Rapallo
Rapallo is a town on the Italian Riviera coastline. It’s known for the hilltop Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montallegro, a pilgrimage site with sea views. The Castello di Rapallo, a 16th-century fortress, sits on the waterfront. Southwest, near Portofino village, 10th-century San Fruttuoso Abbey sits in a small cove. Nearby, the Portofino Protected Marine Area includes the underwater Christ of the Abyss bronze statue.
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Multi-city stops
Top places to visit
Santa Margherita Ligure, located in the Park of Portofino, is a popular international tourist destination that offers a blend of natural beauty, cultural experiences, and delicious cuisine.
Sights & Landmarks
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Lungomare Vittorio Veneto is a picturesque waterfront thoroughfare adorned with towering palm trees that boasts a plethora of alfresco dining and shopping options, as well as an impressive castle. The street's scenic location along the harbor makes it a popular destination for visitors seeking to soak up the Mediterranean atmosphere while indulging in the local cuisine and retail offerings.
Castle
Sights & Landmarks
Rapallo Castle, also known as Castello sul Mare, is a charming 16th-century fortification situated on the waterfront in the captivating coastal town of Rapallo, Liguria. It was originally built as part of a defensive system to safeguard the Gulf of Tigullio from seaborne attacks. The castle stands as one of the city's most iconic landmarks and offers a picturesque sight for visitors strolling along the seaside promenade.
So besuoand impeccably kept!
Nancy B — Google review
The old castle of Rapallo was built around 1200 to protect the town from the pirates. Today is well preserved and sometimes host some art expositions or other events.
I think it’s the most beautiful at night. Located right downtown. As you go about your business in downtown Rapollo you will have many chances to see.
This is the symbol of this fascinating city! I never been inside and I don't think that it's even possible as far as I know. Anyway, it surely emanates charme and provide an amazing photo object. From its stairs, it starts a ~9 Km red carpet that will bring you to Portofino.
Very cute seaside town with a number of good shops & restaurants. There is also a beautiful walk on the promenade. Easy to visit Portofino by means of a ferry.
Beautiful landmark of Rapallo on the Lungomare. It is enchanting to see it day and night time. It was temporarily closed during our stay in Rapallo.
No access to it following storm in Oct 2018. Fabulous views. Small public beach next to it.. Opposite there's a small ice cream bar
Rapalo sightseeing walk
Historical landmark
Villa Tigullio, an 800-year-old mansion located on the Rapallo waterfront, was once owned by the influential Spinola family. Although it is now a public building, visitors can still admire its ornate interiors and explore the local lace tradition at the free Lace Museum inside. The villa also houses a restaurant with an outdoor terrace offering stunning sea views and hosts various events like weddings and banquets.
perfectly view fron the see
Sokol L — Google review
Nice place for a walk and sit on the bench in the hot day
The Villa and the park are worth a visit. Majestic and well kept
Beautiful grounds
Lovely look out over Santa Margherita
Nice garden. Quite, nice view
Lace museum, only open a few hours a day
Beautiful view of portofino
Park
Sights & Landmarks
Villa Durazzo is a stunning 17th-century villa located in Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy. Originally built as a summer residence for the Durazzo family, it now stands as a historical landmark open to the public. The villa boasts period furniture, paintings, and manicured gardens with exotic plants, cobblestone tracks, neoclassical sculptures, and plant racks. Visitors can enjoy picturesque views of the gulf from this hilltop estate.
The Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini is a villa with notable 19th-century park in the English romantic style and a small botanical garden. The villa now houses the Museo di Archeologia Ligure, and is located at Via Pallavicini 13, immediately next to the railway station in Pegli, a suburb of Genoa, Italy. The park and botanical garden are open daily except mondays.
The estate was begun in the late 17th century by Clelia Durazzo Grimaldi, who established the Giardino botanico Clelia Durazzo Grimaldi at that time. Today's park was created by her nephew Ignazio Alessandro Pallavicini after he inherited the property.
