Portofino · Santa Margherita · Rapallo · San Fruttuoso · Camogli

Portofino Tours

Boats round the headland, walks with a pesto class, a kayak from Paraggi

Portofino tours take you round the headland by boat, on foot up to San Giorgio, or in a kayak from Paraggi bay to the lighthouse. Each card says where your day starts, whether the boat lands you and what the fare buys, so you book the day that fits you.

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Nearly all the tours here refund in full up to 24 hours ahead, so you can book now and let the forecast decide.

€20A return ferry from Santa Margherita

€10The abbey or the castle, each

From $52A guided kayak to the lighthouse

Hours, prices and access verified by the Portofino Tours team — last checked 2026-09-28.

Portofino Tours › Tours & Tickets 2026 Updated: 2026-09-28

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Top Portofino Tours for 2026

The best Portofino tour is the one that starts nearest where you are staying. Pick yours from these three.

Portofino Small-Group Boat Tour to San Fruttuoso & Camogli

★★★★★ 5.0 (119 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes)

Starts in Portofino harbourShared boat, max 12Swim stop

Board at Molo Umberto I in Portofino harbour, 10 minutes early, for 2 hours 30 minutes on a shared boat of up to 12. The route passes the lighthouse and the bay of the underwater statue, then spends 30 minutes in San Fruttuoso bay and 30 more at a swim stop, sea permitting. Past Punta Chiappa it reaches Camogli, with snacks, soft and alcoholic drinks and limoncello on the way back. You pay a €10 fuel surcharge a person in cash at boarding, and snorkel masks are sold on board.

Meet at Molo Umberto I, Portofino harbour
Portofino lighthouse from the water, 10 minutes
Over the bay of the underwater statue
San Fruttuoso bay, 30 minutes
Swim and snorkel stop, sea permitting, 30 minutes
Past Punta Chiappa to Camogli, 30 minutes
Limoncello on the way back to Portofino

From $103 per person plus €10 fuel surcharge a person, cash at boarding

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Portofino Boat and Walking Tour with Pesto Cooking & Lunch

★★★★★ 4.9 (133 reviews · 3 hours)

Starts in Santa MargheritaWalk, pesto class, lunchMax 6 people

Meet the leader in front of the Santa Margherita ferry pier and ride the ferry along the coast to Portofino, with both tickets in the fare. A walk climbs to the church of San Giorgio before a focaccia tasting at a local bakery. The pesto class ends in a light lunch on the harbour of trofie al pesto, a glass of wine, water and coffee. Groups stay at six or fewer, bookings start at two, and you take any ferry back when you like.

Meet at the Santa Margherita ferry pier
Ferry along the coast to Portofino
Climb to the church of San Giorgio
Focaccia tasting at a bakery
Pesto class and lunch on the harbour
Free time; ferry back when you like

From $261 per person, bookings of two

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Best seller

Easy Kayak Tour to Portofino with Optional Snorkeling

★★★★★ 4.9 (151 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes)

Starts at Paraggi baySea kayak with a guide

Paddle a sea kayak from the Niasca base in Paraggi bay, about a kilometre before the village, past Portofino harbour to the Olivetta and the lighthouse. A swim below the lighthouse breaks the 1 hour 30 minutes, and snorkelling is an option. An English-speaking instructor and marine guide leads, with paddle, life vest, spray jacket, wetsuit and neoprene boots provided. Arrive at least 15 minutes early, and pick it if you want Portofino at water level for the lowest fare of any trip gathered here.

Meet at the Niasca base in the bay of Paraggi
Paddle along the coast to Portofino harbour
On to the Olivetta and the lighthouse
Swim below the lighthouse
Paddle back to Paraggi

From $52 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Why book with us

Trusted by Thousands of Visitors

⚖

Best Guides

Portofino guided tours here go with local skippers and guides who know the coast, from the instructor who paddles you out to the lighthouse to the leader who walks you up to San Giorgio.

✓

Book With Confidence

Nearly all the tours here refund in full up to 24 hours ahead, and each card prints the fare, where your day starts and any cash you pay on board.

★

Experience of a Lifetime

Snorkel over the bronze statue in San Fruttuoso bay, eat the pesto you made on the harbour, and see the painted houses from the water as the sun goes down.

