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Tour of Genoa and Day Trip to Portofino from Genoa

Genoa, Italy

9 hours
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Explore the vibrant port city of Genoa as well as the gorgeous seaside resort town of Portofino during this full-day experience. Enjoy a morning walking tour of the historic city of Genoa, followed by an excursion to the pretty coastal town of Portofino.

Full-day tour of Genoa plus a visit to Portofino
Explore the historic center of Genoa on a walking tour
Enjoy a break midday with free time for lunch
Transfer to Portofino to stroll its colorful streets

What's Included

Air-conditioned vehicle
English speaking guide
Roundtrip boat ride from Santa Margherita Ligure to Portofino
2-hour Genoa walking tour

Gratuities
Food and drinks, unless specified
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

City Sightseeing Genova
Piazza Caricamento, 16121 Genova GE, Italy
Meet your guide at the City Sightseeing bus stop in Piazza Caricamento in Genova

Start time

09:30 AM

End point

Porto Antico di Genova, 16128 Genova GE, Italy

What To Expect

Meet your guide near the aquarium in Genoa to begin your tour of this fascinating city.

Begin your tour in the ancient harbor. Learn how Genoa was once one of the most powerful maritime republics in what is now Italy. Hear about the renovations to this historic harbor in the early 1990s by famed Italian architect, Renzo Piano.

Walk with your guide through the maze of streets in the historic center – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – to see the highlights of this bustling and charming city.

Take a break for lunch at midday (own expense), and then climb into an air-conditioned coach for the trip to Portofino. Travel along the Tigullio Gulf and keep an eye out for some of the dolphins that are frequently seen in this body of water. Arrive in Santa Margherita Ligure and transfer to a boat for the final leg of the journey to Portofino.

Wander the lanes, lined with colorful houses. Admire the serene setting of a town that has been attracting wealthy and famous vacationers – as well as inspiring poets and artists – for centuries.

At the end of your time in Portofino, head back to Genoa by boat.

Cattedrale di San Lorenzo - Duomo di Genova

2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included

Santa Margherita Ligure

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Castello Brown

2 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Times subjected to organization and/or traffic problem.
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 39 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Mayra_A

Extraordinary sea view. Awesome shops and restaurants. Beautiful and sunny day. Nice weather and fine dinning.

Reviews

3.5

27 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 27 reviews

Day at Portofino's

Mayra_A, Apr 2024

Extraordinary sea view. Awesome shops and restaurants. Beautiful and sunny day. Nice weather and fine dinning.

So so

Misty_S, Oct 2022

This tour was okay not the best walking tour I’ve been on. The tour was over booked (in my opinion) and the tour guide was dealing with people from a couple of different towns that were on a bus and walking pick up point. I think this tour should be limited on its number of people so the guide isn’t spending his time trying to located members of the group. The tour company also forgot to book our boat ride back so they booked us train tickets at the last minute and WhatsApp the train tickets to one person then the tour guide having to deal with getting the other half of his tour to his bus he pointed to the train station and directed us to go there. Imagine the confusion for tourists that are not familiar with the language having to depend on a stranger for their ticket. There was confusion among the people depending on each other to take the correct train. That wasn’t cool, totally not a reflection on our tour guide. He tried his best with what he was working with. We were looking forward to the boat ride back where we would have continued our tour of Genova and that didn’t happen. Santa Margarita was a cute little town and we were glad to have walked around and explore it. Portofino was a very short stop so I really couldn’t say much about it especially since it wasn’t guided so we had to figure it out so we just sat down at a cafe had a drink and people watched until we had to meet our tour guide.

The walking tour of Genoa...

Bill_V, Aug 2022

The walking tour of Genoa was very informative. Santa Margherita and Portofino were very beautiful as well.

It was chaotic in...

Suzanne_D, Jul 2022

It was chaotic in Portofino trying to leave on the ferry. One couple was almost left behind if fellow passengers hadn’t seen them. Portofino was very crowded too.