The park was designed by Michele Canzio, set designer for the Teatro Carlo Felice, and built between 1840 and 1846. It covers some 97,000 m2 of hillside behind the villa. Although recognizably in the English romantic style, the garden is highly theatrical, to the point of being organized as a series of scenes forming a play with prologue and three acts (Return to Nature, Memory, Purification). Structures and statues through the garden form focal points to this libretto.
When the park opened in September 1846, on the occasion of the VIII Congresso degli Scienziati Italiani, it quickly gained national fame. In 1928 its current owner, Matilde Gustinani, donated both park and botanical garden to Genoa for use as a public park. Through the remainder of the 20th century, the garden fell into some disrepair, and indeed was threatened in 1972 by construction of a nearby highway. Its restoration began in 1991, however, in honor of Columbus' discovery of America. As of 2006 about half of the park is open for visitors.
In 2017 the park was elected the most beautiful garden in Italy.
The park contains two ponds, a dozen notable structures, various statues, and an extensive grotto. The grotto represents a Dantesque inferno, with walkways and subterranean lake through which the visitor may ascend to paradise. In former years, visitors could explore the grotto by boat. Structures include a Coffee House in the shape of triumphal arch, Rustic House, Madonna's Chapel, Mausoleum of the Captain, Temple of Diana, Flower House, Turkish Temple, Obelisk, and Chinese Pagoda.
The park also contains a number of plantings of botanical interest, including mature specimens of Araucaria bidwillii, Cedrus libani, Cinnamomum camphora, Jubaea chilensis, Picconia excelsa, Firmiana simplex, Quercus suber, Podocarpus macrophyllus, many exotic palms and a stand of some 160 Camellia japonica.
Luca M — Google review
Villa Durazzo is truly one of the most royal and beautiful villas I have ever seen. Surrounded by peaceful gardens and timeless architecture, it offers a sense of quiet elegance that feels almost magical. The atmosphere is unique — a perfect blend of history, beauty, and serenity — making it an unforgettable place to visit.
The gardens of Villa Durazzo are absolutely breathtaking filled with statues, palm trees and a sense of deep history that you can feel in every corner.
It’s one of those places that instantly takes you back in time. We had the joy of photographing a wedding there, and the combination of timeless beauty, sea views, and elegant architecture made it a truly unforgettable celebration.
We came for a tour, which was very pleasant. Garden is fee of charge, has a playground. Coffee house is also nice!
In the evening we came back for a piano concert which was outstanding!!
What an amazing place. Garden is free, but provides excellent views on the city. Beautiful statues, buildings and garden. Not overcrowded. A lot of benches. Recommend!
possibly the best panoramic views in Santa Margherita, this garden is a gem! plenty of benches to rest and enjoy the tranquil gardens whilst soaking up the views over the rooftops to the sea. steep climbs to get here and steps in places.
Gorgeous park that's easily accessible. Nice place to relax, take some scenic photos. Beautiful sculptures and garden lanscaping. Not crowded at all. Recommended.
Beautiful garden to walk in, the villa is beautiful as well and you have a nice view from above! Would recommend to check out :)
Via S. Francesco D'Assisi, 3, 16038 Santa Margherita Ligure GE, Italy•
Top places to eat
affordable
Bar
Wine store
Bar Enoteca Il Castello is a charming spot located on a little parade of bars overlooking the castle, offering impressive sea views and a great place to witness stunning sunsets over the bay. The bar boasts an extensive wine list, with some wines available in half bottles, as well as a variety of special cocktails and drinks. Visitors can enjoy delightful platters with small bites that perfectly complement their beverages.
I came here just to relax, enjoy a beer. Found this local beer I recommend called Birra del Bracco. Has a citrus taste with great hydration. The waitress gave my table complimentary snack food as we people watch. Definitely recommend stopping by to hang out. Enjoy please
Randy M — Google review
Nice bar to have a drink. Food is average, price is reasonable but please bear in mind you won’t be able to split the bill. Apparently it’s written on the menu (in Italian). However service was attentive and water did speak in English very well. Glass of rose bubbly 7eu for reference.
