BookaTaxiHow to book a taxi in Portofino
Updated: July 11, 2026 · Province of GE
To book a taxi in Portofino, call the radio taxi at 340 473 3160. Taxis don't stop on the street: you book them or catch one at a taxi rank.
Portofino has no large citywide radio-taxi service: the village has around 360 residents, very narrow lanes, and just one paid car park, so taxi service is in the hands of a few local operators and area NCC (chauffeur-driven hire) drivers, often based in nearby Santa Margherita Ligure, reachable by phone or WhatsApp. For Genova airport or longer rides, it's best to book in advance, since in high season (Easter to September) demand easily outstrips the supply of available cars. National ride-hailing apps (Uber Black, itTaxi, appTaxi, BTaxi) work in the city of Genova but don't have cars permanently assigned to Portofino. Many visitors choose instead to leave their car in Santa Margherita Ligure or Rapallo and arrive by ferry, avoiding both the traffic on the provincial road and parking rates that are among the highest in Italy. For those arriving without their own car, the most practical combination remains the train to Santa Margherita Ligure-Portofino plus a taxi or ferry for the last stretch.
Call the radio taxi
340 473 3160 Taxi Giovanni – Luxury Taxi (Santa Margherita Ligure / Portofino)
348 606 0959 Taxi Stefano SML (Santa Margherita Ligure / Portofino)
351 800 1680 Taxi Liguria (N. Santoro, transfer Genova-Portofino)
010 5966 Radiotaxi Genova 5966 (per transfer da/per Genova e aeroporto)
Apps to call a taxi in Portofino
| Uber — Uber Black (a luxury NCC chauffeur service, not UberX) arrived in Genova in November 2025, its first debut in Liguria. Coverage is limited to the Genova urban area: there don't appear to be drivers reliably available in the Portofino/Tigullio area, so it's not a dependable option in the village. | Not available |
| FreeNow — FreeNow is not present in Liguria: in Italy it covers Milano, Roma, Napoli, Torino, Catania, Palermo, and Cagliari, but not Genova or the Tigullio. | Not available |
| itTaxi — itTaxi works in the city of Genova through the Cooperativa Radiotaxi 5966, but doesn't have cars permanently assigned to the Portofino area. | Not available |
| Wetaxi — Wetaxi operates mainly in Piemonte and in a few major cities (Roma, Milano, Napoli, Torino); it does not appear to be active in Liguria. | Not available |
| appTaxi — appTaxi covers the city of Genova thanks to national ITN roaming with YourTaxi/Radiotaxi 5966, but doesn't offer car availability in the Portofino area. | Not available |
| BTaxi — BTaxi can be used in Genova via the ITN network, but like the other city apps it has no cars assigned to the Tigullio/Portofino area. | Not available |
Taxi from the airport
Aeroporto di Genova Cristoforo Colombo (GOA) · ~45 km from the center
Taxi fare: There is no fixed airport-Portofino fare: beyond 40 km from the municipal boundary of Genova, the metered extra-urban "Tariffa 3" applies (about 1,96 €/km). For comparison, the City of Genova applies an official fixed fare of 150,00 € for a round trip with one hour's wait from the Terminal Crociere di Genova to Portofino, and 25,00 € for the airport-to-city-centre ride in Genova.
Genova's "Cristoforo Colombo" airport is the closest to Portofino, about 45 km and 45-60 minutes by car via the A12 motorway (Rapallo exit). There are no airport taxis stationed specifically for Portofino: it's best to book a local operator/NCC or a transfer in advance, or take the train to Santa Margherita Ligure-Portofino and continue by taxi or ferry.
Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL)
Portofino's historic centre (the Piazzetta and surrounding lanes) is in practice closed to private traffic simply because the streets are too narrow, rather than due to a genuine electronic ZTL (limited traffic zone) like in big cities. The village's only paid car park, near the entrance, is run by the municipal company Portofino Mare (100% owned by the municipality) and charges seasonal rates among the highest in Italy.
Practical tips
- The village's only car park is expensive: run by the municipal company Portofino Mare, according to local press it can reach 8-10 €/hour in high season, with rates among the highest in Italy — better to leave the car in Santa Margherita Ligure or Rapallo.
- The historic core (the Piazzetta and the surrounding lanes) is effectively pedestrian: the spaces are too narrow for unauthorized private traffic, so even a regular taxi often can't reach right up to the hotel or restaurant door.
- Many visitors arrive by ferry: the Servizio Marittimo del Tigullio connects Santa Margherita Ligure and Rapallo to Portofino in about 15-20 minutes, an alternative that's often faster and more scenic than the car on summer weekends when traffic on the provincial road is heavy.
- Since there's no large local radio-taxi service, it's best to book area operators by phone or WhatsApp somewhat in advance, especially from Easter to September.
- For Genova airport there's no fixed fare to/from Portofino: always ask for a quote by phone before getting in, since the ride is metered at the extra-urban rate beyond 40 km.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a taxi rank or a large radio-taxi service in Portofino?
No. Portofino is a village of around 360 residents and has no radio-taxi cooperative of its own: service is provided by a handful of local operators/NCC drivers based in Portofino or nearby Santa Margherita Ligure, reachable by phone or WhatsApp, often by reservation.
How much does a taxi from Portofino to Genova airport cost?
There's no fixed fare: the City of Genova applies the meter with an extra-urban rate (around 1,96 €/km) beyond 40 km from the city boundary, so the price depends on traffic and route. It's best to ask the operator for a phone quote before setting off, or to book a transfer at an agreed price.
Can you get an Uber in Portofino?
Uber Black arrived in Genova at the end of 2025, but its coverage remains tied to the Genova urban area and doesn't reliably extend to the Tigullio, so it's not an option you can count on in Portofino.
Is it better to reach Portofino by car and taxi, or by sea?
The village's only car park, run by the municipal company Portofino Mare, has rates among the highest in Italy and fills up quickly on weekends and in summer. Many visitors leave their car in Santa Margherita Ligure or Rapallo and reach Portofino by ferry (Servizio Marittimo del Tigullio, about 15-20 minutes), often more convenient than a taxi by road during peak hours.
How do I call a taxi if I can't find a local operator available?
If the small operators in Portofino/Santa Margherita don't answer, one alternative is to call Radiotaxi Genova 5966 for a scheduled transfer to/from Genova, or to ask at the hotel front desk or the Portofino IAT tourist office (Via Roma 35), who can help arrange transport.
Nearby cities
Sources: hosting.pa-online.it · comune.genova.it · 5966.it · web.archive.org · taxistefanosml.it · portofinobycar.com · traghettiportofino.it · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · ansa.it