Molo Umberto I Tender Pier → Piazzetta di Portofino
After disembarking from the tender, walk along the pier road for 1–2 minutes to reach the central Piazzetta (Piazza Martiri dell'Olivetta).
Cruise port in Italy
Portofino
Explore on foot directly from the pier. Average time in port: 8 hours. 22 places to explore.
- Ships calling here
- 20 ships
- Upcoming sailings
- 185 sailings
- Average time in port
- About 8 hours
- Lowest fare
- From USD 1,253
Photo by Slim Emcee on Unsplash
After disembarking
Cruise ships dock at Molo Umberto I Pier. Explore on foot directly from the pier.
- Where the ship docks
Cruise ships dock at Molo Umberto I Pier.
- Ferry and Bus Connections to Santa Margherita
Santa Margherita Ligure is easily reached by the regular Tigullio ferry (about 15 minutes) or city bus 82 along the coastal cliff road (about 15–18 minutes).
- Pedestrian-Only Fishing Village
Central Portofino is a pedestrian zone where regular vehicles are prohibited. Walk along the scenic stone paths to Castello Brown, the Church of San Giorgio, and Portofino Lighthouse.
- Coperto and Payment Customs
Outdoor cafes and terrace restaurants in the Piazzetta charge a coperto per person. It is a good idea to have a small amount of euro cash for gelato as well as a payment card.
About 8 hours in port: where can you go?
Time available at the destination after subtracting return travel.
- PortofinoAt the pierTime at destinationAbout 8 hr
- Santa Margherita LigureAbout 15 min each wayTime at destinationAbout 7 hr 30 min
Return travel Time at destination
Calculated from the average time in port. Return deadlines vary by sailing; check the daily programme on board.
Between the terminal, city and airport
Travel between the terminal, city center, railway station and airport.
Portofino (Molo Umberto I) → Santa Margherita Ligure Pier
Buy a ticket at the pier ticket office for Servizio Marittimo del Tigullio ferry line 1 and travel to the waterfront pier at Santa Margherita Ligure.
Portofino (Piazza della Libertà) → Santa Margherita Ligure Station
At Piazza della Libertà stop at the entrance to the village, take bus 82 along the coast to the Santa Margherita Ligure railway station stop.
Portofino Pier → Abbazia di San Fruttuoso
Board a scheduled boat from Portofino pier around the coastal cliffs to the beach at San Fruttuoso Abbey in a secluded bay.
Portofino places to explore
Explore 15 checked places. Select a pin to see its card, or choose View on map from a card.
Abbey of San Fruttuoso
A peaceful 10th-century Benedictine abbey in a quiet cove inaccessible by road, reachable only by boat or hiking trail. The underwater statue Cristo degli Abissi lies in the deep sea in front of the cove.
- Visit
- about 1 hr 15 min
- Admission
- EUR 9
Castello Brown
A fortress built by the Republic of Genoa in the 16th century to deter pirate attacks, with a lush Mediterranean rose garden and terraces overlooking the Gulf of Portofino and Gulf of Tigullio.
- Visit
- about 1 hr
- Admission
- EUR 5
Portofino Lighthouse
A white lighthouse at the southern tip of the Portofino peninsula, reached through Mediterranean pine forest and offering endless horizon and cliff views.
- Visit
- about 50 min
- Admission
- Free
Church of San Martino
A 12th-century Romanesque church in an old fishing lane behind the Piazzetta, notable for a striped façade and ornate Baroque altars and icons inside.
- Visit
- about 25 min
- Admission
- Free
Church of San Giorgio
A yellow church on a cliff along the peninsula ridge, housing the relics of Saint George. Its terrace offers open views of Portofino village and the open sea.
- Visit
- about 35 min
- Admission
- Free
Trips nearby
With enough time in port, you can explore beyond the city. One-way times are approximate.
Santa Margherita Ligure
About 15 min each wayTime at destination About 7 hr 30 min
SightsCastle of Santa Margherita LigureThe historic ruins of a Genoese coastal fort built in 1550 on a cliff rock to defend against raids by Ottoman pirate Turgut Reis.
SightsVilla DurazzoA 17th-century mansion of the Genoese aristocratic Durazzo family on a hill in Santa Margherita, with Neoclassical chandeliers, Murano glass, and an Italian garden full of citrus and camellia trees.
Food and cafésPanificio FiordilatteA traditional bakery in a lane in central Santa Margherita, selling crisp, thin cheese focaccia (Focaccia di Recco), onion focaccia, and espresso at reasonable prices.
SightsBasilica of Santa Margherita d'AntiochiaA grand Baroque cathedral built in 1658, with a lavish interior of gilded stucco, crystal chandeliers, and frescoes by masters of the Genoese school.
Food and cafésRistorante L'AncoraA restaurant on the marina waterfront, with harbor views and dishes such as basil-pesto trofie, fresh baked sea bream, and seafood fritto misto.
