Travelling to the beautiful Ligurian Coast? Take a private Portofino and Santa Margherita tour with an insightful, delightful guide from ToursByLocals! See these city's popular attractions, and experience its local charms with a guide who's eager to share the best of Portofino and Santa Margherita with you.

Looking for a private tour that's tailored to YOUR travel interests? Find the perfect itinerary below, or design your own tour and experience the city with a friendly and knowledgeable ToursByLocals guide.

Portofino-Santa-Margherita

Genoa Highlights and Iconic Food Tasting Tour

You haven't got much time and you just want to see the city highlights and make it a short tour? It's your first time in Genoa and you have never eaten our salty tasty focaccia?

This tour is just what you're looking for!

Follow me through the narrow medieval alleys of Genoa, where I live since I was born, and you will fall in love with the old city!

I invite you to a rather short but pleasant and very Genoese walk: will you join me?

A detail from the facade of the Palace of San Giorgio

3 hours tour discovering the highlights of the Genoese historic centre and the must-eat, irresistible local specialities

The first time I visited Genoa with an art professor, I decided to move in. . . I wanted to live the charme of those buildings full of history and glory. From medieval alleyways to elegant architectures of the 20th c., or the 16th c. luxury quarter built for the richest aristocracy, a Unesco site.

Come with me and, following your pace, you will experience, and taste it too, this surorising, still undiscoverd , historycal town with a pesto/wine/cappuccino/ tasting stop upon request!

choiche between : coffe or cappuccino/ focaccia, focaccia/wine

Unexpected beauties in the town of Cristopher Columbus

The Best of Genoa - Walking Half Day Shore Excursion

Live Genoa as a Local - Half Day Walking Tour

Your private guided tour will be through the city of merchants and bankers, to the art and architecture of our past, to the melting-pot of the city.
Let me guide you to the way spots and come face-to face with local artisans and shop owners, only a few steps from the easy tourist attractions.

Let me show you the way to hidden treasures and to the sumptuous Rolli's Palaces of Strada Nuova, Unesco World Heritage Patrimony. Naturally we will visit the house of Christopher Columbus, Palazzo Ducale, Cathedral San Lorenzo and Castelletto for the best "panorama".

This is Genoa of the "golden age" and Genoa "here and now".
A typical snack will be offered, as well as precious advice on shopping and how to enjoy you to further experience Genoa.
Discover Genoa by following the local lifestyle!

Cost of public trasportation ticket and refreshments

Be a temporary Genoese citizen in the uniqueness of this northern city with the eastern soul.

Genova Highlights and Hidden Gems - Half Day Tour

I have been running this tour for a long time and I love it
Follow me through the narrow streets of the old town, Genova has one of the largest historic centres in Europe, in part a UNESCO site. I will show you some of its many hidden gems: whether is a tucked away church with wonderful frescos, a tiny shop where artisanal chocolate is made from more than 150 years or the picturesque tiny square "of The Perfect Love".

You will discover little treasures as we go by and of course, we won't miss some of the highlights of the city, such as the stunning Cathedral of San Lorenzo, the Ducal Palace (Government building for about 500 years), Porta Soprana, one of the gates of the city erected in the XII century, the house of Christopher Columbus and the Porto Antico area.

This is a suggested itinerary, feel free to contact me if you would like to customize this tour!

Genova private tour - a must ! fried anchovies in the Old Harbour area

Genova Private tour - historic center - gelato time !

Genova - Private tour - the Basilica Nostra Signora delle Vigne - Our Lady of the Vines

Genova - private guide - Palazzo Ducale -

Genova Private tour - Church of San Filippo - With my young visitors from Giordany

Genova Private Guide - The lion of San Lorenzo's Cathedral

Genova private tour - Via Garibaldi - Renaissance mansions, Palazzo Rosso

Genova tour - Once of my hidden gems: an ancient gelateria where they produce the real "panera genovese" a coffe flavoured ice cream

Genova Hidden Gems private tour - A bakerie of the old town - Focaccia and more Focaccia: with olives, cheese or simply delicious extra virgine olive oil -

Genova Hidden Gems private tour - A chocolate maker of the historic centre

Genova private tour - Basilica Nostra Signora delle Vigne - The dome

Be Surprised ! A walking tour highlighting some of Genova's most iconic sites but also some of its hidden gems.

Our day begins in Santa Margherita Ligure, a charming seaside town with a very relaxing atmosphere. Here, we either stroll along the sea (ca 60 minutes) or take a 15-minute boat ride to Portofino, explore its harbor, the narrow streets, the fortress and wonderful ice cream, gossip about the rich and famous, and enjoy the atmosphere. We then take a boat or hike to San Fruttuoso, a charming hidden harbor with monastery where we have lunch. After lunch, another boat takes us to Camogli, a colorful town with lively seafront stroll, a fortress and typical architecture to delight the eye.

