MOST INSTAGRAMMABLEDolce & Gabbana Beach Club
Cabana service in Paraggi Bay with majolica-print umbrellas.
DRESSED FOR THE DESTINATION
Portofino
A pastel harbor on the Italian Riviera — twelve curated moments, one editorial language.
Editorial Itinerary
Twelve Curated Moments in Portofino
From arrival to nightcap — twelve chapters of a single Portofino day, in the order you'll live them.
Arrival Day
Your first walk through the village, fresh from checking in at the Splendido above the harbor.
View Moment
Espresso Morning
A slow Italian morning that begins with espresso on the piazzetta.
View Moment
Exploring the Harbor
The climb to Castello Brown and the path to the lighthouse, through Portofino's hidden corners and colorful streets.
View Moment
Yacht Day
The crossing to San Fruttuoso — the abbey in a cove reachable only by boat or on foot — in effortless style.
View MomentBeach Club
A leisurely afternoon at Paraggi, the emerald cove where even Portofino comes to swim.
View Moment
Pool Lounging
An elegant afternoon by the Splendido's pool, above the bay, beneath striped umbrellas.
View Moment
Shopping
Browsing the boutiques of via Roma, from the piazzetta down to the water.
View Moment
Long Lunch
Trofie al pesto and a cold Vermentino at a harborside table, where time slows between courses.
View Moment
Harbor Aperitivo
Golden hour on the piazzetta, when the yachts come home and every table faces the harbor.
View Moment
Sunset Views
From the lighthouse path above the harbor, the coast glows as the sun drops into the Ligurian Sea.
View Moment
Riviera Dinner
Dinner beneath the harbor lights — the day's catch and a Ligurian white at the water's edge.
View Moment
Nightcap
One final cocktail on the piazzetta before the perfect day comes to a close.
View MomentThe Concierge
Plan Your Portofino Stay
The tables, beach clubs, boats, and reservations worth planning ahead.
BOOKABLE MOMENTS
MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE
Private Yacht Charter
Your own boat along the promontory — Portofino to Cinque Terre.
BOOK FIRST
INSIDER FAVORITESunset Cruise + Aperitivo
Golden hour along the Ligurian coast, prosecco in hand.
Private Driver Transfer
Black-car arrival from Genoa, Milan, or Nice — no parking, no stress.
Reserve Harbor Dinner
A candlelit table on the piazzetta — book weeks ahead.
WHERE TO STAY
ULTRA LUXURY
Splendido, A Belmond Hotel
A cliffside grande dame above the harbor — bougainvillea terraces, pastel-pink facade, and the most storied view on the Riviera.
Book This Stay →
HARBORFRONT
Splendido Mare
On the piazzetta itself. Wake to the boats, dine on the waterfront, walk everywhere that matters.
Book This Stay →
BOUTIQUE
Eight Hotel Portofino
Quietly chic, steps from the piazzetta — an intimate Italian retreat for travelers who want to live like a local.
Book This Stay →
ICONIC
Hotel Piccolo Portofino
An intimate seaside hideaway tucked into a private cove — sun-bleached terraces and turquoise water.
Book This Stay →INSIDER NOTES
- 01
Reserve beach clubs weeks ahead — Paraggi sells out by May.
- 02
Paraggi for beach time. Portofino for dinner.
- 03
Avoid driving into Portofino. Park in Santa Margherita or arrive by boat.
- 04
Wear flats after aperitivo — the cobblestones are unforgiving.
- 05
Dinner reservations matter more than spontaneity here.
- 06
Book boats before restaurants — captains fill up first.
- 07
Santa Margherita is easier for logistics, ten minutes by car.
- 08
The harbor empties after 10pm. That is when locals come out.
GETTING THERE
Black-car transfer from Genoa (45 min), Milan (2.5 hr), or Nice (3 hr). The most direct arrival.
Water taxi from Santa Margherita or Rapallo — the entrance the village was designed for.
Stay ten minutes away for easier logistics, then come into Portofino for lunch and dinner.
High-speed rail to Santa Margherita Ligure, then taxi or boat into the village.