Day trips from Portofino at a glance
Portofino has no main-line station, so every trip starts in Santa Margherita Ligure, or by boat from the Tigullio coast. From the station you reach La Spezia for the Cinque Terre in about 1 hour 20 minutes, Genoa in 40 to 49 minutes, and Camogli by boat.
The Cinque Terre are a destination of their own, and they are not part of Portofino. Plan a full day for them. Genoa and Camogli fit into half a day.
Our picks: day trips from the Riviera
The Cinque Terre day is the classic full day out, and the two Genoa trips suit visitors arriving from there. Both Genoa trips start in Genoa, not Portofino.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Cinque Terre guided day trip
- Cinque Terre card
- Park entrance
- Local expert guide
Eight and a half hours with a local expert and free time in Vernazza, Monterosso and Manarola. The train ticket to reach the park is not included.
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From Milan: Genoa and a boat cruise to Portofino
- Bus from Milan to Genoa
- Tour leader
- Boat to Portofino
A 12-hour day that starts in Milan, with a bus to Genoa, a tour leader and a boat to Portofino. Food and drinks are on you.
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From the Genoa cruise terminal: Portofino with a boat ride
- Private transport
- Focaccia tasting
- Landing and facility fees
A day that starts in Genoa, with private transport, a bilingual tour leader, a focaccia tasting and audio headsets. Landing and facility fees are included.
Check availability →Day trips from Portofino
Cinque Terre, Genoa and Riviera day tours and boat trips, with live prices and availability.
Day trips compared
Examples from the 2026 timetables and fares.
| Trip | How | Time | Cost (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinque Terre | Train via La Spezia | 1 h 21 min to La Spezia, 07:59 departure | Card from €17.30 to €35 for adults |
| Cinque Terre | Boat from Santa Margherita or Rapallo | – | €47 return |
| Genoa | Train | 40 min from Brignole, 49 min from Principe | – |
| Genoa | Day cruise on set dates | 10:45 from Genoa, back at 15:45 | €29 adult |
| Camogli | Train, then boat on to San Fruttuoso | About 30 minutes by boat | €17 return to San Fruttuoso |
For most visitors, the train is the simplest way to the Cinque Terre, and a boat from the Genoa side fits a relaxed day in Portofino.
Cinque Terre
By train or by boat.
The regional train at 07:59 from Santa Margherita reaches La Spezia at 09:20. That is the base for the villages, so check the timetable for the hops between them. The Cinque Terre Card Treno for 2026 has dated price levels. An adult day card costs €22, €29.50 or €35 from 14 March to 1 November 2026, and €17.30 from 2 November to 31 December 2026.
The boat price for the Super 5 Terre is €47 return from Santa Margherita or Rapallo. That does not mean a boat leaves Portofino for the Cinque Terre, and it does not run daily all year. A card is not automatically a ticket from Santa Margherita, so check what it covers.
Genoa
A city trip on the same line.
The coastal railway makes Genoa an easy day. A regional train leaves Genova Brignole at 06:32 and reaches Santa Margherita at 07:12, in 40 minutes. Genova Principe gives 49 minutes. Use these as examples and not as the time of every train, since rail works can change a day.
A day cruise also runs from Genoa on set calendar days in 2026. It leaves the Molo dell'Acquario at 10:45, reaches Portofino around 12:15, leaves at 14:15 and is back in Genoa at 15:45. An adult pays €29 and a child aged 5 to 14 pays €18. Children aged 0 to 4 pay €1. Booking is required, and you are asked to be at the pier 30 minutes before departure. This trip makes no stop at San Fruttuoso.
Camogli and San Fruttuoso
The shortest trip on this list.
Camogli is a short train ride away and has its own harbour. From there a boat runs to Punta Chiappa and San Fruttuoso. An adult return to San Fruttuoso costs €17 in 2026, and the abbey charges €10 on top. Details are in the Camogli guide.
Day trips from Portofino: frequently asked questions
Can I visit the Cinque Terre as a day trip from Portofino?
Yes, but it is a full day. An example train leaves Santa Margherita at 07:59 and reaches La Spezia at 09:20.
Is there a ferry from Portofino to the Cinque Terre?
Plan on the boat from Santa Margherita or Rapallo, at €47 return in 2026. It does not run every day of the year, and it does not leave from Portofino itself.
How far is Genoa?
By train 40 minutes from Genova Brignole to Santa Margherita in the example above. Add the bus, boat or walk to Portofino.
What does the Cinque Terre Card cost?
The adult day card costs €22, €29.50 or €35 from 14 March to 1 November 2026, and €17.30 from 2 November to 31 December 2026.
Which trip suits a short day?
Camogli with the boat to San Fruttuoso. The abbey stays closed when boats stop in bad weather.