Rapallo is a major resort town on the Tigullio coast, serving as the gateway to Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino, from which Monte di Portofino is easily reached.

With a population of 30,000, Rapallo is a proper town in its own right, complete with the attendant drawbacks: traffic congestion affects its main streets during peak hours. Yet it enjoys all the advantages characteristic of the surrounding municipalities.

Nestled between the sea and hills that ensure a mild climate year-round, it features an attractive waterfront that extends from the harbour to the residential complex known as "Castello dei sogni". Along this stretch are several points of interest, including the medieval castle on the sea, the town's emblem, Parco Casale, a green space housing two fine villas, Villa Porticciolo and Villa Tigullio, the latter home to the municipal library.

Near the parish church, the old town centre unfolds along the main pedestrian street (Via Mazzini); the small market square, bustling with vendors in the morning; the fifteenth-century Civic Tower; and Porta delle Saline, the sole survivor of the five gates that once enclosed the original settlement. This area, like the rest of town, offers a wide range of shops and bars.

Rapallo offers numerous walking routes. A recommended option is the coastal path to the small village of San Michele di Pagana, a favourite with swimmers. Equally rewarding, though more demanding, is the woodland trail leading to the Montallegro Sanctuary, which affords fine views over Rapallo, the Tigullio Gulf, and on clear days, Corsica.

Montallegro is also accessible by cable car, the only one in Liguria, which connects Rapallo to the hilltop location in 8 minutes.