Hotel Piccolo Portofino
Portofino - Via Duca degli Abruzzi 31
Situato proprio sul lungomare di Portofino, l'Hotel Piccolo Portofino offre una spiaggia rocciosa privata con bar.
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Portofino is a destination that needs no introduction. The jewel in Liguria’s luxury tourism crown, its name instantly conjures images of superyachts, photoshoots for glossy fashion magazines and fairytale villas. A billionaire’s dream, perhaps, yet one that everyday travellers can experience too – Portofino’s beauty is within everyone’s reach.
While staying in Portofino’s five-star hotels may be prohibitively expensive, strolling through the village is free and utterly rewarding – an experience you absolutely shouldn’t miss during a Ligurian seaside holiday. Don’t feel out of place: Portofino began as a fishing village, and today the superyachts of the wealthy sit at anchor just metres from humble fishing boats that pale by comparison.
Nature is the true star here. Nestled in a cove along one of the most spectacular stretches of the Gulf of Tigullio, this glamorous town is essentially a cluster of colourful houses huddled along a waterfront lapped by emerald-green waters. The irregular seabed has allowed an incredibly rich marine flora and fauna to flourish – a diver’s paradise! All around, the green slopes of Monte Portofino rise up, crisscrossed by numerous trails that wind through dense woods or hug wild, rocky outcrops.
Between wandering the streets in search of celebrities to photograph, visiting castles, churches and gardens, snapping selfies with yachts in the background, trekking through the nature reserve and swimming in some of Italy’s finest waters, a day in Portofino passes in a flash!
Before you leave, take one last look at the bay to etch this marvellous image on your heart. Or better yet, why not stay longer and treat yourself to a fine dinner at an elegant restaurant?
The top attraction in Portofino is undoubtedly the little square in the historic centre overlooking the harbour – the place everyone wants to see and, more importantly, say they’ve been to! It’s the beating heart of the social scene and a crossroads for celebrities and would-be celebrities alike.
However, what to see in Portofino extends far beyond the harbour with its luxury yachts, fashionable boutiques and Michelin-starred restaurants. There are plenty of interesting historical, cultural and natural attractions to discover.
Leave the exclusive atmosphere of the square and climb up to Castello di San Giorgio (today known as Castello Brown), a magnificent fortress perched on the rocky promontory that dominates Portofino’s centre.
Surrounded by lush gardens, Castello Brown is a peaceful oasis from which you can watch the comings and goings in the square below and admire the entire splendour of the Gulf of Tigullio. The best viewpoint is the terrace that juts out vertically over the village, offering unparalleled views.
The castle boasts an ancient history. It’s believed a defensive tower once stood here in Roman times, but the original nucleus of the current castle was built in the 10th century, with clear medieval features still evident today.
Until the 19th century, the castle served an important defensive role, which it lost when Portofino became part of the Kingdom of Italy. It was then purchased by English consul Brown, who had admired it from the sea, and transformed into an elegant summer residence.
The castle is now open to visitors and is used as a venue for weddings and events.
The narrow lane leading to the castle entrance, flanked by fabulous villas of the international jet set, is completely surrounded by greenery, with occasional glimpses of the village revealing themselves around every corner.
Shortly after leaving Portofino’s square to head towards the castle, you’ll come across the Church of San Giorgio: built in the 12th century, it’s dedicated to Portofino’s patron saint.
Take note of the black and white risseu (pebble mosaic) on the church forecourt – it’s made from sea stones, following an ancient Ligurian tradition.
Other notable churches in Portofino include the Oratorio di Santa Maria Assunta and the Church of San Martino.
Continue along the road that took you to the castle and keep going: after a short walk, you’ll reach the far tip of the promontory, marked by the iconic Portofino lighthouse.
It’s an elegant white structure clinging to a rocky spur that drops sheer to the sea, covered in dense vegetation. Built in 1917, it now houses a refined bar-restaurant with a panoramic terrace.
An unmissable open-air museum in Portofino’s centre is the Parco Museum, a terraced garden overlooking the sea that now houses the International Open-Air Sculpture Centre.
As you wander through the museum, you’ll be enchanted by the fragrance of rare plants collected in the early 1900s by Baron Mumm, the land’s owner and proprietor of numerous local vineyards. You’ll also see sculptures and installations by important contemporary international artists.
The museum is only open during the summer months.
One of the main attractions in the Portofino area is the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, a Benedictine monastery built on the shoreline in a hidden cove nestled among the dense vegetation of Monte Portofino (on the western side, opposite the village).
The abbey is unreachable by car – you can only arrive by sea or on foot, both making for spectacular arrivals. Boats from Portofino run seasonally, whilst services from other locations (such as Camogli) operate year-round.
The Christ of the Abyss is a bronze statue located about 15 metres below the surface of the waters in San Fruttuoso bay. Created by artist Guido Galletti, it has rested on the seabed since 1954.
An extremely popular diving site and venue for underwater weddings, the statue of Christ with arms outstretched upwards can be seen from a distance simply by dipping your head underwater – the sea here is so transparent that visibility is excellent!