FREE CANCELLATION up to 24 hours ahead on nearly all the tours here, and any exception says so on its card, so a rough sea never costs you the fare.

Everything available

All Portofino Tours and Tickets

Portofino Boat Tours

Portofino boat tours take you round the headland to San Fruttuoso bay and Camogli, from Rapallo, Santa Margherita or Portofino itself. Some land you in the villages and some stay on the water, so read the first lines of each card before you book.

Boat Tour to Portofino and San Fruttuoso for Small Groups

★★★★★ 4.7 (109 reviews · 4 hours)

Starts in RapalloShared boat, max 12Swim stopTime ashore in Portofino

Check in at Rotonda Marconi in Rapallo, to the left of the bridge over the river, for four hours on a shared boat of up to 12. You get an hour ashore in Portofino on your own, an hour snorkelling over the statue in San Fruttuoso bay and 30 minutes at Paraggi. Fuel, snorkel gear, water and the fees are in the fare, with an awning, a shower and a swim ladder on board. Bring your own towel and snacks, since neither is included.

From $98 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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One Day Private Boat Tour in the Cinque Terre

★★★★★ 5.0 (5 reviews · 7 hours)

Portofino, Santa Margherita or RapalloThe whole boat is yoursStops ashore on the way

Head south for seven hours on a boat of your own, for up to seven, from Portofino, Santa Margherita or Rapallo. Monterosso gets about an hour ashore and Vernazza two for lunch, while Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore pass from the water. Drinks, snacks, snorkel gear, Wi-Fi and a toilet are on board, and lunch is yours to pay. Among boat tours from Portofino to Cinque Terre, this whole-boat day suits a party that wants the villages without a ferry timetable.

From $3,481 per group (up to 7)

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Private Boat Tour Portofino, Golfo Paradiso and Tigullio

★★★★★ 5.0 (54 reviews · 7 hours (4-hour half-day option))

Portofino, Santa Margherita or RapalloThe whole boat is yoursSwim stopStops ashore on the way

Spend seven hours on the coast from Portofino to Bogliasco on a private boat for up to eight, or take the four-hour half day instead. The route gives about an hour each to Portofino, San Fruttuoso, Camogli, Bogliasco and San Michele di Pagana, with a swim at Punta Chiappa. Drinks, snacks, snorkel gear and a flat €400 of fuel are in the fare, while lunch is not. It is non-refundable once booked, so choose your date with the forecast in mind.

From $2,785 per group (up to 8)

The listing is non-refundable: no refund or change once booked.

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Private Boat Tour of the Portofino Riviera 8 hours

★★★★★ 5.0 (4 reviews · 8 hours)

Starts in RapalloThe whole boat is yoursSwim stopStops ashore on the way

Start at Rotonda Marconi in Rapallo for eight hours with a captain, on a Corvette for up to seven or a gozzo for up to six. The day takes in the bay of Paraggi, a walk ashore in Portofino, a snorkel in San Fruttuoso bay and the seafront at Camogli. A bottle of prosecco, fuel, towels, water, a fresh-water shower and the fees are in the fare, while snacks are not. The price shown is for one traveller, and it rises with each person you add.

From $580 for one traveller; more with each person added

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Portofino Private Boat Tours

Portofino private boat tours give your party the whole boat and a skipper, from Rapallo, Santa Margherita or the harbour itself. Most are priced per boat and some by the size of your party, so compare them for your group.

Andrea Boat Charter Portofino

★★★★★ 5.0 (96 reviews · 3 to 7 hours)

Portofino, Santa Margherita or RapalloThe whole boat is yoursSwim stopStops ashore on the way

Charter the whole boat with a skipper for three to seven hours, boarding in Portofino, Santa Margherita or Rapallo. It docks for about an hour each in Portofino and Camogli, and anchors in San Fruttuoso bay for an hour of swimming and snorkelling. Water, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, snorkel gear and Wi-Fi are on board for up to seven. Lunch and the abbey ticket are extra, and you pay for the boat rather than per person.

