IS PORTOFINO WORTH THE HYPE? Italian Riviera's Most Infamous Town

The town of Portofino is known for its glamour. This small fishing village in the Italian Riviera is packed with expensive restaurants, designer shops, and lots of tourists. But is it worth the hype? Let's find out.
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[@babyknabe1]

Portofino has a more exciting vibe in summer naturally... more people and more restaurants open. What makes the town so attractive to tourists is the Hotel Splendido. It is wonderful and the view and the atmosphere is why many people love Portofino. What they're really saying is... that they love Hotel Splendido. But, it's a splurge hotel and worth it.

[@ruttolomeo1987]

Been there last summer for work. Fell in love with a local, had the time of my life, then she dumped me and broke my heart. Watched your video to see if I could spot her. I didn’t. I’ll never be back.

[@logechi3661]

Where are you from?

[@bluewhale2600]

😮😢

[@ruttolomeo1987]

@@logechi3661 2 hours driving further north

[@logechi3661]

@@ruttolomeo1987 ah ma allora italiano

[@katarzynamariamuszynska2811]

Well it was holiday affair

[@kimberlylewis3130]

Love your videos! Thanks for sharing! I'm trying to put together our itinerary and keep adding things after watching your videos! :)

[@marioricher6934]

Thanks a lot Laura for sharing your great pics and clips and your advices 😉

[@j.merkel2313]

Thanks for the info regarding prices and travel times, that's so helpful

[@ramonlicha3881]

Laura as always thanks for sharing this beautiful place. The views and the relaxing is amazing, Safe travels. We will put on our bucket list.

[@laura-bronner]

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I'm so glad you enjoy the videos :)

[@soniapawlowska4940]

thank you for the video Laura! I just came back from a day trip to Portofino and must say it's definitely worth a day trip as you mentioned, also- one additional info to share: there is a tiny pebble beach when you are going back from the lighthouse, instead of turning to the path back to castello brown one has to turn into a path going next to a fence, quite steep downwards. It's really lovely for a quick swim

[@johncassani7804]

Thank you for the informative video! I am planning a trip in September to Genoa and trying to map out where to go from there. Your videos are very helpful and I'm so glad I found it!

[@NomadShifu]

Portofino is a picturesque fishing village with multicolored houses facing a harbor with crystalline green water. It became famous for its “Dolce Vita”; in fact, many actors, actresses, pop stars, and rich nobles began to frequent it for its sunsets, breathtaking views, and exclusive parties

[@daveabhishek]

Hey Laura. Thanks for the wonderful videos on Italian Riviera. We did a day trip from Milan to Santa Margherita Ligure then on the bus to Portofino a ferry to Rapallo and back to Milan. It was super easy and so much fun, thanks to your videos. Really worth a visit. Thanks again.

[@maryddd3546]

thanks for taking us with you, really enjoying your Italian videos

[@laura-bronner]

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you are enjoying the videos :)

[@joannedegraaff]

thanks Laura for your honest and helpful tour - we are tossing between Como or this area on our family trip this summer! You made it feel worth the visit! It was like following a good friend around!

[@laura-bronner]

What a compliment thank you so much! I’m glad you found it helpful! This whole peninsula is worth visiting - be sure to spend some time in Santa Margherita Ligure and Camogli and take a boat to San Fruttuoso! Enjoy ☺️

[@itsmetaran]

Very serene & picturesque. Thanks for sharing.

[@williamh.schmidtjr.7614]

Very nice series of videos. Thank you for sharing your time in Italy

[@laura-bronner]

Thank you so much, I'm glad you are enjoying the Italy series!

[@royfeely7145]

In between Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino is a wonderful bay called Paraggi. Stunning beach and the colours that seem to glow on a sunny day are something else.

[@Charityprincess]

Yes I loved it there.. many years ago I was there.....Thanks for sharing your beautiful video!

[@paolazuffinetti]

Congratulations on this enchanting documentary, guided tour, information of Portofino! I felt I was really walking here! Well done, great job! 👌👏👍

[@darraghkelly1121]

Thank you for these Italian videos. At the moment I 'm travelling around Tuscany but I'm taking inspiration from your journey along the Italian Riviera. Seriously thinking of going to Genoa next to follow the route you've been taking. Grazie mille!

[@amadervlogs1.132]

in advance welcome to genova🇮🇹

[@laura-bronner]

I highly recommend it! It's such a beautiful place!! Enjoy your time in Tuscany :)

[@dangsterfnu3747]

Thanks Laura! We'll be there in mid April.

