11 Best things to do in Portofino

1. 💦 Take a swim at Portofino’s iconic beach, Baia Cannone. To get there, search “8646+2FJ Portofino” in Google Maps. You will need to walk here, it’s a quick 6-minute stroll from the main bus stop in Portofino.

Once you reach this pinpoint, you’ll see a lampost with a sign that says “Spiaggia Libera” – take the stairs on the right down to this jaw-dropping public beach. By the way, entrance to this beach is free! 

2. 🍹 Grab a drink at Al Faro Bar⁣⁣⁣⁣. This bar is located on a cliff edge, as part of Portofino’s Lighthouse. The only way to get here is by walking 20 minutes from Portofino’s main square.

It’s well worth the short hike for the unbeatable views! I recommend ordering their signature cocktail, the La Portofinese Spritz (with Prosecco, soda & limoncino).

3. 🎭 Check out the unusual sculptures at Museo del Parco. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

4.🍝 Have lunch at Belmond Splendido at their La Terrazza restaurant. Note: you don’t have to stay at the hotel to make a lunch reservation here, and trust me the food & views are worth it!⁣⁣⁣⁣

5. 🏰 Hike to Castello Brown for the best views of Portofino. Note: entrance fee is 5€.

6. 🍦 Eat the best ice cream from Gelateria Gepi – hands down the best gelato you’ll find in Portofino. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

7. 🍳 Breakfast at the historic Dolce & Gabbana Caffè Excelsior.⁣⁣⁣⁣

8. 👟 Stroll along the scenic Passeggiata dei Baci (Walk of Kisses) path from Paraggi to Portofino. The path is approx 2km long and takes 25 minutes to walk⁣⁣⁣⁣. 

9. ☕️ Enjoy an espresso in La Piazzetta (Portofino’s main square) and admire the yachts in the marina.⁣⁣⁣⁣

10. ⛪️ Marvel at the beautiful frescoes at the Church of San Martino (Chiesa del Divo Martino).⁣⁣⁣⁣ Entrance to this iconic church in Portofino is free.

11. 🍽️ Head to dinner at Ö Magazín or Ristorante Puny.

How many Days do you need in Portofino?

You’ll only need one day in Portofino to do & see all the best bits, and trust me, if you stay any longer you’ll likely send yourself broke!

However, you can easily do Portofino on a budget too! Swim at the famous beach (Baia Cannone) for free, pack a supermarket lunch and you can easily spend less than 15€ for the day including entrance to Castello Brown and a cheeky gelato to cool yourself down in the summer months.⁣⁣⁣⁣

For a more relaxed pace, stay in Portofino for a few nights. From Portofino you can do a day trip to Cinque Terre.

How to get to Portofino?

The closest airport to Portofino is Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA). From Genoa, you will need to catch a direct train (approx 30-minute trip) to Santa Margherita Ligure station.

At Santa Margherita Ligure station, you’ll then need to get a bus (line 782) which costs 3€ and will take you to Portofino. The bus journey only takes 15 minutes.

If you are staying elsewhere in Italy, you can also do a day trip to Portofino from Cinque Terre by train & bus. It’s around a 1.5-hour journey each way.

Day trips from Milan (2.5-hour journey) and Florence (3-hour journey) to Portofino are also possible but be sure to plan your journey in advance as the trains are less frequent.⁣⁣⁣⁣

I always use Trainline.com to plan my train journeys in Europe and to book my tickets, the sooner you book your tickets, the more money you’ll save.