🇮🇹 Rapallo, Italy
Hotel Il Gatto
📍 Via al Carmelo, 3, 16035 Rapallo GE, Italy
Your stay — Hotel Il Gatto
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Rapallo.
The Property — Hotel Il Gatto
Hotel Il Gatto is a straightforward three-star perched on Rapallo's seafront, offering clean, no-fuss rooms and a small pool with Ligurian views. The lobby feels like a mid-century Italian holiday home: tiled floors, a reception desk with a bowl of lemons, and the smell of salt air drifting through the open doors. It suits couples and older travellers who want a reliable base within walking distance of the port and old town, without the frills or prices of the grand hotels further along the promenade. Breakfast is continental and served on a terrace overlooking the Gulf of Tigullio — the real USP.
Chronicles of Rapallo
Rapallo began as a Ligurian fishing village, gained prominence under the Republic of Genoa in the Middle Ages, and still carries that maritime DNA in its castle-hugging harbour. The 1920 Treaty of Rapallo, signed here, briefly redrew borders between Italy and Yugoslavia, anchoring the town in diplomatic history. Its belle époque promenade, lined with liberty-style villas and palm trees, dates from the late 19th-century tourist boom. Today, Rapallo is a comfortable, middle-class resort: busy in summer, quieter in spring and autumn, with a steady rhythm of ferry trips to Portofino and the Cinque Terre. Its cultural identity leans less on festivals and more on la dolce vita slow living — gelato at dusk, passeggiata along the water.
Best Time to Visit
Full Rapallo guide →Best months
May, June, September — warm enough for swimming (22-27°C), low humidity, fewer families than July-August and clearer Ligurian skies.
Peak / festival surge
July and August; Italian ferragosto (mid-August) fills the town with domestic tourists. Hotel prices double, and the beach gets packed. The main event is the Rapallo Music Festival in July, which draws classical music crowds.
Budget shoulder season
April and October offer 15-20°C days, significant room discounts (30-40% off peak), and quiet promenades. Rainfall is moderate, but you'll often have the castle and harbour almost to yourself.
Weather & packing
Rapallo can get a sudden afternoon thunderstorm even in June — the Ligurian coast is prone to quick, heavy downpours. Pack a light waterproof jacket or travel umbrella as a non-negotiable, even if the morning is clear.
Live City Briefing — Rapallo
- The new pedestrianised zone along Corso Colombo, completed in late 2025, now connects the train station to the port without traffic — faster for walkers, but note the limited street parking.
- Rapallo's main beach stabilisation project finished in spring 2026, so the sand is wider and cleaner than recent summers; no more pebble patches at high tide.
- The ferry to San Fruttuoso (the abbey cove) resumed its summer timetable from early June, departing every 40 minutes from the Rapallo pier — essential for avoiding the Portofino hike in the heat.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jun 2026Before you check in to Hotel Il Gatto, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on a higher floor, preferably facing the courtyard or side street. These tend to be quieter and offer more privacy than those overlooking the main road.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms directly above the lobby, bar, or any common areas like the breakfast room. Also steer clear of rooms adjacent to the lift shaft — they pick up mechanical noise and chatter.
Best views
Ask for a room with a sea view, if available — Rapallo's waterfront is the main draw. But don't expect a panorama; 3-star hotels often have partial or angled views.
Quietest floors
Top floors (usually 4th or 5th in a 3-star building) are best for quiet, as foot traffic and street noise decrease upwards.
🔊 Noise notes
Standard 3-star soundproofing is decent but not great. Expect some street hum, especially if the hotel is on a main road. Earplugs help for light sleepers.
