You’re in Portofino and you don’t know where to park your car? Or are you still planning your holiday and looking for information on the best Portofino parking?

In this article, I will tell you about the two paid car parks located in the center of Portofino, and the alternative car parks located in neighboring places, which are much more convenient.

Parking in Portofino: Where to park?

Enclosed in the promontory of the same name and surrounded by wonderful vegetation, Portofino remains one of the most beautiful places in the world, bursting with nature, ancient villages of sailors and natural paths that alternate with breathtaking views.

ortofino is located on the Ligurian Riviera in the province of Genoa and is a popular destination, not only for summer holidays, but also for a weekend break during any other season of the year.

Luxurious villas with private stretches of seafront and elegant clubs where you can easily meet VIPs from the international jet set.

If you are going to visit this place, you have made the right choice, whether it is a romantic getaway, a chance for peace and relaxation for a few days or if you have children and teenagers travelling with you, you will find this little pearl of Liguria has many activities on offer, as well as interesting places to visit.

Getting to Portofino from different Italian cities, even by different means of transport is very simple, since there are several routes to reach it.

With the train station located in Santa Margherita Ligure, it can take you less than an hour to get there, or if you travel by plane and land in the center of Genoa at Cristoforo Colombo airport, you’re just 40 minutes from your destination.

It is worth mentioning, however, that travelling by car remains the most convenient way to reach Portofino and allows you to fully enjoy its beauty.

It is necessary to take the motorway A12 Genova – La Spezia and exit at Rapallo, to continue following the signs that lead to Santa Margherita Ligure – Portofino. After about 20 minutes by car, you will reach this coveted destination.

The municipality of Portofino has made the entire town a pedestrian zone to ensure free access for tourists and avoid clogging that would make it impractical.

The parking and transit of vehicles is possible only for authorized residents, for exceptional reasons, by the municipality.

What are the car parks in Portofino?

If you decide to reach this charming village by car from your city, you will find yourself with a small problem to solve as soon as you arrive: parking.

It cannot be denied, in fact, that one of the limitations of Portofino is precisely the lack of areas dedicated to the parking of cars and motorcycles.

This is due to the prohibition of transit in the area, so as to avoid an excess of vehicles in such a small village. Unfortunately though, there are only two parking areas and neither are free of charge.

I’ll give you all the information you need below.

Parking in Portofino

You can find this car park in Piazza della Libertà n. 13/A, located at the entrance of the village just above Portofino, about 200 meters.

It’s convenient for both its location as it allows you to reach the center in a few minutes and because it is a multi-storey public parking in Portofino Italy that contains many parking spaces.

Open 24 hours a day; it is equipped with toilets and the possibility of paying at automatic cash machines.

This parking area winds through many rather narrow parking spaces, which do not allow easy maneuvers, but on the other hand, is really close to the central square.

The entire structure is not guarded, but as Portofino is a very safe place, there aren’t many problems in this regard.

The downside to this parking is the cost, which is € 5.50 per hour and starts counting at the start of the hour.

This means that if you enter and take a ticket, even if you exit within a minute, you still pay the full next hour, which discourages many tourists.

If you consider that your visit to the city centre and the main Portofino attractions can not last less than a day, you realize that these are really exaggerated figures, especially if you reflect on the fact that no security is provided.

• Address: Piazza della Libertà 13/A, Portofino
• Opening Hours: 24/7, all year round
• Fees Day: €5.50 per hour
• 24-hour fee: €51

Garage in Portofino

The second car park in the centre is called Garage Portofino dei f.lli Massimo and Tito Capriccioli.

Located in Piazza della Libertà n. 27, right at the entrance of the ZTL area, it offers tourists a safe deposit service from 8:30 am until 1:00 am, applying a daily rate of € 60-80€ (jun-sep) and 50-70€ (oct-may).

Reservation is required.

This garage provides a 24-hour video surveillance service for a total peace of mind for tourists and guarantees the movement of cars only by authorized personnel.

You can ask for information through their website and possibly ask for a reservation of a parking space.

Convenient and close to the central square and the shops in the center, but still expensive.

• Address: Piazza della Libertà 27, Portofino
• Opening Hours: 8:30am – 1:00am, all year round
• Fees: from 50 to 80€ – 24hours fee

Where to park near Portofino for less money?

If you want to visit Portofino without spending a fortune, you can follow my simple advice that will allow you to have a good service with a limited budget, with the maximum comfort and convenience.

A few km from Portofino, there is a small place where you can stop your car in complete safety.

This is Santa Margherita Ligure, where you can find various parking solutions, free or paid, but certainly at lower prices than the more expensive Portofino.

