The 8 things to do in Portofino

Want to escape on the Italian Riviera? Discover one of the jewels of Liguria: Portofino! Here is an overview of the must-sees in Portofino!

Portofino is a small fishing village in Liguria, nestled in the Gulf of Tigullio .

Typical and picturesque, it is surrounded by colorful and uneven houses by moored boats and yachts. This small village is world-famous. Very touristic and popular with international jet-set, it has also been a source of inspiration for artists and writers. Portofino is one of the jewels of the region.

Discover our selection of what to do and see in Portofino!

1. Castle Brown

Brown Castle is a fortress, in a dominant position on a rocky grove, formerly known as San Giorgio Castle. Its strategic position therefore had a defensive and protective function on the city and bay. The construction began in the 15th century and was completed in 1557. In the 19th century, the castle belonged to a British consul and in 1961 the city of Portofino acquired it.

Climbing to Brown Castle is one of the must-see visits to Portofino. The fortress is now a museum and is sometimes rented for weddings or other events. Also, its suspended garden offers a magnificent view of the port and the Gulf of Tigullio.

2. La Piazzeta

The Piazzetta or Place des Martyrs de l’Olivetta, is the heart of Portofino. A square facing the port and the yachts, dominated and surrounded by colorful houses, whose warm colours brighten the landscape. The Piazzetta and the marina are the symbol of Portofino. It is the world-famous, unmissable site that continues to attract jet-setters.

It is a very touristic place, but also very friendly. What to do in Portofino on the Piazzetta? And well settle at a terrace of cafes and restaurants, and taste local flavors, or take an aperitif by contemplating the views of the boats. After a good meal, direction the alleys that snake in the village, at the departure of the neuralgic center of the village. A stroll to discover the picturesque village and the shops.

3. Punta del Capo / Portofino lighthouse

When you decide to visit Portofino, the lighthouse and Punta del Capo are among the must-sees. The site is located on the southern tip of Portofino, overlooking the bay and the Gulf of Tigullio. This is a very nice walk to walk, with about 40 minutes’ walk/return. A route you can follow from Castello Brown or San Giorgio Church for example.

The arrival at the lighthouse and Punta del Capo is a pure moment of happiness and wonder in front of the sea view. Not to mention the reward at the end of the road: a bar on the lighthouse terrace. This allows of course to admire the view, but also to take a refreshment in front of the sea.

4. Regional Natural Park of Portofino

The peninsula of Portofino is a Regional Natural Park. It is therefore the ideal area when looking for beautiful hikes to do in Portofino. Indeed, this exceptional setting is full of many hiking trails. The hikers can thus go to the San Fruttuoso Abbey. Then, continue to Punta Chiappa or San Rocco, passing through Mont Portofino (610 meters) and even to the village of Camogli.

On the east/south side, a trail allows you to reach Santa Margherita Ligure by the coast, allowing you to take a break at the beach of Paraggi. In addition to these hikes, the Portofino Marine Reserve will make the happiness of nature lovers.

5. The churches

Several churches and religious monuments are to be visited in Portofino. San Martino Church, close to the Piazzetta is the largest and oldest church in Portofino. Dating back from the 12th century, it is in a lumbar roman style and has the peculiarity of having its façade decorated with horizontal stripes. The interior is to be seen absolutely, because richly decorated in a baroque style.

Another emblematic church of Portofino to see absolutely: the church of San Giorgio, which bears the name of the Holy Patron of Portofino. It is much smaller and more sober, but it is on a rocky promontory facing the sea, offering a magnificent view of the village and the bay. Then continue with the Oratorio di Nostra Signora Assunta, dating from the 14th and 15th centuries.

Finally, north of the village, surrounded by nature in the Regional Natural Park of Portofino, is the Cappella di San Sebastiano, a small colourful chapel.

6. Ligurian cuisine

Visiting Portofino is also an opportunity to taste the flavors of the Ligurian cuisine. The village is located by the sea and is therefore suitable for fish and seafood recipes. The "cappon magro", for example, is a very old recipe based on lobsters, oysters, anchovies and vegetables. Another local specialty to taste absolutely: the lasagna of Portofino, with pesto.

Also to be discovered, the "folcaccia" which is a kind of fertiliser with olive oil, garlic and herbs. Not to mention the "panisse", speciality based on chick peas. Finally, a good meal is accompanied by an appropriate wine, so let yourself be tempted by the “Giancu de Purtufin”.

7. Museo del Parco

An open-air museum to visit in Portofino, it is the Museo del Parco or the International Centre for Open Sculpture. Created in the early 1980s, it allows to admire more than 120 sculptures in a green setting. Indeed, the garden where the works are exhibited belonged to the castle overlooking the site.

These are modern sculptures, of different dimensions and made with various materials, by Italian and international artists. A site to be seen in Portofino for contemporary art enthusiasts. Moreover, it is easy to find because it is just a step away from the departure point of the ferries.

8. Water activities

What to do in Portofino when you like the sea? Several nautical activities allow you to enjoy the beauty of the place. First, it is important to know that a marine reserve, created in 1988, surrounds the course of Portofino. It ensures the preservation of marine fauna and flora and its ecosystem. Some activities are therefore regulated, but the preservation of the site allows to admire magnificent marine landscapes and plunge into the middle of fish banks.

Dive

Diving and snorkeling are therefore activities to practice. Dive trips are organized on a world-famous spot, "Christ of the Abysses". This statue of 2.5 metres high immersed in the waters of the Ligurian coast has been there since 1954 and pays tribute to the victims of the sea.

Paddle /kayak

It is possible to rent paddles and kayaks to admire the beauty of the coast, crystal clear waters and access the small coves.

Baignade

For an afternoon swimming, direction Baia Canone, lovely public beach of pebbles and big rocks, partly shaded. The site is beautiful.

Bateau

Finally, why not try a one-day boat trip on the Italian Riviera? It is possible on board small ships that can access the coves. In addition, some offer a stop at the Abbey of San Fruttuoso. And for the fun, nothing like a sea escape aboard an outboard.

How to get to Portofino?

Several possibilities offer you to go to Portofino.

Aircraft

The nearest airport is Genoa-Christophe-Colomb, about 30 kilometres away. To find the best available flights, depending on your availability, do not hesitate to use a flight comparison like Skyscanner.

Train

The nearest train station is Santa Margherita Ligure, about 5 kilometers away. From there it is possible to take a bus. In this case, it is the bus 82 ATP company.

Bateau

There is a service of shuttle boats connecting Portofino to other ports in the bay of Tigullio (Traghetti Portofino).

Car

The city is about 30 kilometers south of Genoa and fifty kilometers north of the Cinque Terre, villages classified as Unesco World Heritage. Portofino is a bag ass, traffic is bulky in the summer season and parking is fast complete.

Also, it is possible to park the vehicle in the nearby village of Santa Margherita Ligure and take a bus.

Where to stay in Portofino?

It is of course possible to stay on site in Portofino, but the rates are high. For a more economical formula, you can stay in the neighbouring villages Rapallo or Santa Margherita Ligure . Also our Compare hotels allows you to find the best quality/price ratios. In addition, there is no campsite in Portofino, but it is possible to select a campsite Airbnb .