Holiday in Portofino

About Portofino

Portofino is perhaps the most beautiful fishing village in the world and has been a synonym for Mediterranean elegance, jet-set glamour, and Ligurian lifestyle since the 1950s. Located at the tip of a small peninsula southeast of Genoa, the village with its pastel-colored facades hugs a tiny natural harbor where superyachts anchor alongside traditional fishing boats. Elizabeth Taylor, Humphrey Bogart, and Grace Kelly have stayed here, and to this day, Portofino attracts the rich and famous from all over the world. The charm of Portofino lies in its perfect miniature: the entire village consists of little more than a handful of houses around the Piazzetta, the legendary village square right by the harbor. Here, one sits with an espresso or Aperol Spritz and watches the hustle and bustle of yachts and passersby. The Church of San Giorgio towers on the hill above the village and offers a panoramic view of the Ligurian Sea, which is worth the trip alone. Even higher is Castello Brown, a medieval fortress with a lush garden and one of the best viewpoints along the entire Riviera. The nature reserve of Portofino surrounds the village with dense pine forests, macchia, and hidden coves. Hiking trails lead through the Parco Naturale Regionale di Portofino to the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, a Benedictine monastery from the 10th century, which can only be reached on foot or by boat. In front of the abbey lies the famous Christ statue Cristo degli Abissi on the seabed, a popular destination for divers and snorkelers. From Germany, Portofino is best reached via Genoa Airport (Cristoforo Colombo), which is about 35 kilometers away. Alternatively, Milan-Malpensa Airport is an option, from where it takes about two and a half hours by car to reach the Riviera. Portofino is not a destination for bargain hunters – prices are high even by Italian standards. However, those who want to experience authentic Dolce Vita in its purest form will find an unforgettable experience here. The best travel time is from May to October, with the high summer months of July and August being very crowded.