From $870 per group (up to 5)

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Private boat tour in the Tigullio and in the Portofino area

★★★★★ 5.0 (78 reviews · 3 to 4 hours)

Starts in Santa Margherita or RapalloThe whole boat is yoursSwim stopAshore only on request

Step aboard at the Santa Margherita ferry pier or the end of Rapallo's Andrea Doria pier for three hours on a private boat for up to five. The skipper spends 20 minutes in Portofino harbour, ashore if you ask, rounds the lighthouse point and stops 20 minutes to swim at San Fruttuoso. Fuel, snorkel gear, focaccia, water and drinks for over-18s are in the fare. A shower, a toilet, towels and a changing cabin on board make it easy for you with children.

From $557 per group (up to 5)

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Private Boat Tour in Portofino on board GreenBoat

★★★★★ 5.0 (47 reviews · 3 hours)

Rapallo, Santa Margherita or PortofinoThe whole boat is yoursAshore only on request

Take a traditional Ligurian boat of your own round the promontory for three hours, boarding in Rapallo, Santa Margherita or Portofino. The route passes Portofino and its lighthouse, the marine protected area, San Fruttuoso bay with its abbey and Camogli before turning back. Stops are agreed with the skipper, and snorkel gear is on board for up to six. Lunch is not in the fare, so eat before you sail.

From $1,378 per group (up to 6)

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Private Boat Tour of the Portofino Riviera 4 hours

★★★★★ 5.0 (8 reviews · 4 hours)

Starts in RapalloThe whole boat is yoursAshore only on request

Choose a Corvette for up to seven or a gozzo for up to six, with a captain, for four hours from Rotonda Marconi in Rapallo. The boat passes Paraggi, Portofino harbour, San Fruttuoso bay and Camogli, and any time ashore is agreed with the captain. Fuel, towels, water, a sun awning, a fresh-water shower and the fees are in the fare, while snacks and drinks are not. The price shown is for one traveller, and it rises with each person you add.

From $405 for one traveller; more with each person added

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Portofino Tours from Genoa

Portofino tours from Genoa reach the village by coach and boat, or on a boat of your own from the old harbour. A private walk can collect you in Genoa as an option, so check what each fare covers.

Genoa: Portofino Guided Shore Excursion & Private Boat Tour

★★★★★ 4.6 (51 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes)

Starts in GenoaBus and boat dayTime ashore in Portofino

Catch the coach in Via Fanti d'Italia, three minutes' walk from the Genoa cruise terminal, for a day of 5 hours 30 minutes. After 75 minutes to Santa Margherita and a focaccia tasting, the boat runs 30 minutes along the coast to Portofino. About two hours of free time there leave you room for lunch, which is not in the fare. An English- and Spanish-speaking tour leader stays with the group, and headsets are provided.

From $101 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Daily and Sunset Nightly tour boat from Genoa to Portofino

★★★★★ 5.0 (19 reviews · 7 hours 30 minutes)

Starts in GenoaThe whole boat is yoursSwim stopStops ashore on the way

Sail from Porto Antico in Genoa at 9am on a private boat for up to seven, or at 5pm for the sunset option. About an hour and a half ashore each at San Fruttuoso, Portofino and Camogli breaks the day, with swims at Punta Chiappa and Pieve Ligure. Snorkel gear and an inflatable tow board are on board, while lunch is yours to buy in Camogli. Book it if you want a boat tour from Genoa to Portofino with the whole deck to yourselves.

From $1,276 per group (up to 7)

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Portofino and Santa Margherita Private Tour of Ligurian Gems

★★★★★ 4.9 (28 reviews · 4 to 6 hours)

Starts in Portofino or Santa MargheritaPrivate guided walk

Pair Portofino with Santa Margherita on a private walk, about three hours in each, joined by the public ferry. Meet in the Piazzetta, in Santa Margherita, at the Molo Isolotto tender pier if you come by cruise ship, or at your hotel. A Ligurian focaccia aperitivo with a glass of local wine or a soft drink is in the fare. It is priced per person with a minimum of two, and a bus or car replaces the ferry in winter or bad weather.

From $405 per person, bookings of two

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Portofino Walking Tours

Portofino walking tours go on foot with a guide, through the lanes and the Piazzetta or across the park to San Fruttuoso. Each Portofino Italy walking tour here is private, and the park hike asks for good shoes.

