Located in Liguria, in the province of Genoa, there is a municipality that has only 380 inhabitants but which is known all over the world, we are talking about Portofino. In the western part of the Gulf of Tigullio, its territory is characterized by an almost uncontaminated nature, if at all. Its beaches, in particular those concentrated along the eastern side of the promontory, are part of a protected marine area. Furthermore, together with the municipalities of Santa Margherita Ligure and Camogli, it forms the Regional Natural Park of Portofino , a protected natural area where you can go hiking.
Now considered the chosen destination for exclusive holidays by VIPs among yachts and luxury hotels, it is always a picturesque fishing village that retains its typical air of a small Italian town.
If you are planning a weekend or day trip to this beautiful Ligurian town, here are some practical tips!
10 things to see in Portofino in a Weekend
1 – Castello Brown
Photo by randreu. It is a unique location in the world, and positioned in the center of the Portofino bay, a panoramic point from which you can enjoy an incomparable view of the Gulf of Tigullio.
The terrace of the castle protrudes vertically above the village as if to fly over it, making it the ideal place for many events, art exhibitions, meetings, parties and even dream weddings.
It is surrounded by a Mediterranean garden full of flowers, rose gardens and pergolas.
Its evolution dates back to 1557, when it was used to ensure greater military defense given the frequent Saracen attacks in Liguria. Inside you can see some original furniture, a wall with Gothic-style windows, numerous bas-reliefs and architectural furnishings in marble or slate.
- How to get there: on foot from Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta it takes about 10 minutes along the climb to the Church of San Giorgio in the direction of the Lighthouse – Get directions
- Hours: March 15 to March 31 10: 00-17: 00; April, May, September and October 10: 00-18: 00; from June to August 10 am-7pm; from November to March 15 Sat-Sun 10: 00-17: 00
- Ticket cost: € 5.00
2 – Church of San Giorgio
Photo by Davide Papalini. This church is an important Catholic place of worship, inside are the remains of San Giorgio , patron saint of Portofino. It is characterized by a baroque style structure and by a road (the San Giorgio climb) which allows you to reach the church from the main square of the seaside village.
From the area in front of it there are perfect views to enjoy Portofino from above and its fairytale gulf, the view on the other side of the promontory is spectacular.
Inside the church you can see a plaque from which it is deduced that the building dates back to 1154, erected in Romanesque style, even if some excavations, carried out after the Second World War, have brought to the surface an ancient chapel probably dating back to the era of the Lombards in Liguria.
- How to get there: from Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta on foot in 5 minutes along the San Giorgio slope – Get directions
- Hours: 10 am-7pm
- Ticket cost: free
3 – Museum of the Park
The museum is located on the ground of a magnificent garden on different terraces overlooking the sea, it houses sculptures belonging to some of the major internationally known artists, including Pomodoro, Messina, Marrai, Costa, and is enriched every year of new acquisitions thus making it a cultural space in continuous evolution and one of the favorite places for nature and art lovers. To date, there are 130 sculptures. It is worth a visit as, in addition to being able to admire the statues and various works, here you can visit a wonderful and luxuriant garden overlooking the Portofino pier.
- How to get there: from Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta in less than 5 minutes on foot – Get directions
- Hours: Jun-Sep every day except Tuesday 10: 00-13: 00 and 15: 00-19: 00; only on request possible guided tours outside the opening period
- Ticket cost: free
4 – Chiesa del Divo Martino
Photo by Davide Papalini. The parish church dedicated to San Martino is a Catholic place of worship located in the oldest part of the village , inside there are some pictorial and sculptural works such as the Annunciation of the eighteenth century, the canvas of the Madonna del Rosario, and a painting depicting the Saints Rocco, Sebastiano and Pantaleo by a Ligurian painter of the sixteenth century. Externally the façade is quite simple with horizontal gray and yellow stripes, while inside it is full of frescoes and paintings .
- How to get there: from Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta on foot in less than 5 minutes – Get directions
- Hours: Mon-Fri 9 am-7pm Sat-Sun 8 am-2pm
- Ticket cost: free
5 – Baia Cannone
Photo by Italiano :. The beach is ideal for couples, it is small and romantic . It is an amazing place with its turquoise waters and its breathtaking scenery . It is located in a semi-hidden position and during the hot summer days it is perfect because it is shady, the entrance is the same that leads to a private area of ​​a hotel but the access to the beach is obviously public as it is a free beach. We remind you that the beaches mainly concentrated along the eastern side of the Portofino promontory, including Baia Cannone, are part of the marine area declared a Specially Protected Area of ​​Mediterranean Interest.
