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Things to do in Porto Venere

Our most recommended things to do in Porto Venere

Cinque Terre: Riomaggiore, Monterosso, Vernazza Boat Cruise

1. Cinque Terre: Riomaggiore, Monterosso, Vernazza Boat Cruise

Experience the Cinque Terre coast by boat and take in gorgeous views of vineyards terraces and charming buildings from the sea. Make time to stop at Riomaggiore, Monterosso, and Vernazza along the way. Start at La Spezia's harbor and sail through the Gulf of the Poets admiring the magnificent village of Portovenere and the island of Palmaria from the boat. Reach the first village of Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore, passing by the mesmerizing coastline with its famous terraced vineyard landscape and colorful houses. The city is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Here, visit the imposing church of San Giovanni Battista with your guide and enjoy some free time to stroll through the narrow streets. In Monterosso al Mare, explore the medieval historic center and marvel at the parish church dedicated to St. John, the Baptist. Then continue the sailing to Vernazza, the pearl of the Cinque Terre. Vernazza presents itself to visitors as the prow of a ship: most of the village is in fact built on a small promontory that ends at the sea with an imposing fortification system. At the end of the tour, enjoy free time and take the chance to taste the local wine and food, or go for a swim in the crystal clear water of the Mediterranean.

From La Spezia: Cinque Terre Speedboat Tour

2. From La Spezia: Cinque Terre Speedboat Tour

Explore the beautiful cliffs, beaches, and colorful towns of the Cinque Terre on a sailing tour from La Spezia. You will see all five picturesque villages characterized by pastel-colored houses on a 4-hour speedboat tour. Start your tour from Passeggiata Morin in La Spezia and sail along the western coast of the Gulf of Poets. Admire the beautiful landscape of the four villages that make up the Borgata Marinara. Continue sailing towards Portovenere, where you will cross the Le Bocche, a strait between the town of Portovenere and the wild Palmaria Island. See the magnificent Romanesque church of San Pietro, set among the rocks and overlooking the sea. Discover the unspoiled coves of Le Rosse, Monesteroli, and Punta Pineda along the coastline. Grab a chance to dip in the pristine waters of the Cinque Terre Natural Park. Marvel at the beauty of Monterosso al Mare, the last and most vibrant of the five villages. Here you can enjoy local specialties such as focaccia with anchovies or delicious gelato. Pass through the famous muscle farms while returning to La Spezia. 

La Spezia: Sunset Boat Tour with Aperitivo and Snacks

3. La Spezia: Sunset Boat Tour with Aperitivo and Snacks

Programme: We will be waiting for you at the embarkation point (Banchina Revel, La Spezia), 10 minutes before the departure time. With a 2-hour tour during the Golden Hour, starting from La Spezia (Banchina Revel), we will guide you through the secrets of the Gulf and the 3 Islands: - Torre Scola, an ancient military fort built in the 16th century and damaged during the Napoleonic wars - Portovenere, the true pearl of the Gulf, unrivalled in beauty and magic - The Roman Church of San Pietro, perched on the promontory of Portovenere is considered the most beautiful in the world - The Blue Cave in Palmaria, which turns golden at sunset - The historic Tino lighthouse, one of the few remaining lighthouses in Europe still in operation - The Madonna Stella Maris, which emerges from the waters in front of Tinetto and protects sailors and the Gulf - The ancient funicular railway used until the Second World War to load the precious marble from the local quarries onto ships - The many military installations and bunkers from the First and Second World War

La Spezia: Cruise to Porto Venere, Monterosso and Vernazza

4. La Spezia: Cruise to Porto Venere, Monterosso and Vernazza

Board the ferry at La Spezia and start your boat trip to Porto Venere. Cruise for approximately 30-minutes before reaching Porto Venere. Disembark the ferry for a walk through the town. Porto Venere is a fortified seaside village filled with colorful houses and medieval buildings. During your tour, you will pass the Church of San Pietro, one of the most religious buildings in all of Italy, before walking through narrow streets. Pass the Church of San Lorenzo and enjoy panoramic views at Doria's fortress. Before returning to the ferry, you’ll have some free time to explore Porto Venere on your own. Board the ferry and continue on your tour along the Cinque Terre coastline. Relax onboard for approximately 50 minutes as you pass by the seaside villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, and Corniglia. Next stop is Monterosso. Here you will reach the medieval center in a few steps, where you can admire the parish church dedicated to San John the Baptist. Then, admire the landscapes from Torre Aurora and the large beach by Fegina. Arrive at Vernazza, where you will disembark to explore the unique village. Walk around Vernazza, a small village with an imposing fortification system. Here you will see the Church Santa Margherita d'Antiochia and walk down the main street filled with colorful houses. Walk to a viewing point in the village and see views of Doria's fortress.

Cinque Terre & Portovenere: Boat Tour

5. Cinque Terre & Portovenere: Boat Tour

Departure at 10 a.m. from Passeggiata Morin, La Spezia, near the cruise terminal and the ferry embarkation point. The boat (10 metres) and the captain will be there waiting for you. You will sail along the borgate marinare, i.e. the small villages on the coast between La Spezia and Portovenere. You will see Torre Scola, an old military fortress built on a rock in the middle of the sea. We will pass through the archipelago consisting of the three islands, Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto, which are still unspoilt places, until we reach the romantic Portovenere. Here you can choose whether to go ashore for a short visit to the town and the famous church of San Pietro, overlooking the sea, or stay on the boat and dive into the turquoise waters between Palmaria Island and the village of Portovenere. Continuing the tour, we will have time to approach the world-famous Grotta Byron, the red rocks and swim in beautiful hidden coves, in the crystal-clear waters of Monesteroli or under the natural waterfall of Canneto. From here we will enter the 5 terre marine protected area. We will sail past the 5 villages (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso), you will have plenty of time to take your photos, listen to interesting stories and explanations from your captain and take another dip. During this tour there is also the possibility to go ashore and visit the villages of Vernazza or Monterosso. If you are lucky, you will be able to see the dolphins that habitually swim near our shores. On the way back we will visit Lerici and Tellaro and swim at the Caletta, described by the New York Times as the 'Thailand of the Mediterranean Sea'. The tour will end at 6 p.m. at the place of departure.