Portofino Private Guided Tour – Optional Santa-Margherita/Genoa

★★★★★ 5.0 (10 reviews · 2 to 5 hours 30 minutes, by option)

Starts in Portofino or GenoaPrivate guided walk

Walk Portofino's Piazzetta and lanes for about two hours with a licensed private guide, starting at the harbour or your hotel. The 4-hour option adds an hour in Santa Margherita, with the public ferry between the two towns. A Genoa option collects you by private car from the cruise terminal or your hotel there, and snacks and water come with every option. Cruise passengers tendered to Portofino meet the guide at the tender, which suits a short port call.

From $220 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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I found my love in Portofino, private tour

★★★★★ 5.0 (14 reviews · 3 to 5 hours)

Pickup at your hotelAbbey ticket not includedPrivate guided walk

Hike the trails of the Portofino park with a private environmental guide, in English, French or Italian, for three to five hours. About an hour in San Fruttuoso bay leaves time for the abbey and a swim, then you spend an hour in Portofino village. Pesto, focaccia and Italian wine come as snacks, and the guide meets you at your hotel or an agreed point. The abbey ticket and any private transport are extra, and the price covers a group of up to six.

From $649 per group (up to 6)

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Portofino Kayak Tours

Portofino kayak tours start from Paraggi bay, about a kilometre before the village. The paddleboard trip leaves from the same beach and stays inside the bay, and you must be able to swim.

Paddle Boarding Experience in Portofino

★★★★★ 5.0 (11 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes)

Starts at Paraggi bayPaddleboard, max 15

Stand on a paddleboard for 1 hour 30 minutes in the bay of Paraggi, where motorboats are not allowed, with a local English-speaking guide. A safety briefing on the beach at the Niasca base comes first, about a kilometre before Portofino. Board, paddle, life jacket and wetsuit are provided for groups of up to 15, while towels are not. Paddlers must be 14 or older and able to swim, so it suits you with teenagers.

From $62 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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The village

About Portofino

Portofino is a small village of painted houses round a narrow harbour near the tip of a wooded promontory, and the park has protected that headland since 1935. There is no gate: the harbour, the Piazzetta and the church of San Giorgio are free, and only the castle and the abbey at San Fruttuoso charge. Join us on the Portofino Italy tours that show this coast best, by boat, on foot or in a kayak, with where the day starts and what the fare buys on every card. Start with the village, then the bay beyond it.

The Harbour and the Piazzetta

The painted houses stand round the head of a narrow bay, and the Piazzetta, formally Piazza Martiri dell'Olivetta, sits at the top of the harbour. Climb the steps to San Giorgio, first built in 1154, or pay €10 at the gate of the castle above for the view down on the square; under-12s go free.

San Fruttuoso and Its Bay

West along the coast, the bay of San Fruttuoso has no road at all, so you arrive by boat or on foot over the promontory. The abbey there charges €10, or €5 from 6 to 18, and no tour fare covers it. Offshore, a bronze statue placed in August 1954 stands on the seabed, and several boats stop so you can snorkel over it.

Trains, Ferries and Getting There

Portofino has no station, so most people take the train to Santa Margherita Ligure and carry on by ferry, by bus 82 or on foot. The public boats cost €20 return from Santa Margherita and €22 from Rapallo in 2026, and a ticket to San Fruttuoso lets you stop in Portofino on the way.

Rooftops and a small harbour full of boats, seen from the wooded hill above

A village of painted houses round a narrow bay, seen from the wooded hillside

A wooded headland and a small harbour below it, the open sea beyond

What you will see

Named Highlights of Portofino

What a day on the headland holds, from the square by the harbour to the bay with no road.

The PiazzettaPiazza Martiri dell'Olivetta sits at the top of the harbour, and you can walk and sit there at any hour for free.
A church on the cliffSan Giorgio, first built in 1154 and rebuilt four times after war, keeps St George's relics in a shrine cut into the rock.
A castle over the squareThe castle's terrace looks straight down on the Piazzetta, and entry is €10 at the gate, free under 12.
The lighthouse at the tipPainted tiles on a wall above the harbour point the path to the lighthouse, which the harbour boat and the kayak pass from the sea.
A bay with no roadSan Fruttuoso's abbey sits at the head of a bay reached only by boat or on foot, and a bronze statue has stood on its seabed since August 1954.
Paraggi bayAbout a kilometre before the village, the small bay of Paraggi is where the kayaks and paddleboards launch, away from the motorboats.