- How to get there: from Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta it is only 400 meters, 6 minutes on foot – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: free
6 – Baia di Niasca
It is the beach suitable for those who love outdoor activities , and a free beach which is located on the border with the nearby town of Paraggi, surrounded by Mediterranean and sandy scrub. It is a place where you can swim and take a bath in total safety as it is forbidden to navigation, and you can also snorkel.
Even in this beach the shade takes over from the early afternoon, moreover it is possible to find some salt water collections that periodically remain isolated from the marine waters and inside them contain many different animal and plant species such as algae, molluscs and small fish.
- How to get there: with the ATP bus that from the Chiesa del Divo Martino arrives in Niasca in 4 minutes; from Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta it is 1.3 km, 17 minutes on foot – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: free
7 – Baia di Paraggi
Photo by Davide Papalini. It is the most suitable beach for those who love to have all the comforts , services and elegance, and almost totally occupied by bathing establishments apart from a small area of ​​free beach which is always very crowded in summer . Since the early afternoon the position of the sun means that it is in the shade.
It is considered by many to be one of the most suggestive beaches in Liguria, if not the whole Mediterranean, with its emerald-colored water and its peaceful atmosphere and a real corner of paradise. Scattered with rocks that form a real cliff, it hosts plants such as sea fennel and Tyrrhenian cornflower. For the more trained in diving, here you will not be disappointed, even a few meters deep you may come across small yellow gorgonians, sponges and rare crustaceans.
- How to get there: by car via the SP 227 in 3 minutes, or by the ATP bus that from the Chiesa del Divo Martino arrives in Paraggi in 5 minutes – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: free
8 – Portofino Regional Natural Park
Photo by Davide Papalini. The park is a protected natural area consisting mainly of the territories of Camogli, Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure. The park authority maintains more than 80 km of itineraries indicated and in safety , some of which can only be covered if accompanied by guides. Within this area the vegetation is typically Mediterranean , consisting of chestnut, hazelnut, pine and olive trees. Its fauna is particularly rich , it is easy to meet and observe robins, finches, blackbirds, jays and many others, and birds of prey such as the peregrine falcon.
Starting from Portofino mare you can choose which itinerary to take, you are spoiled for choice and you can consult them all on the park’s official website, based on duration, difficulty, length and route.
- How to get there: the starting point of the excursions depends on the individual routes that you can consult on the official website
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: free
9 – Galleria D’Arte Portofino
Walking through the streets of the city center of Portofino it is impossible not to come across Via Roma, the main road that connects Piazza della Liberta directly to the port, and the area with the most shops of all kinds, as well as boutiques. of luxury you can also find typical shops and handicraft stalls. And a few steps away, in Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta, is the art gallery that offers works by some of the best-known contemporary painters and sculptors in Italy, also paying particular attention to young emerging talents.
- How to get there: it is located exactly in Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta, in the center of Portofino – Get directions
- Hours: from March to November 10: 00-20: 00, in winter by appointment only
- Ticket cost: free
10 – Bay View Yacht Portofino
The dock of Portofino, called Bay View Yacht, is the place where the tourist boats and elegant yachts that can be seen on the typical postcards and photos of this beautiful Ligurian town are moored.
It is a part of Portofino where you can stop even for a moment of relaxation, it is the setting for a unique, dolce vita atmosphere , and deserves to be enjoyed properly. From here it is possible to admire the small port that was once the refuge of fishermen while now it is one of the most chic places on our wonderful peninsula. In general, the whole of via Molo Umberto I deserves its moment.
- How to get there: from Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta on foot in 2 minutes – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: free
What to see in Portofino in one day: recommended itinerary
Have a good breakfast at Bar Morena located in the central square, Piazza Martire dell’Olivetta. Then you can continue taking Molo Umberto I and visit the Park Museum . Crossing the San Giorgio slope you can then reach the San Giorgio Church up to the Brown Castle (June-Aug 10:00 to 19:00). Inside you can see some original furniture and architectural furnishings in marble or slate, and also surrounded by a garden full of flowers and rose gardens from which you can admire the view over the Gulf of Tigullio.
Once back in the central square, stop for lunch at Trattoria Tripoli. We recommend that you spend your afternoon visiting the beaches and taking a few refreshing baths. Stop at Baia Cannone and Baia di Niasca , you will be more facilitated if you have the car with you. We remind you that in the afternoon these beaches are already shaded.