[@marje8249]

Beautiful .That little beach all to yourself 😊 I definitely go out of season now.

[@dashago1314]

thank u for this usefull innformation

[@lynneshrode2927]

Reminds me of Positano and the Amalfi Coast in many ways. Beautiful. Love your videos.

[@laura-bronner]

Thanks so much! I'm headed to the Amalfi Coast later this year, so it will be interesting to compare the two!

[@thomasrichmond2413]

Great video! We were there in November and did the same as you. Stayed in Rapallo then drove to Portofino for Sunday brunch then back to Rapallo for a train to Cinque Terre. Can’t wait to see where you go next.

[@laura-bronner]

A very similar itinerary! I'm sure you can guess the next video!

[@Bombolaninetynine]

Close to Cinque Terre and La Spezia, there are many nice villages, check them out when you have the occasion. Lerici, Tellaro, Montemarcello and then a beautiful little historicalcity: Sarzana.

[@tanderalone]

Thanks for this, ❤

[@JackSmith-lv5lq]

100% agree. Nicely done

[@annebolduc6395]

Great video Thanks :))

[@stefaniamirri1112]

Portofino is a yatches retreat in Summer, ppl comes to eat at the restaurants from the boats and eventually they do some shopping, attend exclusive parties in the villas on the hills around, but for normal people it isnt anything really more than a place where eventually you could spot VIPs, but not really to stay there for the length of an holiday

[@Luigi-uj5ml]

On the way out or back I suggest setting sail or landing in Camogli, possibly with a stop for lunch at Punta Chiappa. The TIGULLIO MARITIME SERVICE tickets from Camogli or from Punta Chiappa to Portofino are also valid from San Fruttuoso on the steamers of the Tigullio Maritime Service Consortium, Piazza Mazzini 33 A, 16038 Santa Margherita Ligure

[@athiwanhustead3104]

I am enjoying your videos while researching for day trips from Genoa. Do you know if the ferries between towns run in late February? Thank you!

[@funforsum]

One of my favorite places I’ve ever visited

[@heatherraab4982]

I went last July and took the ferry from Santa Margherita Ligure and took the bus back and did exactly the same things as you! I visited the bar at the lighthouse, the same little beach and I went swimming, stopped in a couple shops, and headed back. I agree with everything you said.

[@bugsbane]

Well done Laura! Fave parts were: 1) when you said: "What's the big deal?" - which is exactly what I was asking myself. and you answered it well. 2) when you walked to that small lonely beach for lunch - my heart melted. - truly I'd've spent a lot more time just on that beach. did anyone come while you were there or did you have the beach to yourself? -also - did you see any celebrities? - it looks like a great place for celebrity look-alikes to hang around.

[@gabittoyt]

😊..

[@Lauralaey5]

I love the show!!!

[@2wheelsehrolling894]

I slept in the parking lot. V W. December 1970.

[@patriciof4406]

Laura, wow, we are visiting cinque terra, seeing your video, was a sobering info, we were thinking in walking, but we are a bit old, to do that, Train it is. thank much love.

[@jeanetteberesford5028]

Went there on a day trip in 2012 never forgotten where the rich and famous have walked x thank you

[@lexm9416]

4 Euro's for a coffee isn't too bad - we paid 22 Euros in July 2022 for a diet coke and a small beer - loved the place though, well worth a visit.

[@cynthiasutcliffe673]

Mid September Portofino was packed by 11 a.m. drink prices were double and the buses were jammed. Definitely over-hyped.

[@judit1783]

I love the family run hotels and B&Bs in Positano. The grocery store on the top roads, near the bus stop, offer to-go food for hikes, to take to room or to sit on the wall and eat. The pottery artist displayed in stores further away from beach are great.

[@laura-bronner]

I should have explored up into the hills more, but I wanted to save my legs for hiking I was going to be doing the next day.

[@Luigi-uj5ml]

The Portofino Pass, showing at minute 2:09, mandatory for non-residents, is valid for a single journey from Santa Margherita to Portofino or vice versa with line 782 (ex 82) and until the time limit expires (75 minutes ) now also in the tariff zones of Recco, Rapallo, Ruta, Zoagli and Camogli. The current price is now €3.50. It is a special ticket similar to the railway tickets for the 5 Terre or within them. This too, like that for the 782 car line, does not allow intermediate stops. If you are found traveling on the 5 Terre trains with tickets stamped to travel with a previous train, the fine starts from a minimum of €50.00 plus the price of a new ticket to go where you need to go. Failure to stamp paper tickets with legible date and time also entails a hefty fine

[@john-juanmartinez9398]

Thank you ,very much .

