Venice, Portofino, Florence by helicopter: the coast-and-canal day trips

The argument for a helicopter is rarely the flight. It is that Venice, Portofino and Florence all sit at exactly the distance from Milan where the road eats the day: three to four hours each way, arriving tired, leaving early. By air each becomes a real day in the place.

Venice — from €5,750 Early departure to the Venice Lido, the whole day in the city, return in the afternoon or evening depending on the season. A water taxi from the Lido to the historic centre is arranged on request and is the correct way to arrive: San Marco basin from the water at nine in the morning, before the first cruise tenders.

If you would rather drive and hand over at Piazzale Roma, the Milan to Venice guide sets out that route and the boat handover.

Portofino / Rapallo — from €4,700 Forty minutes and you are on the Ligurian coast. Land at Rapallo, then a short car or boat leg into Portofino itself — the village restricts vehicle access and the harbour approach by water is better anyway. Lunch at the harbour, an afternoon at Paraggi or up at San Fruttuoso, home by evening.

The road version, its timings and the village's access rules are in the Milan to Portofino guide.

Forte dei Marmi — from €5,150 Tuscany's establishment beach town: the Wednesday market, the bathing clubs with generational memberships, the Apuan Alps behind. Straightforward from the air, tedious by road.

Florence — from €5,650 Long enough for the Uffizi, a lunch and a walk, without the four-hour A1 in either direction. Museum slots, a private guide and a table are arranged before you fly; Florence without a booked entry is a queue.

What the prices include Per aircraft, VAT excluded, return the same day, with flight time and landing taxes covered and the crew waiting for you. Airport-based landings — Venice and Florence — carry higher handling fees than a lake field, which is already reflected above.

Water taxis, guides, restaurants, beach clubs and ground cars at the destination are extra and settled locally. Our concierge arranges all of them, so the day arrives assembled rather than as a flight plus a list of things to sort out.

When it is worth it and when it is not Worth it: one day, a specific destination, four to six people, good weather, and time that costs more than the aircraft. Not worth it: heavy luggage, marginal weather over the Apennines, or a party of two where a chauffeured [S-Class](/atlas/mercedes-fleet-explained) does the same job for a tenth of the price and does not care about cloud.

We will tell you honestly which of the two you are. Write to the concierge below with your date and party size.