The small fishing village of Portofino can easily be explored in one day! An ideal plan is to arrive in Portofino in the morning and leave in the evening. If you are not dependent on public transport, you could even have dinner along the harbor front. This post covers how to spend one perfect day in Portofino.
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Table of Contents
How to Get to Portofino
You can easily visit Portofino in one day, if you are visiting the Italian Riviera or the city of Genova. You could also visit from Cinque Terre (see below) and Milan. The day from Milan will be a long one as it’s about a 2 hour car ride or 3+ hour train ride one-way, but still doable.
To get to Portofino, you need to first get to the town of Santa Margherita Ligure. From Santa Margherita Ligure, you can take bus 782 to Portofino. The bus stop is right in front of the train station. I recommend checking the bus schedule ahead of time, so you know when you need to hop back on the bus to make your onward journey if you are going to your next destination via train.
Alternatively, you could also take a ferry boat, which is undoubtedly the more scenic route. The ferry departs the main harbor in Santa Margherita Ligure, also a close walk from the train station. However, the ferry does not run all year round. See HERE for the schedule.
Taxis are also available but costs a lot more than the other two options above.
A Day Trip from Cinque Terre
Portofino is just less than an hour from Cinque Terre and an easy day trip. You could also visit Portofino on your way to or out of Cinque Terre, which is what I did. I left my luggage near the train station.
Things to Do in Portofino in One Day
As I mentioned, you should aim to get to Portofino early and plan on spending the entire day here. It is not a bad idea to book a late evening train so that you can take full advantage of your time in Portofino, but do check the bus and ferry schedule ahead of time!
Walk Along the Harbor Front
Start your one day in Portofino along the town’s colorful harbor. The pastel colored houses surrounding the harbor, all the boats and yachts bobbing in the water and the castle sitting atop the hill on the opposite side all add to the beauty of this place. It’s really peaceful along the harbor, especially in the morning, so take your time. Walk all the way to the marina which is on the far right hand side when you are facing the harbor. Look back from the marina towards Portofino for more beautiful views of the pastel colored buildings.
On the land side of the marina is Museo del Parco. A quirky park with sculptures, ideal if you are there with kids.
Visit Divo Martino Church
This church with its striped façade was originally built in 986 but has undergone several modifications since. Pop your head in to see its highly ornate interior.
Visit the Sites on the Hill
I realize how vague this title is but bear with me! These are some of the best sites and things to do in Portofino in one day. This hill is home to a castle, a light house, a church, and some of the most stunning views of Portofino and the surroundings!
Start by walking up the hill just past Gelateria Marconi. This is the best way to get there without taking a lot of stairs. You will first arrive at a yellow church called Chiesa di san Giorgio. The views from both sides of this church are amazing! On one side you will see the harbor and on the other side the sea!
If you like European cemeteries, then venture a little past the church to see one.
Backtrack and then follow the path to Castello Brown. The entrance is not as obvious so look out for a sign on your left hand side. Pay the small cover charge and climb up to the terrace for some of the best views of Portofino!
After exploring Castello Brown, make your way to the far side of the hill (swing a left from the Castello Brown entrance) and walk to the lighthouse at the end.
Even if you miss everything else on this one day in Portofino itinerary, don’t miss these sites!
Have Lunch at a Harbor Front Restaurant
Most restaurants are not open throughout the day in Portofino, so make sure you grab lunch before 2 pm. One of the best things to try are the regional specialties like focaccia, pesto and seafood of course.
Have Gelato
Glab a gelato as you walk out of the harbor into the next thing to do with one day in Portofino.
Swim at or Visit Baia Cannone
A little up the road from Portofino (in the direction of Santa Margherita Ligure ) is a beautiful cove called Baia Cannone. This is a must visit place in Portofino. You can swim here or just walk up to view the place. There is a stair case to go down to the beach. If you are not interested in swimming, the viewpoint from the road is just as good!
Snorkel
If you like snorkeling, checkout this snorkeling tour from Baia di Paraggi, which is about a 20 minute walk from the Portofino Harbor. It’s a one hour activity, but leave 20 minutes on either end.
Walk Around and Go Shopping
If you are not into any of the water activities, then you could walk around Portofino and go shopping. They do have a few designer stores along with some local ones.
Grab a Cocktail with a View
Towards evening, you could grab a cocktail with a view either at the harbor OR you could go a little further up to the Splendido Belmond Hotel and grab a cocktail at their Terrazza bar. I recommend emailing them and making a reservation but the effort is worth it! This hotel is stunning and has even more beautiful views.
Sunset Cruise
If you don’t have any transport restrictions (need to catch a train at a certain time in the evening) and have your own transport, why not check out this sunset cruise!
With More Time in Portofino
If you have one than one day in Portofino, then you could check out the nearby town of Santa Margherita Ligure or try one of the tours below.
Baggage Services
I stored my bag at a shop in Santa Margherita Ligure via Bounce and I cannot recommend them more. The store is walking distance from the train station and the gentleman at the store is very friendly and kind. Bounce is a reliable third party baggage storage website/app that lets you store bags at local establishments for the day while you tour around. I’ve done this plenty of times and have never had an issue. The person where you are dropping off your bag will need to see your reservation code and scan you in and will then tag your bags and keep them safe. Bounce provides insurance as well. HERE is the link if you want to do the same in Santa Margherita Ligure. One callout is that you must book in advance.
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