[@enricocurcio1610]

I don't know how i found your channel, but i'm glad i did, i already watched 10 videos, all the way from italy and france and Lithuania, A MAI ZING, just subscribed, i think you should go back to France, and visit nice and Monaco

[@laura-bronner]

Thanks so much, so glad you are enjoying the videos! I would love to go back to the south of France - I'm thinking next winter (maybe Jan/Feb 2023) to escape the winters again and see this region!

[@enricocurcio1610]

@@laura-bronner Escape the winter here in Brazil, you won't regret it

[@ozmunky]

Another mad Portofino story (true I was there) -- at the Delfino restaurant, there was a senior lady having lunch there (2013) and the owners said it was Andrea Bocelli's mother and she is there most days. We said hello to her. Bravo.

[@philipde]

I live in Santa , you did a nice job with this video. Next time go deeper into Santa and Rapallo

[@laura-bronner]

I will definitely be back, it's such a magical place!

[@ozmunky]

Legend has it that when Madonna was staying at the Splendido (on the hill), the Chef sent one of the cooks down to the rocks with a rod & reel to catch a fish -- sounds like a hairy yarn to me, but I love it ... Lol 😁

[@laura-bronner]

haha lots of interesting stories!

[@judit1783]

I was thinking, you need to rent a car because Italy has loads of Artist houses where they have shops but they are not in town locations. Plus farm stays and vineyard stays are an experience to have in Italy, some offer a cooking class too.

[@Bombolaninetynine]

We rented a car and we visited many little villages between Liguria and Tuscany: Lerici,Tellaro, Montemarcello ,Bocca Di Magra ( with a beautiful view of Apuane Mountains),Sarzana, Fosdinovo and Pietrasanta are just few of them. we really had great time

[@EmEpsilon]

What a nice combination of experience sharing with you in video and voice over for more knowledge sharing. Quality talks 💃🫠

[@KPLifewithTravel]

Something different nice video , I like your vlog style it’s good 👍 , I’m also solo travel vlogger and creating travel tourism videos. You traveled many countries and it’s amazing 🙏

[@bill6698]

I would vote for staying in Santa Margherita(Hotel Internazionale)...much more cvilized...I was in Portofino in late March...not impressed, regardless of it being shoulder season. SM is much more real once you're away from the more touristy areas. A beautiful area to visit, and the walk to Portofino is a good one.

[@CB-jq7fe]

Cool!

[@roseg.4354]

Hermoso lugar ❤

[@nightrider3314]

Very beautiful town

[@ozmunky]

Was wondering when you were gonna post from there -- the home of the €10 cappucino

[@laura-bronner]

😂

[@debbiedaniel9774]

Thank you for your video, Laura! I recently discovered your channel and have been following along as you explore Liguria! We will be staying in Camogli in May and wish to spend half day visiting Portofino and Santa Margheritta. Hiking appears slightly too ambitious. Is that enough time to see sights and would it be easy to book ferry / bus? Thank you in advance for sharing your recommendations!

[@steverardo3923]

Grande Laura se vuoi fare un altro tour in Genova call me! 🙂🙂🙂 thanks for the good job that you do

[@steverardo3923]

I can show to you some secret place like villa Pallavicini in Pegli, and the best street food Gran Ristoro sotto ripa historic center Genova, Grazieeeeeeee have a nice trip.

[@laura-bronner]

Sounds like fun!

[@steverardo3923]

Good sunny day, Laura, I m really interesting to show to you my town , l like your smile 😄one more time thanks.

[@tanderalone]

I love the way you say margarita ligure lol

[@epp]

I just have missed it if it was mentioned, but what month was this?

[@Jeffybonbon]

I think its worth a visit by boat but i am not sure i would wish to stay there for days great video

[@ronaldus2505]

Could you please say recafinated and Portofino a few thousand times? I would sleep excellent on it. Thank you:)

[@imneverwrongsometimestruthlies]

There's a place like this in India called lavasa..it's good too

[@alnobreyd]

My Mom Went and said she loves it

[@kurdtLycan]

You seem very deliberate. I like it.

[@olgasampis9745]

Some friends just W͏e͏n͏tworth there, and the hike around Portofino, was closed

[@lixian0072000]

can you use credit card for the bus ticket vendoring machine?

