By train: The nearest station is La Spezia Centrale, served by trains on the Genova–Livorno line. From La Spezia, take a bus or taxi the remaining 13 km to Portovenere.
By car: From the A12 motorway (Genova–Livorno), exit at La Spezia. Follow the SS1 (Via Aurelia) and then the local road southwest toward Portovenere. The drive from Genoa is about 95 km. Parking in the village is very limited; there is a car park at the entrance to the old town.
By ferry: Ferries connect Portovenere with La Spezia, Lerici, and the Cinque Terre villages throughout the day in summer. This is the most scenic way to arrive and avoids the parking problem entirely. The ferry also runs to Palmaria island.
By air: The nearest airport is Genoa Cristoforo Colombo (GOA), about 95 km north.