Should you go to from mid-June by means of early September, you would possibly encounter large crowds and highly regarded climate in Portofino.

A receipt charging 30 EUR for two affogatti. — In fact I saved the receipt.

Is Portofino Value It?

I’ll be sincere — I wouldn’t make Portofino the middle of my journey to the Italian Riviera. (And yeah, perhaps these 30 euro affogatti had one thing to do with it.)

However I feel it’s a wonderful day journey vacation spot, particularly whenever you pair it with the encircling cities of Santa Margherita Ligure and San Fruttuoso, and even broaden to Camogli and Rapallo.

I hope you might have an exquisite time in Portofino!

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Have you ever been to Rapallo, Italy? Share your favourite experiences!