[@gsgregoryphotography]

Nice video, however saying that you wouldn’t stay longer than you did isn’t fair when you haven’t experienced the sunrise or the atmosphere in the evening.

[@ululc3127]

nice

[@natasha123309]

The name is more than what it actually is. It is just like the other small towns or villages in the area. As far as communication goes it was horrible. They had a bus running every 45 min or more and it was packed. The busses were small and could only keep about 30-40 people the most. People were packed in the bus like sardines. There were so many people waiting for the bus and it was always full. So disorganized. If they want tourists to go there they got to take care of the transportation cause we spend our money there and it is not cheap. So crowded and not worth it. We were so surprised when we saw how that was managed by the local transportation company. Even the taxis were so hard to get. The line waiting for a taxi was insane.

[@gabittoyt]

Caracas ha un clima invidiabile penso alla Isla margarita Venezuela ❤

[@gabittoyt]

Condivido ma il mare che mi ha dato la sensazione di essere in paradiso terrestre Los Roques poi Isla margarita Venezuela

[@ibelsisperez963]

Is there any way to get to the Castle than hiking?

[@yarobshakir8780]

Didn't see portofino,we were well informed about the transport system,is this a transport information channel or a tour one ,I am bit confused 🤔

[@rohandante]

Inspiration for Lavasa.

[@kidiangatshiunza9942]

Do you have someone walking with you and filming while you are talking? If not, are you using the phone to film?

[@khm2917]

Sorry but didn’t catch it, what month did you visit Portofino ? Is it worth it to visit in March?

[@RiteshSahu-bf1ir]

I suggest, you will visit lawasa city of India 🇮🇳

[@andreachiantore2027]

[@laura-bronner]

Oh good me too!!

[@kurdtLycan]

Are you Italian or American? I can't tell. Great video btw

[@didinch8771]

❤️❤️❤️

[@DavidS-ox3li]

The village looks kind of run- down when it’s not gloriously sunny out.

[@rd7022]

Any idea how to get to Portofino from Cinque Terre, is it a combination of train and ferry ? Any tips will be helpful 11:16

[@EmEpsilon]

From La Spezia you can take the train but it is not Cinque Terre, or also that train’s end station is Levanto, you can take from there as well I guess

[@LeticiaVicario]

🌊💙

[@gabittoyt]

Dovrò parlare i. Italiano

[@gabittoyt]

Sono Naty in Italia la mi seconda casa e in Venezuela

[@kopynd1]

does Lawrence Lawrenson still live there micheal caine

[@ombra306]

CHE bel naso rosso!

[@PierooriginalItaly]

😉👍

[@valwas6581]

Hi Laura, no offence: Ligure has the accent on the i = Li'gure. But I forgive you because : 1. you may have been mislead by the fact that Liguria (the name of the region) has the accent on the u = Ligu'ria and 2. because your video is very very well produced, also the music is appropriate and you capture the essence of this small little gem in full. Brava!! Love from UK

[@storres1368]

🥂🥂❤️

[@gabittoyt]

La bellezza di un paese Ospitale la gente è amabile e trabajadora

[@bilalotman2984]

انت جميلة انا امل المغرب

[@gabittoyt]

Visitate l arcipelago naturale del Venezuela UNESCO patrimonio culturale Los Roques

[@gabittoyt]

Cosa vuoi che ti dica

[@eugenm]

But why is this town "infamous" ? This is what you wrote in the title.

[@theartesana]

Did you change the name of the channel? What happened?

[@laura-bronner]

I changed the channel name back at the start of January :) You can check out that video here if you're interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXzEYaKcibKDr7s

[@gabittoyt]

La spiaggia y è orribile preferisco la Sardegna a Torre dei corsari o detta anche di flumentorgiu Arena di barriera corallina 🌹

[@meoliau]

I thought this review lacked vibe and made the presentation boring. What you saw was one of the most beautiful town in Italy and the coastline is unbelievable. Instead of taking the bus consider walking from Santa Margherita to Portofino. 40 minutes of heaven. The presentation was so blah!!! Not good in my view!

[@andreamancio4696]

Love your videos :) . Just a tip: before saying whatever thing in italian listen in google how to pronounce it (your accent is quite funny and something not the best 😅)

[@gabittoyt]

Egitto Urgada e y mi sono più ma a volte dal caldo al freddo questo lo fa il paese Veneo Colonia Tovar

[@gabittoyt]

Meglio la Sardegna a Torre dei corsari

[@MaurizioRaso]

I'm from Genova. Portofino don't worth the hype and money ;)