11 Best Things to Do in Rapallo, Italy

Rapallo, Italy, is a small seaside town on Italy’s Ligurian coast within a stone’s throw of the most glamorous spots on the Italian Riviera. I based here when I was traveling around the Italian Riviera a few years ago and it ended up being the perfect place.

Rapallo is a popular town for Italian tourists, but you’ll find very few foreigners here. That, plus a dose of grittiness amongst the pretty beaches, keeps things feeling genuine and super local.

I’ll be honest — once you get away from the waterfront, Rapallo is a bit gritty, and that might put off some travelers. It’s not an ugly town, by any means, and the town center is pleasantly pretty — but it’s nothing like the dramatic cliff-top villages of the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre here.

Personally, I like a city with a little edge (it’s why Naples and Palermo are two of my favorites). It’s usually a sign that there are great restaurants here — which is certainly true in Rapallo. Plus, Rapallo has a beautiful beach and the waterfront is a nice spot to photograph.

Overall, Italians travel to Rapallo because they love it here. (They actually sell “F*ck it, let’s go to Rapallo” tote bags in the stores. I still regret not buying one.)

Best of all, Rapallo is easily connected to towns all over the coast, including Cinque Terre, Portofino, and Camogli. You can hop on a train, bus, or ferry, explore a few new towns on the Italian Riviera for the day, and be back in Rapallo in time for a delicious seaside dinner.

This post was published in January 2025 and was co-written by Adventurous Kate and Riana Ang-Canning.

Best Things to Do in Rapallo, Italy

Stroll along the promenade

One of the first things you must do in Rapallo is take a walk along the seaside promenade. Here you’ll see other tourists and locals enjoying the passeggiatta strolling ritual as you admire the historic buildings, swaying palm trees, and beautiful water. 

The promenade, officially named Lungomare Vittorio Veneto, is where you’ll find Rapallo’s famous Thursday market, Mercato del Giovedì. Depending on the time of year, you may also be able to see Christmas or Easter markets, summer festivals, sporting events, and concerts along the promenade. 

As you walk along the Vittorio Veneto Promenade, you’ll be walking past many of Rapallo’s main attractions. From the 16th century castle in the east to the modern marina to the west, you’ll pass Casa Garibalda, the Octopus Fountain, statues, gardens, and beaches. 

Dine with Rapallo locals

I never pass up a chance to enjoy the best regional Italian food, especially when it’s served in an Italian home! 

In this private local dining experience, you’ll be welcomed into a family home in Rapallo for a delicious lunch or dinner. Your experience starts in the kitchen where your host will do a quick cooking demonstration to better explain the foods you’ll be eating.

Next, you’ll tuck into a four-course meal of Ligurian specialties complete with a starter, pasta, main, dessert, and local wine. Throughout the meal, you’ll get to know your host and their family, as well as learn more about food from this region of Liguria.

You’ll leave with a full stomach, a wealth of knowledge, and new local friends! 

Learn to make pesto

Pesto, arguably one of the best uses of basil possible, originated in the Liguria region of Italy. Here, the basil is second to none. Traditionally, pesto was made with a mortar and pestle, which is exactly how you’ll learn to make it in this pesto cooking class.

Class begins with a toast of sparkling wine, followed by information about how to prepare pesto. Your guide will assist as you learn to make pesto the authentic Ligurian way.

After your hard work, you’ll be able to taste the fruits of your labor. You’ll also enjoy an olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting with fresh focaccia.

Just don’t be surprised if you look at jarred pesto with contempt for the rest of your life!

Join the locals for aperitivo

Aperitivo is one of my favorite Italian traditions: heading out for a pre-dinner drink with some light bites or snacks. In Rapallo, where summer nights draw big crowds, you’ll see the streets become a hive of activity just before dinnertime. Everyone finds their favorite aperitivo place and sits down at an outdoor table for a cocktail and some snacks.

Charlie and I enjoyed a bunch of great aperitivo evenings, and one spot we especially liked was I Papi Neri. This area is stacked with tons of great aperitivo bars.

So while you’re in Rapallo, do as the locals do! Treat yourself to an aperitivo after a big day of exploring the coast. It’s the best way to watch the sun go down and start appeasing the beginning of your hunger.

Take the cable car to Santuario Basilica di Montallegro

Santuario Basilica di Montallegro, or The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montallegro, is a beautiful church set high on a hill inland from Rapallo. The sanctuary sits just over 2000 feet above sea level and the best way to get there from Rapallo is by cable car. 

Departing every 10 to 30 minutes, the seven-minute cable car ride will take you high above the hills and beaches of Rapallo. Along the way, you’ll enjoy beautiful coastal views until you reach the top, where the 16th-century church awaits you. 

