If you prefer upscale flair and superstar sightings to trail-filled seaside villages, then skip the Cinque Terre and head to Portofino, whose harbor is perhaps the best known in all of Italy for multimillion-dollar megayachts squeezed side-by-side. As you might imagine based on that level of clientele, Portofino's tourist-laden restaurants and hotels are not for the faint of pocketbook. Still, there's a reason those in the know choose to come here: The colorful harbor is absolutely mesmerizing in its beauty.

There are a few churches that you can tour in Portofino, but the main activity is caféing — yes, that's café being used as a verb — in which you spend hours sipping your espresso or cappuccino and watching the crowds of perfectly primped jetsetters meander along the harborside. Sure, there are a good number of T-shirt-wearing tourists around, but the overall scene is well-to-do. Wear a wide-brimmed hat or a pair of fancy leather sandals and you'll fit right in. There are shops along the harbor where you can rent small boats for day trips, often with skippers, and snorkeling trips are also an option.