★★★★★
The small-group boat from Portofino
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. · June 2026
Portofino Tours Reviews
What travellers wrote after a boat round the headland, a walk with a pesto class, a paddle to the lighthouse or a long day from Genoa. Checking before you make a Portofino reservation? The operators' own ratings and fares sit side by side below.
What travellers said afterwards
These are travellers' own accounts, paraphrased, each tagged with the tour it belongs to. Most reviews on the operators' pages are five stars, so the useful detail is in the lower scores and the asides: a fuel charge nobody mentioned at booking, a small boat on a choppy sea, a start far from Genoa, a guided walk some thought they could have done alone.
★★★★★
The small-group boat from Portofino
Two swim stops with fish all around, and wine, beer and soft drinks on board. The €10 a person fuel charge at boarding was news to them.
Anthony J. · June 2026
★★★★☆
The small-group boat from Portofino
Dolphins on the way out, but a choppy sea at boarding and sore feet made getting on and off hard, with only two crew to help.
Kelly Maree G. · June 2026
★★★★★
The small-group boat from Portofino
Good fun, and the towns look their best from the sea.
Wendy D. · September 2026
★★★★★
The small-group boat from Portofino
A toilet on board, snacks, drinks, goggles and pool noodles. Expect the extra €10 in cash for fuel when you step on.
Mia · June 2026
★★★★★
The small-group boat from Portofino
A helpful crew who adapted the route to the group. The one wish was a stop with time to go ashore somewhere.
Fabio · July 2026
★★★★★
The small-group boat from Portofino
A short trip round the coast with two swimming stops and plenty to drink.
Grace · June 2026
★★★★★
The ferry, walk and pesto class
A guide full of the village's history and good humour, then pesto making and a tasty lunch.
Suzanne R. · September 2025
★★★★★
The ferry, walk and pesto class
A walking tour, but not a tiring one, because the village is small. Lunch at the end, then a few hours of shopping before the ferry back.
Meghan K. · May 2025
★★★★★
The ferry, walk and pesto class
The restaurant made gluten-free pasta and bread without any fuss, and the pesto class was fun.
Kristy B. · May 2026
★★★★★
The ferry, walk and pesto class
A guide who shaped the walk to keep children of 8 and 11 interested.
Roxane M. · August 2024
★★★☆☆
The ferry, walk and pesto class
A good guide, but not worth the premium: anyone can buy the ferry ticket and have lunch after a stroll round the village.
David S. · May 2024
★★★☆☆
The ferry, walk and pesto class
Overpriced for what it was. The boat is the public ferry, and arriving by cruise tender left too little time to see the other town.
Lacrisha G. · June 2025
★★★★★
The kayak from Paraggi
The village is at its best from the water, and the stories came with the paddle.
Serina · July 2026
★★★★★
The kayak from Paraggi
A guide who kept a close eye on everyone. Nothing is sold at the base, so bring what you need, and watch out for small jellyfish.
Heather · August 2026
★★★★★
The kayak from Paraggi
On a calm sea the paddling was easy, with plenty explained along the way.
Hubert · September 2026
★★★★★
The kayak from Paraggi
Children, adults and seniors all in the one group, and a good time for all of them.
Jody · August 2026
★★★★★
The paddleboard from Paraggi
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
★★★★★
The paddleboard from Paraggi
About 20 minutes on foot from where the cruise ship landed, on a footpath with views the whole way.
Merrilyn H. · September 2023
★★★★★
The small-group boat from Rapallo
An hour ashore in Portofino, then snorkelling over the underwater statue and in a second bay full of fish.
Alison S. · September 2025
★★★★★
The small-group boat from Rapallo
Four hours was about right, with a swim to finish. Bring a towel and something to eat.
Tim F. · July 2026
★★★★☆
The small-group 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
★★★★☆
The small-group boat from Rapallo
An excellent trip in perfect weather, but the start is a 40-minute taxi ride or over an hour by train from Genoa.
