Liguria · Genova
Portofino
Three hundred and fifty-five residents, the smallest municipal territory in the metropolitan area, and the harbor every superyacht in the Mediterranean wants to anchor in.
Known for
THE HARBOR
Horseshoe port with painted Genoese facades, the most photographed marina in Liguria and the anchorage for the summer superyacht fleet.
PORTOFINO PARK
The entire commune sits inside the regional park, with footpaths to San Fruttuoso abbey accessible only on foot or by boat.
355 RESIDENTS
Smallest municipal territory in the Genova metropolitan area and a year-round population that fits the harbor square at off-season.
When to visit
Best · Apr–Oct
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Best
- Hot or crowded
- Quiet
- Mostly closed
The festa: San Giorgio, 23 April
Why come
Portofino occupies the smallest municipal territory in the Metropolitan City of Genova, 355 residents on a horseshoe harbor on the southern tip of the Portofino headland. The whole commune sits inside the Portofino Regional Natural Park and the Portofino Protected Marine Area. Roman fortification stood on the hill above the harbor; the medieval Genoese fort took the name Castello di San Giorgio, was later renamed Castello Brown after the British consul who bought it in 1867.
British and then northern European aristocrats discovered the village in the late nineteenth century. Aubrey Herbert and Elizabeth von Arnim were among the early regulars. By 1950 tourism had replaced fishing as the main industry.
The Chiesa di San Giorgio, first built in 1154 and destroyed by a wartime bomb, was rebuilt in 1950 on the 1760 plans. The painted facades around the harbor are the photograph everyone takes. The footpaths into the park behind the village are the reason to stay longer than the cruise day-trippers.
What to see
Castello Brown
Genoese coastal fort raised over a Roman site, renamed in 1867 after British consul Montague Yeats Brown, now a historic house museum above the harbor.
Chiesa di San Giorgio
Church first built in 1154, destroyed in Second World War bombing, rebuilt in 1950 on 1760 plans, on the path up to Castello Brown.
Faro di Portofino
Lighthouse at the tip of the Portofino headland, walking distance from the harbor along the Punta del Capo coastal path.
Parco Regionale di Portofino
Regional natural park covering the headland with footpaths to San Fruttuoso abbey, Camogli, and Santa Margherita Ligure.
Piazzetta
Small harbor square at the head of the port, painted Genoese facades framing the working dock and the most photographed view in coastal Liguria.
The slow-trip planner
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We recommend
Where to eat and stay
Not our picks, but places the guides put their name to — a Michelin star, a Gambero Rosso fork, a Slow Food snail, a Michelin Key for the hotels. Worth a table, a counter, or a night when you pass through.
DaV MareRistorante
DaV Mare holds two Gambero Rosso forks (85/100) and a spot in the Michelin Guide.
Cracco PortofinoRistorante
One Michelin star, at Cracco Portofino.
Piazzetta di Portofino
A place on Italy's historic-locali register, at Piazzetta di Portofino.
Splendido Mare, A Belmond Hotel, PortofinoHotel
Splendido Mare, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino has one Michelin Key and a La Liste score of 92.5.
Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, PortofinoHotel
Two Michelin Keys for Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino, and a La Liste score of 90.5.
Eight Hotel ParaggiHotel
Eight Hotel Paraggi has a place in the Michelin hotel guide to its name.
Eight Hotel PortofinoHotel
Eight Hotel Portofino carries a place in the Michelin hotel guide.
The Sunday letter
Portofino got its letter. One town every Sunday, free — the photo, the food, the festa.
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Living here
- Population 355
- In-betweeni
- Pharmacy in town
- Nearest high school over ~30 minutes away
- Nearest airport Genoa, 1 h 28 min drive
- Regional capital Genova, 1 h 18 min drive
Tags & datadesignations · numbers · sources
Recognised as
The numbers
- Elevation: 3 m
- Population: 355
- Surface area: 2.53 km²
These figures were compiled from public directories — ISTAT, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata — and from the official listings of the guides named on this page. Town details change; verify with official sources before you travel.
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