Genoa & Portofino
Private Day Trip from Milan
Private 12-hour tour from Milan to Genoa old town, Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino. English-speaking chauffeur, door-to-door, fixed price from €990.
Private Day Trip from Milan to Genoa and Portofino — by Chauffeur
Genoa and Portofino represent two faces of Liguria that most visitors never see together. Genoa is Italy's largest medieval city centre — a UNESCO World Heritage labyrinth of narrow lanes called caruggi, Baroque palaces, and one of Europe's finest fish markets. Portofino, 35 kilometres east, is the opposite: a tiny fishing harbour with 400 inhabitants, coloured houses stacked around a perfect bay, and a piazzetta that has attracted artists and aristocrats since the 19th century. On this private day trip from Milan, you visit both in a single, unhurried day.
MilanobyCar has operated private chauffeur tours from Milan since 1993. Every vehicle is owned and maintained by us; every driver is employed directly. Your Mercedes — E-Class or V-Class depending on group size — collects you from your Milan hotel at the agreed time. The itinerary is fully customisable. Fixed price per vehicle, confirmed at booking.
Unlike train connections from Milan, which require a change at Genoa and a local bus or taxi to reach Portofino (total journey 2 hours 30 minutes each way, with no flexibility on stops), this private tour allows you to visit multiple locations along the Riviera at your own pace. No group dynamics, no waiting for other passengers, no fixed timetable. Reserve your vehicle and we confirm the route by email.
MilanobyCar vs alternatives. Shared minibus tours to Portofino from Milan (Viator, GetYourGuide, from €75–120 per person) typically include 8–10 passengers and fixed itineraries. MilanobyCar is the operator — we own the vehicles and employ the drivers. For 2–6 passengers, the per-person cost of a private tour is often comparable to a shared tour.
Genoa & Portofino Tour at a Glance
Genoa & Portofino Day Trip Itinerary — What You Will See
The following is a suggested sequence for a 12-hour private tour. Every stop can be adjusted, shortened, or replaced. Tell us your preferences when booking.
Milan — Departure from Your Hotel
Your driver arrives at your Milan hotel at the agreed time — typically 07:30 for a full day. The A7 motorway runs directly from Milan to Genoa with no complicated junctions. The drive takes 1h 20–40min depending on traffic. Wi-Fi available on request, water provided.
Genoa — The Caruggi and the Old Port
Genoa's medieval centre — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is the largest in Europe. The caruggi are narrow lanes barely wide enough for two people, in continuous use since the 12th century. The Old Port (Porto Antico), redesigned by Renzo Piano for Expo 1992, is the easiest entry point. Worth seeing: Palazzo Ducale and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo with its black-and-white striped facade.
Camogli — The Most Painted Village in Italy
Camogli sits on a headland 25 km east of Genoa. A continuous wall of trompe-l'oeil painted houses stacked five and six storeys above a pebbly beach. The harbour is easily walked in 20 minutes. If the group wants a coffee stop before Portofino, Camogli is the right place.
Santa Margherita Ligure — Lunch on the Riviera
The practical base for this part of the Riviera: broad seafront promenade, good restaurants, and an easy parking situation for your driver. From the harbour, private boats depart regularly to Portofino (15 minutes). Recommended for lunch: restaurants along Via Palestro, away from the tourist-facing promenade.
Portofino — The Most Photographed Harbour in Italy
Coloured houses stacked tightly around a calm bay, fishing boats and superyachts sharing the same water. The piazzetta at the water's edge is expensive but worth one drink for the view. The walk up to the Church of San Giorgio takes 10 minutes and gives the best overview of the bay. Note: vehicle access to Portofino is restricted — your driver parks at the checkpoint in Santa Margherita and you reach the village by boat or on foot (25 min coastal path).
Return to Milan — Via the A7
Your driver collects you at the agreed point and takes the A7 back to Milan. Approximately 1h 30–2h depending on traffic. Friday afternoon departures from the Riviera can take longer — your driver advises on timing.
Genoa & Portofino Day Trip Prices — 12-Hour Private Package
Price is per vehicle for the full 12-hour package. Extra hours from € 70 / hour.