David L. · April 2026
★★★☆☆
The small-group boat from Rapallo
No life jackets in sight on a day rough enough for other operators to cancel, with two small children aboard.
Thomas H. · July 2025
★☆☆☆☆
The small-group boat from Rapallo
A small boat that felt every wave and left many aboard seasick. After a storm the water was too murky to see the bottom at the swim stop.
Ashley C. · September 2026
★★★★★
The private boat from Santa Margherita
A toilet and a changing cabin on board, and a stop right over the underwater statue, which they could make out.
Danielle E. · September 2026
★★★★★
The private boat from Santa Margherita
A calm cruise, then time ashore in Portofino to look round the shops by the harbour.
Sean G. · June 2025
★★★★★
The private 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. · May 2026
★★★★★
The private boat from Santa Margherita
A family of four, a stop in Portofino and a swim in the bay of San Fruttuoso, with shade at the back of the boat.
Toral P. · May 2026
★★★★★
The private boat, half day or full day
Out at two and back at five, as promised. The towns from the water, but no stop to explore any of them on land.
Gisela A. · July 2025
★★★★★
The private boat, half day or full day
Collected in Santa Margherita, every sight explained, and a snorkel at San Fruttuoso.
Gloria F. · September 2023
★★★★★
The private boat, half day or full day
A rough sea that day, and a crew who made the most of what was possible.
David C. · June 2025
★★★★★
The private boat, half day 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. · May 2024
★★★★★
The traditional private boat
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. · August 2022
★★★★★
The traditional private boat
Bad weather meant a last-minute change of date, handled kindly and without fuss.
Ava J. · August 2024
★★★★★
The traditional private boat
Plenty of places to sit or lie out, the story of each place they passed, and a glass of prosecco.
Jennifer B. · September 2026
★★★★★
The private day boat from Genoa
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
★★★★★
The private day boat from Genoa
Easy to find from the cruise terminal, and free to choose how long to stay at each stop.
Tonya L. · May 2025
★★★★★
The private boat 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
★★★★★
The private boat to the Cinque Terre
Flexible on the pickup time and place, and a table reserved for lunch at one of the stops.
Christina B. · June 2024
★★★★★
The full-day private charter
A good captain, snacks and drinks, and a great deal to see.
Maria D. · May 2025
★★★★★
The 4-hour private boat from Rapallo
A knowledgeable captain made a beautiful trip better.
Hope O. · June 2025
★★★★★
The 8-hour private boat from Rapallo
Portofino and the other villages to explore, and the swimming was the best part.
Betina H. · September 2026
★★★★★
The private guided walk
The guide shaped the walk for a parent in a wheelchair and helped with boarding the ferry.
Jennifer R. · October 2025
★★★★★
The private guided walk
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
★★★★★
The private walk with Santa Margherita
A lot of walking, paced so that parents of 78 kept up, and a pesto class added on.
Katherine L. · June 2025
★★★★★
The private walk with Santa Margherita
Early March, and Portofino almost to themselves.
Cara C. · March 2026
★★★★★
The private walk with Santa Margherita
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. · June 2024
★★☆☆☆
The private walk with Santa Margherita
A good guide, but little that needed one: a short search online would do, and the painted facades felt staged.
Brock T. · July 2026
★★★★★
The 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
★★★★★
The bus and boat day from Genoa
A good day with a caring guide, but a long one: five or six hours would have suited them better.
Dearne · May 2026
What travellers keep saying
The swim is the high point
On the boats, the stops in clear water are what people write about first, and snorkelling over the underwater statue comes up again and again. Pack swimwear and a towel even on a sightseeing trip.
The sea decides
A choppy day means a bumpy small boat and, for some, seasickness; after a storm the water can be too murky to see the bottom. Several operators moved a trip to a calmer day, some a week ahead.
Know where it starts
The Rapallo boats are a taxi ride or more than an hour by train from Genoa, and one reviewer missed a Santa Margherita start altogether. Check the pier, and the €10 in cash that one boat asks at boarding.
A guide, or on your own?
