Deciding where to stay in Portofino depends on budget, mobility and the type of trip. The village itself has very few accommodation options and all of them are high-end; most visitors in fact choose to stay in the neighbouring municipalities (Santa Margherita Ligure, Camogli, Rapallo) and reach Portofino by bus, ferry or on foot. This page lines up the real options, indicative price brackets and practical considerations on parking and transport.
Staying in the village of Portofino: luxury bracket
In Portofino village accommodation is very limited and all of it sits in the high or ultra-high bracket of the market. The best known are the Belmond Splendido, a historic hotel on the hill above the harbour, and the Belmond Splendido Mare, on the Piazzetta. Both are five-star, with seasonal rates that in July-August reach international-capital levels. Another option is the Eight Hotel Portofino, in Via del Fondaco. We cite these names purely for reference; we have no commercial agreements with any property and we recommend consulting the official websites and independent reviews for opening times, prices and availability.
Advantage of staying in the village: experiencing the village early in the morning and in the evening, once the day visitors have left, is a different experience from the daytime crowd. Main drawback: the prices, and the lack of mid-range or budget alternatives in the village itself.
Santa Margherita Ligure: the most rational choice
For most travellers the answer to where to stay in Portofino is in fact “Santa Margherita Ligure”. This municipality is around 5 km from Portofino, has a railway station on the Genoa-La Spezia line, is served by ATP bus 82 which reaches Portofino village in around 20 minutes, and hosts dozens of hotels across every bracket, alongside B&Bs and apartments to rent. It is the natural base camp for the Tigullio and for the headland.
Price brackets (indicative, strongly variable by season and category): 3-star hotels from around 90-130 euros per night in low season, 4-star 150-250 euros, 5-star and historic residences over 300 euros. For more information on the tourism offer you can consult the official tourism portal of the Region of Liguria.
Camogli: more character, closer to the ferry
Camogli is on the western side of the headland. It is a living fishing village, less touristed in high season than Santa Margherita, with the harbour from which the ferries to San Fruttuoso and Portofino leave. It suits anyone planning to explore the northern side of the Portofino regional park or to focus the trip on the San Fruttuoso abbey. The station is on the same Genoa-La Spezia line (Camogli-San Fruttuoso). Wide accommodation offer, prices on average slightly lower than Santa Margherita.
Rapallo: budget and connections
Rapallo is the largest town in the Tigullio (around 28,000 inhabitants), 8 km from Portofino. For those looking for more choice, more contained prices and services (supermarkets, pharmacies, 24/7 taxis), Rapallo is a solid base. Important railway station, Intercity train stop, ferries for the Tigullio and for the Cinque Terre in season. The drawback is the longer transfer time to Portofino village: train to Santa Margherita plus bus 82, or ferry in season.
Agriturismi and B&Bs in the hills
On the hills behind the headland (Ruta, Nozarego, Portofino Vetta, San Lorenzo della Costa) you find agriturismi, family B&Bs and rooms to let. These are interesting solutions for those travelling by car, looking for more contained prices and willing to come down to Portofino or Santa Margherita for dinner and visits. The cooking of the small local agriturismi is often a chance to taste home-style Ligurian cuisine (pansoti, focaccia with cheese, savoury tarts).
Parking: the reality of the village
No property in the village of Portofino offers free parking at sea level: the historic centre is in a ZTL from April onwards (in practice almost all year, with stricter rules in the warm months). The only paid municipal car park is at the entrance to the village (multi-storey “Fondaco” car park) and it is expensive and often full in high season. For guests of Portofino hotels, the property usually organises a transfer service or has agreements with the car park. For day visitors arriving by car the realistic solution is to leave the car in Santa Margherita Ligure and take bus 82, or to park in Camogli and take the ferry: details on connections on the how to get there page.
Trip types and recommended length
| Type of trip | Where to stay | Nights recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Honeymoon / special occasion | Portofino village (Splendido, Splendido Mare) | 2-3 |
| Couple, mid budget | Santa Margherita Ligure or Camogli | 3-4 |
| Family with children | Santa Margherita Ligure or Rapallo (beaches) | 4-5 |
| Trekking / park | Camogli, Ruta or agriturismi in the hills | 3-4 |
| Low budget | Rapallo or Tigullio inland | 3-5 |
Practical booking notes
- In July and August, book well in advance (January-March is the ideal moment for top properties).
- May, June and the first half of September are the best weather/price compromise.
- Always check the ZTL regime of the Municipality of Portofino on the municipal website before planning an arrival by car: the rules change by season.
- Properties in the hills are often not reachable on foot: you need a car or, in some cases, a shuttle service.
Apartments and short-term rentals
The offer of short-term apartment rentals in the Tigullio is wide but very uneven in quality. In Santa Margherita Ligure tourist apartments are concentrated in the historic centre and in the harbour area; in Camogli smaller options can be found in the upper part of the village and on Via Garibaldi; in Rapallo the offer is wider and includes studios and family one-bedroom flats. For those travelling in a group, apartments can be more economical than hotels; for stays of 1-2 nights the classic formulas often remain preferable for service and flexibility.
A practical consideration: apartments in the historic centre of Santa Margherita or Camogli are often on the first or second floor without a lift, with narrow stairs. For families with small children or elderly travellers, check at the booking stage.
Hostels, campsites and low-cost alternatives
The hostel-camping bracket in the Tigullio is limited. The nearest campsite to Portofino is at Sestri Levante (around 25 km). At Recco and Bogliasco there are some budget properties with shared rooms. For very budget-conscious travellers, the combination “stay in central Genoa + day trip to Portofino” is a realistic solution: in Genoa you can find hostels and B&Bs under 50 euros a night, and the train to Santa Margherita costs a few euros.
Long stays and villas
For stays of 7 days or more, weekly rentals (holiday homes, villas in the hills) become competitive with hotels. The local Tigullio agencies manage a stock of second homes for seasonal rental, particularly at Portofino Vetta, San Lorenzo della Costa, upper Camogli and in the inland hamlets such as Sant’Ambrogio and Ruta. Deciding where to stay in Portofino for a long stay also means assessing the availability of private parking and a properly equipped kitchen.