Portofino, the jewel of the Italian Riviera, blends sun-soaked glamour with postcard-perfect harbour views. Known for its yachts, pastel facades, and effortless la dolce vita, it’s a dream spot for travellers seeking style and charm. While its luxury waterfront hotels cater to those chasing indulgence, tucked-away hillside villas offer quieter elegance. For family-friendly stays, look towards nearby Santa Margherita Ligure, while beach lovers will adore the boutique hideaways by Paraggi Bay. Whatever your style, Portofino has a bed with a view waiting.

Portofino may have long outgrown its fishing village roots, but it still feels like a postcard brought to life — a graceful crescent of pastel villas gathered around a glittering bay. Life here moves at an unhurried pace, perfect for honeymooners, style-seekers, or anyone craving a sun-soaked escape. The town itself is really just the Piazzetta, gazing out at the yachts, with a little church and a castle tucked into the hillside greenery, but the real charm is in lingering over an aperitivo and watching the world glide by. If you tire of lounging, fine dining, and browsing designer boutiques (it happens, apparently), you can hop on a ferry, rent a boat, or join the lucky few who arrived on their own yacht. Either way, Portofino is less about ticking off sights and more about sinking into its effortless glamour.

The Best Places to Stay in Portofino

For Quintessential Portofino

• Perched above Portofino Harbour, Hotel Splendido fuses grand villa elegance with five-star luxury, offering sweeping Ligurian Sea views, arched balconies, and lush gardens. Three refined restaurants spotlight regional Italian cuisine, alongside a chic sunset bar, while a world-class spa and health club ensure pure indulgence.

For a Romantic Escape

• Hotel Eight transforms a former Ligurian farmhouse into a chic 17-room escape with modern comforts, elegant interiors, and garden hot tub. Breakfast is served daily, and local restaurants lie within an easy, scenic stroll. An intimate escape, perfect for couples.
• Set in a private bay near Portofino, Eight Hotel Paraggi blends romantic Ligurian villa charm with modern style across just 13 rooms. Suites offer hot tubs and sea views, while beachside dining—candlelit or casual—serves superb Italian cuisine. Adjoining rooms make it family-friendly.

For Luxury

• Commanding views of Santa Margherita Harbour, Imperiale Palace Hotel offers 89 rooms rich with frescoes, chandeliers, and parquet floors. A spa, pool, restaurant, and bar deliver five-star indulgence, while its family-friendly atmosphere ensures all ages feel at home.
• Splendido Mare, A Belmond Hotel- Perched above Portofino’s glittering harbour, this legendary hideaway pairs 1950s glamour with nautical chic. Indulge in world-class dining, unwind in the spa, and soak in Riviera beauty from serene terraces that whisper timeless Italian elegance.

For Great Value

• Surrounded by greenery and coastal views, Hotel Piccolo's 22 rooms blend period charm with sleek monochrome minimalism. Guests enjoy terrace breakfasts, seafood-focused Ligurian dining, and a romantic, tranquil atmosphere perfect for unwinding by the sea. A very affordable base.

For a private apartment or villa

• If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private villa we recommend you visit our online partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• Portofino’s closest international airport is Genoa’s Christopher Columbus Airport, which is about 40 minutes away by car or taxi, and just shy of two hours on the train. Milan’s Linate Airport is about two hours away from Portofino by car or four hours on the train, while Milan Malpensa Airport and Bergamo Airport are more like two and a half hours drive, or about four hours on the train. Portofino doesn’t have its own station, you have to catch a shuttle from Santa Margherita Station. There’s very limited parking in Portofino, and you have to pay premium prices for it, so bear these challenges in mind when planning your journey. One option might be to use the ferry — which also benefits from spectacular views — from Rapallo or Santa Margherita.
• If you plan to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner Rentalcars.
• Portofino is the sort of place where some of the boutiques, bars and restaurants shut up for the winter, so most visitors opt to come between Easter and the end of October. You can find out of season deals if you’re a serious fan, or want to visit the Cinque Terre outside of the summer seasons, but many of Portofino’s charms are tied up with sunshine and warm seas.

Still not sure?

• You could expand your search to include all our recommendations for the best places to stay in Liguria or in Rapallo.
• Alternatively, you could explore Cinque Terre’s towns or La Spezia.
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.