Explore the ancient church where you’ll find a marble facade, beautiful paintings, stained glass, and figurines. The top of the hill also has a restaurant and some hiking paths. You can even hike up or down if you don’t want to take the cable car. 

Relax at the beaches

There are a number of public beaches and private beach clubs (bagni) in and around Rapallo. Close to the town center are the public beaches Pomaro and San Michele. Pomaro is a small beach with nice views of the town, while San Michele is a rocky beach with easy sea access and bright water.   

But for a more serene environment, I recommend heading closer to Portofino, where you’ll find a few highly-rated beaches like Paraggi Beach and Niasca Beach (both a 15-minute drive from Rapallo). Paraggi has a mix of concrete and sand terrain, plus lots of beachside amenities Niasca is more of a hidden gem accessed only by foot or boat.

One of the nicest beaches in the area is in Sestri Levante, a town located about 25 minutes from Rapallo by car. Here the beach is split into two, Baia del Silenzio (Bay of Silence) and the Baia delle Favole (Bay of Fairy Tales). Head to the Bay of Silence for a relaxing and tranquil beach day or head to the Bay of Fairy Tales for cafes and water activities. Both bays offer beautiful views of the Ligurian Sea! 

Visit the Rapallo Castle

The Rapallo Castle is a landmark in town, jutting out over the water along the Gulf of Rapallo. The castle was originally built as part of the town walls in the 16th Century to defend the coast and discourage pirate attacks. 

After later being used as a prison, the castle finally became a sightseeing landmark and home to local events and exhibits in the 1990’s. Each year on July 3rd in celebration of Our Lady of Montallegro, the castle is lit up with colorful fireworks and smoke. 

Learn about lace at Villa Tigullio 

Villa Tigullio is a historical landmark in Rapallo, a home once belonging to the Spinola family and now hosting important cultural collections for the town. Inside Villa Tigullio you’ll find the Lace Museum and the International Library.

Head to the Lace Museum to learn about the history of bobbin lace, which has been produced in Liguria since the 16th Century. Check out the different tools and designs, plus enjoy looking at lots of lace pieces that were made in the Rapallo lace and embroidery factory, which closed in 1968. 

The outside of the villa is quite impressive as well. The grounds surrounding it are part of Parco Casale, a beautiful place to walk amongst greenery and rare plants. It’s also a good place for bird watching or to look out over the sea views. 

See the Hannibal Bridge

Rapallo’s Hannibal Bridge, or Ponte di Annibale, is a single-arch stone bridge and one of the oldest structures in town. The existence of the bridge was first recorded in 1049 but the exact date it was built is unknown.

It’s not known how the bridge got its name. The rumor was that the bridge was used by Carthaginian commander Hannibal in the Second Punic War. However, there is no historical data to suggest Hannibal was anywhere near Rapallo at the time — and no information about how his name became associated with the bridge. 

Today the bridge is simply an ancient structure to admire from afar, as access has been closed to the public. Despite not being a functional bridge, it still makes for a nice photo op during your time in Rapallo. 

Spend a day in Cinque Terre

Of course, no trip to the Italian Riviera is complete without a visit to Cinque Terre, the famous five coastal towns known for their colorful homes and sheer cliffs. However, staying overnight in Cinque Terre is both expensive and tricky with bags, as the towns are steep and full of stairs.

Instead, it’s super-easy to visit Cinque Terre from Rapallo (in fact, that’s what I did myself!). From May to October, there is a daily ferry that connects Rapallo to the towns of Cinque Terre; year-round, you can easily take a train to the town of Monterosso al Mare, which takes about 40 minutes, and hop on the local train to explore the four other towns from there.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cinque Terre is made up of five towns that are connected by train, boat, and hiking paths. Keep in mind that the boat service is seasonal, and sections of the hiking path are often closed due to weather and repairs. 

Each town — Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore — is unique in their own way, though they all share beautiful views. Monterosso is the only town with a large swimming beach; Vernazza and Riomaggiore are each pleasant to walk around; Corniglia is different, inland and up high; and Manarola has the ultimate postcard shot of Cinque Terre, which I recommend visiting just before sunset.

Enjoy exploring each town and discovering what makes this area so special. But be warned, it will be packed during the summer months! 

Read More: Guide to the 5 Towns of Cinque Terre

Visit other Italian Riviera towns

Rapallo is an excellent town to base yourself in if you want to explore other towns of the Italian Riviera. Here are a few of my favorites, and how to reach them from Rapallo. 

In fact, you could easily make a loop, exploring Santa Margherita Ligure, Portofino, San Fruttuoso, and Camogli, before heading back. Genoa is better to do on its own.

Santa Margherita Ligure: From Rapallo, it’s an easy 10-minute drive, bus or train ride, or 15-minute boat ride to Santa Margherita Ligure. You could also walk there in around 45 minutes. Once there you can admire the colorful homes and hundreds of boats, visit the beaches, and enjoy local fresh seafood. This city is larger and more middle-class than its more famous neighbor, Portofino.   