Plan your visit

Everything You Need Before You Go

Getting thereWhat it costsWhen to goThe weather

Portofino has no station. Take the train to Santa Margherita Ligure, then the ferry, bus 82 or the walk along the sea for the last stretch. The kayak operator's own directions put that station about 45 minutes from Genoa by train, and warn that parking is limited in peak season.

Trains, ferries and roads

The village itself has no ticket. The castle charges €10 at its gate and the abbey at San Fruttuoso €10, and a return ferry from Santa Margherita costs €20. Tours start at $52 a person for the kayak, and a seat on a shared boat costs $98 to $103, plus €10 fuel on the harbour boat.

The visitor guide

In October the abbey opens 10:00 to 15:45 and the castle 10:00 to 18:00. From 1 November the castle closes at 16:00, and the abbey shuts on Mondays that are not public holidays. The abbey also closes whenever the boats from Camogli stop running.

Best time to visit

Every boat listing carries a bad-weather clause, and rough sea cancels the public ferries too. Month by month, the normals for Chiavari on the same gulf show you which months are wettest before you pick your date.

Weather by month

Straight answer

Do You Need a Tour for Portofino?

Not to get in. The village has no gate: the harbour, the Piazzetta and San Giorgio are free, and you can arrive on your own by train and ferry. Portofino tickets, in the sense of a paid entry, exist for two sights only: the castle above the harbour at €10, bought at its gate, and the abbey at San Fruttuoso at €10.

Portofino ticket prices for a tour are the fares on each card, from $52 for the kayak from Paraggi to $3,481 for a private boat to the Cinque Terre, priced per boat. What a tour adds is what the ferry cannot: a skipper who stops for a swim, a guide in the lanes, or a pesto class on the harbour. Make your Portofino booking for the day you want; a Portofino reservation for nearly all the tours here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead. What each fare buys is set out trip by trip.

See Top Tours Which one suits you?

Book with a full refund up to 24 hours ahead on nearly all the tours, and a change of plan costs you nothing.

Which one is me

Choosing the Right Day for You

Start from how you want to see the headland, from the sea, on foot or in a kayak, and the right tour follows.

A boat round the headland

The harbour run to Camogli leaves Molo Umberto I at $103, plus €10 fuel in cash; every Portofino boat tour card says where it starts and whether it lands you.

A boat for your party only

Portofino private boat tours give you the whole boat and a skipper, from $557 a boat for up to five.

A day from Genoa

Take a boat tour from Genoa to Portofino on a boat of your own, or the bus and boat day from the cruise terminal at $101.

On foot with a guide

The pesto class on the harbour starts from Santa Margherita at $261; for a private walking tour Portofino guides meet you in the Piazzetta or at the tender.

A paddle from Paraggi

The paddle to the lighthouse costs $52; every Portofino kayak tour and the paddleboard leave from Paraggi bay.

No tour at all

The village is free and the ferry stops at the harbour; Portofino without a tour sets out the ferries, the two paid sights and the trails.

Compare

Which Portofino Tour Is Right for You?

Every Portofino tour gathered here, most reviewed first. Read where the day starts and what the fare covers before the price: a seat on a shared boat, a whole boat and a guided walk are different days.

