A Travel Price Comparison for Italy Portofino vs. Livorno for Couples, Food, Nightlife, and Beaches

Should you visit Portofino or Livorno?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Portofino or Livorno? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Portofino

Portofino is a exclusive, luxurious, and glamorous seaside village. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. It's also popular because of the shopping, nightlife, and food.

Livorno

Livorno is a waterfront, friendly, and down-to-earth port city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the food, shopping, and nightlife.

Portofino and Livorno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Portofino or Livorno?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Portofino. Although Portofino and Livorno are both popular with visitors, Portofino has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Portofino is more popular for its food, nightlife, resorts, beaches, historical sights, hiking, shopping, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Livorno is known for its big city activities. Portofino is more touristy than Livorno and is popular for its picturesque harbor, high end shopping, strikingly blue waters, and popularity with superyachts. It is also home to its scenic harbor. Livorno is popular for its large port and its great seafood.

Its scenic harbor

How is Portofino different from Livorno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Livorno and Portofino. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Portofino or Livorno?

Plenty of people visit the decent sights and museums in both Portofino and Livorno.

Portofino offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. The village is mostly about soaking up the atmosphere, but you can also visit sights such as Sun Church of St. George and Cervara Abbey.

While most people don't head to Livorno specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. The waterfront promenade and New Venice are nice to explore. There's an aquarium in town as well as a fun central market.

Is the Food Better in Portofino or Livorno? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Portofino is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Livorno is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Portofino has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Located by the sea, you'll enjoy tons of great seafood here. Make sure you try the mussels, swordfish, and salt cod.

Livorno offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. As a port city, this is the place to try seafood. Many dishes include calamari, shrimp, or freshly caught fish. The city is less touristy than most in Italy, so even the food has an authentic and down-to-earth vibe.

Is Portofino or Livorno Better for Nightlife?

Portofino is great for its evening party scene. Also, Livorno is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for nightlife.

Many people head to Portofino for the nightlife scene. Most of the nightlife is found around Piazzetta (Oliveri Square) and Molo Umberto I. Happy hours (aperitivo) start around 5pm or 6pm and then as the evening continues, the party often moves to Paraggi Beach.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Livorno. Most visitors arrive by cruise ship, and depart in the evening, but the city is large and for those that stay the night, there are a number of bars and clubs around town.

Is Portofino or Livorno Better for Resorts?

Portofino is renowned for its luxury resorts. However, Livorno is not a resort destination.

Portofino offers an unforgettable resort vacation. Known for it's exclusive luxury, there are a number of high end resorts in the area. Popular options include Splendido, Sublimis Boutique Hotel, and Grand Hotel Miramare.

Livorno is not a resort destination.

Is Portofino or Livorno Better for Beaches?

Portofino is a nice place to visit for the beach. However, Livorno is not a good destination for its beaches.

Portofino has a beach worth visiting. Like much of the Italian coast, the beaches in the area are dramatic and beautiful. They're also rocky and pebbly and can get a bit crowded during the summer months.

Livorno is a good spot to see the beach. The beaches are pebbly or rocky, so you won't really find a long stretch of sandy beach where you can relax. They can also stay very crowded.

Is Portofino or Livorno Better for its Old Town?

Portofino is great for its historic old town charm. However, Livorno does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Portofino to see the historical old town. Despite evolving into a famous resort town, Portofino still holds on to its fishing village charm.

Livorno does not have a historic old town.

Is Portofino or Livorno Better for Hiking?

Portofino is great for hiking. However, Livorno is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Portofino for the hiking trails. There are many beautiful hikes and treks along the coastline that pass by scenic landscapes and breathtaking views.

Livorno is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Portofino or Livorno?

Portofino is great for its shopping areas. Also, Livorno is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Portofino. The quaint cobblestone streets are lined with high end boutiques that target the opulent jet-setter crowd that frequents Portofino. Much of the shopping is around Martiri dell'Olivetta Square.

Livorno is a great destination for shopping. The main shopping street in town is Via Grande. It's generally filled with major chain stores and familiar brands.

Is Portofino or Livorno Better for Families?

Livorno is a popular place for its family-friendly activities. However, Portofino is a mediocre seaside village for its kid-friendly activities.

Livorno is a family-friendly place to visit. The city has a nice aquarium as well as outdoor recreational activities like cycling and boating. There's a beach and parks where kids can stretch their legs and run around as well.

Portofino is not always a place people visit with their families. The town has a picturesque setting and some beautiful pebbly beaches. It's fun for kids to run around the town, explore by kayak, or play in the waters edge.

Is Portofino or Livorno Better for Couples?

Portofino is renowned for couples. Also, Livorno is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for romance.

Portofino has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. Set beautifully against the ocean's edge, this famous Italian town makes for a truly romantic holiday. Ogle the mega yachts in the harbor and then wander the charming streets while you soak in the atmosphere.

Livorno is a nice destination for couples. There are some nice museums as well as parks and boat rides that couples can enjoy. There's also an aquarium and a beach.

Is Portofino or Livorno Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Livorno is a popular place for its public transit. However, Portofino is a mediocre seaside village for times when you don't have a car.

Livorno has a few public transit options. There are buses around town including lines that run from the central train station to the port.

Public transit is mostly limited in Portofino. The closet train stations are Santa Margherita Ligure and Camogli. You can catch a bus from the Santa Margherita train station. There are also some ferry options.

Is Portofino or Livorno a more walkable city?

Portofino is renowned for its ease of walking around. Also, Livorno is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its walkability.

Portofino is a very easy seaside village to get around on foot. It's easy to walk around the village and then explore the countryside on one of the nearby trails.

Livorno is somewhat walkable. Parts of the city are walkable, but if you're arriving by cruise ship, you'll want to take a shuttle bus from the port.

For even more information, also check out Is Portofino Worth Visiting? and Is Livorno Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Livorno or Portofino?

How long in Portofino or Livorno?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Portofino or Livorno to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Portofino than Livorno because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Portofino, and 1-2 days is enough time in Livorno.

Families should spend more time in Portofino than Livorno. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Portofino, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Portofino than Livorno. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Portofino that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Portofino than Livorno if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Portofino.

One day in Portofino or Livorno?

Portofino is a small town with plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This seaside village offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

You'll find food and shopping around the port city of Livorno. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Livorno has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Portofino or Livorno?

Portofino might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Portofino has to offer.

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the down-to-earth destination of Livorno. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this port city has to offer. This port city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Portofino or Livorno?

Portofino is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Portofino has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the friendly port city of Livorno. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Portofino or Livorno?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Portofino. Since Portofino is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. It's also a relaxing resort destination. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Livorno is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Italy, The Best 10-Day Tours in Italy, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Italy, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Portofino and Livorno, we can see that Portofino is more expensive. And not only is Livorno much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Livorno would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Livorno and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Portofino would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Portofino than you might in Livorno.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Portofino Expensive? and Is Livorno Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Portofino or Livorno?

Livorno has a larger population, and is about 300 times larger than the population of Portofino. When comparing the sizes of Portofino and Livorno, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.