Rapallo, Santa Margherita & Portofino
Private Day Trip from Milan
Three towns on the Gulf of Tigullio in one day: Rapallo’s castle on the sea, the harbour of Santa Margherita and the piazzetta of Portofino. Door-to-door by private Mercedes, 10 hours, fixed price from €990 per car.
Book this day trip
Ligurian Riviera: Rapallo, Santa Margherita & Portofino · private and tailor-made
Book this day trip
See the price for your car now, then send the request: we confirm the driver and send a secure payment link. The itinerary is yours to change: tell us your stops in the notes.
- CarsMercedes E-Class up to 2 guests, V-Class up to 6
- Pick-upYour hotel in Milan, or Malpensa, Linate, Bergamo (+€60)
- PaymentNothing now: we confirm, then send a secure link
The Gulf of Tigullio from Milan, one town after another
Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino follow each other along the eastern side of the Portofino headland, a few kilometres apart. Rapallo is the largest, with a long seafront and a small castle built on the water in 1551 against pirate raids; Santa Margherita has the liveliest harbour and the park of Villa Durazzo; Portofino, at the end of the road, is the famous one. Rapallo is about 170 km from Milan, around two hours on the A7 and A12, which makes this a comfortable 10-hour outing and one of the most varied day trips from Milan to the sea.
This is the day for people who want to see the whole gulf rather than spend it all in one place. The last five kilometres to Portofino are a narrow coast road that can be slow in season, and the only car park in the village is expensive and often full, so in summer we usually suggest the short boat ride from Santa Margherita and meeting the car back there. Outside the busy months we drive you straight to Portofino. The price is per vehicle, not per person: from €990 with an E-Class for two, from €1,115 with a V-Class for up to six.
Riviera Day at a Glance
Rapallo, Santa Margherita & Portofino Itinerary
A 10-hour day along the Gulf of Tigullio, from the widest bay to the smallest harbour.
Tailor-made, always. This itinerary is our suggestion only: every MilanobyCar day trip is tailor-made. Change the stops, the order and the timing as you like, or tell us your own plan in the booking notes.
Your driver, your local insider. Our chauffeurs are not licensed tour guides and do not guide you inside museums or sites, but they know these places well from years on the road: ask them for the best viewpoints, where to eat, where to stroll and how to avoid the busiest spots. If you would like a licensed guide, we can book one for you.
Pick-up at your hotel in Milan
Your driver meets you in the lobby. The A7 takes you over the Apennines to Genoa and the A12 runs along the coast to the Rapallo exit.
The seafront and the castle on the sea
A walk along the palm-lined promenade to the Castello sul Mare, the small fortress standing in the water at the end of the bay. When it is running, the cable car climbs from the town to the sanctuary of Montallegro for a wide view of the gulf.
Harbour, basilica and Villa Durazzo
Five minutes along the coast. The harbour is lined with cafes and fishing boats; above the town, the Villa Durazzo complex has two villas, a 16th-century castle and a terraced park overlooking the sea.
Lunch on the piazzetta
By boat from Santa Margherita or along the coast road, depending on the season and traffic. Portofino is tiny: the horseshoe of painted houses around the harbour, the boutiques behind it and a handful of restaurants on the water.
San Giorgio and Castello Brown
A short climb from the harbour to the church of San Giorgio and Castello Brown, with the classic view down over Portofino. Then back to Santa Margherita by boat, or to the car if it brought you.
Back to your hotel in Milan
About two hours back to Milan, door to door, or drop-off at Malpensa, Linate or a hotel elsewhere.
Riviera Day Trip Prices — 10-Hour Private Car
Prices are per vehicle for the whole 10-hour day with distance included, whatever the number of passengers. Saturdays and Sundays +20%, major holidays +50%, airport pick-up +€60. Extra hours €75 with the E-Class, €85 with the V-Class, bookable in the form below.
- •Door-to-door from your Milan hotel
- •Three towns, one driver
- •10 hours · distance included
- •Door-to-door from your Milan hotel
- •Three towns, one driver
- •10 hours · distance included
- •Executive luxury sedan
- •English-speaking chauffeur
Included in the price
- ✓Private Mercedes and English-speaking chauffeur for the whole day
- ✓Door-to-door pick-up and return in Milan
- ✓Fuel, motorway tolls and parking for the car
- ✓Bottled water on board
- ✓Child seats on request, free of charge
- ✓Driver waiting while you visit
Not included — paid separately
- ✕Boat tickets Santa Margherita – Portofino
- ✕Montallegro cable car and Castello Brown tickets
- ✕Meals and drinks
- ✕Licensed local guide (bookable on request)
Milan to the Riviera: The Route
About 170 km: the A7 Milan – Genoa over the Apennines, then the A12 to the Rapallo exit, around two hours. From Rapallo the coast road runs to Santa Margherita and on to Portofino, about 5 km of narrow bends at the end.
Rapallo, Santa Margherita & Portofino Day Trip — FAQ
The Riviera by private car or by train?
Rapallo and Santa Margherita both have stations on the Genoa – La Spezia line, but Portofino has none: from the train you continue by bus or boat. Doing three towns by public transport means three different connections. With a private car you move from one to the next in minutes and the car waits wherever the day ends.
Rapallo, Santa Margherita and Portofino: what to know
Portofino is busiest between late morning and mid-afternoon in summer, so we plan the day to arrive there for lunch or later, when you can sit down rather than queue. Most of Portofino’s charm is in the walks above the harbour, so comfortable shoes are worth it.
How much is a Rapallo, Santa Margherita and Portofino day trip?
MilanobyCar charges a fixed price per car: from €990 for two passengers in a Mercedes E-Class and from €1,115 for up to six in a V-Class, for 10 hours with driver, fuel, tolls and parking included. Boat and entry tickets are extra. The exact price for your date appears in the booking form.
Book Your Riviera Day Trip — Private Mercedes from Milan
10 hours, English-speaking driver, door-to-door. Rapallo, Santa Margherita and Portofino, in the order that suits the day.
or call +39 335 821 0912