Genoa to Portofino Boat Tour

"The genoa to portofino boat tour left in the early morning and the sea was still flat as a mirror past Camogli. Our skipper cut the engine near the cliffs of the marine reserve so we could hear nothing but gulls, and the water below was so clear you could pick out the seabed. Bring a light jacket, the wind on the open deck is cooler than the town suggests."

"We came for Portofino and ended up more taken by the stretch of coast before it, all pine trees dropping straight into the sea. Passing San Fruttuoso from the water gives you a view of the abbey you simply cannot get on foot. Two hours went quickly and nobody on board was checking their phone."

"Booked the afternoon Portofino boat trip so we would arrive as the sun dropped behind the promontory, and the pastel houses around the Piazzetta turned almost orange. The skipper slowed on approach so everyone could photograph the harbour before we moored. Practical note: the stone quay is uneven, wear something with grip."

"The gita in barca a Portofino was well run and the crew explained the villas and the Castello Brown as we passed. My only reservation is that the boat was fairly small and the swell on the return leg was noticeable for anyone prone to seasickness. Sit toward the middle if that is a concern."

"Sailing out of Genoa past the Lanterna and then along the Ligurian Riviera coast is a slow reveal — the industrial port gives way to cliffs and umbrella pines within twenty minutes. We had genoa to portofino boat tour tickets for the mid-morning run and there was still shade on the deck. The smell of the pines carries out over the water, which surprised me."

"Skipped the coastal drive entirely and I would do it again. The genoa to portofino boat tour tour gave us an hour and a half of open water with the Portofino Marine Protected Area cliffs on one side, then dropped us right at the harbour steps. March meant a colder wind but far fewer people at the Piazzetta."

"Two hours ashore was the right amount to walk up to the church of San Giorgio, look down over the bay, and still have a coffee by the quay. The Genoa coastline tour on the way back had the light behind us and the whole stretch of shore glowing. Bring water, the walk up from the harbour is steeper than it appears."

"We took one of the genoa to portofino boat tour tours out of season and had maybe twelve people on board. The sea was choppier and the sky grey until it cleared near the promontory, and the Ligurian coast in winter has a stark quality I liked. Layers are non-negotiable in January."

"Late autumn crossing with a decent swell and a crew who clearly knew the coast — they pointed out Punta Chiappa and the abbey without turning it into a lecture. The harbour at Portofino was quiet enough that we could actually see the fishing boats rather than the crowds. Deck seating fills up first, so board early."

"The stretch between Camogli and the promontory is where this trip earns itself, with the rock face falling straight into blue and small coves you would never reach by road. Our skipper anchored briefly so people could take photos of the cliffside. A genoa to portofino boat tour is the only way I would approach that coast again."