- •Door-to-door from Milan hotel
- •English-speaking chauffeur
- •All tolls & fuel included
- •Fully customisable itinerary
- •Child seat on request
- •Door-to-door from Milan hotel
- •English-speaking chauffeur
- •Large boot for luggage
- •Fully customisable itinerary
- •Child seats available
- •Executive luxury sedan
- •English-speaking chauffeur
- •Ideal for romantic occasions
- •Fully customisable itinerary
- •Champagne on request
Included in the price
- ✓Private Mercedes vehicle for 12 hours
- ✓English-speaking professional chauffeur
- ✓Pick-up and drop-off at your Milan hotel
- ✓All A7 motorway tolls (Milan – Genoa – Rapallo)
- ✓Fuel for the full day
- ✓Flexible itinerary — you decide the stops
- ✓Child seats (on request, no extra charge)
- ✓Wi-Fi on board (on request)
- ✓Water in the vehicle
Not included — paid separately
- ✕Entrance fees (Palazzo Ducale, Aquarium, villas)
- ✕Boat hire or boat ticket to Portofino
- ✕Lunch, dinner, and drinks
- ✕Licensed local guide (available on request)
- ✕Parking fees at Santa Margherita or Portofino
- ✕Extra hours beyond 12h (€70 / hr)
- ✕Gratuity (entirely at your discretion)
Milan to Genoa and Portofino — The Route
The A7 motorway runs directly from Milan to Genoa (170 km, 1h 30min). From Genoa, the SS1 Aurelia follows the Ligurian Riviera east to Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino.
What Our Passengers Say
Real reviews from travellers who took private day trips to the Ligurian Riviera with MilanobyCar.
“We have been using this company for 15 years: pick-ups from Malpensa, round trips to Florence, Venice, Courchevel, Megève. Always on time and the driving was very safe. Adrian and his drivers are very experienced and top-notch. I cannot recommend them highly enough.”
“MilanoByCar was AWESOME. Adrian was terrific. Vehicles were new and impeccably clean, drivers were punctual and professional. Will not use anyone else in Milan.”
“Booked a day tour with one day's notice. Perfect pick-up experience. Driver was exactly where they said he would be. Smooth, professional, great English. Will book again for our next Italy trip.”
Genoa & Portofino Day Trip from Milan — FAQ
Private Genoa and Portofino Day Trip vs Train from Milan
By train, Milan to Portofino requires a Frecciarossa or Intercity to Genoa (1h 20min, from €15), then a regional train to Santa Margherita Ligure (35 min), then a taxi or local bus to the Portofino checkpoint, then a boat or a 25-minute walk. Elapsed time from Milan Centrale to Portofino harbour: typically 2.5–3 hours one way. With MilanobyCar, your driver handles the routing, parking, and timing. You travel door-to-door from your Milan hotel, visit both Genoa and the Riviera without transfers or timetables, and return to Milan by evening.
How Much Does a Private Day Trip from Milan to Portofino Cost in 2026?
MilanobyCar charges €990 per vehicle for the Mercedes E-Class (up to 2 passengers) and €1,180 for the Mercedes V-Class (up to 6 passengers) for the 12-hour package. For a group of 4 in a V-Class, this is €295 per person — comparable to a premium shared tour once transfers are factored in. Shared day tours on Viator and GetYourGuide typically run €75–120 per person but include 8–10 other participants. The S-Class is available on request. Extra hours are charged at €70 per hour.
Genoa and Portofino: What to Know Before You Go
Genoa is Italy's largest seaport and a city that rewards slow exploration. The historic centre (the caruggi) was listed as UNESCO World Heritage in 2006. Portofino, 35 km east, has been a celebrity destination since the 1950s — Rex Harrison filmed here, Slim Aarons photographed here. Camogli, between the two, is often missed entirely by day-trippers — which is precisely what makes it worth stopping. Best light for photography: morning at Camogli, late afternoon at Portofino.
Book Your Genoa & Portofino Day Trip — Private Mercedes from Milan
Private 12-hour package. English-speaking chauffeur. Fixed price: E-Class €990 · V-Class €1,180. Available year-round.
or call +39 335 821 0912
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