Is Portofino Worth Visiting? My Honest Opinion (2026)

On By saar.decosterIn Europe, Italy

Is Portofino worth visiting? Yes… but also, kind of no. Hear me out.

Portofino was one of those places where I left with a very mixed opinion. The actual town is tiny, extremely expensive and you can honestly walk around most of it in about ten minutes. But getting there? That was a completely different story.

I visited Portofino as a day trip from Genoa and walked from Santa Margherita Ligure to Portofino, and that walk ended up being one of my favourite parts of my entire Northern Italy trip. The coastline, the tiny beaches, the ridiculously clear water and all the little paths and stairs along the way were genuinely beautiful.

So, is Portofino worth visiting? I think it is, especially if you make the journey there part of the experience. I just wouldn’t go expecting a huge town with loads to do.

If you’re planning a visit, I’ve also put together 8 practical tips for visiting Portofino, including what to bring, how to get there and why I recommend walking from Santa Margherita Ligure.

So, is Portofino worth visiting?

If you are expecting a big Italian coastal town where you can spend an entire day exploring streets, shops and attractions, Portofino might disappoint you.

Portofino is tiny. Like, really tiny.

You can walk around the main part of the village in around ten minutes. Of course, you can walk uphill towards the castle and viewpoints, but if you’re visiting in summer, be prepared for the heat. And honestly, the village itself doesn’t have an endless list of things to do.

It is also very, very expensive.

For example, I saw an Aperol Spritz for €22. TWENTY-TWO EURO. For an Aperol. I love an Aperol as much as the next person, but that was a little too much even for me.

There aren’t really big supermarkets or normal shops where you can easily grab an affordable lunch either. You’ll find little places selling water and the basics, but if you don’t want to spend a fortune on food, bring a packed lunch.

And yet…

I actually loved my day in Portofino.

Not necessarily because of Portofino itself, but because of everything around it.

Portofino waterfront in Liguria, Italy

The best part: walking from Santa Margherita Ligure to Portofino

This is the part I would absolutely recommend.

Instead of taking the easiest way straight to Portofino, I started at Santa Margherita Ligure train station and walked towards Portofino.

The walk took me around one hour, and honestly, this was where Portofino really won me over.

Along the way, you get some absolutely insane coastal views. The water is ridiculously clear, there are little rocky beaches tucked away below the path, and you constantly find tiny staircases leading down towards the sea.

It felt completely different from just arriving in Portofino, taking a few photos and leaving again.

You actually get to experience the coastline.

And this is where I took some of my favourite photos of my entire Northern Italy trip.

Funny enough, most of them weren’t even taken in Portofino itself.

The water is SO beautiful

One of the things I remember most about this day is the colour of the water.

It was that ridiculously clear Mediterranean blue where you keep stopping because you want to take another photo.

And because you’re walking along the coast, you get completely different views of the water throughout the route.

There are little swimming spots, rocky coves and tiny beaches that you can reach from the path.

This was actually one of the things I loved most about the area.

Portofino itself can feel quite busy, especially in summer, but once you’re walking along the coast away from the centre, it can feel much quieter and more untouched.

And that contrast was probably my favourite part.

Boats in the harbour of Portofino, Italy

Portofino itself is beautiful… but tiny

Now, I don’t want to pretend Portofino is something it isn’t.

It is small.

The famous harbour with the colourful buildings around the water is beautiful, but that’s also basically the main attraction.

You can walk around the harbour, explore the little streets, grab a drink, take approximately 847 photos and you’ve pretty much seen the centre.

There are also viewpoints and places you can walk to above the town if you want to spend longer there.

But if you arrive thinking you’re going to need a full day just to explore Portofino, you might be surprised by how quickly you’ve seen the main village.

For me, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

It just means that Portofino works much better as part of a bigger day than as the only destination.

Portofino is VERY expensive

I feel like this deserves its own section because… wow.

Portofino is expensive.

And I don’t mean slightly more expensive than the average Italian town. I mean bring your wallet and prepare yourself expensive.

As mentioned, I saw an Aperol Spritz for around €22.

There are restaurants and cafés around the harbour, but if you’re travelling on a budget, this isn’t exactly the place where I would plan to eat every meal.

There also isn’t a convenient supermarket where you can just pop in and buy yourself an affordable lunch.

My budget tip

Bring a packed lunch and some water.

You can always buy something when you get there if you want to, but having your own food means you’re not forced to spend €20+ on something just because you’re hungry.

Especially if you’re doing the walk from Santa Margherita Ligure, I would definitely bring snacks and water with you.

Is Portofino worth visiting in summer?

Summer is when Portofino is at its most beautiful… but also when it can be at its busiest and hottest.

The coastline is gorgeous, and the water looks incredible in the sunshine, but that also means you’re dealing with more people and quite a lot of heat.

If you’re walking from Santa Margherita Ligure, keep in mind that an hour-long coastal walk in the Italian summer sun can get HOT.

And if you decide to continue uphill once you’re in Portofino, bring water and don’t underestimate the heat.

I personally think the walk is worth doing, but I would start earlier rather than arriving in the middle of the hottest part of the day.

Walking trail along the coast near Portofino Italy

How long do you need in Portofino?

If you’re only visiting Portofino itself, you don’t need a full day.

The town is tiny, so you can see the main harbour and streets fairly quickly.

But if you combine Portofino with the walk from Santa Margherita Ligure, swimming stops and some time exploring, you can easily turn it into a really nice half-day or full-day outing.

That’s exactly how I would do it.

Rather than thinking:

“I need to spend a whole day in Portofino.”

