Things to Do in Portofino: 6 Highlights You Shouldn’t Miss

What You Should Know About Portofino

Portofino is tiny and absurdly expensive – but still gorgeous and one of the top highlights of Liguria.

For over 100 years, the well-heeled have vacationed here – which is why you’ll find historic villas and sleek yachts everywhere you look.

There are no ordinary shops – only Louis Vuitton & Co.

That gives the place a somewhat artificial feel – not a trace of colorful laundry lines or fruit and vegetable stands like you’d find in other villages across Italy. Everything is very clean and well-kept.

We wouldn’t want to stay long in Portofino. But for a day trip or one night, it’s absolutely perfect.

Our Top 6 Attractions in Portofino

Piazzetta di Portofino

The Piazzetta di Portofino is the central square, located right on the yacht harbor. Its official name is Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta, but everyone just calls it Piazzetta di Portofino.

This little piazza shows up on virtually every postcard of Portofino and has served as a filming location for several Hollywood movies, including The Wolf of Wall Street.

From here you look out at the boats and yachts mooring below, and there are upscale restaurants, bars, and plenty of designer boutiques to browse.

Almost every street in Portofino leads back to the Piazzetta. There’s no way you can miss it!

Villa Mondadori

Villa Mondadori is the second image that graces every postcard of Portofino: the iconic, orange-painted villa built right at the water’s edge.

You could practically dive into the crystal-clear sea straight from the living room window – if the villa were open to visitors. Unfortunately, it’s privately owned and can only be admired from the outside.

The villa sits just outside the village, in the Baia Cannone bay. It’s an easy walk from the center.

Chiesa San Giorgio

You can already spot the orange and white church on the hill from the Piazzetta di Portofino.

To reach it, walk along the harbor promenade until you hit a steep staircase that climbs up the hill to the right.

Alternatively, you can take the walking path Salita San Giorgio, which has no steps at all.

On either side of the church you’re rewarded with a stunning panorama: one side looking toward Portofino and the other out to the open sea.

Castello Brown

Behind the Chiesa San Giorgio, narrow alleyways wind between grand villas and gardens leading to Castello Brown, Portofino’s castle.

The castle sits perched above the sea and harbor, and the view over all of Portofino is seriously breathtaking.

Inside, you can see artworks, furniture, and personal belongings of the former owner, Sir Montague Yeats Brown.

In the late 19th century he served as the British consul in Genoa and hosted many high-profile guests here. There’s even a photo collection from gatherings with Winston Churchill and Walt Disney.

Celebrities still visit regularly today: in 2022, for instance, a Kardashian wedding took place within these walls.

Admission isn’t free, but the views alone make it totally worth it.

Museo del Parco

The Museo del Parco is an open-air museum on the hillside between the Chiesa San Giorgio and the harbor.

Modern artworks in various colors and materials are scattered throughout the bushes and walking paths. And from the entire park you have, as so often in Portofino, a great view over the harbor.

The walk-through takes half an hour at most and isn’t free. It’s not very well known, though, so it’s never crowded – a nice bonus.

The entrance is at the bottom by the harbor, right next to the staircase leading up to the church. Keep in mind that the park is only open from June through the end of September.

Lighthouse with Bar

Portofino’s lighthouse is about five minutes from Castello Brown. Just keep following the narrow alleyways until you reach the tower.

The building itself is nothing special, but the view – as usual – is something else.

There’s a bar attached to the lighthouse where you can enjoy drinks with a view of the open sea. Honestly, it’s the perfect way to wrap up your day in Portofino!

Hotel Tips in Portofino

Accommodations in Portofino are expensive. But if you want to treat yourself, you’ll definitely find something here.

Tip: If you’d rather not spend a fortune, look for a place to stay in the neighboring towns – for example Rapallo or Santa Margherita Ligure. They’re only a few kilometers away and much more affordable.

Here are our hotel recommendations in and around Portofino:

Beaches in Portofino

The coastline around Portofino is a marine protected area, so the water is super clean and full of fish.

But beware: beach umbrella rentals around Portofino can run up to 250 euros per day during peak season.

There are free beaches too, but they’re very small and fill up fast. If you visit outside of peak summer, though, you might still snag a free spot.

• Spiaggia di Paraggi: small sandy beach, about 1.5 kilometers outside of Portofino. Only a small section is free; the rest requires payment.
• Spiaggia Niasca: tiny but free beach along the main road from Portofino to Paraggi. Gets crowded quickly, but the water is beautiful.
• Spiaggia Cannone: the closest beach to Portofino. Small, free pebble beach right near Villa Mondadori – you can splash around directly below the villa.

Our tip: Kayak tours along the Portofino coastline depart from Spiaggia Niasca. It’s a really great way to see Portofino from a completely different angle:

Book the Kayak Tour in Portofino

Restaurant Tips in Portofino

Portofino has plenty of great restaurants – of course at Portofino prices.

But also plenty of touristy spots that simply aren’t worth it.

Here are our three restaurant picks where you genuinely can’t go wrong:

• Trattoria Concordia: Small, family-run trattoria just outside the village, so not as expensive. Delicious nonetheless!
• Trattoria Tripoli: Right on the harbor. Excellent food, but Portofino prices – around 30 euros for a pasta. Reservations are absolutely essential!
• Winterose Winestore: Wine bar right on the harbor promenade. Great wines with cheese and charcuterie boards.

Getting to Portofino

Portofino sits about 35 kilometers south of Genoa and 90 kilometers north of La Spezia. You can reach it quickly from either city.

By car, the trip only really makes sense if you leave your vehicle in Santa Margherita Ligure and continue by bus, taxi, or on foot. Parking in Portofino is extremely expensive and stressful.

The train is also an option, though you’ll still need to get off in Santa Margherita. Portofino has no train station of its own.

The most scenic way to arrive is by boat. Boat tours from Genoa going directly to Portofino are easy to book:

Boat Tour to Portofino from Genoa

From the Cinque Terre you can’t get directly to Portofino, but you can reach Santa Margherita, which is only 1.5 kilometers away.

Parking in Portofino

In Portofino there is only one parking garage, located at Piazza Libertà. If you arrive early in the morning, finding a spot is easy; later on it gets tight.

Parking costs 8 euros per hour. For 12 hours you pay 35 euros. Very Portofino.

Honestly, you’re better off parking in Santa Margherita Ligure and taking the bus or a taxi from there. The ride takes less than five minutes.