Tigullio · 5 min + 45 min from Rapallo
Portofino: Liguria's most famous village, best reached without a car.
A horseshoe harbour, pastel-coloured houses, luxury yachts and the Castello Brown on the hill. Reachable from Rapallo by train plus bus, boat or a stunning coastal walk. Santa Margherita Ligure is the practical base just 5 minutes by train.
Portofino: what to expect
Portofino is exactly as small as it needs to be to be iconic: a few alleys, a small square with pastel-coloured houses, a little harbour with sailing boats and yachts, and the hill with the Castello Brown. It is literally the village that appears on every Ligurian travel guide. And that fame has a price: in July and August the piazzetta is often inaccessible from the number of people, restaurants charge very high prices and arriving by car is practically impossible (in summer car access is restricted or banned for non-residents).
The visit works best if you arrive on foot or by boat, in the early morning or late afternoon, and accept the place for what it is: a photographic set of rare beauty with a small real life behind it. Things to do:
- Piazzetta — the photo everyone seeks, best in early morning or late afternoon
- Castello Brown — history museum with panoramic terrace, paid entry
- Portofino lighthouse (Faro) — 30 min on foot from the piazzetta, views over the headland
- Scenic coastal walk from SML — path along the cliffs from Santa Margherita to Portofino, about 45–60 minutes
Santa Margherita: the practical base
Santa Margherita Ligure is 5 minutes by train from Rapallo and has a life of its own beyond tourism: a well-kept seafront promenade, a Friday morning market, quality restaurants at accessible prices, and the harbour from which boats leave for Portofino.
- From SML to Portofino: ATP bus ~30 min, boat ~15 min, coastal walk ~45–60 min
- Friday morning market in the square
- Seafront restaurants with fresh fish at reasonable prices
- A more affordable and liveable base than Portofino for a stay
Recommended combination: train Rapallo–SML in the morning, scenic coastal walk SML–Portofino (45 min), afternoon in Portofino, return by boat or bus to SML, dinner in Santa Margherita.
Getting there
How to reach Portofino from Rapallo.
In summer Portofino is practically inaccessible by car. Train plus any other option is always the better choice.
Train Rapallo–Santa Margherita — from Rapallo station, Trenitalia regional service on the Genoa–La Spezia line, 5 minutes, about €2. Good frequency. SML is the hub for all onward connections to Portofino.
Bus SML–Portofino — ATP Esercizio, stop in front of SML station, line to Portofino. About 30 minutes with stops. Inexpensive (~€2). In summer there may be queues at peak times.
Boat SML–Portofino — Tigullio Trasporti, service from SML harbour, about 15 minutes. More expensive than the bus but scenic and direct. Check timetables on traghettiportofino.it.
Scenic coastal walk — starting from the SML harbour area, a path follows the cliffs all the way to Portofino, about 45–60 minutes. One of the finest walks on the Riviera. Comfortable shoes required but not strenuous trekking. You can walk there and return by boat.
Staying in Rapallo
The perfect base for Portofino, without Portofino prices.
Rapallo is 5 minutes by train from Santa Margherita and 20 from Portofino. Staying in Rapallo means access to the same area at completely different costs — and real living space.
Rapallo Smart Home is a pre-launch holiday apartment in Rapallo, with a full kitchen and two double bedrooms for up to 4 guests. From here you reach Portofino (5+15 min) and Santa Margherita (5 min) without a car — and in the evening you return to a real home, not a hotel room.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Portofino and Santa Margherita.
Practical answers for planning your visit.
How do you get to Portofino from Rapallo?
Train Rapallo–Santa Margherita (5 min, ~€2), then from SML: ATP bus (~30 min), boat (~15 min) or the scenic coastal walk (~45–60 min). In summer do not drive to Portofino — parking is extremely expensive and often closed to non-residents.
Is Portofino worth visiting in August?
Portofino is beautiful year-round, but in July and August it is very crowded. The best visit is early morning or late afternoon. June and September offer the same landscape with far fewer tourists.
What is there to do in Santa Margherita Ligure?
A lovely promenade, Friday morning market, quality restaurants at accessible prices, and the harbour for boats to Portofino and San Fruttuoso. More liveable and affordable than Portofino — an excellent pairing on the same day.
Can you walk from Santa Margherita to Portofino?
Yes: a scenic coastal path leaves from the SML harbour and reaches Portofino in 45–60 minutes, following the cliffs. One of the finest walks on the Riviera, accessible with comfortable shoes (no trekking gear required). You can walk there and return by boat or bus.
Who is Rapallo Smart Home designed for?
For couples, two couples, families or small groups of up to 4 guests looking for independence, a full kitchen and discreet technology. A base 5 minutes from Santa Margherita and 20 from Portofino, without the Portofino price tag.
Plan Portofino and Santa Margherita with LigurIA.
LigurIA combines Portofino, Santa Margherita and San Fruttuoso into a tailor-made itinerary for your stay in Rapallo. Free, no sign-up required.