Below I will show you the parking solutions, offered by the City of Santa Margherita, for cars and motorcycles.

Municipal car park on the seafront

Along the roads that run along the promenade of this charming town, there are about 450 paid parking spaces, at a fixed rate of about 1 € per hour.

Comfortable, spacious with parking meters scattered along the streets to make it easier to pay.

It is definitely a great solution because it allows, in addition to stopping the car, to take a walk to visit this really interesting town.

• Address: Viale Andrea Doria, Santa Margherita Ligure
• Opening Hours: 24/7, all year round
• Fees Day: €1.00 per hour
• 24-hour fee: no

Portofino Free Parking – Covo di Nord Est

If you are luckier, you can find a place for your car without having to pay any fee. I’m talking about a car park that is located on the road that leads from Santa Margherita to Portofino, in front of a famous disco called “Covo di Nord Est“.

This car park is located in an interesting area that allows you to enjoy an exceptional coastal panorama.

During the tour, therefore, you can combine the convenience of free parking with a walk that allows you to see the most beautiful beaches in the area.

• Address: Lungomare Raffaele Rossetti, Santa Margherita Ligure
• Opening Hours: 24/7, all year round
• Fees: free

Other cheap parking lots in Santa Margherita Ligure

Within the municipality of Santa Margherita Ligure, near the marina and a short distance from the Vela Festival, there are also 500 other municipal parking spaces for a fee.

The places are located in the 4 silos parking lots of the Municipality where it is possible to stop the car with the security of a guarded parking lot at a very convenient cost.

More specifically, I’m talking about:

Santa Margherita Ligure Riviera Park

If you reach via Corte, you can find a large parking area at the price of 2 € per hour.

With 180 parking spaces and 20 places for motorcycles, it is really a comfortable area to leave your means of transport and continue your visit to Portofino.

This car park is covered, open day and night with uninterrupted service, and has extremely helpful staff.

Also, in this case, you can choose a daily rate at a cost of 16 € with the option of a monthly subscription.

If you have specific needs, you can send an email to autoparcoriviera@hotmail.it, to ask for information and availability.

• Address: Via Favale 46, Santa Margherita Ligure
• Opening Hours: 24/7, all year round
• Fees Day: €2.00 per hour
• 24-hour fee: €16

Metropark Railway Station

You will find it in Piazza Raoul Nobili at the train station of Santa Margherita Ligure.

It is a municipal car park with 63 spaces for cars only, open from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

It is not guarded and allows payment at automatic teller machines with a very low rate, € 1.50 per hour or fraction of one.

Possibility to call the number 334 2606633 for any info.

• Address: Piazza Raoul Nobili, Santa Margherita Ligure
• Opening Hours: 6:00 am – 11:00 pm
• Fees Day: €1.50 per hour
• 24-hour fee: no

Parking Vittorio Veneto

If you reach the centre, you will find a paid car park in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, with 180 parking spaces at an hourly rate of €2.00 for the first hour and € 2.50 for the following hours.

A little more expensive than average given its central location but always cheaper than other parking areas located outside this village.

It is in a good position in case you want to visit Santa Margherita before reaching Portofino.

• Address: Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Santa Margherita Ligure
• Opening Hours: 24/7, all year round
• Fees Day: €2.00 per hour; €2.50 for the following hours2
• 24-hour fee: no

Private Santa Margherita Ligure parkings

If you can’t find a place for your car in one of these parking lots, don’t get discouraged.

During the high season and especially in summer, these places are filled by tourists from all over the world, and this generates some problems with the management of cars.

ortunately, Santa Margherita offers several private parking solutions scattered throughout the area, at quite affordable and accessible prices.

To mention a few:

Park Hotel Suisse

If you reach Via Favale, you can stop in this car park managed by the Hotel Park Suisse, where you will find 26 parking spaces at a rate of 1 € per hour or for the fraction of one.

Opening hours are 8:00 – 19:00 and you can ask for information by calling 0185/289571 or sending an email directly to info@parkhotelsuisse.it.

• Address: Via Favale, Santa Margherita Ligure
• Opening Hours: 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
• Fees Day: €1.00 per hour
• 24-hour fee: no

Parking Via Milite Ignoto

In Via Milite Ignoto you can find 17 parking spaces at a rate of € 2.50 per hour or for a fraction of one, with parking time from 8:00 in the morning until 23:00.

A good alternative given the convenient hours.

Email ausiliari@comunesml.it specifying the parking area for which information is requested.

• Address: Via Milite Ignoto, Santa Margherita Ligure
• Opening Hours: 8:00 am – 11:00 pm
• Fees Day: €2.50 per hour
• 24-hour fee: no

Garage Europe

The garage Europa is located in Via Roma 38 in Ghiaia, offers 5 places for motorcycles and 40 parking spaces.

