Portofino day trip from Genoa
A day trip to Portofino from Genoa: the Portofino lighthouse at Punta Portofino, Castello Brown, the historic centre around the harbour, the Baia di Paraggi, Villa Durazzo in Santa Margherita Ligure and the San Fruttuoso Abbey in its bay. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Portofino in 1 day
Day 1
Portofino Lighthouse (Punta Portofino)
A small lighthouse at the tip of the promontory, reached by a pleasant path from the harbour, with a bar and sea views.
Castello Brown
A fortress above the harbour, turned into a house by a British consul, with gardens, exhibitions and views over Portofino's bay.
Historic centre of Portofino
A walk around the tiny harbour, the Piazzetta and its colourful houses, cafes and yachts, up to the church of San Giorgio.
Baia di Paraggi
A small, sheltered bay with emerald water and a beach between Portofino and Santa Margherita, good for a swim.
Villa Durazzo, Santa Margherita Ligure
A 17th-century villa above Santa Margherita's harbour, with period rooms and terraced Italian gardens looking over the gulf.
Watch: Portofino
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
From Genoa, regional trains run along the coast to Santa Margherita Ligure-Portofino station in about 35-50 minutes; from there a bus or boat takes about 15-20 minutes, or walk the coastal path in about an hour. Boats in season also run from Genoa, Camogli and Santa Margherita to Portofino and San Fruttuoso.
Staying in Genoa? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Portofino
May, June and September are the best months, warm enough to swim with fewer visitors than July and August. In summer Portofino is crowded at midday and boat services run most often. In winter many boats run less often or stop, and some cafes close.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Portofino on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Portofino on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Portofino on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Portofino
- Portofino has no train station: take the train to Santa Margherita Ligure-Portofino and then the bus, a boat or the coastal walk.
- Cars and parking in Portofino are very limited, and the coast road is narrow; going by boat or bus is easier, especially in summer.
- San Fruttuoso can only be reached by boat or on foot along the Portofino promontory trails; check the last boat back.
- Boats along this coast do not run in rough seas, so check the weather before planning a boat day.
- Arrive early in summer, before the day crowds; the harbour is quieter and nicer in the early evening.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Castello Brown: Hayden Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- Historic centre of Portofino: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- Portofino Lighthouse (Punta Portofino): Stefan Schäfer, Lich, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
