Rapallo
The gulf, seen from home
Rapallo is the town of the Tigullio where people live all year round: the station in the centre, the palm-lined seafront, Portofino half an hour away by boat.
The guide
Four things to know
The beaches of Rapallo
- Public beach
- below the castle
- San Michele di Pagana
- 2 km, by bus or on foot
- Season
- May to September
The public beach sits in the middle of the seafront, next to the castle. Towards Santa Margherita are the coves of San Michele di Pagana, with beach clubs and pine trees. Le Nagge, east of the pier, is where the locals go.
Portofino, Santa Margherita, Camogli
- Boat to Portofino
- 30 min from the pier
- Santa Margherita
- 3 km, 5 min by train
- San Fruttuoso
- by boat, in a day
From the Rapallo pier the boat leaves for Santa Margherita, Portofino and the abbey of San Fruttuoso. You can also walk to Portofino from Santa along the coast road: an hour, almost all flat.
By train, by plane, by car
- From Genoa Brignole
- 35 min
- Genoa airport
- 35 km
- From Milan Central
- 2 hours
The station is in the centre. From Genoa airport take the train from Sestri Ponente or a taxi. By car, exit at Rapallo on the A12; book the parking in advance, because there is none in the centre.
When to come
- Feste di Luglio
- 1, 2 and 3 July
- Montallegro cable car
- 7 min to the sanctuary
- Low season
- October to April
The July Feste, for the Madonna of Montallegro, end with fireworks over the castle. The cable car climbs to the sanctuary in seven minutes, and from up there you see the whole gulf. From October to April the weather stays mild and the prices drop.
Distances
From Rapallo, in minutes
-
Santa Margherita Ligure
A train every half hour, or the walk along the sea.
-
Portofino
Boat from the pier, April to October. By bus all year via Santa.
-
Genoa
Regional train to Brignole, then metro or bus to the centre.
-
Camogli
Three stops by train. From there the boat to San Fruttuoso.
-
Cinque Terre
Regional train towards La Spezia, first stop Monterosso.
-
Genoa airport
Thirty-five kilometres: taxi, or train from Sestri Ponente.
