Portofino

A luxurious little fishing harbor on the Ligurian east coast, with a horseshoe bay crowded with yachts, pastel houses, the Church of San Giorgio and Castello Brown overlooking one of Italy's most expensive stretches of sea.

Portofino sits at the tip of the Portofino peninsula, 35 km east of Genoa. It is Italy's most famous upscale resort town, with a population of only about 400. A small horseshoe-shaped harbor is framed by ochre and pink houses. The Piazzetta by the waterfront is the gathering place for celebrity restaurants and luxury boutiques, and in summer the harbor fills with yachts. A 10-minute climb takes you to the Church of San Giorgio (Chiesa di San Giorgio). The terrace in front of the church overlooks the bay and the peninsula, and it is the standard vantage point for photographing Portofino. Higher up is the 16th-century Castello Brown (€5), whose garden terrace offers even better views. Continue for another 20 minutes to the lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula (Faro di Portofino). The bar below the lighthouse is a good place to sit by the sea with a drink. From the harbor, boats run to the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, which is reachable only by sea. This 10th-century Benedictine abbey is tucked into a small cove, and the price is about €10–15 one way. Under the water 17 metres down in the bay stands the bronze statue 'Christ of the Abyss', a pilgrimage site for divers. You can also walk the coastal path from Santa Margherita or Camogli to Portofino (about 1 hour) or to San Fruttuoso (2.5 hours). Getting there: take a train from Genoa or La Spezia to Santa Margherita Ligure station (about 1 hour in the direction of the Cinque Terre). From there, take bus 782 (€3, 20 minutes, crowded in high season) or a ferry (€8, 15 minutes) to Portofino. If you drive, park in the car park outside the village (€5–6 per hour). The village itself can be seen in 1–2 hours, and combining it with San Fruttuoso and Camogli makes a full day. Dining is expensive, with coffee starting at €5. For lunch, consider Santa Margherita instead.

Portofino

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