vacationsd

Hi,
I will be traveling with friends to Nice this August. We would like to take a day trip to Portofino. Has anyone done this? We would like to travel via boat or train (we will not be renting a car) and are looking for the best way to go.

Any help or advice is appreiciated.

Thanks

Weadles

Is there any way you could do an overnight instead? This is an awfully long day trip. The train from Nice-Genoa is just under three hours. There are only a few of these trains each day.

From Genoa, you would need to wait for a local train down to the Portofino area. I don't know what the closest stop is, but it may be Santa Margherita, which is a few miles away from Portofino.

Driving time to Portofino from Genoa is about 45 minutes- 1 hour depending on traffic, but a local train, of course, may be longer.

Good luck!

Steve_James

I agree with Weadles - it's really not a viable day-trip unless you want to spend 10 hours on the train.

Steve

lexluther

I drove Nice to Portofino, you should definitely stay the night. I stayed in Santa Margerita Ligure - a few kilometres from Portofino. It is beautiful and well worth the trip - although I would do it by car.

mikemo

I second lexluther. I have done the same by car.
M

Georgine

Other posters may not agree with me---but I would not make a journey all the way from Nice to just see Portofino, even if I did have a car.

What you may have seen in the photos of this tiny and picturesque, but overcrowded and ultra-expensive vacation spot is pretty much all there is -----overpriced shops and cafes circling a very small boat harbor, which you can walk around in 20 minutes, including the hike up the adjacent hill for a photo op.

(We were there 3 years ago and the only parking garage in the village was charging $10.00 per hour.) There are a few (about 20)street spaces, but these are all reserved for "residents".

If it is important to you to say that you were in "Portofino" would be the only reason for enduring this length of journey (even when including an overnight in Santa Margherita).

Remember, too, that you are talking about going in August---when all of Europe will be at their annual vacation spots. It might take you as long as an hour or more just to get from Santa Margherita on a bus, or by car, to Portofino----and it is only about a 3 mile ride.

Why no wait until you are in the neighborhood----such as the Cinque Terre--and then add this as a sidetrip.

vacationsd

Thank you all for your messages. It sounds like Portofino is out. We definitely do not want to rent a car, and plan on only using public transportation.
While in the area, we will be visiting Nice, Cannes and Monte Carlo. Does anyone have suggestions for another day trip?

Weadles

Eze and St. Paul de Vence come to mind for great day trips, although in August, they will be CROWDED and hot.