It’s probably never going to happen but from the first time I saw a picture of what it looks like in Portofino Italy I have wanted to go there. Only problem for me is I have to get on an airplane to get there and that’s going to require getting over my fear of flying. That plus the fact that I don’t have money to afford to travel to the next state much less to travel to Europe. And from what I’ve read, Portofino is for super rich people.

About Portofino

Portofino (Italian pronunciation: [?p?rto’fi?no]; Ligurian: Portofin) is an Italian fishing village and upmarket resort famous for its picturesque harbour and historical association with celebrity visitors. It is a comune located in the province of Genoa on the Italian Riviera. The town is crowded round its small harbour, is closely associated with Paraggi Beach, which is a few minutes up the coast. Other nearby beaches include Camogli, Chiavari, Lavagna, and Sestri Levante.

Note the comment about “upmarket resort”. That means it essentially appeals or caters to high-income consumers. So ya, Portofino will probably remain a fantasy; but you never know what might happen. My fortunes could change. For now I thought I’d pretend that I have a trip to Portofino coming up in a few weeks. It will be my birthday present to myself.

What to pack for your trip to Portofino Italy

What you pack for your trip to Portofino Italy is going to depend on the time of year you visit. According to tripadvisor.com there’s no bad time of year to visit Portofino. Although the major tourist season is during the summer, Fall and Winter are also great times to visit. And of course Spring. But since I will be visiting Portofino (in my dreams) next month November, I’m going to need to pack according to the average Fall and Winter temperatures.

Portofino has a mostly moderate climate; however the months of July and August can feel warm because the higher temperatures (averaging approximately eighty five to ninety degrees during the day) can be exacerbated by the humidity. Despite this, there are sometimes cool breezes coming off of the water and most visitors find that the days are relatively pleasant. In the late spring and early autumn, visitors will find that they get the best of both worlds, with the temperatures being cooler and slightly less humid during the day but not especially colder at night.

Winter is also a pleasant time to visit the area. Temperatures get cooler but almost never drop below freezing. (source)

As you can see from the chart, November is a bit on the cool side in Portofino. I won’t exactly be packing tank tops, summer dresses and sandals; but I won’t be needing the winter coats and boots, hats, gloves, scarves and leg warmers required in November out here in the midwest.

If visiting Portofino any time between October and April

1. A couple of bright cardigans
2. Sleeveless tops to wear under your cardigans
3. Long sleeved blouses suited for cool weather
4. One or two blazers
5. A light jacket
6. A pullover sweater
7. Wide leg trousers
8. A pair of jeans in case of need
9. A midi skirt and a maxi skirt
10. Ballerina flats
11. A couple of cocktail dresses in the event of attending a cocktail party. You might have more than one party to attend or you might have a mishap with one dress and need a backup.
12. A more casual evening dress for wearing out to dinner
13. Black pumps, nude pumps
14. A pair of trainers or canvas sneakers
15. A tote bag that works with most of your planned outfits
16. A shoulder bag and clutch to choose from for your evening dresses
17. A selection of jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings)
18. Two or three pairs of sunglasses
19. Appropriate intimates

If visiting Portofino any time between May and September

Some months between May and September might still be a little cool in the evenings so you’ll need to pack a light jacket or blazer and/or cardigans.

1. A few short summer dresses
2. One or two long summer dress
3. Selection of bikinis
4. Bikini cover-up
5. Flat sandals
6. A pair of flip flops
7. A floppy sun hat
8. Capris
9. A few pairs of shorts
10. A cardigan in case of need
11. A light jacket in case of need
12. A pair of jeans
13. A colorful print mini skirt
14. A white silk blouse
15. Extra blouses long and short-sleeved
16. Some tank tops
17. A couple of summer cocktail dresses in the event of attending a party.
18. A more casual evening dress for wearing out to dinner
19. White pumps, nude pumps, black pumps
20. Strappy sandals
21. A pair of trainers or canvas sneakers
22. A straw tote and another tote bag that works with most of your planned outfits
23. A shoulder bag and clutch to choose from for your evening dresses
24. A selection of jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings)
25. Two or three pairs of sunglasses
26. Appropriate intimates

Image credits:

• Portofino cafe tourist scene/tourists walking copyright: akulamatiau / 123RF Stock Photo
• Woman in peach sweater and jeans copyright: haveseen / 123RF Stock Photo