Great spot to watch the sunset and catch the last few rays of light. The aperitivo options are classic and authentic.
Great non-alcoholic options too.
Perfect place to enjoy a fresh drink/cocktail and a delicious bruschette while looking at the great view.
Prix corrects et toilettes propres.
Fantastic spot to sit and eat, drink and watch the world go by. The view is superb. The best meal we had in Rapallo, both quality and price.
Perfect place for some quick lunch with a beautiful view.
Attention was great ✨
Very nice place. It‘s actually a bar with a wonderful selection of local cheese, salads, focciacas etc. Downstairs you can sit right at the waterfront. Nice staff. Recommended
This is an ideal location to relax with a cocktail by the sea after a long day.
Via Castello, 6, 16035 Rapallo GE, Italy•
affordable
Italian restaurant
U Giancu is a hidden gem located in the hills above Rapallo, just a 20-minute drive from Santa Margherita. The restaurant, owned by Chef Fausto, boasts original cartoons adorning its walls and offers an outdoor seating area with a playground. The chef's commitment to seasonal cooking is evident as he sources fresh vegetables from his own garden. Guests can also enjoy lively Ligurian cooking lessons in the mornings.
This restaurant is a pearl. Service, food and the overall experience are based upon a great professionalism. Staff is easy well trained and polite. Food is beyond superlative. You can taste specialties typical of the ligurian tradition. Meat is excellent, pasta and also the antipasti are all delicious. An experience that I highly recommend to everyone wanting a casual amazing dinner
Francesca T — Google review
We discovered this restaurant by chance, and we are eternally grateful we did. From the very first glimpse from the outside, you can already sense how special this place is. Once inside, the atmosphere becomes even more enchanting as your eyes wander across the walls, discovering all the thoughtful details lovingly arranged throughout the space.
The staff welcomes you with warm smiles, and the service is absolutely impeccable!! Genuinely friendly and happy to share stories about the food and how it’s made. Every dish we tried was out of this world and touched my soul.
Personally, this is the best restaurant I have ever been to. We will make a habit of returning to Italy just to experience it again.
A fun and one of a kind restaurant in the mountains of Rapallo. As we got out the car we saw a little herd of wild boar which was so cute.
Going into the restaurant your met with really friendly and fun staff all given you the best experience.
A good range of their own beer which id recommend the blonde.
The main was delicious with me having the hot as you like it pasta, which the waiter suggested made needed abit more heat behind it as I wasn't red yet 🥵which I thought was so fun, I'm not a fan of spicy/hot food but even after it getting ramped up it was still delicious.
Then we had the blue cheese board after which was very nice.
Me and my partner were excited to see Dylan the dog on the walls and outside as one of our faves.
It's a unique and remote restaurant at the top of the hill. The design is pretty wild. The food was ok. Great fiorentina steak. Pasta was good. Nice desserts. The service was ok, it was a busy night so it was a bit slower.
What experience it was! First of all when you are on your way towards this beautiful restaurant you already feel that it will be something particular as you leave crowded coast and get to a small road in between villages. The réception is so welcoming as if you were coming to your friends’ house for a big dinner with lots of friends and you know on top that you will not need to worry for the kids as they will have lots of this to do in a specially dedicated zone. Then the food - it is really particular and local, you would barely find any dish that you know (no bolognese or what so ever) an rather a sorbet made of the plum from a garden of one of the personnel (taking into account that the owners use lots of ingredients from their own garden as well).
Thank you so much for this great experience and hope to come back to your great place again!
We spent 2 weeks in Italy, and this was the highlight of my trip. There were 4 adults and 5 children in our group. We were probably being extremely annoying with all the crazy adults and kids, but the kids played in the play area and explored a lot. The kids loved the food and the whole experience and everything we ate was amazing. We finished the night off with a steak that was meant for me, but even the kids had bites of. Perfect service. Perfect food. Perfect.
