How to Get to Portofino: Train, Bus 782, Ferries, Parking and Boat Trips

Portofino is tiny. The village wraps around a small harbour at the tip of a wooded promontory, with one road in and very little room for cars. That is a large part of its charm — and the reason getting there needs a little thought. Arrive the wrong way at the wrong time and you can spend your visit queuing for a parking space; arrive by train and boat and the journey becomes part of the pleasure.

This guide covers every way to reach Portofino: by train to Santa Margherita Ligure and then bus, ferry or on foot; by car, and where to park; by ferry from the towns of the Gulf of Tigullio; and by organised boat trip from Genoa, Rapallo and even Milan.

Portofino at a glance

Portofino covers 2.53 km² and has 357 inhabitants (31 May 2026). It is a village, not a town, and feels like one.
Since the late 19th century Portofino has drawn European aristocrats, and today it is a resort of the international jet set.
Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta, known as ‘La Piazzetta’, is the heart of the village, opening onto the harbour.
The name comes from Portus Delphini, the ‘port of the dolphin’ mentioned by Pliny the Elder.

The village sits at the southern tip of the Portofino promontory, with Santa Margherita Ligure and Rapallo to the north-east along the coast, and Camogli and San Fruttuoso on the other side of the headland.

The short answer

If driving, leave the motorway at Rapallo, park before Portofino and take the bus or a ferry in; check the last return bus or boat. Without a car, the nearest station is Santa Margherita Ligure–Portofino on the Genoa–La Spezia line; from there take bus line 782, a ferry or the coastal walk.

By train

The station

The railway does not reach Portofino itself. The station for the village is Santa Margherita Ligure–Portofino, on the coastal line between Genoa and La Spezia.

From Genoa: trains run from Genoa Principe and Brignole to Santa Margherita Ligure almost every hour.
From Milan: from Milan, direct Intercity or regional trains reach Santa Margherita Ligure–Portofino in about 2 hours.
If your train skips Santa Margherita: if your train does not stop at Santa Margherita Ligure, the next station is Rapallo, which also has buses and ferries to Portofino.

From the station to Portofino

From Santa Margherita Ligure you have three ways to cover the last stretch:

Bus 782, from outside the station, along the coast road to Portofino.
Ferry, from the harbour in Santa Margherita, a short, scenic ride round the headland.
On foot, along the coastal path: the panoramic walk from Santa Margherita Ligure to Portofino is about 5 km.

By bus: line 782

Bus 782 is the everyday link between Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino. It follows the SP227, the only road into the village: by land, the SP227 road runs from Santa Margherita Ligure. The road is narrow and winding, with the sea on one side, and in summer the bus can be busy, so expect to stand at peak times.

A few tips:

Sort out your ticket before you board, and ask at the station where it is sold.
Check the last bus back as soon as you arrive in Portofino, and plan your visit around it.
Consider the ferry one way and the bus the other, for two different views of the coast.

By ferry

Arriving by sea is the classic way to reach Portofino: the pastel houses appear around the headland as the boat turns into the harbour.

Where the ferries come from

By sea, ferries reach Portofino from Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure, Camogli and Genoa. Direct ferries from Genoa and other Ligurian towns run in the summer months.

The Tigullio line

The main local service is run by the Servizio Marittimo del Tigullio. Line 1 of the Servizio Marittimo del Tigullio links Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure, Portofino and San Fruttuoso almost all year, with timetables that vary by season; tickets are sold at the ticket offices.

Stopovers: a San Fruttuoso ticket bought in Rapallo or Santa Margherita Ligure also allows a stop in Portofino. It is an easy way to see both in one day.
Weather: sailings can be cancelled in bad sea conditions.
Quiet days: departures need at least 20 passengers per boarding point, so out of season some sailings may not run.
Evenings: in July and August evening boats run from Rapallo and Santa Margherita Ligure to Portofino and back, perfect for dinner in the village.

Always check the day’s return times at the ticket office when you buy your ticket. Timetables change with the season and with demand, and the office staff will know which boats are running that day. If the sea looks rough from the harbour, ask before you buy, and keep the bus in mind as your way back.

