Choosing where to stay near Portofino
The village is small, and the main question is not which hotel but which town. Each base has a different link to trains, buses and boats. This page compares the locations.
Portofino itself is a pedestrian area. Cars are allowed only for people with permission, so you arrive with your luggage on foot from the bus or the public car park. Santa Margherita Ligure has the nearest station and a direct bus. Camogli has a station and its own boat to San Fruttuoso. Rapallo is another departure point for boats. Read how to get to Portofino before you decide.
Our pick: a half-day boat tour from Rapallo
If you stay in Rapallo or nearby, the boat leaves from the Marconi roundabout, so the trip is easy to add.
Hand-picked tours, booked through 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.
Portofino tours to book on your stay
Boat trips, walks and Riviera day tours with live prices and availability. Check the meeting point against where you sleep.
Village, Santa Margherita or Camogli
Four bases compared by what each one gives you for getting around.
| Portofino village | Santa Margherita Ligure | Camogli | Rapallo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station | – | Yes, rail stop for Portofino | Yes | Check the timetable |
| To Portofino | You are there | Bus 782, boat or a walk of about 1 h 20 min | Train, then onward by bus or boat | Boat via Santa Margherita |
| Boat to San Fruttuoso | Boat from Portofino | Boat via Portofino | Own line from Camogli | Boat via Portofino |
For most visitors, Santa Margherita is the practical base: station, bus and boat in one place, and Portofino a short ride away. Choose the village itself if you want the evenings and the early morning when day visitors are gone.
What each base is like
Portofino village
You stay in the pedestrian center around the harbour and the Piazzetta. Plan the last stretch with luggage on foot, and expect the quietest hours before and after the day visitors.
Things to do →Santa Margherita Ligure
A town on the same gulf with the nearest station for Portofino, the 782 bus and a harbour. It suits trips by train along the coast, including Genoa and the Cinque Terre.
Santa Margherita Ligure →Camogli
A harbour town with a station and its own boat line to Punta Chiappa and San Fruttuoso. Good if the abbey is your main goal.
Camogli →Rapallo
Another departure point for boats: Rapallo via Santa Margherita to Portofino costs €22 return (2026).
Boat tours →Tourist tax in 2026
Many towns on the coast charge a tourist tax per person and night, usually added to your bill.
- Santa Margherita Ligure, from 1 January 2026: hotels pay €1 (1 star), €2 (2 stars), €3 (3 stars), €4 (4 stars) and €5 (5 stars) per person and night. Tourist hotel residences with 3, 4 and 5 stars pay €3, €4 and €5.
- Rapallo: hotels pay €1, €1.50, €2.50, €4 and €5 for 1 to 5 stars, B&Bs €2 and short-term rentals €2.50 per person and night.
- Portofino and Camogli: ask your accommodation for the current rate when you book.
Your host can tell you which rate applies to your stay.
Where to stay near Portofino: frequently asked questions
Is it better to stay in Portofino or Santa Margherita?
Santa Margherita is easier for transport, with the station, the bus and boats. The village is quieter in the evening. Pick by how you plan to move around.
Can I arrive in Portofino by car?
The center is a pedestrian area for people with permission. There is a paid covered public car park on Piazza Martiri della Libertà, open 24 hours. A traffic filter on the SP 227 road applies from 14 March to 1 November 2026.
Which town is best for San Fruttuoso?
Camogli has its own boat line to San Fruttuoso. From Santa Margherita or Rapallo you go via Portofino.
Do I pay a tourist tax?
Most likely yes, per person and night. Santa Margherita charges €1 to €5 for hotels from 1 January 2026. Ask your accommodation about the rate in Portofino or Camogli.
Are there holiday apartments?
Yes, in the towns on the coast. Tax rates for them differ by town, so ask the host before you book.