Portofino

Portofino is a fishing village on the Italian Riviera that became a playground for the wealthy. Ships anchor in the bay and tender passengers to the tiny harbour, where pastel-coloured buildings ring the waterfront. The Piazzetta, the small square at the harbour, has expensive cafés and is the main gathering point. The village is very small, and you can walk its entirety in 30 minutes. Castello Brown, above the village, has gardens and views over the bay and the Ligurian coast. The Church of San Giorgio is a short uphill walk. A longer trail leads to the Faro (lighthouse) at the tip of the peninsula, about a 30-minute walk through olive groves. Boat trips run to San Fruttuoso Abbey, a medieval building in a secluded cove. Portofino is expensive: expect to pay premium prices for food and drinks. Fresh pesto and focaccia are the local staples. The euro is the currency.