.png)
It's so easy to rent a boat or charter a yacht in Portofino with Yachtious. Book Now!
It's so easy to rent a boat or charter a yacht in Portofino with Yachtious. Book Now!
PORTOFINO TO AMALFI
DISCOVER THE ALLURING ITALIAN COAST OF THE TYRRHENIAN SEA
The magnificent islands of Italy on the western coastline are one of the best places to cruise in your yacht. There’s art, history, architecture, culture, cuisine, and scenery. Don’t forget the sublime summer weather, and you’ve got the best place for your yacht charter.
Sheltered coves lined with fishermen’s houses in lovely pastels, prominent churches, and a charming quayside are what Portofino is all about. It’s the ‘Pearl of the Riviera’ despite being a tiny fishing village. It has chic boutiques and steep cliffs on the beachside, a superb stop for any yacht.
Coffees in the cafes are pricey, but the Castello Brown on the crag or a hike on the shore to the abbey of San Fruttuoso of Capodimonte gives you the kind of views that take your breath away. Exploring Portofino to Naples and over to Capri and then the Aeolian Islands and on to Sicily would undoubtedly take forever, but you can try to squeeze as much in as you can while aboard your pleasure cruise.
South of Portofino in eastern Liguria is the Cinque Terra meaning ‘Five Lands.’ It is home to 5 distinctive villages of Vernazza, Monterosso al Mare, Manarola, Riomaggiore, and Corniglia. Along the shoreline, you’ll find beautiful vineyards for wine and scenery.
Few places are as beautiful as the Five Lands. It’s so unique it has been guarded as a national park. It doesn’t have all those must-see things like artwork or churches or palaces. What you see here is the natural beauty of the lands. It’s worth anchoring to wander among the paths that hug the cliffs to see the surrounding landscape, enjoy a gelato at one of the cafes, jump in and swim in the stunning waters, and embrace that unique Old World charm that it has to offer, away from the chaos of modern life.
...
BEST TIME TO VISIT PORTOFINO
Anytime is the best for visiting Portofino. The tourist season is always highest in summer. Many annual events and festivals are also hosted during this time, plus there are sailing races too. As far as weather goes, though, the months just before summer as well as just after are probably the best. The winter is colder but not below freezing. You’ll feel warmer here if you set sail in your yacht charter to this warmer Mediterranean destination when you live in a colder climate!
If you want to see the Amalfi Coast, the best time to do so is from April to June. The spring flowers bloom, and the weather is pleasantly warm. The sea is also warming up, perfect for a swim. Late spring and early summer also mean you avoid the crowds of tourists. This is the golden season when sleepy villages wake up, and life comes alive once more. The orange blossoms and jasmine bloom and it becomes a fairytale in reality. Tourist season begins on Easter and continues through September though May and June's pricing is usually lower than the height of the season, perfect for budget travels.
QUICK FACTS
BEST FOR CRUISING: MAY TO SEPTEMBER
TIME ZONE: GMT + 1
LANGUAGE: ITALIAN
CURRENCY: EURO (EUR)
REASONS TO VISIT
CORNIGLIA
CASTELLO BROWN
WEATHER
FLORAL PARADISE
THE BEACHES
EXCELLENT FOOD
GETTING TO PORTOFINO
About 28 miles (45 km) to the east of Genoa sits Portofino. Genoa is considered a transportation hub on the Italian Riviera. Traveling from Genoa to Portofino, you have a choice of train or ferry to take you there. You can also get to it with ease from Rome by way of train.
The closest airport is Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport, 28 miles (45 km) west. Airlines include AirFrance, Alitalia, British Airways from Gatwick, Turkish Airlines, and Lufthansa, though you can also get flights through budget airlines like Vueling, Ryanair, and AirDolomiti.
When staying on the Ligurian coast, the ferry is one of the best ways to arrive for its beautiful views and ease of connecting to the towns along this stretch. It will be a scenic arrival!
Ferry or Boat
It all depends on the time of year, but you can take quick ferries such as from Napoli to Amalfi. It’s not a direct trip and takes 2 to 3 hours, stopping in many ports of call, but it is lovely.
Train or Bus
Italy’s national train company, Trenitalia, is best if you can’t handle the way by sea. The Freccia Rossa trains go from Napoli Centrale to Sorrento and are the most efficient and direct route. In Sorrento, you can get a bus from Sitabus to take you the rest of the way. Coming from Rome or Naples, you have a choice of the new shuttle sharing systems such as Positano Shuttle, which leaves from both of the international airports and goes right to Positano.
Car
Feel the romance of renting a car from either airport in Rome or Naples and drive your way through the scenery!
WHERE TO STAY IN PORTOFINO
The hotels in Portofino are quiet and priced high, though, on your yacht, you can quickly head off to see the shops, sip a drink and enjoy it as a day trip coming from Genoa.
Along the Amalfi coast, you’ll find many small villages and towns brimming with culture. You may, of course, choose to live the glamorous life in Positano or steal away to secluded Ravello. Even the sunny beaches in Maiori might be calling you.Thus, accommodations vary drastically. You’ll find upscale and big luxury or family-owned bed and breakfasts plus everything you can think of for top-tier stays or budget-friendly ones.