The atmosphere was nice, it felt like being in a family home
Great food. Lots of mosquitoes
Via S. Massimo, 78, 16035 San Massimo GE, Italy•
affordable
Restaurant
Armida 1905 is a charming restaurant in Rapallo that offers a delightful blend of local and haute cuisine. The cozy ambiance and open kitchen set the stage for savoring an ever-changing selection of dishes. Notable menu items include the lemon risotto with amberjack tartar and the grilled octopus from the seafood selection. Guests appreciate the freshly prepared, modern recipes that may take some time but are well worth the wait.
One of the best restaurants we have been to. We are not surprised but pleasantly surprised by the service structure and food. Service at the highest level. Friendliness and attentiveness to everyone. Food is just an orgasm, every sip is something incredible. My husband and I enjoyed the evening 100%. I recommend it to anyone who is a connoisseur of delicious food.♥️
Olena D — Google review
This place was absolutely wonderful! I had a beautiful date night with my girlfriend. Service was great, really friendly too. The lemon risotto and the zuchetti pasta where both immaculate<3 Prices are on the higher side but totally worth it would come back anytime!
I’ve only written 3 reviews in Rapallo. For those reading this, PLEASE go to the good ones and NOT the single bad one. DON’T make the same mistake I did.
Armida 1905 is true to the fresh ingredients they have from their amazing proximity to the Ligurian coast, homey, warm, and most importantly, extremely flavorful. You are taken care of by staff that truly smile because they are happy to be serving delicious food.
If you want a no frills, amazingly FOCUSED on simplicity food, then this is the place for you. We had the:
Catch of the day - Sea Bass. Grilled to perfection with crisp fresh vegetables. Nothing else needed to be done and it was one of the best fish I’ve ever had.
Octopus Ragu with Squid Ink Pasta Special. Balanced, perfect play between the squid ink and octopus which can all typically lead to something too umami.
Wine list is local and much preferred. Don’t be scared to go into the glass of the day, because unlike some restaurants, they actually have good wine to serve by the glass.
GO HERE AND NOT THE PLACE NEXT DOOR
Amazing food and service. The restaurant is small, so it’s smart to make reservations. We had Ligurian minestrone, risotto with bone marrow and saffron, and ravioli stuffed with many (can’t even remember the number) herbs. The risotto in particular was such a highlight. The waiter was also very attentive. Since it’s such a small place you will hear a lot of noise from the kitchen, but that is part of the charm.
A must visit in Rapallo - definitely book! Both the tagliatelle and risotto were phenomenal, rich, creamy and packed with flavour. We had the chocolate orange cake (worth the 15 min wait) and tiramisu for dessert, super indulgent and utterly delicious. The staff were very attentive, polite, and friendly. Thank you ☺️
This place is just phenomenal. The service is great, the owner makes sure that you get the best experience and the best combination of food and wine, all in all very accomodating.
Now let's get to the food.. the beef and fish tartar (especially the fish) is outstanding! The tartar is pre seasoned with olive oil, lemon and spices, but you can mix the tartar yourself and match your taste with onions, anchovies and capers.. great experience. Next we had the octopus and the lemon risotto. I never had octopus from the grill this tender - impecable. And then the risotto.. lemon risotto is my new go to flavor, it was rich, sour and sweet at the same time, topped with sweet pickled lemon zest and chilli - it was perfect!
When we asked for a wine recommendation the owner told us his go to for fish dishes - it was the perfect fit and almost the cheapest wine on the menu.. that's how we knew the recommendation was genuine and no upselling. Furthermore he always checked on us, answered all our questions and was super nice.
This was by far one of the best restaurants we visited in Italy. 10/10.
Vibrant and inviting, we loved it. It’s starts when we met the staff, we then sat outside in a great atmosphere on a buzzing street, the menu is very interesting and Italian with a small twist. Then when our food arrived wow, really really good. The chef comes for a chat which is fun and by the time we’d finished it had been an around great experience. We had fabulous fresh fish and black pasta, and puddings to die for, loved it.