Open from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., it is located in a very central area. For info, you can contact the number 0185.287818 directly, the lady in charge of the secretariat will give you all the information you need.

• Address: Via Roma 38, Santa Margherita Ligure
• Opening Hours: 8:00 am – 7:00 pm

Hotel Regina Elena Garage

Still in Via Milite Ignoto 44, you can try to stop your car in the garage of the Hotel Regina Elena.

In this area, with only 11 places available and a 24-hour opening, you can park for a fee of €2.50 per hour or for a fractions of one. If needed, you can call them directly on the number 0185.287003, for information on hours and availability.

• Address: Via Milite Ignoto 44, Santa Margherita Ligure
• Opening Hours: 24/7, all year round
• Fees: €2.50 per hour
• 24-hour fee: no

How to reach Portofino after leaving your car in Santa Margherita?

Once you have solved the problem of parking your vehicle, and maybe after a visit to the center of Santa Margherita Ligure, it’s time to head to your wonderful destination.

Don’t worry, there are several possibilities from the area that you’re in, and if you follow my advice, you can get there in a short time and with a very small budget.

I will suggest three different routes:

1. on foot for a pleasant panoramic walk
2. comfortably by bus in just 15 minutes
3. by sea slowly across the water, with the sun kissing your skin.

If you choose this last option, a comfortable boat will take you directly to Portofino, where you can enjoy your holiday.

Santa Margherita – Portofino on foot

If you are a dynamic person who loves long, quiet walks and scenic routes to photograph, this solution is perfect for you!

It is not trekking because most of the itinerary extends along a road that is easy to follow even for those who are not particularly sporty or trained in long routes.

All with beautiful views to admire and immortalize.

You can leave from Piazza Vittorio Veneto, in the center of Santa Margherita and reach the marina.

On the way, you’ll pass through the beautiful gardens and fish market, where you’ll see the fishing boats returning in the afternoon and the load of fresh fish they carry as spoils of the day.

From this area, the route becomes more and more interesting because you can admire beautiful beaches and luxurious villas.

At this point, you can choose whether to make a short detour to see the Abbey of Cervara and further on the bay of Paraggi for a short stop.

Whatever your decision, you are really close to your destination, because from the village of Paraggi you can reach Portofino with a 20-minute walk.

The whole route lasts just over an hour for a distance of about 5 km and is really interesting.

Santa Margherita – Portofino by bus

If you prefer a more comfortable solution or if you have children in tow who do not allow you to walk, you can opt for the bus route. The line you are interested in is bus line 82 – direction Portofino.

Once you arrive in Via Alla Stazione in Santa Margherita, you can buy tickets at a minimum cost ranging from 1 € to 3 €.

With a 15-minute easy drive and 19 short stops, you can reach your destination effortlessly.

The bus operates daily from 7:00 to 23:37 and leaves every 30 minutes.

Santa Margherita – Portofino by boat

If you love boat trips, this third option is the best way to reach Portofino.

If you head towards the embarkation pier of Santa Margherita, you can take the boat that will take you to your destination, through a wonderful scenic route.

With the cost of tickets ranging from 7 to 12 € per person, you will reach Portofino in a short time.

• Departure times from Santa Margherita to Portofino are 9.15, 10.15, 11.15, 12.15, 13.15, 14.15, 15.15, 16.15, 17.15 with arrival in 15 minutes.
• Return times from Portofino to Santa Margherita are 12.00, 13.00, 14.00, 15.00, 16.00, 17.00, 18.00, 19.00.

These times, although official, are indicative because they may vary due to various factors.

Time changes are often not preceded by any notice even if the tickets have been purchased previously, so before buying tickets you can call 0185/284670 – 335/7090870 – 336/253336 or go directly to the site reference to check if there are variations of any kind.

It should be noted that, according to the general terms and conditions of the company in charge of transport by boat, you can only leave if you reach a minimum number of passengers of 20.

It is, therefore, possible that the departure times are postponed by a few minutes until you reach the right number of people.

Despite this rule, you can rest assured that the departures of the boat are regular and continuous, given the influx of tourists, especially during the high season.

Among the various hypotheses proposed, I highly recommend the boat, because it allows you to take a very pleasant boat trip, with the wind that cools the hot summer sun.

Pleasant for adults and children alike, who can live this experience at sea in contact with nature.

These are the most comfortable and cheapest possibilities to reach Portofino from Santa Margherita.

Alternatively, you can use a taxi or a ferry, but they are more expensive. Moreover, they do not allow you to fully experience the beauties that lead straight to Portofino.