By car

The road in

From the Rapallo motorway exit, Portofino is about 8 km away, following the signs. The road passes through Santa Margherita Ligure and then follows the coast on the narrow SP227.

Parking in Portofino

Driving into the village is not the easy option. Portofino’s historic centre is a limited-traffic zone (ZTL), open only to residents and permitted vehicles; cars must use the covered car park at the bottom of the access road. The covered car park costs about €8 an hour, and in high season it fills quickly.

Parking at Paraggi

An alternative is the little bay of Paraggi, closer to Santa Margherita: you can also park at Paraggi, about 1.5 km from Portofino, and walk to the piazzetta along the seafront in about 20 minutes. Spaces are limited here too.

The better plan

For most visitors, the best approach is to park in Santa Margherita Ligure or Rapallo and continue by bus, ferry or on foot. It avoids the queue for the car park, the narrow road and the hourly charge, and the ferry ride is a highlight in itself.

On foot: the coastal walk

Walking to Portofino is a pleasure in its own right. The panoramic walk from Santa Margherita Ligure to Portofino is about 5 km, following the coast past villas, gardens and small bays, including Paraggi. It is an easy walk with views across the Gulf of Tigullio. Walk one way and take the bus or ferry back.

By boat trip

If you would rather not piece together trains, buses and ferries, a boat trip handles the whole journey and gives you time ashore.

Boat from Genoa with free time in Portofino. By boat from Genoa’s Porto Antico along the Ligurian coast, with two hours in Portofino for the piazzetta and Castello Brown. About 5 hours.

Half day from Genoa. An afternoon from Genoa’s Porto Antico along the coast to Portofino, with free time in Portofino. About 4.5 hours.

Coastal cruise from Rapallo with a Portofino stop. A boat with a shaded sundeck from Rapallo past Santa Margherita Ligure and the cliffs, stopping in Portofino. About 4 hours.

Genoa and Portofino from Milan. Coach from Milan to Genoa’s historic centre, then along the coast by boat to Portofino. About 12 hours, the easiest way to see both in a day from Milan.

Easy kayak tour to Portofino. With an instructor and marine guide, paddle from Paraggi to Portofino harbour and on towards the lighthouse, with optional snorkelling. About 1.5 hours.

The tours page lists them all with live prices.

Getting around once you arrive

Once in Portofino, everything is on foot, and distances are short.

The piazzetta and harbour are where the bus stops and the ferries land.
Castello Brown and the lighthouse: the walk from the piazzetta to the Punta del Capo lighthouse takes about 20 minutes, passing San Giorgio and Castello Brown, with many shaded stretches.
The nearest swims: Baia Cannone is about 500 m from Portofino and Paraggi about two kilometres.
Into the park: paths lead from the village into the Portofino regional park and on to San Fruttuoso.

Adding San Fruttuoso and Camogli

Portofino sits at one end of a headland with two other gems: the abbey of San Fruttuoso, in a cove reachable only on foot or by sea, and the fishing town of Camogli on the far side.

By ferry from Portofino: the Tigullio line continues to San Fruttuoso, and a San Fruttuoso ticket bought in Rapallo or Santa Margherita Ligure also allows a stop in Portofino.
From Camogli: boats run to San Fruttuoso from Camogli all year, and seasonally from Recco, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, Sestri Levante, Lavagna, Chiavari and Genoa. From Camogli station to the ferry is 550 m, a 7-minute walk.
On foot: about 80 km of paths cross just over 1,000 hectares of the Portofino park, including routes linking Portofino and San Fruttuoso.

See our guide to San Fruttuoso and the Portofino park for the details.

When to go

Summer is the busiest time, with the longest days and the most boats, including evening sailings in July and August. Expect crowds in the middle of the day and a full car park; arrive early or late.
Spring and autumn are ideal for walking the headland and exploring the village in comfort, with ferries still running and the light softer.
Winter is quiet and mild, but ferries run less often and some depend on demand, so the bus becomes the reliable link.
Festivals: St George’s Bonfire is held on 23 April, in honour of the village’s patron saint.

