BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide

Boat rental in Genoa, Portofino and San Fruttuoso

Hire a boat from Genoa to Portofino: the Gulf of Tigullio, San Fruttuoso abbey and its marine protected area. Budgets, boat types and mooring tips.

The Italian Riviera di Levante packs everything you dream of in Liguria into a few miles: the palaces of Genoa, the wooded headland of Portofino and the secret bay of San Fruttuoso, whose abbey can be reached only on foot or by sea. Hiring a boat here means moving from the great port city to brightly painted fishing villages without ever hunting for a parking space or queuing on the coast road.

From Genoa to the Gulf of Tigullio

Setting out from Genoa, you follow an urban shore, then the smart resorts of Nervi and Camogli, before reaching the Portofino promontory. This wooded cape divides the Gulf of Paradiso, on the Genoa side, from the Gulf of Tigullio toward Santa Margherita and Rapallo. Mind the distance: Portofino is a good fifteen miles from Genoa, a fine half-day's sail out, to be adjusted to your boat's speed.

Portofino and San Fruttuoso

The little harbour of Portofino, its ochre facades crowded around a tiny inlet, remains one of the most sought-after anchorages in the Mediterranean. Just to the west, the bay of San Fruttuoso shelters its tenth-century abbey at the head of a cove with no road access, watched over underwater by the Christ of the Abyss statue. The whole area is a marine protected area: mooring is regulated, with buoys and defined zones. Ask your operator for the current rules and book ahead if you can.

Which boat, what budget

Given the distances, choose a boat that makes progress: a day-cruiser (250 to 900 €/day) links Genoa to Portofino in comfort, while a RIB (200 to 600 €/day) stays nimbler for slipping into the coves. A skipper (150 to 350 €/day) knows the protected-area buoys and the busy harbour entrances. On the same boat, the gap between platforms often reaches 10 to 25 %: Boat-Comparator sets SamBoat, Click&Boat, GlobeSailor and Boataround against each other, service fees included.

Camogli and the village coast

Do not reduce the outing to Portofino. Camogli, with its tall painted houses and fishing port, offers a more authentic and less crowded anchorage. Santa Margherita Ligure and Paraggi, its small beach among the pines, round out the picture. This is a coast of villages where you stop for a focaccia al formaggio and a swim, rather than a run of long sandy beaches.

Timing

Leave early to anchor at San Fruttuoso before the crowds and to beat the afternoon breeze. From June to September the water is warm and the light superb on the facades. Portofino's anchorage can fill up in high season: keep an alternative toward Paraggi or Camogli in mind. Check the permitted area and the cancellation policy, which varies by owner, before you confirm.

Compare the platforms now →

Also worth reading

• How much does it cost to rent a boat in 2026? Real prices
• License-Free Boat Rental in France: Rules, Prices & Where to Book
• Renting with or without a skipper: how to choose