Think:

“I’m spending a day exploring the coastline around Portofino.”

That makes much more sense to me.

My favourite part wasn’t even Portofino

This sounds slightly ridiculous considering the title of this article, but it’s honestly true.

The actual village of Portofino was nice. The harbour is beautiful, the colourful buildings are cute and it was fun to wander around.

But the walk from Santa Margherita Ligure was the highlight for me.

I loved discovering the little beaches, walking down tiny staircases towards the water and seeing the coastline from different angles.

It also felt more untouched than some of the other places I visited in Northern Italy.

Portofino itself was busy, but the route towards it gave me those little moments where it felt like I had found somewhere completely different.

And those are usually the places I remember most from travelling.

Colourful waterfront of Portofino Italy

Is Portofino worth visiting as a day trip from Genoa?

Yes, I think so.

I visited Portofino as a day trip from Genoa and thought it worked really well.

Genoa itself is a fun place to explore, but the surrounding Ligurian coast gives you so many opportunities for day trips, and Portofino is one of them.

If you have a few days in Genoa, I would definitely consider adding Portofino to your itinerary, especially if you enjoy coastal walks and swimming.

If you’re planning a bigger trip around the region, you can see how I fit destinations like Genoa and Portofino into my Northern Italy Travel Guide.

Just don’t expect Portofino itself to keep you busy for eight hours.

I’ve also put together a guide to the best day trips from Genoa if you want to explore more of the Ligurian coast while using Genoa as your base.

And if you’re planning to spend some time in Genoa itself, I’ve also shared my 1-day Genoa itinerary with how I’d spend a day in the city.

So… would I recommend visiting Portofino?

Yes, with a few conditions.

If you want a huge town packed with things to do, affordable food and lots of shops, Portofino probably isn’t the place for you.

If you’re travelling on a tight budget, you’ll also need to plan a little more carefully because prices can be wild.

But if you love beautiful coastlines, swimming, walking, tiny beaches and ridiculously clear water, then I would absolutely add Portofino to your Northern Italy trip.

And most importantly, don’t just go to Portofino and turn around again.

Walk there from Santa Margherita Ligure.

That was the part that made me fall in love with this area.

Honestly, Portofino itself might have been one of the smallest stops of my trip, but the coastline around it ended up being one of my favourite places in all of Northern Italy.

And that is why my answer to “Is Portofino worth visiting?” is a slightly complicated but definite yes.

Just bring your own lunch. And maybe don’t order that €22 Aperol.

Quick tips for visiting Portofino

  • Start in Santa Margherita Ligure and walk towards Portofino if you can.
  • The walk takes roughly one hour.
  • Bring plenty of water, especially in summer.
  • Pack a lunch or snacks if you’re travelling on a budget.
  • Don’t expect Portofino itself to be huge, it is very small.
  • Expect prices to be significantly higher around the harbour.
  • Wear comfortable shoes if you want to explore the paths and viewpoints.
  • Give yourself time to stop at the little beaches and swimming spots along the way.
  • If you’re visiting in summer, consider starting the walk earlier to avoid the strongest heat.
  • Combine Portofino with Santa Margherita Ligure rather than treating it as a full-day destination on its own.

Final thoughts

Portofino is one of those places where the journey is honestly half the experience.

The village itself? Tiny, beautiful and very expensive.

The coastline around it? Absolutely stunning.

I went because I wanted to see Portofino, but I ended up remembering the little beaches, the insanely blue water, the coastal path and all those tiny stairs far more than the actual harbour.

So if you’re visiting Genoa or travelling around Northern Italy, I’d definitely put Portofino on your list, just make sure you walk there from Santa Margherita Ligure if you can.

That was the part that made this one of my favourite stops of the trip.

Planning Your Trip to Italy?

Planning a trip to Italy can be surprisingly difficult, especially when you’re choosing between huge historic cities, beautiful coastlines, charming smaller towns, mountains, lakes and islands.

That’s why I’ve created my Italy Travel Guide, where I share destination guides, things to do, local tips and my personal experiences from travelling around Italy.

→ START HERE: Italy Travel Guides

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FAQs about visiting Portofino

Is Portofino worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you enjoy coastal walks, swimming and beautiful scenery. Portofino itself is very small and expensive, but the coastline around it is stunning. I particularly recommend walking from Santa Margherita Ligure to Portofino.

How long do you need in Portofino?

You can see the main village of Portofino quite quickly because it is very small. If you include the coastal walk from Santa Margherita Ligure, swimming stops and time to explore, I would plan a half or full day for the experience.

Is Portofino expensive?

Yes. Portofino is one of the more expensive places I visited in Northern Italy. Drinks and food around the harbour can be particularly expensive, so bringing your own lunch is a good idea if you’re travelling on a budget.

Can you walk from Santa Margherita Ligure to Portofino?

Yes. I walked from Santa Margherita Ligure train station to Portofino and it took me around an hour. For me, this was actually one of the highlights of the day because of the coastal views, little beaches and clear water along the route.

Is Portofino good for a day trip from Genoa?

Yes. Portofino works well as a day trip from Genoa, particularly if you want to explore more of the Ligurian coast. You can combine Portofino with Santa Margherita Ligure and the coastal walk to make a fuller day out.

Is Portofino worth visiting on a budget?

It can be, but you’ll need to plan ahead. Portofino itself is expensive, so bringing water, snacks and a packed lunch can save you a lot of money. The walk from Santa Margherita Ligure is also a great way to make the day more about the coastline than expensive restaurants and cafés.

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