Portofino: From Rapallo, it’s a 20-minute drive, 35-minute bus and train ride, or 30-minute boat ride to Portofino. You likely know Portofino as a hot vacation spot for the rich and famous, and the small town is lined with luxury boutiques. The cafes are nice, but be warned — I paid 30 euros for two affogatos once. About five times what it would cost most other places!

San Fruttuoso: Lovely San Fruttuoso is only accessible by boat (unless you hike in), with the journey taking about one hour. Once there you’ll be met by a beautiful beach, a medieval Romanesque Abbey, and a charming village. San Fruttuoso is lovely, but super tiny — this pairs well with Portofino.

Camogli: Camogli might be my favorite town on the Italian Riviera! It’s relaxing, gorgeous, there is a nice, huge pebbly beach with bright turquoise water, the seafood is delicious, and the houses are painted in the trademark sun-drenched shades of Liguria. Camogli is much more popular with Italians than international tourists — I find it similar to Rapallo that way, but prettier overall.

Genoa: Genoa, known as Genova in Italy, is the main city of Liguria and a 30-45 minute train ride from Rapallo. The city feels like a baby Naples and is pretty gritty — but I loved the dark alleyways of the old town, filled with tiny bars serving super-cheap wine. I loved exploring the dark and narrow alleys of Genova and popping into different wine bars around the city. I also enjoyed the little beach in the colorful neighborhood of Boccadasse.

How Much Time to Spend in Rapallo, Italy

Since Rapallo is a smaller port town, you can easily see the main sights in a single day. You could maybe stretch that to two days if you wanted to spend a few hours lying on the beach.

But I think Rapallo’s main appeal is that it makes such a great base for exploring the Italian Riviera. If that’s your plan, you could easily spend a week here. Spend a day in Cinque Terre, spend a day or two exploring different towns, spend a day or two on the beach, and you’ll be vacationing the way Italians do.

How to Get to Rapallo, Italy

You can get to Rapallo by train, bus or boat. The town is connected to lots of places along the Ligurian coast by train, such as Cinque Terre, or by bus, such as Santa Margherita Ligure. 

If you’re flying into Italy, the closest airports to Rapallo are in Genoa and Pisa. Genoa is technically closer, but Pisa often has more connections, especially on budget airlines. From Genoa, it’s a 30-45 minute train ride to Rapallo, and from Pisa, it’s a two-hour train ride to Rapallo.  

You could also choose to fly into Milan, which is probably the better choice if you’re coming from another continent. From there, it’s a 2.5 hour train ride to Rapallo. 

Where to Stay in Rapallo, Italy

Despite not being as popular with international tourists and despite being a smaller city, Rapallo still has lots of great accommodation options. As a bonus, you’ll pay significantly less for a room here than you would in nearby Portofino or Cinque Terre! 

• Top-Rated Luxury Hotel in Rapallo: Old school elegance and unbeatable views await you at Excelsior Palace Portofino Coast. The stunning property also features an infinity pool, terrace and private beach. 
• Top-Rated Mid-Range Hotel in Rapallo: Hotel Astoria is a simple, yet stylish, option in a very central location in Rapallo. The hotel offers breakfast, bike rentals and airport transfers. 
• Top-Rated Budget Hotel in Rapallo: Hotel Italia e Lido Rapallo is ready to welcome you with clean rooms, an outdoor terrace, and a beautiful beachfront location. Guests rave about the easy access to the water and continental breakfast. 

Find deals on places to stay in Rapallo here.

Best Time to Visit Rapallo, Italy

Summer is THE time to visit the Italian Riviera, when both local Italians and international tourists flock to the coast for sun and sea. But if the high temperatures and large crowds of summer aren’t for you, I’d recommend visiting in spring or fall. 

If you still want to enjoy summer vibes but miss the peak of the busy season, I suggest planning your trip for early June. The weather will be nice but the largest crowds won’t have arrived yet.

I wouldn’t recommend a visit to Rapallo in winter, as many of the small towns on the Italian Riviera essentially shut down over winter. Ferries don’t run and you won’t be able to enjoy some of the best parts of the Ligurian coast. 

Is Rapallo Worth It?

Yes, I absolutely think Rapallo is worth it! I really dug the vibe of the town — not too flashy, but some pretty beaches and a nice waterfront, with lots of good aperitivo bars.

And as far as bases for exploring the Italian Riviera go, I think Rapallo would be an amazing choice for you.

I hope you have the best time in Rapallo! (And now, I have to plan my return so I can buy that “F*ck it, let’s go to Rapallo” tote bag…)

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Have you been to Rapallo, Italy? Share your favorite experiences!