Portofino, Camogli and San Fruttuoso Boat Trip, Genoa

The boat ride along the Ligurian coast

The day begins at the Porto Antico in Genoa, where you board in the morning at 10:00. From the water you see the sweep of the city's old harbour, the lighthouse, then the Riviera di Levante unfolding: villages squeezed between the cliffs, pine-covered headlands and small coves that cars cannot reach. A boat trip from Genoa to Camogli and Portofino is the most scenic way to cover this stretch of coast.

You can enjoy the views from the deck. Sea conditions decide the departure, so the day can change in rough weather. Bring a light jacket for the wind, sunscreen and a hat for the sun, and keep your camera ready for the cliffs.

Camogli, the fishing village of tall painted houses

Camogli is the first stop on every option and the one most visitors remember for its colour. Rows of narrow, many-storey houses in ochre, pink and red face a pebble beach, with the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta and the old Castel Dragone rising on a rock beside the water. The town was a seafaring community, and its fishing tradition shows in the harbour.

If you plan a day trip to Camogli from Genoa, arrive early for the best light and the quietest lanes. Allow time to walk the seafront, sit with a coffee or buy focaccia from a bakery. Boat times and your return departure are printed on the voucher, so check them before you wander off.

San Fruttuoso and its abbey bay

San Fruttuoso lies in a small bay inside the Portofino Natural Park, where steep wooded slopes meet the sea. No road reaches it: you arrive by boat or by a long footpath, which keeps the setting peaceful. The Abbey of San Fruttuoso, built around a medieval church and cloister, stands almost on the beach, and the Doria family tombs are part of its history.

Visiting San Fruttuoso is a highlight for many travellers because there is little else like it on the Ligurian coast. The water is clear and a quiet beach edges the abbey. Entry to the abbey itself is not included, so decide on the spot if you want to go inside. Depending on the option you choose, San Fruttuoso is either a middle stop or the place where your return boat leaves.

Portofino, the harbour of pastel houses

Portofino is the best-known name on the Riviera and a natural end to the full trip. Pastel houses curve around a tiny harbour full of yachts and small boats, and the Piazzetta beside the quay is the village square, lined with cafes. A short climb leads up to the church of San Giorgio and to Castello Brown, which has views back over the harbour and the coast.

People often ask whether Portofino is worth visiting for a day, and from the sea it is hard to say no. In the full-trip option the return boat leaves from here at 4:50 PM, so you have time to stroll, take photographs and look at the boutiques before heading back to Genoa. If you choose a shorter option you will not visit Portofino.