Portofino by yacht, 84 nm from Monaco
The jewel of the Ligurian coast — a tiny harbour worth the long run.
A yacht from Monaco to Portofino covers about 84 nautical miles in a straight line: 7 h 00 min of cruising at 12 knots, 4 h 12 min at 20. Crewed days are published from €1,500 (day boat) to €10,000 and up (superyacht); a week on a 20–30 m motor yacht runs €25,000 – €65,000, plus APA of 25–35% and VAT at 20%.
Portofino is the reward at the end of a longer passage: a pastel village wrapped around a perfect pocket harbour, backed by the green headland of the Monte di Portofino park. Moorings are few and prized.
At about 84 miles it is an overnight or a multi-day leg from Monaco, and the crowning destination of a Riviera-to-Italy itinerary.
Why is Portofino worth the long run from Monaco?
Portofino is the reward at the end of a longer passage — a pastel village wrapped around a perfect pocket harbour, backed by the green headland of its natural park. There is little to do but exactly what you came for: an aperitivo on the piazzetta, a walk to the lighthouse, a swim in clear Ligurian water. Moorings in the tiny harbour are few and prized, so we arrange a berth or a nearby anchorage well in advance.
How do you reach Portofino from Monaco by yacht?
At around 84 nautical miles, Portofino is an overnight or a multi-day leg from Monaco rather than a day-trip, and the crowning destination of a Riviera-to-Italy itinerary. The classic week eases east through Menton, Sanremo and the Ligurian coast before arriving here, so the village feels like the journey's reward. We plan the passage around the weather and build in the stops that make the run a pleasure rather than a delivery.
Around Portofino the wider Gulf of Tigullio opens up: Santa Margherita Ligure and Rapallo nearby, the abbey of San Fruttuoso in its hidden cove, and the Cinque Terre a little further on. A few days based here turn a single famous village into a whole Ligurian chapter, and we build the itinerary to make the most of the time the long passage has earned you.
Where does a yacht moor or anchor at Portofino?
The harbour of Portofino is a natural pocket at the foot of the promontory, and it is tiny: a handful of moorings inside, no room to swing, and a village that has resisted every enlargement. Large yachts lie in the roads outside the harbour mouth or in the bay of Paraggi, the next cove east, and run guests in by tender — a two-minute ride to the piazzetta. In summer even those positions are taken early, which is why we secure the mooring or the anchorage when the charter is confirmed. Santa Margherita Ligure, three kilometres round the bay, has the marina berths and fuel the village cannot offer, and is where the yacht usually spends the night if it does not anchor.
What is there to do ashore around Portofino?
The village itself takes an hour: the piazzetta, the church of San Giorgio on the ridge, the path up to the Castello Brown and on to the lighthouse at the tip of the point, with the whole Gulf of Tigullio below. The days around it are the reason to stay. The abbey of San Fruttuoso lies in a cove on the far side of the promontory, reachable only by sea or on foot through the Monte di Portofino park; the bronze Christ of the Abyss rests on the seabed off its beach. Camogli, on the western shore, is a fishing town of tall painted houses and a Sunday market; Santa Margherita and Rapallo give the evenings their restaurants and their promenade. From here the Cinque Terre are a day east, and Porto Venere and the Gulf of Poets beyond them.
How much does a yacht charter to Portofino cost?
At 84 nm, Portofino is an overnight or a leg of a week rather than a simple day: the published weekly brackets below apply, exclusive of APA, VAT and gratuity. A fast yacht can do it in a day — the crewed superyacht day is published from €10,000.
| Yacht size | Weekly rate | APA (25–35%) |
|---|---|---|
| Motor yacht 20–30 m | €25,000 – €65,000 | €6,250 – €22,750 |
| Superyacht 30–40 m | €65,000 – €180,000 | €16,250 – €63,000 |
| Premium superyacht 40–45 m | €140,000 – €320,000 | €35,000 – €112,000 |
| Megayacht 45 m+ | €280,000 – €800,000+ | €70,000 – €280,000+ |
APA — 25–35% of the fee, median 35% across MYBA listings — covers fuel for the run to Portofino, harbour dues, food and drink, and the balance is returned. VAT at the standard 20% rate applies to charters starting in France or Monaco; crew gratuity is customary at 5–15% of the fee (MYBA guidance).
- International Yachts Charter & Brokerage — Monaco Yacht Show 2026 charter rates — retrieved 2026-09-05
- Monaco Boats (The S Collection) — Yacht charter prices in Monaco — retrieved 2026-09-05
- Vital Charters — What's included in a yacht charter fee: MYBA contract (2026), survey of MYBA listings — retrieved 2026-09-05
- service-public.gouv.fr — Taux de TVA (fiche F23567, "Vérifié le 18 juin 2025") — retrieved 2026-09-05
- Gouvernement Princier de Monaco — monentreprise.gouv.mc, TVA — retrieved 2026-09-05
Rates retrieved 2026-09-05.
Which harbour and anchorages does a yacht use in Portofino?
Porto di Portofino
- From Port Hercule
- 84 nm (straight line) · 7 h 00 min at 12 knots · 4 h 12 min at 20 knots
- Berths
- not published
- Anchorages
- Baia di Portofino · Paraggi
Distances are computed between the OpenStreetMap positions of Port Hercule and Porto di Portofino; the actual coastal route is a little longer.
- OpenStreetMap / Nominatim — retrieved 2026-09-06
- OpenStreetMap / Nominatim — retrieved 2026-09-06
When is the best time to charter a yacht to Portofino?
Recommended season: June–September.
The season runs May to September, with the warmest water and the most settled sea from June to September — which matters for the passage to Portofino. Crossing into Italy adds only simple formalities, handled by the captain. Monaco Grand Prix week (late May) and the Monaco Yacht Show (23–26 September 2026) pull departure rates toward high season; June and September outside show week are the most comfortable windows.
- Monaco Yacht Show — official site (home + billetterie) — retrieved 2026-09-05
Frequently asked questions
How far is Portofino from Monaco, and how long does it take?
About 84 nautical miles in a straight line — an overnight or multi-day leg rather than a day-trip. It is the crowning destination of a Riviera-to-Italy week, reached in easy stages through Menton, Sanremo and the Ligurian coast.
Can we get a mooring in Portofino?
Moorings in Portofino's small harbour are few and highly prized, especially in summer. We reserve a berth or a nearby anchorage well in advance so your arrival at the village is assured rather than left to chance.
Which yacht suits a Monaco–Portofino week?
A crewed motor yacht of 30 m or more: the Sanremo–Portofino leg is the longest open-water run of a Riviera week, and a larger hull carries it comfortably at 12 knots while a faster one makes it an afternoon. Sailing yachts do it as a two-day passage with a night in Sanremo or Alassio.
How much does a yacht charter from Monaco to Portofino cost?
From the published Monaco brackets: a day from €1,500 (day boat, excluding fuel) to €10,000 and up for a superyacht; a week from €25,000 – €65,000 for 20–30 m to €280,000 – €800,000+ above 45 m, exclusive of APA (25–35%) and VAT (20%).
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