NeighborhoodsLungomare RossettiA waterfront esplanade in Santa Margherita, lined with palm trees and Belle Époque hotels, where you can stroll peacefully looking at yachts and fishing boats.
Food and cafésRistorante Da AlfredoA prestigious restaurant specializing in Santa Margherita's sweet, pleasantly chewy red shrimp (Gambero Rosso di Santa Margherita), served raw or grilled over charcoal, as well as lobster linguine.
Cruises calling at Portofino
185 sailings are grouped into 99 cruises by ship and route.
Regent Seven Seas CruisesSailing 2027.03Mediterranean cruises · 10 nights · Mid-length cruise
Spotlight On Foley Family Wines
Civitavecchia → Barcelona
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 8,399
Regent Seven Seas CruisesSailing 2027.04World Cruise · 174 nights · Long cruise
Grand European Discovery
New York, New York → Piraeus
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 152,999
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht CollectionSailing 2027.05Mediterranean cruises · 5 nights
Barcelona to Civitavecchia
Barcelona → Civitavecchia
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 8,800
Celebrity Cruises3 departure datesBook now
Sailing 2027.05 ~ 2027.10Mediterranean cruises · 10 nights · Mid-length cruise
10 Night Italy & French Riviera Cruise
Barcelona departure · round trip
Lowest departure fareCheck with the booking provider
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht CollectionSailing 2027.05Mediterranean cruises · 7 nights
Nice to Monte-Carlo
Nice → Monte-Carlo
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 10,500
Celebrity Cruises7 departure datesBook now
Sailing 2027.05 ~ 2027.10
Atlas Ocean VoyagesSailing 2027.05Mediterranean cruises · 7 nights
Valletta to Nice
Valletta → Nice
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 5,258
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht CollectionSailing 2027.05Mediterranean cruises · 4 nights · Short cruise
Monte-Carlo to Civitavecchia
Monte-Carlo → Civitavecchia
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 7,600
Emerald Cruises7 departure dates
Sailing 2027.05 ~ 2028.09Mediterranean cruises · 7 nights
French & Italian Rivieras with Corsica
Civitavecchia → Nice
Lowest departure fareFrom USD 6,259
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht CollectionSailing 2027.05Mediterranean cruises · 7 nights
Civitavecchia to Monte-Carlo
Civitavecchia → Monte-Carlo
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 12,300
Celebrity CruisesBook now
Sailing 2027.05Mediterranean cruises · 11 nights · Long cruise
11 Night Best Of Italy, France & Spain
Barcelona → Civitavecchia
Per person, double occupancyCheck with the booking provider
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection2 departure dates
Sailing 2027.05 ~ 2028.09Mediterranean cruises · 6 nights
Monte-Carlo to Civitavecchia
Monte-Carlo → Civitavecchia
Lowest departure fareFrom USD 10,100
99 cruises call at this port.
Ships calling at Portofino
Explore cabin types, dining and deck facilities for each ship.
Celebrity Cruises · 33 sailings
Celebrity Constellation
27 cabin types · 11 dining venues · 36 entertainment options · 12 decks
Explore the ship
Holland America Line · 27 sailings
Nieuw Amsterdam
10 cabin types · 9 dining venues · 19 entertainment options · 12 decks
Explore the ship
Emerald Cruises · 19 sailings
Emerald Sakara
6 cabin types · 2 dining venues · 13 entertainment options · 6 decks
Explore the ship
Celebrity Cruises · 18 sailings
Celebrity Xcel
34 cabin types · 6 dining venues · 25 entertainment options · 15 decks
Explore the ship
About Portofino
One of the most photographed villages along the coast, with a decidedly romantic and affluent aura, Portofino has long been a popular destination for the rich and famous. Once an ancient Roman colony and taken by the Republic of Genoa in 1229, it’s also been ruled by the French, English, Spanish, and Austrians, as well as by marauding bands of 16th-century pirates. Elite British tourists first flocked to the lush harbor in the mid-1800s. Some of Europe's wealthiest drop anchor in Portofino in summer, but they stay out of sight by day, appearing in the evening after buses and boats have carried off the day-trippers.There's not actually much to do in Portofino other than stroll around the wee harbor, see the castle, walk to Punta del Capo, browse at the pricey boutiques, and sip a coffee while people-watching. However, weaving through picture-perfect cliffside gardens and gazing at yachts framed by the sapphire Ligurian Sea and the cliffs of Santa Margherita can make for quite a relaxing afternoon. There are also several tame, photo-friendly hikes into the hills to nearby villages.Unless you're traveling on a deluxe budget, you may want to stay in Camogli or Santa Margherita Ligure rather than at one of Portofino's few very expensive hotels. Restaurants and cafés are good but also pricey (don't expect to have a beer here for much under €10).
Cruise lines calling here: 7 places
Atlas Ocean VoyagesCelebrity CruisesEmerald CruisesHolland America LineRegent Seven Seas CruisesThe Ritz-Carlton Yacht CollectionVirgin Voyages
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