Positano is a great place to stay if you’re going to explore other areas along the coasts like Capri and Ischia. It’s a pleasant resort stop to shop at the boutiques and enjoy seafood on Grand Beach.Regular ferry service runs from Positano and Salerno from April to the end of September. You’ll find luxurious places to stay in Positano along the shoreline, but it won’t be cheap.
If you want more natural beauty with luxury and a smaller price tag, then choose Amalfi. It’s lively and beautiful with plenty of culture and history. The medieval buildings and pebble beaches are indeed worth a stay on dry land.This town is in the midst of the Amalfi coast, just 50 minutes by car from Sorrento and only 40 minutes on to Salerno. This makes it a great location that allows you to explore all the islands. The accommodation costs aren’t as steep as they are elsewhere, with reasonable prices abounding.
WINING AND DINING IN PORTOFINO
In this beautiful region of Liguria, you’ll find some of the best food Italy has to offer. It’s brimming with fresh seafood and fish, and the recipes are exceptional. With mineral-rich soil and terroir that complements the growth of herbs like basil and rosemary, plus a seductive wine region, you’re going to love eating your way around here when you arrive via your yacht charter!
Focaccia
Enjoy this bread alone or dipped in sauce, or even with a spread. It’s a flatbread, much like a pizza but without tomato sauce atop. You’re supposed to eat it hot and fresh from the oven. If you’ve had it in your homeland before and it’s not baked fresh, you may not have been impressed, but do try it now, and you’ll be forever changed.
Paniccia
Made from chickpea flour, it’s served hot but has a softer texture, much like polenta.
Farinata
This Ligurian street food is a bread of chickpea flour with olive oil and rosemary and onion. Like focaccia, you must have it hot out of the oven.
Latte brusco
With browned parsley and onions and the addition of milk, egg yolks, and flour, it cools and hardens before being dipped into bread crumbs and fried. It makes for a wonderful snack, mainly when it’s cold outside.
Carciofi violetti
Liguria is also famed for artichokes, and you will see them everywhere in pies, sauces, and frittata. Some eat them raw. Don’t knock it until you try it!
Minestrone
A favorite soup of Italy, it brims with fresh vegetables and pasta, sometimes rice. Beans, celery, carrots, onions, and tomatoes are often included though there’s no set recipe. You’ll find it tastes different in every restaurant, but it’s a pleasurable thing that begs to be explored.
Ciuppin
If you’ve heard of cioppino, that dish is based on the original of Genoa. It was intended to use up the fish that no one wanted to buy. It’s slow-cooked into a delicious soup. In the authentic version, there are fewer tomatoes included.
Cappon magro
This rich salad of seafood and vegetables is served on hardtack. It’s very delicious and beautifully arranged, especially with the green sauce on top.
Ravioli
You may have had ravioli, but until you’ve had them here, you won’t be impressed. This dumpling is filled in many ways and is very traditional in Italy.
Corzetti
This ancient type of pasta from Liguria is in the shape of small discs with flower decorations that comes from medieval times.
Pesto alla genovese
You’ll see this pesto sauce used with trofie or trenette pasta shapes.
Pesto bianco
It literally means ‘white pesto’ and is made of walnuts, olive oil, and fresh ricotta.
Crema ai pinoli
Made from pine nuts, butter, garlic, and fresh marjoram, this aromatic pasta sauce is fantastic.
Tocco di funghi:
Fresh porcini mushrooms are common here. They’re cooked up with rosemary, garlic, butter, pine nuts, and oil. It’s often served with pasta or risotto.
Torta pasqualina
This pastry is layered with parmesan, green chard, ricotta, and other herbs and then indented with eggs and butter. The layers are meant to go to 33 as a tribute to Jesus Christ. It’s an Easter tradition though you can find it year-round.
Cima all genovese
This meat is cut to form a pocket that gets stuffed with a variety of ingredients. It’s then sewed up to keep the filling from spilling out and boiled in a broth of vegetables for several hours.
Pacciugo
This ice cream includes bitter chocolate and whipped cream with fresh fruits and cherries plus a coulis of either strawberry or raspberry. It originated in the 1930s and has been popular ever since.
Focaccia castelnovese
This bun of cornmeal, pine nuts, olive oil, and butter is a tradition for the holidays. Especially for Christmas and Easter, you should try it if you’re yachting in Portofino during this time.
Ravioli dolci
It’s like ravioli but sweet. It’s filled with a citrus peel pesto, candied squash, and beef marrow. It sounds unusual but tastes divine.
Meringhi genovesi
This rum-soaked cake is filled with jam of apricot and topped off with vanilla meringue. It’s super-sweet, so get ready to indulge!
Pandolce
This sweet bread features an array of raisin, candied fruit, and anise.
Additionally, the entire region has beautiful wines that include incredible Pinot Grigios and abundant reds that are full of flavor.