Tour	Rating	Where the day starts	What the fare covers	Fare	Best for
Easy Kayak Tour to Portofino with Optional Snorkeling	4.9 (151)	Starts at Paraggi bay	A guide	From $52 per person	Active travellers who want the lighthouse at water level	Book
Portofino Boat and Walking Tour with Pesto Cooking & Lunch	4.9 (133)	Starts in Santa Margherita	The return ferry, a guide, lunch, drinks	From $261 per person, bookings of two	Food lovers who want a class and lunch	Book
Portofino Small-Group Boat Tour to San Fruttuoso & Camogli	5.0 (119)	Starts in Portofino harbour	Drinks	From $103 per person plus €10 fuel surcharge a person, cash at boarding	First-timers who want the headland from the sea	Book
Boat Tour to Portofino and San Fruttuoso for Small Groups	4.7 (109)	Starts in Rapallo	Snorkel gear, fuel	From $98 per person	Travellers in Rapallo who want an hour ashore	Book
Andrea Boat Charter Portofino	5.0 (96)	Portofino, Santa Margherita or Rapallo	Snorkel gear, drinks	From $870 per group (up to 5)	Families who want a skipper and flexible stops	Book
Private boat tour in the Tigullio and in the Portofino area	5.0 (78)	Starts in Santa Margherita or Rapallo	Snorkel gear, fuel, drinks	From $557 per group (up to 5)	Small groups starting in Santa Margherita or Rapallo	Book
Private Boat Tour Portofino, Golfo Paradiso and Tigullio	5.0 (54)	Portofino, Santa Margherita or Rapallo	Snorkel gear, fuel, drinks	From $2,785 per group (up to 8)	Groups of up to eight wanting a full day	Book
Genoa: Portofino Guided Shore Excursion & Private Boat Tour	4.6 (51)	Starts in Genoa	The bus and the boat, a guide	From $101 per person	Cruise passengers docking in Genoa for the day	Book
Private Boat Tour in Portofino on board GreenBoat	5.0 (47)	Rapallo, Santa Margherita or Portofino	Snorkel gear	From $1,378 per group (up to 6)	Parties who want a traditional Ligurian boat	Book
Portofino and Santa Margherita Private Tour of Ligurian Gems	4.9 (28)	Starts in Portofino or Santa Margherita	The ferry between the towns, a guide, drinks	From $405 per person, bookings of two	Couples who want both towns with a guide	Book
Daily and Sunset Nightly tour boat from Genoa to Portofino	5.0 (19)	Starts in Genoa	Snorkel gear	From $1,276 per group (up to 7)	Groups staying in Genoa who want their own boat	Book
I found my love in Portofino, private tour	5.0 (14)	Pickup at your hotel	A guide, drinks	From $649 per group (up to 6)	Keen walkers who want San Fruttuoso on foot	Book
Paddle Boarding Experience in Portofino	5.0 (11)	Starts at Paraggi bay	A guide	From $62 per person	Teenagers and adults who can swim	Book
Portofino Private Guided Tour – Optional Santa-Margherita/Genoa	5.0 (10)	Starts in Portofino or Genoa	A guide	From $220 per person	Cruise passengers tendered to Portofino for a walk	Book
Private Boat Tour of the Portofino Riviera 4 hours	5.0 (8)	Starts in Rapallo	Fuel	From $405 for one traveller; more with each person added	Travellers in Rapallo who want a private half day	Book
One Day Private Boat Tour in the Cinque Terre	5.0 (5)	Portofino, Santa Margherita or Rapallo	Snorkel gear, drinks	From $3,481 per group (up to 7)	Parties who want the Cinque Terre by boat	Book
Private Boat Tour of the Portofino Riviera 8 hours	5.0 (4)	Starts in Rapallo	Fuel, drinks	From $580 for one traveller; more with each person added	Couples in Rapallo who want a long day afloat	Book

Two swim and snorkel stops in clear water, a generous crew with the snacks and drinks, and a relaxing trip after the climb up to the castle and the lighthouse.Joanne K. · The small-group boat from Portofino

A guide full of the village's history and good humour, then pesto making and a tasty lunch.Suzanne R. · The ferry, walk and pesto class

The village is at its best from the water, and the stories came with the paddle.Serina · The kayak from Paraggi

What to expect

How a Portofino Day Runs

Pick where you start

The first line on each card names where your day starts: Portofino, Santa Margherita, Rapallo, Paraggi or Genoa.

Check what the fare buys

A seat on a shared boat, or the whole boat for your party, priced per boat or by party size.

Carry euros in cash

The harbour boat adds €10 a person for fuel, paid in cash at boarding, and the abbey ticket is always extra.

Pack for a swim

Most boats stop for a swim or a snorkel, so bring swimwear, and a towel unless the card lists one.

Let the sea decide

Rough sea can move a boat trip, and a full refund up to 24 hours ahead lets the forecast choose your day.