An absolutely lovely place. The service was kind and friendly with the chef coming out to ask if I enjoyed it and genuinely delighted that was the case. Everything was so fresh and cooked to perfection, the wine list was excellent and affordable. This place is ideal for a special occasion. Booking is absolutely essential
P.za del Pozzo, 23/25, 16035 Rapallo GE, Italy•
affordable
Pizza restaurant
Deli
Il Focacciaio is a must-visit spot in Rapallo for those craving delicious Ligurian focaccia. Situated near the church of San Francesco, this eatery keeps its doors open until late at night. In addition to their mouthwatering focaccia, visitors can savor traditional farinata and pizza here. The restaurant comes highly recommended by locals and tourists alike, offering a delightful dining experience both indoors and outdoors.
Best food we had in Rapallo, went twice in one day! Friendly chefs who loved to talk about and explain the dishes, of which there are many. Fantastic flavours.
Excellent pizzas as well. Charming and helpful service from the young staff ad well
Michael D — Google review
Very lovely place and very local. Super good food and great atmosphere outside.
A super cool spot appreciated by locals. After walking in the tourist areas trying to get a table for dinner (everything was booked!), I ended in this Focacceria.
I ordered a takeaway pizza and Prosecco to eat on the beach.
The service was super polite and nice (the young man taking care of orders was actually really cute!), and the pizza was tasty, with crunchy border and fresh ingredients. I had seen on Google a pizza with burrata and pesto which was not on the menu, and they made it for me - was really tasty).
I highly recommend!
Delicious! We bought focaccia, farinata and potato tart here for a picnic lunch, then had pizza for dinner. Such a good price for perfect Ligurian food
What a wonderful stuffed focaccia this place has!!! We came in to try it out and were about to buy the available ones sitting out, but they owners told us if we wait ten more minutes, there's a fresh cheese focaccia in the oven. We're so glad we waited and tried the fresh out of the oven. It was the most heavenly thing we've ever tasted!
Very friendly owner and very tasty pizzas :)
Slightly hidden but rather convincing place for a lunch break. They have a small but delicious choice of local dishes and spots inside and outside. It takes a while to order and receive the food, but it’s worth the wait.
Prices are quite competitive and the service is nice and lovely.
Looking for an authentic Italian pizza in the heart of Rapallo?
This restaurant was recommended by Paolo in Hotel Astoria, and we were not disappointed.
As fans of the pizza, our family all agreed that their pizza’s were simply delicious.
A lovely place to eat both inside or on the street.
Very good value too.
We all agree Paulo was a great source of local information 😁
P.za del Pozzo, 30, 16035 Rapallo GE, Italy•
affordable
Italian restaurant
Ristorante Pizzeria Nettuno is a lively restaurant known for its artisanal Neapolitan pizza and a variety of mixed seafood grills. Located on the seafront, it offers a range of fish and meat dishes. The restaurant has garnered praise for its fast and friendly service, with an outdoor terrace that welcomes dogs. While the pasta dish is good, the specialty lies in their high-quality pizzas with a wide selection to choose from.
I booked a table through whatsapp which was very easy. Their pizza is top quality in my opinion made of high quality ingredients, you can even see they use semolina. I did not try other food but from the perspective of pizzas I’m giving them 5 stars!
Szabo E — Google review
Decent portions, but the food doesn't come all at the same time. One of us had to wait long for her pasta, while the one with a salad got it first. Apparently we sat in a corner where the staff did not see us, so everything took long.
Wonderful restaurant that gets very busy. I had Seafood pasta and steak/potatoes/grilled veg. Lots of pizzas sold here.
This place gets a queue to get in waiting all the time, so if in a group reserve or get there before 20.00.
Absolutely terrible – ruined our evening
We ordered a takeaway pizza and were completely disappointed. When we picked it up, the pizza was a total mess – it was falling apart, completely soggy, and had literally leaked out of the box through a hole. It wasn’t just poorly made – it felt raw and wet, like it hadn’t even been baked properly.
