Porto di Portofino
The harbour at Portofino is small enough that you can count the boats from one end of the waterfront to the other in a single glance. Ochre and terracotta facades rise directly from the water, their reflections wobbling between the hulls of wooden fishing skiffs and the occasional superyacht. It is, in that sense, a single composed image — and it has looked roughly like this, in its essentials, for centuries.
Below the surface, at seventeen metres down in the inlet, Guido Galletti's bronze Christ of the Abyss stands with arms open and face tilted skyward — placed there on 29 August 1954, invisible from the piazzetta above, known mainly to divers and those who seek it out.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who come back tend to arrive early — before the day-trippers on the ferry from Santa Margherita Ligure — and claim a table on the Calata Marconi with a coffee while the light is still low and raking. The harbour in that first hour belongs to a different place entirely.
The story behind Porto di Portofino
Pliny the Elder knew this inlet as Portus Delphini — the Port of the Dolphin. By 986, a diploma from Adelaide of Italy had assigned the village to the Abbey of San Fruttuoso di Capodimonte. It passed through the Republic of Genoa after 1229, was briefly sold to Florence in 1409 by Charles VI of France during his tenure as Doge, and spent the 15th century as a fief traded between Ligurian dynasties — the Fieschi, Spinola, Adorno, and Doria among them.
The harbour's modern character took shape later. In the late 19th century, British aristocrats arrived first, followed by other Northern Europeans. Elizabeth von Arnim's 1922 novel The Enchanted April, drawn from her time at Castello Brown above the village, accelerated that attention considerably. By 1950, fishing had given way to tourism as the town's main industry, and the waterfront had become the continuous ring of restaurants and cafés it remains today.
Good to know
The nearest train station is Santa Margherita Ligure, three miles away; a 15-minute bus connects them. Ferries run April to October. The town is car-free — use the covered car park at Piazza Martiri della Libertà. May through October is the reliable window; much of Portofino closes in winter.
May through October brings warm, sunny weather well-suited to the waterfront and the surrounding trails. Ferry services thin out sharply after October and are largely suspended between November and March, when a significant portion of the town closes with them.
Where is Porto di Portofino?
More tickets & tours for Porto di Portofino
Book directly at the provider
What travellers say about Porto di Portofino
Such a beautiful place to visit. I truly hope I get back there one day!
The Marina di Portofino is truly magical. Nestled in a picturesque bay surrounded by colorful buildings and lush green hills, it feels like stepping into a postcard 📸🇮🇹. The boats and yachts add to the charm, and the whole atmosphere is peaceful and elegant. Perfect spot for a romantic walk, a nice coffee by the water ☕🛥️, or just soaking in the beauty of the Italian Riviera. Don’t forget your camera! 📷🌅 Highly recommend visiting if you’re in the area 👌
I loved this place 💝🙏
Beautiful and picturesque little port with an even better view from the hills surrounding the port. Pristine clean waters and lanes, laden with potted flowers and tiny shops make it a great place to visit. Plenty of restaurants & other shops for visitors to dine. I would encourage the eating of gelatino (icecream) as its simply divine
We've visited Portofino before. In Corona times. And it was busy even then. Now of course it was even busier. But it's a place worth visiting. The town itself is pretty compact and easy to walk. The main attraction and heart of it is of course the Marina with the boats, Yachts and all the colorful buildings. And the Castle sitting on top of the hill, overlooking the Marina. There are some special events sometimes. Like this time. Wine, cheese, meat. All kinds of things to taste and buy right on the Marina. Get a drink in a restaurant or Cafe to watch the world go by. Or bring some picnic with and sit down on one of the many benches around the Marina. This time we left the car in Santa Margherita, where we stayed for a few days and took the bus here and the ferry back. Way better and easier. Parking is limited and expensive. It's best to take the public transportations if possible. Portofino is a pretty town. But don't miss out on Santa Margherita, Lerici or Camogli. All worth a trip.
More of Portofino
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Portofino →More attractions in Portofino
All of Portofino →
Background adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · ratings & place photos via Google · other photos with per-image credit. Ticket links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.