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Ah, Portofino — a coastal Italian town that defines luxury. Beyonce, Princess Diana, and Madonna have all vacationed on this gem of the Ligurian coast.
The actual town of Portofino is quite small — shockingly small, when you get there. Once a quiet Ligurian fishing village, Portofino rose in popularity and now attracts tons of tourists with its colorful houses, narrow streets, and picturesque harbor.
Since Portofino is actually quite small, I think it makes more sense as a day trip destination. You can easily visit Portofino in just a few hours, or longer if you want some beach time. Rapallo, Camogli, and Portofino’s next-door neighbor of Santa Margherita Ligure are better Italian Riviera towns to base yourself in.
One important thing to know about Portofino is that it’s quite expensive. My husband and I got two affogatti (espresso poured over gelato) at a cafe, and we were charged a whopping 30 euros — I thought it would be maybe 10 euros, and that would be expensive compared to the rest of Italy!! But exorbitant prices aside, it’s worth visiting this picture-perfect coastal town.
Ready to discover Portofino? Let me show you the best things to do in this iconic Italian Riviera destination.
This post was published in January 2025 and was co-written by Adventurous Kate and Dale Peterson.
Best Things to Do in Portofino, Italy
Go on a walking tour
If you’re visiting Portofino on a day trip from Santa Margherita Ligure, this tour is the perfect way to get acquainted with the town. You’ll begin in Santa Margherita and take the ferry down the coast to Portofino.
Then you’ll explore the town on a walking tour, making a stop for a focaccia tasting at a local bakery. For lunch, you’ll have a pesto-making class and enjoy your lunch overlooking the water.
This is followed by free time to explore Portofino before catching your return ferry.
Take in the fancy boutiques
You wouldn’t expect it for such a small town, but Portofino is full of luxury boutiques. It might have the highest ratio of luxury boutiques to square footage of a town in Italy!
You’ll find the stores of iconic Italian designers like Dolce & Gabbana,…
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