Private tour: Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure and Camogli options

Best of Portofino by water and land

For over eight centuries the town was the capital of a powerful Maritime Republic, one of the leading States in Europe and its greatness is still to be admired today! We'll have a walking tour through the historical town , the largest in Europe.
The best way to discover Genoa is getting lost in the typical "carruggi" (narrow pedestrian street) and -all of a sudden-stumbling into a baroque church or being overwhelmed by the imposing black and white facade of the Cathedral. Not to be missed is Palazzo Ducale (the Doge's palace) and Strada Nuova with its Rolli palaces -UNESCO World Heritage- dating back to XVI Cent. : here the richiest families of Genua were hosting the important guests of the Republic. A look at the old harbour (completely restored in 1992 by the archistar Renzo Piano) will help us to understand the story of Genoa and its maritime "empire" .
Please don't hesitate to contact me from 8th July up to 15 th August. I wont't be avaiable for Milan , but fully at your disposal for Genoa and Savona!!

Join me to discover the former "Lady of the Sea" !

The "Must See" in a Half day Genoa Tour

Easy Genoa Tour - The Main 5 Attractions in the City

Genova is a big city, but very much concentrated around its Old Port!. . . so it is EASY to discover it by foot.
I will bring you to visit the heart of the ancient Republic and show you what I think it can be more relevant
to let you understand its history!. . . Genova in the past had a Doge and a Bishop, exactly like Venice, but it
started to be a city to visit not more than 20 years ago!. . . All to discover than!

Up and down between the main attractions!

Through this tour you will be able to dive into local culture in a very original way: at each stop of the tour you will try out carefully selected high-quality typical products, visit historical places which will be somehow related to Genoese culinary tradition and listen to stories, anecdotes, and legends that will help to disclose interesting details about history, culture, and character of inhabitants.
I'm passionate about traditional food and cooking and I always have loved to discover what's behind the dishes too: why some ingredients are more used, what are the traditional cooking methods, but also how the tradition started and what's the origin of a certain food. . I'll be happy to answer all these questions and find many occasions to relate our food culture to the glorious history of the Maritime Republic of Genoa!

A slice of Focaccia
fresh pasta with pesto sauce and walnuts sauce
Farinata and other savoury cakes
A glass of wine
Ice cream
water

having a slice of focaccia on the stairs of S.Lorenzo Cathedral

Discover the charming historical center and learn about the culture through local food!

Genoa Downtown History and Food Tour

Let's discover together the beauty of the queen of the seas, Genoa, nicknamed the Superb because of its power and the majesty of its palaces!

I was born right in Genova, and I call her "mum", because she's part of my life and my best memories are in the old town.

A walk with me, even within few hours, is an opportunity to enter in the spirit of Genova : you will experience a like a local day, knowing the daily life and discovering unexpected places.

A stroll through the historic center , among the typical alleys, with beautiful historic stores, painted facades and great works of art, the elegance of the aristocratic streets, among panoramic views and ancient traditions.

You will see, listen, touch, taste and feel the city, and you will leave, I'm quite sure, with a deep sensation of nostalgia.

Discovering the highlights of a surprising city

The Soul of Genova - Walking Tour

Portofino is part of a protected area due to a unique environment: amazing stone elements covered by a flourishing vegetation, descending into bays of crystal water, lonely farms and villages scattered along the coast, a medieval abbey only reachable by foot or by boat, and then this tiny fishermen settlement now raised globally into one of the key elements of the " cruise tourism". 

The best perspective to admire this landscape is from the sea.

Following a walking tour in Camogli, we will reach by ferry boat the Abbazia di San Fruttuoso, a little but remarcable jem set along this rocky coast, to have a closer look at the area and, if you wish, to visit the museum hosted inside the old abbey. 

Then it comes to Portofino, another unique spot due to the natural beauty of the contest but also to its international fame, gained having been set of several movies and home of many celebrities, in these last two centuries.

We will visit the village and after I'll escort you back to the cruise terminal.

Camogli - San Fruttuoso - Portofino / walking and boat tour / 7 h

Portofino and the Italian Riviera

Best Genova Shore Excursion from the harbor

Do you know what Genoa has to do with denim jeans? And why is there a Salami bearing its name? Genoa is a city renowned for its extraordinary and unexpected history, which we are excited to unveil in our tours.
We will introduce you to discover the biggest historical center of Europe, the fabulous "Strada nuova" admired by Rubens, with his majestic palaces and the rich baroque churches, but not only art and culture, we will also stop to taste the traditional food like the "focaccia" (genoise brad), the world-wide known pesto sauce born in Genoa in the 1800, with the delicious home made Trofie pasta, the chickpea pie, the healthy vegetable cakes, the lovely white wine of Santa Margherita and much more. . .

Are you ready for fun !