Not as advertised

Richard_G, Sep 2019

We went on this tour on 21st Sept. The bus arrived late and then by the time we walked to the bus it was already 9:45 and the tour was due to start at 9:30. The bus then took us to a lookout we had a chance to take photos by the time we got back down into the main part of Genoa we had been on the bus for about 40 minutes. This was then we assume supposed to be the start of a 2-hour walking tour that was advertised unfortunately this was not meant to be as by 11:10 a.m. the guide advised us that we were now having a 1-hour and 40-minute break he had shown us a couple of places but mostly said just go back and see them in your own time the tour had only been going for 1-hour and 20 min and we were now having a 1-hr and 40-min break this was ridiculous and definitely not what we paid for. After meeting the guide again we walked for 10-minutes to get back on the bus and then proceeded to have an appro 1 hr ride to our first stop, Santa Margarita. During the bus ride the guide proceeded to play on his phone occasionally show the driver who was still driving something funny on his phone and then went to sleep. When we arrived at our destination we were then told we had a one and a 1/2 hr break and our own time in Santa Margarita. We met our guide again spent 30 mins in a queue to get on a ferry to go round to Portofino where we were then told we had another one hour break where we could wonder round on our own time. After meeting our guide again when we were told to queue for the Genoa ferry. Unfortunately the ferry was late and we spent about another 30 min in a queue. We were then ushered onto the ferry by our guide with no tickets and told that we were going back to Genoa and we would arrive back about 6:30 and make sure you get off at the 3rd stop it was actually the 4th stop so not sure what would have happened if we had have been asked to produce a ticket. The guide just left us . This tour who was the most disappointing tour I have ever been on it was nothing like was advertised the ferry back to Genoa was so crowded we could not move let alone get near a window to take any sort of photo we were not told that will be put on a public ferry. We were however told that we're would have a cruise back from Portofino We have basically paid $150 each to be transported on a bus and a very crowded ferry. We did not get a 2-hour walking tour as advertised we got 30 minutes and the guide was unprofessional and lazy. We are requesting a FULL refund. Please advise .

Left us wanting more

Martha_D, Jun 2019

This tour will provide you with some very basic information about Genoa. If you ask questions, you may receive some greater detail. Our tour guide was Milanese, and perhaps not as acquainted with the city as one would wish for a tour that is called a walking tour of Genoa. Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino are lovely to see. We were provided no information of their historical significance. Although I have rated this as average, fair would be a better rating.

expected more

jackie b, May 2019

whilst the walk around Genoa was okay,I expected at least a bit of info about the trip to Portofino. you might as well go by yourself as you learnt nothing ,you were just dropped off and picked up. We could have had some commentary on the way in the coach.

Average walking tour, but trip to Santa Margherita not so great

Lois_S, Sep 2018

Antonella was very knowledgeable about the city , but tour started 30 minutes late. Apparently I was the only participant joining in Genoa and everyone else had come from Milan. I was at the designated meeting spot and finally found Antonella and she and I waited together for the bus. After the walking tour Antonella left us and another couple joined us (they had been unable to get to starting point on time due to delayed cruise ship docking) We went by bus to Santa Margherita. I asked our tour guide (think his name was Maurizio) which cafes might be good for lunch And he told me he didn’t know. (Huh?). If he did know he might have said to wait til we get to Portifino because there are dozens right on the water. We had learned upon being dropped off in Portofino that the three of us that joined the tour in Genoa would be returning on a different boat than everyone else. So that was reasonable, he told the couple that we would be getting off at the second stop and made no mention of that to me. In fact, it was actually the fourth stop. We were dropped off by the boat at a point pretty far from the starting point. I didn’t recognize my surroundings and asked the boatman which direction to walk to get to the museum (where we started) and he didn’t know. I hadn’t expected to double the walk time back to my hotel than it took to start. You should mention that in the tour description. I have taken a lot of tours and I have never felt less looked after. So I’m giving this a rating of 3 only because Antonella knew her stuff and I learned some things about Genoa. For the amount of thought that was provided to us in Santa Margherita and Portofino I could have probably bought my own boat tickets for less.

Great tour!

cmkMinnesota, Aug 2018

This tour was a great introduction to the city of Genoa, along with getting a taste of Saint Marguerite and Portofino. Guides were great.