Portofino is renowned as a sophisticated destination with plenty of venues and nightlife. That’s certainly true, but it’s worth noting that Portofino’s scene is glamorous and refined, centred on lounges, cocktail bars and chic aperitivos. Forget student happy hours or tacky nightclubs.
Portofino’s nightlife venues are exclusive spaces like Faro Lounge Bar, Beach Club Eight or Carillon nightclub. Champagne and cocktails dominate the menus, smart dress is the suggested code (sometimes mandatory), and contemporary design furnishings always complete the picture.
That said, anyone can enjoy a magnificent sunset aperitivo at the square’s bars – yes, they’ll be pricier than your usual local back home, but you’re on holiday, aren’t you? Make the most of it, you deserve it!
For a long time synonymous with fashionable getaways, in recent years Portofino has begun attracting a growing number of travellers with no interest whatsoever in boutiques, yachts and chic aperitivos.
The main draw for active holiday enthusiasts is the Portofino Nature Reserve7, established in 1935 to preserve the biodiversity of a unique territory squeezed between sea and mountains.
The reserve covers roughly 1,500 hectares and is completely crossed by trails totalling over 80 km. Varying in length and difficulty, the Portofino Park trails allow you to experience the area in all its extraordinary beauty.
Trekking in Portofino Park is an activity for everyone. The trails come in various levels, from gentle family walks to challenging hikes for experienced trekkers, and all are clearly marked. Detailed hiking maps are available at the park’s information points.
Thanks to Liguria’s mild climate and the variety of itineraries, walking in Portofino Park is enjoyable in every season. In summer you can find refuge from the heat on shaded forest paths, while in cooler months you can enjoy the warmth of the sun along the coastal routes.
Some itineraries have been designed to retrace the ancient paths used by monks who found in this enchanting place a haven of peace and quiet suited to contemplative life.
The Valley of Mills also falls within the park’s territory – an area of particular historical and environmental interest named after the remains of 35 ancient mills. One of these, the Mulino del Gassetta8, has been completely restored.
There are no beaches in Portofino village itself, except for a tiny strip of sand and pebbles a stone’s throw from the famous square. You can sunbathe and have a quick swim on the quays where boats don’t moor, but given the beauty of the surrounding landscape it’s worth venturing out a little to enjoy it at a more leisurely pace.
What’s commonly called Portofino Beach is actually located in Paraggi9: an equipped beach set in an enchanting bay. It’s one of the few sandy beaches on the Ligurian coast. Other sandy beaches in the area, also suitable for those travelling with small children, are Cannone Bay and Bay of Silence.
A particularly striking beach, though pebbled in this case, can be found in San Fruttuoso Bay and is dominated by the famous medieval abbey. In summer months it’s easily reached by boat from Portofino, from where you can continue on to Camogli and swim at the town beach.
Other nearby options are small rocky coves reachable only by private boat or, in some cases, by foot along trails that aren’t always easy. If you’re willing to drive, you can quickly reach the main beach resorts of the Eastern Riviera.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Hotels in Portofino are few and extremely expensive: designed for elite tourism, they’re luxury properties housed in elegant buildings and distinguished by impeccable service. Exclusivity comes at a price: expect to pay from €200 per night upwards to stay in central Portofino.
Unless you’re treating yourself to something special, perhaps for an anniversary or special occasion, it’s better to look for accommodation elsewhere. The nearby villages, particularly Camogli and Rapallo, are well connected by boat and offer a wide range of hotels, B&Bs and apartments in all price ranges.
We offer a selection of hotels at Portofino to suit all categories of travellers. The most booked by tourists are the sea-facing hotels, often right on the beach. If you want to play it safe, choose one of the following: they are among the most booked hotels in Portofino, sorted by number of reviews.
If you prefer space, privacy and the ability to prepare your own meals to a hotel holiday, book a holiday home at Portofino. We recommend a few below, but in this case we advise you to book early because houses and apartments for rent at Portofino are in high demand.
Driving to Portofino is not recommended – not because of the road itself (A12 motorway, Santa Margherita-Portofino exit), but because finding a parking space once you arrive can turn into a nightmare.
Portofino’s centre is closed to cars, so you’ll need to leave your vehicle in one of the pay car parks outside the pedestrian area. Like all services in Portofino, car parks are rather expensive. Free parking can be found along the road to Santa Margherita Ligure near a nightclub – from there you can walk on or take a bus.
Most visitors choose to drive to nearby villages and travel to Portofino from there by boat or on foot. The first option is affordable for everyone as boats from Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure and Rapallo are reasonably priced. The second requires decent walking shoes and a willingness to hike along sometimes steep paths.
For rail travellers the main station is Santa Margherita Ligure-Portofino, on the Rome-Genoa-Turin and Bologna-Parma-Genoa lines. It’s about 12 km from Portofino’s centre and is connected by a local bus service.
The nearest airport is Genoa.
What's the weather at Portofino? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Portofino for the next few days.
Portofino sits along the Riviera di Levante, roughly 35 km from Genova.
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