Most Genoa shore excursions either leave the city for Portofino or stay in Genoa’s old town, the maze of alleys the locals call caruggi. We compared the best-reviewed option of each kind. Genoa: Portofino Guided Shore Excursion & Private Boat Tour is rated 4.7 across 85 reviews, from about $103 per person. 2 Hours Private Historical Tour in Genoa, by rickshaw, is rated 4.8 across 266 reviews, from about $110 for up to two people.
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The verdict
For a full port day, Genoa: Portofino Guided Shore Excursion & Private Boat Tour is our pick. It meets you a three-minute walk from the cruise terminal, handles the bus and the boat, and gives you two hours in Portofino, from about $103 per person when we checked. The listing promises a timely return to your ship, and a longer option adds a guided walk through Genoa’s historic center.
2 Hours Private Historical Tour in Genoa is the one for a short call, for families with small children or for anyone who wants to see Genoa itself. It is the better-rated of the two, 4.8 with 89% five stars, and it covers more of the old town in two hours than you would on foot.
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
The Portofino tour is a group of up to 50 travelers, not a private tour, despite the name: “private” refers to the bus and the boat. The rickshaw is open-air, and one reviewer’s tour was cut short by heavy rain, so check the forecast. Each rickshaw seats two adults and up to two children under six. For Genoa’s food, see our Genoa food tours.
Which one is for you?
Take the Portofino tour if
- Your ship is in port for most of the day.
- You want to see Portofino and the coast rather than the city.
- You want the bus, the boat and the timing handled for you.
- You like the idea of free time in the harbor with a focaccia stop on the way.
Take the rickshaw tour if
- You only have a few hours in port.
- You want to see Genoa’s old town, not leave it.
- You are a couple, or a family with children under six.
- You want a private guide and, for two people, a lower total price.
What each price covers
The Portofino tour
Included: a licensed bilingual tour leader, private transportation, the boat to Portofino with landing and facility fees, a focaccia tasting, and earphones for every participant. You get about two hours of free time in Portofino.
Not included: lunch, bottled water and tips.
The rickshaw tour
Included: the private rickshaw ride with a local driver-guide, through the caruggi of the Maddalena neighborhood and along Via San Lorenzo, starting from Piazza Sarzano. The tour ends back where it started.
Not listed as included: food, drinks and entrance tickets. The listing does not recommend it for pregnant travelers.
Where each one starts
- Portofino tour: the bus stop on Via Fanti d’Italia, about three minutes on foot from the cruise terminal. The tour ends back at the same point.
- Rickshaw tour: for cruise passengers, the street-side exit of the cruise terminal on Via Marinai d’Italia. Other travelers meet at the entrance of the Galata Museo del Mare.
Side by side
| Portofino tour | Rickshaw tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7 from 85 | 4.8 from 266 |
| Five-star reviews | 74 (87%) | 238 (89%) |
| Price | from about $103 per person | from about $110 per group of up to two |
| Length | 5.5 hours | 2 hours |
| Format | Group of up to 50, bus and boat | Private rickshaw with driver-guide |
| Where | Portofino, by bus and boat along the coast | Genoa’s old town |
| Return to ship | Timely return promised in the listing | Short tour, ends at the terminal area |
| Wheelchair accessible | No | No |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before | Free up to 24 hours before |
What travelers say
On the Portofino tour
Very informative and funny . Would recommend
Jennifer_C, September 2026, via Viator
On the rickshaw tour
Our guide and “driver” was very knowledgeable and provided us with fun facts and historical information at each of our stops.
Joel_P, July 2026, via Viator
after 1 1/4 hours heavy rain started and had to cancel remainder of tour.
Alan_W, September 2026, via Viator
Reviewers of the Portofino tour single out the guides and the scenery on the way. Reviewers of the rickshaw tour praise the stories along the route; the one recurring risk is the weather.
More of Genoa and the Ligurian coast
For the city, read our Genoa guide and our guide to Genoa food. To see Portofino from the water on a separate day, compare Portofino boat tours.
If your cruise calls at other Italian ports, compare our La Spezia shore excursions, Livorno shore excursions, Civitavecchia shore excursions and Naples shore excursions.
Questions travelers ask
Which Genoa shore excursion is best?
For a full port day, the Genoa: Portofino Guided Shore Excursion & Private Boat Tour: it is rated 4.7 across 85 reviews and started at about $103 per person when we checked. For a short call in the city, the 2 Hours Private Historical Tour in Genoa is rated 4.8 across 266 reviews.
Can I get to Portofino and back in one port day?
Yes, on the Portofino tour: it takes about 5.5 hours from the meeting point near the cruise terminal and back, with two hours of free time in Portofino.
Is the Portofino tour private?
No. Despite the name, it is a group tour of up to 50 travelers; the bus and the boat are reserved for the group. The rickshaw tour is private.
What if it rains?
The rickshaw is open-air, and one reviewer’s tour ended early in heavy rain. Both tours allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, so check the forecast the day before.
Can I cancel?
Both offer a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start, as shown on Viator in September 2026. Check the terms again when you book.
Book the Portofino tour for the coast on a full port day; book the rickshaw tour for Genoa’s old town on a short call.
Editorial assessment by Italy2Love, September 2026. Inclusions and exclusions, meeting points, itineraries, group sizes, prices, ratings, review counts and cancellation terms read on both Viator product pages (product codes 6404P91 and 87129P3), September 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review March 2027, or sooner on any change to either option.