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11 Best Things to Do in Rapallo, Italy

A gray stone castle with an Italian flag flying from the top, perched in a calm teal sea.

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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.

Planning your trip to Rapallo last minute?

While it’s not (yet) a super popular spot with international travelers, Rapallo does receive a lot of Italian tourists so it’s still a good idea to book tours & hotels in advance.

🇮🇹 Top Experiences and Tours in Rapallo:

  1. Dine with locals (A great way to try local cuisine!)
  2. Learn to make pesto (It originated in the Liguria region!)
  3. Visit other Italian Riviera towns (Rapallo makes a great base)

🛌  Top-Rated Hotels in Rapallo:

  1. Excelsior Palace Portofino Coast (Luxury hotel with an infinity pool & private beach!)
  2. Hotel Astoria (Mid-range hotel in a central location)
  3. Hotel Italia e Lido Rapallo (Beachfront budget option)

🚗 Renting a car from the Pisa airport? Find deals on car rental rates here.

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…

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