In the evening, reach one of the most beautiful viewpoints, the pier of Portofino, called Bay View Yacht . The moment of the day when the sun sets is the most suggestive moment. For dinner, stop by Ristorante Lo Stella, with its terrace overlooking the harbor.
One day itinerary at a glance
- Park Museum (Jun-Sep, except Tuesday 10: 00-13: 00)
- Church of San Giorgio (10: 00-19: 00)
- Castello Brown (Jun-Aug 10: 00-19: 00, € 5.00)
- Lunch at Trattoria Tripoli (Get directions)
- Cannon Bay
- Bay of Niasca
- Bay View Yacht Portofino
Where to eat in Portofino: the best restaurants
- Taverna del Marinaio restaurant : fish dishes in a small room decorated with paintings of ships, soft lighting and terrace overlooking the marina. Average price per person: € 45.00 Address and contacts: Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta, 36 (Get directions) / tel: 0185 269103
- Lo Stella Restaurant : historic restaurant on the sea from 1850 with retro-style furnishings, with a menu of pizzas, Ligurian and Italian dishes. Average price per person: € 30.00 Address and contacts: Molo Umberto I, 3 (Get directions) / tel: 0185 269007
- Il Pitosforo : rich Ligurian menu in an elegant restaurant with wooden chairs, lampshades and a veranda overlooking the marina. Average price per person: € 35.00 Address and contacts: Molo Umberto I, 9 (Get directions) / tel: 0185 269020
- Trattoria Tripoli : historic restaurant where you can taste the classic dishes of the Ligurian tradition in a refined setting. Average price per person: € 30.00 Address and contacts: Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta, 49 (Get directions) / tel: 0185 269011
- Chuflay : sophisticated restaurant on the Portofino square. Gourmet dishes and very fresh fish. Average price per person: € 70.00 Address and contacts: Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta, 1/1 / a (Get directions) / tel: 0185 267801
What to do in the evening: the nightlife areas and the best clubs in Portofino
Photo by Christine Zenino. The nightlife of Portofino is very quiet, moreover it is chic and elegant and this makes it a favorite destination for VIPs and wealthy tourists. The most popular clubs are located in the port area and along the coast and are mostly bars and pubs that organize evenings with live music and piano bars, to find a disco you have to move to the nearby town of Paraggi.
The aperitif is one of the favorite moments of the day in Portofino, and for many who pass by here even just for a day it is something that cannot be given up. We recommend two of the most characteristic and suggestive places where you can spend the evening.
The best pubs, clubs and discos
- La Portofinese : lounge-bar with a wonderful view located on the terrace of the Portofino lighthouse, excellent for an aperitif or sipping excellent cocktails. Specialties include craft beer and honey / Address: Via della Penisola, 18 (Get directions)
- Le Carillon : located in Paraggi and a restaurant that turns into a real disco club when the sun goes down / Address: Via Paraggi a mare, 10 (Get directions)
- Winterose Wine bar : Wine and champagne tastings accompanied by olives, cheeses and cured meats in a small wine bar with terrace. Address: Calata Marconi, 42 (Get directions)
- Caffe Excelsior : Cocktails, aperitifs and Ligurian cuisine in a 1924 vaulted room with outdoor tables on the square. Address: Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta, 54 (Get directions)
- Covo di Nord Est : Dj sets, live music and dinners in the luxurious rooms of a room carved into the rock, with beach and Jacuzzi. Address: Lungomare Raffaele Rossetti, 1 (Get directions)
Plan your stay in Portofino: info and useful tips
- How to get there: from Genoa it can be reached by car in 45 minutes. Or by train to Santa Margherita Ligure-Portofino station (50 min, € 3.60 each way), from here you can then reach Portofino with bus 82 (20 min, € 1.80 each way)
- How to get around : inside Portofino it is possible to move around on foot, the town is in fact a pedestrian area
- Where to park : we do not recommend reaching the center of Portofino by car, the road is narrow, full of curves and very crowded in the summer months. There is a free parking area located along the road between Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino in front of the Covo Nord Est nightclub, from here it is possible to reach the town on foot with a panoramic walk of 2 km or by bus (€ 5 , 00 per person a / r)
- Where to sleep: Hotels and b & b from € 150.00 per room – look at the offers
- What to see in the surrounding area : Camogli (14 km), Santa Margherita Ligure (5 km), Rapallo (8 km)