Portovenere: Isola Palmaria, Tino, and Tinetto Boat Tour

6. Portovenere: Isola Palmaria, Tino, and Tinetto Boat Tour

Ride by boat to three different islands all located in the majestic Gulf of Poets. Swim in the Ligurian Sea, and make visits to Palmaria, Tino, and Tinetto, and experience untouched natures in a completely unique environment. Snorkel and discover the underwater world, and relax on the boat for a true day at sea. Meet your captain and depart from Portovenere for a day of sightseeing and relaxation. Breathe in the salt air and experience the Torre Scola, a historical ruin that begs to be photographed and discussed. Then, make a swim stop at La Maiella and explore the marine world while snorkeling. Then, head to the lighthouse of Tino Island, where you can see the Madonnina emerge from the TInetto Sea. Find yourself next in the Blue Cave, and take some time to learn about the Church of San Pietro. Notice the nature all around and feel how it calms the nerves of a busy lifestyle. Before heading back to port, discover Saint Peter's Church, said to be one of the most beautiful in the world.

La Spezia: Sunset Boat Tour with Aperitif

7. La Spezia: Sunset Boat Tour with Aperitif

Enjoy the sunset from the water with an afternoon boat tour from La Spezia. Ride with ease across the water towards Palmaria Island, and make a visit to Portovenere Town.  Make stops along the way to swim directly from the boat, and enjoy an aperitif of local production as the sun sets and fills the sky with delicate colors.  Meet your captain and depart from Porto Mirabello towards Palmaria Island. Take in the sights as you enjoy the sensation of being at peace on the water. Discover the town of Portovenere and Parco delle cinque Terre and learn all about the area from your guide.  Taste provided appetizers, only from local products, such as fresh fruit and a glass of local wine. Stop and swim directly off of the boat, and finish the tour watching the sunset in a completely relaxing and serene environment. 

Milan: Cinque Terre Full-Day Guided Trip With Cruise

8. Milan: Cinque Terre Full-Day Guided Trip With Cruise

Explore the Cinque Terre, one of Italy's most scenic landscapes, on a guided day trip from Milan by van. See Cinque Terre from different perspectives from a boat and a train. After leaving Milan by coach, arrive in Monterosso al Mare, the largest of the Cinque Terre's 5 villages. With no car traffic, it remains one of the truest fishing villages on the Italian Riviera. Restaurants, bars, and accommodation all have an endearingly homespun air about them. From Monterosso, start the final leg of your journey: a boat cruise, where you can admire the stunning views of the Cinque Terre and the delightful village of Portovenere from the sea. Arrive at La Spezia where your coach will be waiting to take you back to Milan. These 5 enchanting medieval villages cling to the coast, offering a breathtaking sight of the sea, and are now part of a national park listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

From La Spezia: Cinque Terre Full-Day Boat Tour

9. From La Spezia: Cinque Terre Full-Day Boat Tour

Spend a full day navigating the beautiful landscape of Cinque Terre at a close range, with a peaceful boat trip along the coast. Meet your guide and depart from the Mirabello port of La Spezia. During the tour, visit Golfo Della Spezia, Portovenere, Palmaria island, Le Rosse, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. Take the opportunity to plunge into the refreshing waters for a swim or a snorkel. Feel free to stop as many times as you like wherever you like.  Arrive in Monterosso at lunchtime and enjoy a 1.5-hour stop to explore the town and find somewhere to eat lunch. After the break, meet your crew back at the boat and set sail back towards La Spezia. 

Portovenere: Guided Private Boat Tour With Aperitif

10. Portovenere: Guided Private Boat Tour With Aperitif

The tour starts with the visit of the Byron Cave, dedicated to the famous English writer Lord Byron. Then the trip continues with the discovery of the Blue Cave, a cave where the sea is cleary blue. After that, you can relax yourself tasting the delicious Ligurian food in front of Portovenere. If you want, before or after that, you can also jump in the sea for a refreshing swim stop. This experience is the perfect one for sealovers and for a gift to your partner. In this private boat you'll have all comforts that you need!

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What people are saying about Porto Venere

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 944 reviews

This tour was amazing! Whenever I’m looking to book a tour I always check the reviews, so I hope this is helpful! Both tour guides were great, helpful and super knowledgeable, taught us so much about the different regions and the special things about them, and the driver was great! I truly recommend this to anyone, it’s a wonderful way to spend your time. Bring comfy shoes because it’s very steep steps, and some water with you!

It was lovely nice scenery trip had lots of fun. Very good driver and friendly too. Had a wonderful lady tour guide. And the places we went too was amazing.

Great Tour. Valerio is an excellent driver. shared his knowledge on Italian tradition , wine and food.

Great boat tour of Cinque Terre with an unexpected stop for an hour in Monterosso.

Most enjoyable activity being on the water fabulous