Portofino
Italy's most exclusive fishing village—a tiny harbour of painted houses and superyachts.
About Portofino
Portofino is almost absurdly beautiful. This tiny fishing village, with its crescent of pastel-coloured houses reflected in a harbour full of superyachts, has been a playground for the rich and famous since the 1950s. But there's more to Portofino than celebrity-spotting. The surrounding Regional Park of Portofino offers spectacular coastal hiking through Mediterranean scrubland to hidden coves and the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, reachable only by boat or trail. The Christ of the Abyss—a bronze statue on the seabed—is a unique snorkelling destination. And despite the glamour, Portofino remains a working fishing village where nets still dry on the quay and the focaccia at the harbourside bakery is the real deal.
Best Time to Visit
May to June or September to October. Summer is packed with day-trippers—arrive before 10am or after 5pm. Spring wildflowers along the hiking trails are spectacular.
Local Tips
- Hike to San Fruttuoso.
The coastal trail from Portofino to San Fruttuoso Abbey takes about 90 minutes through pine forests and Mediterranean macchia. A local will time the hike to arrive for a swim and lunch, then take the ferry back.
- Snorkel to the Christ of the Abyss.
The bronze statue of Christ lies 15 metres underwater in the bay of San Fruttuoso. On calm days, you can see it snorkelling from the surface. A local knows the best conditions and can arrange a dive.
- Arrive by boat, not car.
The road to Portofino is a parking nightmare. A local will put you on the ferry from Santa Margherita or Camogli for a spectacular approach by sea—the way the village was always meant to be seen.