Informative, Fun filled day

Rod L, Jul 2018

Highly recommend this tour. We found this to be the least expensive, yet it offered the most diverse activities. The guides met us on time at the location they gave in the e-mail (in front of the museum). Do not follow the address as nobody knew what the two streets listed were. The bus and walking tour around Genoa was interesting and informative. The drive to Santa Margharita was beautiful. We loved the time in Santa Margharita having lunch and walking the quaint streets. Portofino was beautiful and the boat ride back to Genoa was refreshing and fun with beautiful scenery up the coast. The boat ride is better than the bus back. If leaving from the cruise ship be prepared for about 1/2 mile walk in the morning and about 1 mile walk back from the aquarium in the afternoon. We had plenty of time before the ship left port at 8:30 (we returned at 6:30)

Overall, we enjoyed our tour.Gave us...

Susan M, Oct 2017

Overall, we enjoyed our tour.Gave us an opportunity to see more of the Liguria region. Since it's new, thought there are a few kinks to work out. Since booking our tour, we were not informed, by email or other means, the meeting site had changed. Just as we were talking to the contact number, the bus pulled up, looking for us. We missed 20 minutes We thought it was a small tour for up to 18. We were combined with a tour group from Milan, so there were approx 30 people. The Genoa tour was informative, pointing out interesting historical sites and facts about Genoa,It lasted approx 1 1/2 hr, combining walking and bus riding. The female guide was very good. Bus ride comfortable. Sainta Margherita, we had a deliecious lunch at one of several places, . A few shops. Portifino, too. Both have high points to view village and sea.Small enough, felt we had enough time to walk around on our own. Was not told much about either village bythe guide. Area to meet to get on boat, crowded. Made it a little confusing. But we enjoyed the boat ride back to Genoa, seeing the coast.

My husband and I enjoyed this trip...

Dana_G, Oct 2017

My husband and I enjoyed this trip. At the beginning of the tour there was confusion as to the meeting place. The guide in Genoa was very knowledgeable and entertaining. Because of sea conditions we weren't able to take the boat to Portofino or back to Genoa, which was a disappointment but beyond the control of the tour. We ended up squeezing onto a public bus for the windy drive to Portofino. Both Santa Margharita and Portofino was well worth the trip. Since the boat trip was unavailable, on the return trip the tour put us in a car back to Genoa, which was appreciated as it was quicker.

Outstanding and enjoyed the boat ride...

Lorraine M, Sep 2017

Outstanding and enjoyed the boat ride back to Genoa. Portofino is absolutely beautiful.

First the good: both guides one for...

Scott P, Aug 2017

First the good: both guides one for Genoa, one for the rest of the tour were very good, informative, and helpful. The sites were very nice and interesting. The trip back to Genoa by ferry boat, about 90 minutes along the coast with a couple of stops, was beautiful. Overall, I would recommend this tour. Now the bad: communication was a problem. The tour company changed the meeting point for starting the tour, and claimed they emailed everyone meeting in Genoa a couple of days earlier. However, those of us meeting the tour there were on our cruise ship that week, and not checking emails! We only found out where to meet because one of the other people in the group had a phone and called to see where they were. They could have easily stationed one of the guides at the original meeting point to direct us to the right place, but didn't, then more or less blamed us for making the group late! To top it off, when I eventually was able to check my email account, there was no email from them after all. After this rocky start, it WAS an enjoyable day, and I don't regret it at all, but they need to work on their communication and procedures.

La guía de Genova muy...

Elisa_G, Aug 2023

La guía de Genova muy buena al igual del guia de Portofino. Poco tiempo en Portofino. Alcanza sólo para conocer.

Levei balao

amirsalomao, Jul 2019

Estivemos 10 min antes do horario previsto e nao encontarmos ninguem. Busquei um posto de i nformacoes turisticas que contatou a agencia (em Milao) que informou que a saida final seria no outro porto em 15 min - pediram para aguardar. Depois de 5 min ligamos novamente e fomos informados que, como nao havia ninguem, o onibus partiu antes das das 10:00!! Tentei entrar em contato com a agencia por email.sem resposta...ficamos.na mao!!

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