Portofino

Yes, they're real, and they apply specifically to the Piazzetta (the small square at the harbor) and the Umberto I quay — not the entire village. The ordinance, in effect since Easter 2023, prohibits stopping or lingering in those two zones between 10:30am and 6pm during peak season, with fines up to €275. Walking through and taking a photo as you go is fine. Setting up a tripod, sitting on the wall, or hanging around the quay edge is what gets fined. In practice the rule is enforced loosely on quiet days and visibly on busy ones with multiple ships in.

Yes — it's the view you came for. From the harbor, follow the signed path past the church of San Giorgio; the climb is steep but short, about 10–15 minutes of stairs and stone path, and the castle terrace looks straight down on your ship at anchor. Admission is €10 from April through early November and €5 in winter (cash only, ticket office at the gate, no online booking). Hours are 10am–7pm in summer, 10am–6pm in shoulder season, 10am–4pm in winter. A combined park-and-castle ticket is also available. Wear shoes you can climb in — the path is paved but uneven.

Yes, and no — easier than the Castello Brown climb, just longer. From Castello Brown, a shaded coastal path continues out to Punta del Capo and the lighthouse at the tip of the Portofino peninsula. Allow 25–35 minutes one way from the castle, mostly flat with some stone steps, through the protected Portofino Regional Park. There's a small bar at the lighthouse that opens seasonally for espresso and a cliff view over the Ligurian Sea. Bring water and don't start the walk if you have less than two hours before all-aboard.

Ferry, if the schedule lines up. The Servizio Marittimo del Tigullio runs the Portofino–Santa Margherita line several times a day in season; round-trip fares from Portofino to Santa Margherita are roughly €9, the ride is about 15 minutes, and the views back at the village from the water are better than any photo you can take from land. Bus 782 (run by ATP) also connects the two towns in about 25–30 minutes for a few euros, but the road is twisty and standing-room-only on cruise days. A taxi runs roughly €40–50. Skip the taxi unless you're a group of four with limited time.

Realistic only if your ship is in by 8am and out no earlier than 6pm, and you accept that it'll feel rushed. The Servizio Marittimo del Tigullio runs a seasonal 'Super 5 Terre' ferry from Santa Margherita Ligure (not Portofino directly) to the Cinque Terre on selected Wednesdays and Saturdays from late May through July, around €47 round-trip. From Portofino that means: tender in, ferry or bus to Santa Margherita, board the Super 5 Terre, and reverse the whole sequence in time for all-aboard. The math works, barely. If you've never been, it's worth it; if you have, stay in Portofino and walk the lighthouse path.

Driving into Portofino is restricted in practice and a bad idea even when permitted. The road in from Santa Margherita is a single narrow ribbon along the cliff with very limited public parking at the village edge — when the daily lots fill, traffic is turned back. None of this matters for a cruise day: you tender directly into the harbor and walk. If you've booked an independent excursion that involves a private car, your driver will know the access rules and most likely drop you near Piazza della Libertà before turning around.