Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Train -- More than 30 trains a day connect Rapallo and Genoa (regional: 40 min.; high-speed: 30 min.). The same trains connect Rapallo with Camogli (10 min.), Santa Margherita (3 min.), and Monterosso (regional: 50 min.; high-speed: 35 min.) at the north end of the Cinque Terre.

By Bus -- At least one bus an hour runs between Rapallo and Santa Margherita (about 15 min.).

By Boat -- Tigullio ferries (tel. 0185-284-670; www.traghettiportofino.it) make hourly trips to Portofino (30 min.) via Santa Margherita (15 min.) from 9am to 4pm (hours of service vary considerably with season; schedules are posted on the docks).

By Car -- Autostrada A12 connects Rapallo with Genoa and takes about half an hour. Route S1 along the coast from Genoa is much slower but more scenic.

Visitor Information

The tourist office is at Lungomare Vittorio Veneto 7 (tel. 0185-230-346; fax 0185-63-051; www.apttigullio.liguria.it) and is open Monday to Saturday 9:30am to 12:30pm and 2:30 to 5:30pm.

Festivals & Markets

Rapallo is at its most exuberant July 1 to July 3, when it celebrates the Madonna di Montallegro, whose hilltop sanctuary, the Santuario di Montallegro, crowns the town . A famous icon of the Virgin is carried through the streets and a huge fireworks display culminates in the burning of the castle (a mock event, of course). Piazza IV Novembre/Via Gramsci is the site of a lively outdoor food market on Thursday mornings.