See Top Tours

Traveller reviews

Portofino Tours Reviews

Travellers' own words about the boats, the walks, the paddleboard and the days from Genoa, with the stars each gave, four-star days included, because they help you choose.

★★★★★

Private Portofino boat, half or full day

The towns of the Riviera from the sea, with their colours and the mountains behind, and a break from the crowds for a while. The skipper knew the area well and made the ride fun for the whole group.

Tyler S. · Group · May 2024

★★★★★

Private Portofino boat from Santa Margherita

A week ahead, the skipper flagged a poor forecast and moved the trip to a better day, which proved the right call. On the day the boat was waiting on time, with a host who knew Portofino and the coast around it.

Sydney V. · Couple · May 2026

★★★★★

Private day boat from Genoa to Portofino

San Fruttuoso, Camogli and Portofino, first from the boat and then on foot. The skipper described each place well and left the timing to them, so every stop lasted as long as they liked.

Tina S. · August 2025

★★★★★

Traditional private boat round Portofino

A lovely boat, and a skipper who got the balance between stories and simply relaxing just right. Children nervous of boats and of snorkelling at the start were at ease by the end.

Heather C. · Family with children · August 2022

★★★★☆

Small-group Portofino boat from Rapallo

A perfect day to boat and swim, with a driver who explained the history of the coast. The water was clear enough to see your feet, and there was just enough time for a drink and the shops in Portofino.

Monica M. · June 2026

★★★★★

Private boat from Portofino to the Cinque Terre

From Santa Margherita down to the Cinque Terre, with the skipper explaining each small village on the way. Lunch had been booked ahead in a local restaurant, with the best table in the house.

Cyndi J. · April 2025

★★★★★

Portofino and Santa Margherita on foot

A couple and seven friends toured Santa Margherita and Portofino with a guide whose stories kept everyone interested. Rain did not stop the day, and once it cleared they climbed the stairs to the churches and walked the lanes.

Patti R. · Friends · June 2024

★★★★★

Private guided walk in Portofino

Genoa, Santa Margherita and Portofino in one day, with a guide who knew the whole region. The day brought the best views and the best focaccia of the trip.

Thomas N. · April 2026

★★★★★

Paddleboard in Paraggi bay

A storm put the trip off, and the company rebooked it for the next day. Patient instructors built everyone's confidence on the board.

Sharon S. · June 2023

★★★★★

Portofino bus and boat day from Genoa

The bus and then the boat left time for lunch and a look round Portofino. The guide was entertaining without too many facts, and they were back at the ship in plenty of time.

Susan · July 2026

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Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a ticket to visit Portofino?

No. There is no gate: the village, the harbour and the Piazzetta are free at any hour. The two paid sights nearby are the abbey at San Fruttuoso (€10) and Castello Brown above the harbour (€10), each with its own ticket.

How much are Portofino tours?

From $52 a person for the kayak from Paraggi. A seat on a shared boat runs from $98 to $103, the guided walks from $220 a person, and a private boat from $557 for the whole boat.

Do boat tours leave from Portofino itself?

Some do. The small-group boat to San Fruttuoso and Camogli leaves Molo Umberto I in Portofino harbour, and several private boats let you board in Portofino, Santa Margherita or Rapallo. Others start in Rapallo or in Genoa, so check the pier on your booking.

Can I get off the boat in Portofino?

On some boats, yes. The small-group boat from Rapallo gives you an hour ashore in Portofino, and several private days stop in the village and in Camogli. Other charters sail past and land you only if you ask the skipper.

Is the abbey ticket included in boat tours?

No fare includes it. The abbey costs €10 for an adult, paid at its own door, and some listings say plainly that it is not in the price. Many boats stop in the bay only to swim, so you may not have time to go in.

How much is the public ferry from Santa Margherita?

A return ticket from Santa Margherita to Portofino costs €20 in 2026, and one from Rapallo €22. You buy it at the pier, and the boats run in season and only when the sea allows.

Can I take a boat tour from Genoa?

Yes. A private boat leaves Genoa's Porto Antico for a full day at San Fruttuoso, Portofino and Camogli, and a bus and boat day from the cruise terminal gives you two hours in the village. Some private walks also collect you in Genoa.

