Villas in Rapallo
Rapallo is a seaside town of about 30,000 on the Gulf of Tigullio, with a seafront castle and a cable car to a hill sanctuary. Homes here are small, mostly for two to four, and few have a pool or garden.
- Villas
- 51
- From, per week
- £266
About Rapallo
Rapallo sits in the middle of the Gulf of Tigullio, between Portofino and Chiavari, about 25 km east-south-east of Genoa. The seafront runs along the Lungomare Vittorio Veneto, lined with Liberty-style buildings, with the 16th-century Castello sul Mare as the town's emblem and rows of blue bathing huts on the sand. Narrow streets behind have tall houses with painted false windows. The cable car leaves from the railway station for the Montallegro sanctuary. The homes are packed into a small area of around two kilometres. Nearly all are small, with one bedroom typical, and few have a garden. Mild winters once made Rapallo the favoured winter residence of affluent north-west Italians.
Is Rapallo right for you?
- Best for
- Couples and small groups wanting a town base near the station
- Not for you if
- You want a pool, a garden, or a house with space for a big group.
Near Rapallo
Portofino
A short distance from Rapallo, linked to it by the Walk of Kisses, with a famous small square and a marine protected area.
Santa Margherita Ligure
A town on the same Tigullio coast, known for its red prawns and for Cervara Abbey.
Montallegro sanctuary
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montallegro, reached by cable car from the station or a tree-lined path behind the town.
Portofino Park
A promontory park with around 80 km of marked trails, including the small bay of San Fruttuoso di Camogli.
Genoa
The regional capital, about 25 km away, on the Pisa to La Spezia to Genoa railway that serves Rapallo.
Getting to Rapallo
Genoa airport is the nearest, about 28 minutes by car or taxi, or by bus to Genova Brignole then a train, about 55 minutes. Rapallo's station is on the Pisa to La Spezia to Genoa line, and the cable car starts from it.
When to go to Rapallo
Rapallo's coastal position gives mild winters, and it was once a preferred winter residence. The patronal festivities fill the first three days of July, with fireworks and the Arca Argentea procession, and on the feast of Our Lady of Montallegro the castle is lit by a fireworks display. Aim to be on the seafront at the end of the day for the sunset.
Villas in Rapallo
3-star property
Rubens
Rapallo, Liguria Riviera Levante & Cinque Terre, Italy
4
1
0
Air ConWashing MachineFridge+5 more
from£61
per night
1-Bedroom Home, Rapallo
Rapallo, Liguria Riviera Levante & Cinque Terre, Italy
4
1
0
ParkingDishwasherTerrace+4 more
3-star property
Attico Alda
Rapallo, Liguria Riviera Levante & Cinque Terre, Italy
4
1
0
Air ConDishwasherMicrowave+8 more
from£53
per nightRapallo villa holidays: questions answered
Is Rapallo close to Portofino?
Yes, it is a short distance away. A walkway called the Walk of Kisses links the two, and Rapallo sits between Portofino and Chiavari on the same gulf.
How do you get from Genoa airport to Rapallo?
By car or taxi it takes about 28 minutes. The public option is a bus from the airport to Genova Brignole station, then a train to Rapallo, which takes about 55 minutes in total.
What is the Montallegro cable car in Rapallo?
It is a cable car from Rapallo's railway station up to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montallegro, which has a view over the coast. A tree-lined path leads up behind the town too.
Does Rapallo have a swimming pool or garden holiday home?
Rarely. Almost none of the homes have a pool and few have a garden. They are small town homes for around four people, so the sea and the beach huts are the swimming option.
When is the Rapallo festival?
The patron saint festivities run from 1 to 3 July each year, ending with the Arca Argentea procession, and fireworks light up the nights. A separate castle fireworks display marks the feast of Our Lady of Montallegro.
Nearby towns to Rapallo
Written by the TrustedVillas team. Last reviewed October 2026.
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