10 Things to do in Rapallo and Surroundings: Ultimate Guide

Rapallo is one of the most charming towns I have visited in Italy. For work reasons I have stayed in this town within the northwest coast of the country on numerous occasions and it never ceases to surprise me. It is located between Portofino and Chiavari, and is known among Italian locals for its beachy boardwalk, historic castle, and streets lined with boutiques, restaurants, and cafes.

It is characterized by its calm and relaxed atmosphere. Is he perfect place for stay if you want spend a few days visiting the Portofino area and Cinque Terre, since it offers some low prices compared to other cities, but at the same time maintains that romantic Italian charm and an ideal transport connection.

In this article I am going to tell you what you cannot miss on your visit to Rapallo, from the best accommodations and restaurants to the activities and how to get from Rapallo to Cinque Terre or Portofino.

Although Rapallo is a relatively small town and ideal for relaxing, you can find several activities that will make your stay more special.

Rapallo Castle was Built in 1550 after the plundering of the Dragut pirates, protected by the famous pirate Barbarossa. Originally, like many of these historic castles, it was used as a prison, but now used as a container for art exhibitions and conferences, and as a popular place for the city's patron saint festivities.

In 1549, Turkish ships approached the coast and launched their attack against the town, passing through three gates of the city. During the siege, the town's shops, workshops and buildings were demolished, which is the reason why the inhabitants of Rapallo decided to build a more sophisticated defensive system. These defensive fortifications also include Santa Margherita, San Michele, Paraggi and Portofino.

Rapallo beach is relatively small, but curiously it never gets crowded. You can enjoy bathing in complete peace of mind and even go diving. around the beach next to the rocks. Additionally, during the summer season, businesses set up hammocks so locals and tourists can lie down and sunbathe next to the beach.

Take a boat tour and visit Portofino from Rapallo. Portofino is a town characterized by its fishing village appearance and its small colorful houses that alternate with local shops, this famous tourist town It is one of the main attractions of the Ligurian Riviera for its natural and historical beauty.

Rapallo has a walk along the beach about 350 meters long, perfect to observe the architecture and quiet atmosphere of the town. Along this walk you can find the best restaurants and other attractions such as the bandstand, as well as palm trees that serve as decoration along the entire beach.

The historic center of Rapallo has its roots in the Middle Ages: This is demonstrated by the numerous passages, frescoes in the porches and pedestrian alleys.

The central square, Garibaldi, has recently been restored with details that adorn the facades of the buildings. Surrounded by 13th century portals and narrow streets around old warehouses, you will be impressed by the well-preserved architecture.

Around Piazza Garibaldi you can admire Via Mazzini and Via Magenta, streets where you will be surprised by the slate construction of some porticos from the 15th and 16th centuries, which are part of the city's artistic heritage in all aspects.

It's about a small kiosk with Art Nouveau architecture, typical of film sets from the late 19th century. Despite the bombings of the Second World War, today the kiosk has been recently restored and can be admired in all its splendor. Was inaugurated in 1929 thanks to a donation from Rapallo natives who wanted to leave the city a beautiful place to celebrate dances and concerts.

Looking at the ceiling you can admire the scenes painted by Giovanni Grifo in honor of artists from the History of Music: Bach, Chopin, Mozart, Bellini, Auber and many others.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montallegro It is an important Catholic pilgrimage site. The sanctuary It is located on a hill about 600 meters above sea level, offering stunning views of the Gulf of Tigullio and the Ligurian Sea. It can be easily accessed from Rapallo by taking the bus number 892, the funicular or walking about 2 hours and mendia.

The sanctuary was built in the 16th century, specifically in 1557, after an apparition of the Virgin Mary to a local peasant named Giovanni Chichizola was reported. According to tradition, the Virgin gave him an image of herself and asked that a church be built in that place.

The Rapallo funicular it will permit you reach the sanctuary of our lady of Montallegro for a price of about €10 round trip included. From my point of view it is the best option, since the views are absolutely spectacular.

The Rapallo cable car open from 9 am to 12:30 pm and from 2 pm to 5:50 pm. In addition, in the surroundings of the sanctuary there are numerous trails and routes surrounded by nature, perfect for enjoying the tranquility, silence and fresh, pure air at any time of the year.

In Rapallo as along the entire Linguria coast, Mediterranean cuisine predominates and the use of seafood. There is a restaurant that you cannot miss on your visit, it is Nettuno Rapallo. Nettuno is a traditional Italian pasta and pizza restaurant, where you will meet Matías and his family, the owners of the restaurant that has been growing more and more every year. Among my favorite dishes are pesto and pasta with seafood or rather spaghetti alo scoglio.

If you are looking for the best gelatto in Rapallo (and from my point of view from all of Italy) you have to stop by Frigidarium, a family business located at the end of the Rapallo promenade. Here They make ice cream by hand and create their own flavors like the pistachio pesto, plus the prices are very affordable.

Gran Caffé Rapallo is the best option if you have been in Italy for a while and are tired of eating pasta and pizza every day. It has an open buffet and affordable prices, in addition to fresh seafood and sushi you can also find other traditional dishes from the Asian continent.

Sky8 Royal is one of the best rooptops in Rapallo for its location and quality of service. This secret spot in Rapallo that almost no tourist knows about It has one of the best views in all of Rapallo, in addition to serving the best cocktails from the city.

Minimum consumption is mandatory, but I guarantee you that it is worth it for the experience.

All accommodations from Rapallo They have very high quality standards. This means that in any case you are going to have a wonderful experience, this is because Rapallo and the Linguria coast in general is an area that is usually inhabited by wealthy locals. Many of the hotels are family businesses that have been in the hotel business for years. and this is evident in the professionalism, treatment and quality of the facilities. My experience staying in Rapallo has always been spectacular, here are my favorite options based on my experience.

There is multiple lines that They connect Rome with La Spezia and Genoa. From almost anywhere in Italy you can reach Rapallo either with Regional or Intercity trains, the latter are somewhat more modern long-distance trains that cross the entire country.

If you come from the north you can reach Rapallo from Milan central station via Genoa and then get on a regional train heading to Sestri Levanto. If you are coming from Rome, you can take the train along the coast towards Genoa, taking a quick stop to see the city of Pisa along the way.

If you are going to spend the whole day in Cinque Terre from Rapallo and want to save money, the first thing I recommend is that you take your train pass + entrance to Cinque Terre National Park. Visit my article about the towns of cinque terre if you are still not sure how to get your tickets. Once you have entry to the national park, you will have to buy a round-trip ticket from Rapallo to Levanto. Levanto is the first stop included with the Cinque Terre pass. This pass includes all trains from Levanto to Spezia, the entire National Park.

In short, you will have to take a train to Levanto and once there your pass to the Cinque Terre National Park will be effective. You will not have to take out any additional tickets to go from Levanto to Monterrosso or any other town in Cinque Terre.

I could say that I have been through Rapallo on more than 10 different occasions, and every time I go I discover a new corner of the city. It is a charming place where time does not pass and will make you immerse yourself in Italian culture with its relaxed and friendly atmosphere. One of the things I like most is how people have kept their businesses local and still make artisanal Italian products. The bakeries and cafes, and the unique architecture of the area, transport you to the past and make you feel like you are part of a romantic movie from the 90's.