We had planned a nice date night, but this disaster of a pizza completely ruined it. It was inedible, and we ended up throwing it straight in the trash. Total waste of time and money.
Never visit this place.
Was recommended this restaurant by the best tattoo artist in Italy, Luca Franzoni. Did not disappoint! The food was incredible. The pizza was better than the Chicago pizza I am used to, the wine was delicious and refreshing, but the lobster linguinis was the best I’ve had my entire time in Italy (been here for a week now and have had pasta for every meal). This is a family owned business and the son Mattia is a gentleman and will show you an excellent time. If you are in Rapallo do not miss out on this restaurant. Incredible experience!
Too busy on this Saturday evening. Got the pasta before the bread. Glasses of wine were empty long before the food arrived.
Yet to be able to comment on the pizzas, since we are still waiting😰
Got the pizzas more than 20 min after the pasta...
My pizza was not as ordered, the English language skills are below expected.
But the pizza was quite good.
Did I mention the cocco disco that was playing insanely in the bar next door?🤣🤣 Italian techno hell...
I ate at this restaurant and was pleasantly surprised by the excellent service and the delicious food with a 100% Italian taste. But the pizza is the best in the whole area — Rapallo, Santa Margherita, Portofino. I highly recommend this restaurant with great confidence! Grazie!
The service and food were excellent. I highly recommend the grilled fish with baked potatoes — everything was phenomenal. The staff are also very kid-friendly. I’ll definitely be coming back!
Lungomare Vittorio Veneto, 28, 16035 Rapallo GE, Italy•
Best-of categories in Rapallo
DessertsWhat's the weather like in Rapallo?
It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA on what the weather is like in Rapallo for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.
- Weather in Rapallo in January
- Weather in Rapallo in February
- Weather in Rapallo in March
- Weather in Rapallo in April
- Weather in Rapallo in May
- Weather in Rapallo in June
- Weather in Rapallo in July
- Weather in Rapallo in August
- Weather in Rapallo in September
- Weather in Rapallo in October
- Weather in Rapallo in November
- Weather in Rapallo in December
All road trips from Rapallo
- Rapallo to Rome drive
- Rapallo to Florence drive
- Rapallo to Milan drive
- Rapallo to Paris drive
- Rapallo to Barcelona drive
- Rapallo to Venice drive
- Rapallo to Turin drive
- Rapallo to Amsterdam drive
- Rapallo to Prague drive
- Rapallo to Nice drive
- Rapallo to Berlin drive
- Rapallo to Vienna drive
- Rapallo to Budapest drive
- Rapallo to Pisa drive
- Rapallo to Munich drive
- Rapallo to Naples drive
- Rapallo to Bologna drive
- Rapallo to Verona drive
- Rapallo to Siena drive
- Rapallo to Marseille drive
- Rapallo to Brussels drive
- Rapallo to Dublin drive
- Rapallo to Lyon drive
- Rapallo to Valencia drive
- Rapallo to Bergamo drive
- Rapallo to Zurich drive
- Rapallo to Geneva drive
- Rapallo to Ravenna drive
- Rapallo to Lucerne drive
- Rapallo to Salzburg drive
Explore nearby places
All related maps of Rapallo
- Map of Rapallo
- Map of Santa Margherita Ligure
- Map of Portofino
- Map of Camogli
- Map of Chiavari
- Map of Lavagna
- Map of Sestri Levante
- Map of Genoa
- Map of Levanto
- Map of Acquasanta
- Map of Monterosso al Mare
- Map of Arenzano
- Map of Vernazza
- Map of Corniglia
- Map of Bobbio
- Map of Manarola
- Map of Riomaggiore
- Map of Serravalle Scrivia
- Map of Bardi
- Map of Varazze
- Map of Pontremoli
- Map of La Spezia
- Map of Albissola Marina
- Map of Porto Venere
- Map of Savona
- Map of Godiasco
- Map of Lerici
- Map of Sarzana
- Map of Tellaro
- Map of Spotorno
- Map of Noli
Rapallo throughout the year
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