I can customize this tour according to your request

medieval watch tower in sidewalk "Anita Garibaldi"

sidewalk "Anita Garibaldi" in Genoa Nervi district

Discover the historical medioeval and baroque city with a private guide

Best of Cinque Terre Shore Excursion from La Spezia

The Cinque Terre are one of the most exiting and beautiful destination of Italy, They are Unesco heritage since 1997 and also the smallest Italian national park from 1999. The small fishing villages hanging on the cliffs still preserve the ancient marine and wine traditions. The life moves slowly here, especially in the evening when the peoples go back home to prepare the traditional plate like trofie al pesto, panforti in salsa di noci, focaccia di Recco, white fish in Ligurian style and much more. .

In one day we can see the centuries of traditions, history and good food, the best of the Italian Riviera visiting this picturesque five villages. Between the little town we will move via train, to optimize at the best our time.
Wild Mediterranean nature, blue pristine water, old historical centers are a great mix to have fun in this new great adventure.

I can customize this tour according to your requests.

trains tickets between the villages of Cinque Terre

Panorama between Volastra and Corniglia in spring time

Trofie with pesto sauce, the original recipt is from Genoa, the capital of the Italian Riviera dated back in the 16th Century

Riomaggiore and his beautiful marina with the colored pastel houses

Two "old friends" from the terrace of Manarola

Discover the fabulous Cinque Terre with a private guide

Genova, Genoa, the Superb, the vertical city. . . a stunning yet unknown city impossible to summarize in a few words. Should I choose a definition, that would be the "spontaneous city", that's how this unplanned town developed its unique layout through the many centuries of its history.

Genoa is also known to be the birthplace of Christopher Colombus, who lived here his early years before attempting his adventures overseas.

Let us discover the bustling life of the historic center in a walking tour along the picturesque alleys, the narrow "caruggi". The old port is so very close, full of charming views.
Palaces, fountains, churches, historical shops, a thousands aromas of the city: the old town has small houses one next to the other and is crossed by narrow pedestrian streets, at every street corner a surprise pops up!

Last, but not least, a taste of local specialties: a slice of "focaccia" bread and a cone with the local ice cream, "panera" will introduce you to the simple yet tasty local food.

Tasting of focaccia bread and panera ice cream

Welcome to the largest medieval city center in Europe!

In Genoa for the First Time

The Secret Italian Riviera - Half Day Tour by public transportation.

Your private tour takes you to discover the true ligurian life.
We visit Santa Margherita Ligure, not only the "gate" to Portofino, a lovely village by the Tigullio Gulf, pleasant to be discovered in your private tour with a local guide. Afterwards we visit Camogli, the gem of the Paradise Gulf, standing at the other side of the Portofino Promontory.
It is a line of pastel colored sea-front facades and green shutters, hanging fishing nets, brightly colored fishing boats, a sun-beaten promenade, a baroque parish church and marble Madonna's votive offering niches, shady cafes and traditional bakeries.

From SANTA MARGHERITA to Camogli looking for true life in "ligurian" style.

Half day tour (3 hours +free time).
If you have one day in the area, this is your must see, the best way to know about your wonderful time in the sunny Riviera, attracting billionaires from all over the world. . .
We will enjoy a public boat ride to visit the area, between a panorama and a stroll, I will tell you what I discovered about the area where I grew up and worked all my life.

Exploring the Italian Riviera: Luxury Portofino and Santa Margherita

Santa Margherita and Portofino Half Day Tour by Public Boat

Half Day Tour in Genoa - Ideal for families with kids!

This tailored tour is the all-in-one tour winding along the most significant sightseeing places in Genoa.

The tour will be stroller friendly and there will also be a genoese ice cream tasting in a local "gelateria" included (not only for the kids!). Walking through the old city, with a slow rhythm, you and your kids will learn the history and symbols of Genoa, such as the Saint George's cross hidden throughout the narrow alleys of the old town.

I'm a mother too and I'm pretty convinced that everyone, also the smaller, has the right to find his/her own way to enjoy a walking tour, even through a labyrinth of steep alleys!

A detail from the facade of San Lorenzo Cathedral

Coloring one of the drawing in the scrapbook

Santa margherita ligure tours

Explore with 58 tours and 12 guides.

Fabrizia S.

$ 274 (USD)

Natascia C.

$ 343 (USD)

Sandra M.

$ 366 (USD)

Paola T.

$ 263 (USD)

Anna

$ 1,406 (USD)

Fausta F.

$ 400 (USD)

Francesca A.

$ 403 (USD)

Alessandro P.

$ 206 (USD)

Donatella B.

$ 457 (USD)

Andrea P.

$ 571 (USD)

Francesco C.

$ 271 (USD)

Francesco C.

$ 886 (USD)

Loredana C.

$ 491 (USD)

Sandra M.

$ 446 (USD)

Natascia C.

$ 377 (USD)

Fabrizia S.

$ 320 (USD)

Meet your local guides in Santa margherita ligure

Customize your tour

Santa Margherita Ligure tours

Things to do in Santa Margherita Ligure