Staying nearby: Santa Margherita and Rapallo

Staying in Portofino itself is a splurge: in season, a hotel room in Portofino starts at around €700 a night, and a fish dinner costs at least €100 a person. Many visitors therefore stay in the larger towns along the gulf and come in by boat or bus, returning to Portofino in the evening when the day visitors have gone.

Santa Margherita Ligure is the closest: it has the railway station, the bus 782 terminus and the ferry harbour. Santa Margherita Ligure’s sights include Villa Durazzo Centurione, the Vittorio G. Rossi museum and the Basilica of Santa Margherita of Antioch. From Santa Margherita Ligure, the same boat company also runs excursions to the Cinque Terre (lines 4 and 5).
Rapallo, a little further along, has its own station, the motorway exit and the start of the Tigullio ferry line.

Either makes a comfortable base for Portofino, San Fruttuoso and the wider Ligurian coast.

Budgeting for the day

Portofino is not a cheap place, but a day there need not be expensive if you plan it.

Getting there: the train and bus or ferry are far cheaper than parking. The covered car park costs about €8 an hour.
Sights: a ticket for the castle and its park costs €10.00, and the abbey of San Fruttuoso, if you add it, costs €10.
Food and drink: a coffee for two at a piazzetta table costs €10 or more. A picnic on the walk to the lighthouse, or lunch in Santa Margherita, keeps costs down.

Which way is best?

From Genoa, without a car: the train to Santa Margherita and the ferry in, or a boat trip from Porto Antico.
From Milan for the day: the train (about 2 hours to Santa Margherita), or the coach-and-boat day trip.
Driving along the coast: leave the motorway at Rapallo, park in Rapallo or Santa Margherita, and take the ferry.
Staying in Santa Margherita or Rapallo: walk one way, ferry the other.
Combining with San Fruttuoso: the Tigullio ferry, with a stop in Portofino on the same ticket.

A sample day from Genoa

Morning: train from Genoa Principe or Brignole to Santa Margherita Ligure.
Late morning: ferry to Portofino; coffee in the piazzetta, then the walk up to Castello Brown and the lighthouse.
Lunch: in the village, or a picnic on the way to the lighthouse.
Afternoon: ferry on to San Fruttuoso for the abbey and a swim, then back via Portofino.
Evening: ferry or bus to Santa Margherita and the train back to Genoa.

Practical tips

Check the last bus or boat back as soon as you arrive.
Avoid driving in on summer weekends; the car park fills and the road queues.
Go early or late in summer; the village is busiest in the middle of the day.
Budget for high prices: a coffee for two at a piazzetta table costs €10 or more.
Keep moving in the busiest spots: Portofino has banned pedestrians from stopping in parts of the pedestrian zone, an anti-selfie measure to prevent crowds and queues. Look for the signs.
Watch the sea: rough weather cancels ferries, so have the bus as a back-up.

With children

Portofino is small and walkable, and the ferry is usually a hit with children. The bus road is narrow and winding, which can upset sensitive stomachs; the boat is often the more comfortable option. Pushchairs cope with the harbour front and piazzetta, but the paths up to Castello Brown and the lighthouse have steps and slopes.

Accessibility

The harbour and piazzetta are level and compact. Boarding ferries means crossing gangways that move with the sea, so ask the crew for help. The walks to Castello Brown and the lighthouse climb the headland and are not suitable for wheelchairs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the nearest train station to Portofino?

Santa Margherita Ligure–Portofino, on the Genoa–La Spezia line. From there, take bus 782, a ferry or the coastal walk.

Can I drive to Portofino?

Yes, but the centre is a limited-traffic zone and cars must use the covered car park at about €8 an hour. Most visitors park in Santa Margherita Ligure or Rapallo and continue by bus or ferry.

Is there a ferry to Portofino?

Yes. Ferries run from Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure, Camogli and Genoa, with direct summer ferries from Genoa and other Ligurian towns.

How long is the walk from Santa Margherita to Portofino?

About 5 km along the coast.

Can I visit Portofino from Milan in a day?

Yes. Direct trains reach Santa Margherita Ligure in about 2 hours, or a 12-hour day trip combines Genoa and Portofino by coach and boat.