How to Get From Portofino Bay to the Parks & Citywalk (Transportation Guide)

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel feels like you’re stepping into a little slice of Italy right in the middle of Universal.

I love staying here because it combines beautiful theming, great dining, and one of the biggest perks around -> Incredibly easy access to the theme parks and CityWalk with multiple transportation options.

Universal really nailed the transportation here, and it’s a big reason I recommend this resort to so many of my clients.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how transportation works from Portofino Bay, so you know what to expect when you arrive and can choose what fits your plans best.

Getting to Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida, and CityWalk (3 ways)

These two theme parks and CityWalk all share the same main entrance complex, so getting to them is exactly the same.

#1. Ride on the Water Taxi (FREE)

My favorite way to get to the CityWalk area from Portofino Bay is to take the free water taxis. Once the boat starts moving, it is a relatively quick ride (under 10 minutes), as you journey through the canals.

The water taxi area is super easy to find. Just walk out the back of Portofino Bay Resort and head towards the water. You will see the dock and boats sticking out.

There are a few other huge benefits to taking the water taxi from Portofino Bay. First, you will actually go through security at the resort! This saves a lot of time versus standing in line for security with the general public at CityWalk, who either took a bus or drove themselves.

Another benefit is that the water taxi drops you off directly in the middle of CityWalk. You will be right next to the NBC Sports Grill restaurant. From here, it’s about a 1-minute walk to Universal Studios Florida and a 3-minute walk to Islands of Adventure.

In the map below, I drew a red circle around where you will find the water taxis at Portofino Bay. The red line and arrow is the path the boat will take to get to CityWalk, Universal Studios, and Islands of Adventure.

#2. Walk!

One underrated perk I love about Portofino Bay’s location is that you can easily walk to CityWalk, Islands of Adventure, and Universal Studios. There are times we walk out to the water taxis, and we see one just pulling away from the dock. Instead of sitting there for 15 minutes, we just take the easy-to-follow walking path!

To find the walking path, walk out the back of Portofino Bay and veer right, keeping the water on your left.

Keep following this walkway until you come to the sign (pictured below). From here, the path is incredibly well-marked as you continue to follow the water.

The last time I walked from Portofino to CityWalk, it took roughly 15 minutes. As you enter CityWalk, you will actually be right next to the entrance to Universal Studios. Add on another 5 minutes of walking to arrive at Islands of Adventure.

Below is a picture of where you enter CityWalk, walking from Portofino. I haven’t mentioned yet that you will have a separate, private security line by walking! Taking the bus does not get you this benefit.

I have marked on the map below how you would begin the walk at Portofino Bay.

If your room is on the east side of Portofino, you can walk around the southside of Portofino Bay Lake to connect to the walking path.

#3. Take the bus shuttle (FREE)

Another easy way to get to the CityWalk area is to take the complimentary buses that Universal provides.

You will find the bus stop near the front lobby. As you walk out, turn left. You can’t miss it!

You can relax in the shade and sit on a bench until the next bus shows up. Universal typically has buses arriving every 15 minutes or so.

Once you’re on the bus, it’s a short ride to the CityWalk entrance (5-10 minutes). You’ll be dropped off at the main transportation hub near CityWalk, where you’ll walk through security and then on to either park. Please know this is not a private security line, as you get by taking the water taxi or walking.

Getting to Epic Universe (2 ways)

Epic Universe is Universal’s brand-new theme park, located a few miles south of the main CityWalk area. Because of that distance, transportation looks a little different. Specifically, you can’t walk or take a water taxi to Epic Universe.

#1. Complimentary bus shuttles

The only free way that Universal provides to get to Epic is to take the bus.

Pickup will be in the same spot as the other buses, and the trip should take around 15–20 minutes, depending on traffic.

Make sure to pay attention to where the bus is going, so you don’t accidentally head to CityWalk when you’re trying to go to Epic, or vice versa. It should be clearly marked on the bus, or you can ask the driver to double-check.

You will go through the security line once you arrive at the park.

#2. Rideshare/Taxi

If you’d rather skip waiting for a bus, Uber or Lyft is a great option. The ride is usually shorter in a rideshare because they can go faster and maneuver better than a giant motorcoach bus.

I also like that I can order a ride through the app while I’m in my room, and I can walk down to the lobby entrance when I know it’s arriving.

Pricing is subject to change based on dates and availability, but my rides around Universal are almost always under $15.

Getting to Volcano Bay Water Park (2 ways)

The ways to get to Volcano Bay are the same as getting to Epic Universe.

You can either take the shuttle bus or schedule an Uber/Lyft.

Technically, there is a third way. You could take the water taxi to CityWalk. Then take another water taxi from CityWalk to Sapphire Falls Resort. Once you are at Sapphire Falls, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the front of Volcano Bay.

In my opinion, it’s much easier to just wait for the bus at Portofino or spend $10 on a rideshare.

Can you drive yourself from Portofino Bay?

Yes, you can absolutely drive if you rented a car or brought your own. Portofino Bay has self-parking on site, and from there, you can drive to Universal’s main parking garages next to CityWalk, then walk through security and into CityWalk, which connects to both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.

Epic Universe has its own dedicated parking lot, located at 1001 Epic Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32819.

That said, driving yourself is usually the least appealing option from Portofino Bay. You’re paying to park at the resort and then paying again to park at the theme parks, which adds up quickly. Unlike Disney, Universal doesn’t discount theme park parking just because you’re staying at one of its hotels.

Personally, I would never drive myself to CityWalk, Universal Studios Florida, or Islands of Adventure from Portofino Bay. Between the parking costs and the extra steps, it doesn’t save time and definitely doesn’t feel worth it when you have better options.

I might consider driving to Epic Universe since it’s farther away and not connected by water taxi or a walking path. Even then, I usually recommend a rideshare instead. Uber or Lyft will drop you closer to the entrance, and in most cases it ends up costing less than parking.

Portofino Bay Transportation tips

The walking paths from Portofino Bay are safe and well-lit. I love using them to come home at night when it’s quiet and peaceful.

The water taxi is one of the biggest perks of staying here. It’s relaxing, scenic, and drops you right at CityWalk, often faster than any other option.

Having a short security line by walking or taking a boat is a huge benefit and can save a lot of time.

Rideshares can be great if you’re heading to Epic Universe or Volcano Bay, and short on time or just don’t want to deal with buses or parking.

Between the water taxi, walking paths, and buses, Portofino Bay makes getting around Universal surprisingly easy and very flexible, which is exactly why I love recommending it.