The village is small. Some reviewers loved a guide's stories and the pesto class; a few felt the ferry and a stroll would have done. Pick a walk for what it adds, the class, the lunch or Santa Margherita, not for the directions.
Operator ratings and review counts
These figures are the operators' own, published on their booking pages and shown as they stand. They belong to the operators, not to us.
| Tour | Where it starts | What it is | Rating | Reviews | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy Kayak Tour to Portofino with Optional Snorkeling | Starts at Paraggi bay | Sea kayak with a guide | 4.9 | 151 | From $52 per person |
| Portofino Boat and Walking Tour with Pesto Cooking & Lunch | Starts in Santa Margherita | Walk, pesto class, lunch | 4.9 | 133 | From $261 per person, bookings of two |
| Portofino Small-Group Boat Tour to San Fruttuoso & Camogli | Starts in Portofino harbour | Shared boat, max 12 | 5.0 | 119 | From $103 per person plus €10 fuel surcharge a person, cash at boarding |
| Boat Tour to Portofino and San Fruttuoso for Small Groups | Starts in Rapallo | Shared boat, max 12 | 4.7 | 109 | From $98 per person |
| Andrea Boat Charter Portofino | Portofino, Santa Margherita or Rapallo | The whole boat is yours | 5.0 | 96 | From $870 per group (up to 5) |
| Private boat tour in the Tigullio and in the Portofino area | Starts in Santa Margherita or Rapallo | The whole boat is yours | 5.0 | 78 | From $557 per group (up to 5) |
| Private Boat Tour Portofino, Golfo Paradiso and Tigullio | Portofino, Santa Margherita or Rapallo | The whole boat is yours | 5.0 | 54 | From $2,785 per group (up to 8) |
| Portofino: Small-Group Boat Tour to San Fruttuoso & Camogli | Starts in Portofino harbour | Shared boat, max 12 | 4.8 | 52 | From $101 per person plus €10 fuel surcharge a person, cash at boarding |
| Genoa: Portofino Guided Shore Excursion & Private Boat Tour | Starts in Genoa | Bus and boat day | 4.6 | 51 | From $101 per person |
| Private Boat Tour in Portofino on board GreenBoat | Rapallo, Santa Margherita or Portofino | The whole boat is yours | 5.0 | 47 | From $1,378 per group (up to 6) |
| Portofino and Santa Margherita Private Tour of Ligurian Gems | Starts in Portofino or Santa Margherita | Private guided walk | 4.9 | 28 | From $405 per person, bookings of two |
| Daily and Sunset Nightly tour boat from Genoa to Portofino | Starts in Genoa | The whole boat is yours | 5.0 | 19 | From $1,276 per group (up to 7) |
| I found my love in Portofino, private tour | Pickup at your hotel | Private guided walk | 5.0 | 14 | From $649 per group (up to 6) |
| Paddle Boarding Experience in Portofino | Starts at Paraggi bay | Paddleboard, max 15 | 5.0 | 11 | From $62 per person |
| Portofino Private Guided Tour – Optional Santa-Margherita/Genoa | Starts in Portofino or Genoa | Private guided walk | 5.0 | 10 | From $220 per person |
| Private Boat Tour of the Portofino Riviera 4 hours | Starts in Rapallo | The whole boat is yours | 5.0 | 8 | From $405 for one traveller; more with each person added |
| One Day Private Boat Tour in the Cinque Terre | Portofino, Santa Margherita or Rapallo | The whole boat is yours | 5.0 | 5 | From $3,481 per group (up to 7) |
| Private Boat Tour of the Portofino Riviera 8 hours | Starts in Rapallo | The whole boat is yours | 5.0 | 4 | From $580 for one traveller; more with each person added |
A tour with a hundred reviews and one with a handful are not a verdict on each other. The gap is mostly how many people each takes: a shared boat sails most days with a dozen aboard, a private boat carries one party. The price column is not a like-for-like comparison either, because a per-boat fare and a per-person fare buy different things.
Read the practical detail in the visitor guide, check the FAQs, then compare every tour on Portofino Tours.