Can I go from Portofino to the Cinque Terre by boat?

Yes, two ways. A private boat day sails there with time ashore in Monterosso and Vernazza, and the public ferry's Cinque Terre line from Santa Margherita or Rapallo costs €47 return, with three hours in Monterosso and one in Riomaggiore.

Are there guided walks in the village?

Yes. One meets at the Santa Margherita ferry pier, takes the ferry across and ends with a pesto class and lunch. Private guides walk the Piazzetta and the lanes with you, and a private hike crosses the park to San Fruttuoso.

Is there a kayak or paddleboard tour?

Yes, both start at Paraggi bay, about a kilometre before the village. The kayak, from $52, paddles past the harbour to the lighthouse with a swim; the paddleboard, from $62, stays inside the bay.

What is the fuel surcharge on some boats?

The small-group boat from Portofino harbour charges €10 a person in cash when you board, on top of the fare you booked. Every price shown for that boat carries the note beside it.

How is a private boat priced?

Most are priced for the whole boat, from $557 for up to five people. Two private boats from Rapallo quote a per-person figure that is the price for one traveller, and it rises with each person you add.

What happens if the sea is rough?

The skipper decides on the day, and a boat may change its route or not sail. A trip cancelled for weather is the operator's to refund or move to another date. The public ferries stop too, and so does the abbey, which closes when its boats cannot land.

Can I cancel my booking?

Almost always. Every tour listed here refunds in full if you cancel at least 24 hours ahead, except one full-day private charter, which is non-refundable. That one says so on its card.

How much time do you need in Portofino?

Half a day covers the harbour, the Piazzetta, the church of San Giorgio and the path out towards the lighthouse. Allow a full day if you add San Fruttuoso by boat or on foot.

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Photographs

Portofino Gallery

Wooden fishing boats tied up in a small harbour below painted houses and a church tower

A green cliff falling steeply into deep blue sea

The sun setting behind a headland, seen over the bow of a boat

Paddleboarders crossing clear water below a rocky cliff

A white wooden boat with a canvas awning in a harbour of painted houses

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Beyond the village

Beyond the Harbour

More ways to fill the rest of your stay, set out with the rest in things to do in Portofino.

The park's trails and mills

The park keeps 80 km of trails open across the promontory, and on its eastern side it rebuilt one of 36 old mills, the Mulino del Gassetta.

Santa Margherita's seafront

One town along the gulf, Santa Margherita Ligure has the station, the ferry pier and a long seafront, and some of its women still keep up the old craft of lace.

Camogli across the promontory

Camogli faces Genoa from the far side of the promontory, and its boats sail to San Fruttuoso all year.

Read before you go

Portofino Travel Guides and Advice

Planning

How to Visit Portofino: Harbours, Ferries, the Two Paid Sights (2026)

No gate and no entry fee: where to arrive, the ferry from Santa Margherita and Rapallo, the abbey and the castle, and how long to give the village.

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San Fruttuoso

San Fruttuoso from Portofino: by Boat or on Foot?

A bay with no road: the public boats, the path over the promontory, the abbey's price and hours, and which days out stop there.

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Day trips

Portofino to the Cinque Terre by Boat: Private Day or Public Ferry

The long way down the coast: a private day with two hours in Vernazza, or the public line with three hours in Monterosso. What each costs and gives you.

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Read all posts Planning guides

Where it is

Visitor Information for Portofino

The Piazzetta
The square at the top of the harbour, with the castle on the path above it

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Name

Castello Brown (Comune di Portofino), the village's own paid sight above the harbour.

Address

Via alla Penisola 13, 16034 Portofino (GE), Italy. Phone +39 375 791 8926.

Hours

The castle opens 10:00 to 18:00 in October and 10:00 to 16:00 from 1 November to 31 March, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. The village and the harbour are open at all hours.

Getting there

Trains stop at Santa Margherita Ligure, and the ferry and bus 82 cover the last stretch; every harbour and meeting point is on the Portofino map.

Book Your Portofino Tour

Choose where you want your day to start, then pick your date. Tours start at $52 a person, you book at the fare shown on each card, and nearly all the tours here refund in full up to 24 hours ahead.

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