Portofino Transportation

This is a small map for a better orientation.
You see the houses and the famous Portofino-bay on the left, and the yacht-port on the right on the map ( just under the Castle )
In the Yacht-port you will find a public toilet ( 0,50 € ) and even a public shower.

Great paths are leading to all important places of interest, like this road to the church of San Giorgio.
The roads in Portofino are mostly paved with cobbled stones and two tracks for the small transportation-vehicles.

Plenty of small boats can be seen in the bay and on the small beach of Portofino-bay.
I did not see any sign-posts about this , as it was out of season end of march 2003, but in summer I am sure plenty of tours will be offered to quiet bays with these small boats.

On the pic in the background : Castle Brown

In the centre of town and on the famous beach-promenade all sorts of cars are forbidden, except some of these local transport-vehicles for workers or hotels, that you will see in my photo here.
On the total Portofino is that way a paradise for pedestrians and families with children.

THIS seems to be the parking for the local people - it is back in a small valley leading to the main square.
I just took this pic, but did not check the signs...
According to my guide-books there is the MOST EXPENSIVE parking-house in Italy at the end of the public road to Portofino.
The trafic may be stuck at certain times in high season on the small roads leading to Portofino and you even have electronic infos on the road, telling you the approximate waitingtime before you may reach Portofino...

But I guess, you better take the ship !!!

To go to Portofino it is the best to take the ship, leaving on a regular timetable from San.Margherita Ligure, Rapallo or Camogli and that is the way that I got there in 2003.
The ship from S.Margherita was 6,- €uro and it took about 20minutes to arrive in Portofino.
The first ships in March left S.Margherita L. at 10:30 a.m. - the last ship back was leaving Portofino at 04.00 p.m.

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Boat ride from Santa Margherita Ligure to Portofino takes around 30 minutes of time, no more than that, and is very enjoyable. We sailed close to shore watching beautiful landscapes and attractive buildings and villas. All you can see around exudes luxury and wealth. This most certainly isn't an area where average people could afford to live.

The closest airport to Portofino is Genova some 40 km away. Many airlines including Alitalia operate to the airport. Best way to continue from the airport would be with a hired car since it gives one the opportunity to explore other parts of the Italian Riviera.