Portofino

Portofino

Portofino

will depart Genoa and travel by coach towards Santa Margherita Ligure, located approximately one hour’s drive to the south. Here, you will embark on a motor launch for the 15 minute cruise to reach the harbor town of Portofino across the bay. Through the centuries Portofino functioned primarily as a fishing village and, occasionally, as a small naval port. Today it is a upscale resort-village. Portofino's miniscule bay is neatly packed with pricey yachts, common pleasure boats and, as a vestige of its past, some fishing boats. The waterfront is lined with multicolored pastel buildings, canopied outdoor cafes and a quay perfect for strolling. The surrounding hills host bougainvillea-garnished villas owned by the rich and famous.

If you don't bring your camera to Portofino you will regret it. The town is striking with its brightly colored antique buildings hovering over sparkling blue water. And the surrounding luxuriant green hillsides of the Portofino Promontory are equally stunning.
A very pleasant walk heads up to the right as you face the harbor: here you will find a very attractive walking path through one of the largest concentrations of flora and fauna in the Mediterranean. For some fantastic views of the entire bay and the Tigullian Gulf, you will walk up the hill to the Church of San Giorgio. Perched high above the town, this church contains relics of St. George brought over by crusaders from the Holy Land. You will then have some free time before boarding the boat to return to Santa Margherita Ligure.

A beautiful old resort town favored by well-to-do Italians, Santa Margherita Ligure has everything a Riviera playground should have—plenty of palm trees and attractive hotels, cafés, and a marina packed with yachts. Some of the older buildings here are still decorated on the outside with the trompe l'oeil frescoes typical of this part of the Riviera. This is a pleasant, convenient base, which for many represents a perfect balance on the Italian Riviera: more spacious than the Cinque Terre; less glitzy than San Remo; more relaxing than Genoa and environs.
After some free time spent in town, you will board the coach to return to the port of Genoa one hour away.

Notes: Walking is over paved and cobblestone surfaces. In both towns there are inclines and/or steps required to reach some sites. In case of bad weather conditions, motor launches won’t operate and the transfer between Santa Margherita and Portofino will be run by local bus.

Inclusions

  • Guided tour along the Italian Riviera
  • Breathtaking views

Tips

Be sure to bring your camera.

Departure Location

At the cruise ship pier. The specific meeting location at the pier will be listed in your confirmation email and voucher for this shore excursion. See the 'Redemption and Voucher Details' section below.

Redemption and Voucher Details

  1. After you complete your booking, your credit card will be charged and our expert Shore Excursion Concierge agents will 'hand'-review your shore excursion selections against your cruise itinerary to confirm compatibility. Your credit card statement will list the merchant for the charges as Port Promo Cruise Tours.
  2. You will receive an email within 72 hours of booking from info@portpromotions.com which confirms your booking and contains the vouchers required for your shore excursions. Please print these vouchers and bring them with you on your cruise. You will be required to turn the voucher(s) in to the corresponding shore excursion supplier(s). The vouchers feature information regarding how to meet up with the tour leader upon arrival to a port and other important details.
  3. Your tour is completely refundable if your ship is unable to get into port or due to weather cancellations. See our terms and conditions for complete details.
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