Insider tips
Book directly with the hotel for possible upgrades or a quieter room assignment — online agencies rarely let you specify room preferences. Also, check if the hotel has a partnership with nearby parking: Rapallo's parking is tight and costly.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Hotel Il Gatto
Free throughout, up to 30 Mbps; no login, just accept terms on first connect
Mini lift serves all 4 floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital newsstand via tablet in the lobby (Italian and English papers); no printed papers
Check-in 14:00-23:00; early bag drop free from 11:00; late check-out by 13:00 costs €30 (book day before)
Free for same-day collection; overnight storage €10 per bag
Step-free from street to lobby via side ramp; lift to all floors; no adapted rooms; steep doorway thresholds in older wing
No on-site parking. Nearest public garage: Garage Rapallo Center at Via Gramsci 12, €18/24h (uncovered, no EV). On-street paid parking €7/night (20:00-08:00 only). No EV charging on site or within 200m
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €2.50 per person per night (under-14s exempt)
Deposit & card hold: First night charged at booking; €50 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Basilica Santi Gervasio e Protasio (466 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di Sant'Anna (591 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di Santo Stefano (653 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di San Francesco (993 m · ~12 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Giardini Giuseppe Verdi — 353 m · ~4 min walk
Museo Attilio e Cleofe Gaffoglio — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Auditorium delle Clarisse — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Parco Emilio De Martino — 466 m · ~6 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Poste — 248 m · ~3 min walk
Nostra Signora di Montallegro — 311 m · ~4 min walk
Carrefour Express — 259 m · ~3 min walk
Rapallo FS Capolinea — 676 m · ~8 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use bank ATMs for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at Genoa airport or tourist offices, which offer poor rates and high fees.
Most shops, restaurants, and hotels accept Visa/Mastercard contactless; Amex is less common. Cash is still needed for small cafes, markets, and some family-run trattorias.
Tipping is not expected but appreciated for good service; round up the bill at restaurants (5-10% for exceptional service), leave small change for taxis, and tip hotel staff €1-2 per bag or per night.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →An espresso (caffè) at the bar counter costs about €1.00-1.30; if you sit at a table, it can be €2.50-3.50.
A panino or focaccia from a forno (bakery) or takeaway deli, plus a drink, runs €6-9.
A decent pasta or pizza main in a trattoria or pizzeria costs €10-15; a fixed-price menu turistico may be €18-25 for two courses and drink.
The old town has several bakeries and kebab shops selling cheap takeaway pizza slices, focaccia, and arancini for €3-6.
Supermarkets include Conad, Coop, and Lidl; there's a Conad near the train station and a Coop on Via Gramsci.
Affordable high-street chains like OVS, Terranova, and H&M are found in central Rapallo; for cheap market stalls, try the weekly Saturday market on Lungomare Vittorio Veneto.
Walking is free and practical; a single city bus ticket is €1.50. From Genoa airport (GOA), take bus 1 to Genova Brignole railway station (€6) then a regional train to Rapallo (€5-7, 40 min); airport taxis cost €90-120.
Eat and drink standing at the bar counter for lower prices; buy lunch from a bakery or supermarket rather than a sit-down restaurant; use the regional train to explore nearby towns (Santa Margherita, Portofino) instead of expensive taxis.
Good to know — Rapallo
Type C/F/L · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
RapalloWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Rapallo, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hotel Il Gatto
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Poste — 248 m · ~3 min walk — pharmacy · Nostra Signora di Montallegro — 311 m · ~4 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Rapallo train station (Stazione FS) → Hotel Il Gatto (5-min walk, via Via Mazzini)
💡 Use regional trains for Cinque Terre (€5-10, 1 hour); avoid InterCity which skips Rapallo. Validate ticket before boarding to avoid €60 fine.
Rapallo railway station (Piazza della Stazione) → Hotel Ambra (Via Gramsci stop)
💡 It's a 10-minute flat walk from the station: cross the square, go down Via Gramsci. Bus #1 is useful for bags but often crowded. Buy tickets at tabacchi shops.
Genoa Airport (GOA) → Hotel Ambra, Via Gramsci 38, Rapallo
💡 Book a fixed-price taxi through Radio Taxi Genoa (+39 010 5966). Negotiate if flagging one down — official airport rank can charge 20% more.
Genoa Airport (via shuttle to Genova Brignole station) → Rapallo railway station
💡 The airport shuttle train (Velobus) to Brignole costs €6. Then a direct regional train to Rapallo (€4.80). Avoid peak-hour trains (07:30–09:00, 17:00–19:00) as they get crowded.
Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA) → Hotel Il Gatto, Rapallo
💡 Book via the hotel or company like NCC Rapallo for fixed price; avoid street taxis which cost more. Confirm if tolls are included.
Hotel Il Gatto (stop: Via Mameli) → Santa Margherita Ligure & Portofino
💡 Bus 706 or 707 to Portofino ends at piazzetta; buy return ticket at bar/tabacchi (cash only). Hourly after 18:00 – last bus leaves Portofino 19:30.
Genoa Brignole → Rapallo station
💡 Sit on the left side for sea views after Sturla. Validate your ticket in the yellow machine before boarding.
Portofino/Santa Margherita Ligure port → Rapallo port (Via Mazzini pier)
💡 This is scenic but only runs in good weather. From Rapallo port, it's a 5-minute walk to Hotel Rosabianca. Check timetables with Tigullio Ferry Company — they go to Camogli and San Fruttuoso too.
Genoa Airport (GOA) → Rapallo bus station
💡 Take Volabus from airport to Brignole station (€6), then catch AMT bus 820 to Rapallo (€3.50). Airport buses run until midnight; last bus from Brignole to Rapallo is around 22:00.
Genoa Airport bus stop (outside arrivals) → Hotel Il Gatto, Rapallo
💡 Take AMT Bus 1 from airport to Genova Brignole station (€3, 25 mins), then regional train to Rapallo (€3, 1 hour). Cheapest but juggle luggage; buy bus ticket at airport tabacchi and validate on board.
Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA) → Genoa Brignole railway station
💡 Buy ticket from machine in arrivals (cash or card). Don't pay driver. From Brignole, take a regional train to Rapallo.
Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA) → Hotel Rosabianca, Rapallo
💡 Book with a fixed-price service like Radio Taxi Genova (010 5966) to avoid meter surprises. The hotel can arrange a pickup for similar rates.
About Rapallo
Wikipedia ↗
Rapallo (US: rə-PAH-loh, Italian: [raˈpallo], Ligurian: [ɾaˈpalːu]) is a comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, in the region of Liguria in Italy. As of 2025, with a population 29,513, it is the 2nd-largest municipality in the metropolitan city. It lies on the Ligurian Sea coast, ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hotel Il Gatto?
Request a room on a higher floor, preferably facing the courtyard or side street. These tend to be quieter and offer more privacy than those overlooking the main road.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hotel Il Gatto?
Avoid rooms directly above the lobby, bar, or any common areas like the breakfast room. Also steer clear of rooms adjacent to the lift shaft — they pick up mechanical noise and chatter.
Is Hotel Il Gatto noisy?
Standard 3-star soundproofing is decent but not great. Expect some street hum, especially if the hotel is on a main road. Earplugs help for light sleepers.
Which rooms have the best views at Hotel Il Gatto?
Ask for a room with a sea view, if available — Rapallo's waterfront is the main draw. But don't expect a panorama; 3-star hotels often have partial or angled views.
What are insider tips for staying at Hotel Il Gatto?
Book directly with the hotel for possible upgrades or a quieter room assignment — online agencies rarely let you specify room preferences. Also, check if the hotel has a partnership with nearby parking: Rapallo's parking is tight and costly.
What time is check-in at Hotel Il Gatto?
Check-in at Hotel Il Gatto is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hotel Il Gatto have Wi-Fi?
Free throughout, up to 30 Mbps; no login, just accept terms on first connect
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hotel Il Gatto?
€2.50 per person per night (under-14s exempt)
Where can I eat cheaply near Hotel Il Gatto?
A panino or focaccia from a forno (bakery) or takeaway deli, plus a drink, runs €6-9.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hotel Il Gatto?
Walking is free and practical; a single city bus ticket is €1.50. From Genoa airport (GOA), take bus 1 to Genova Brignole railway station (€6) then a regional train to Rapallo (€5-7, 40 min); airport taxis cost €90-120.
When is the best time to visit Rapallo?
May, June, September — warm enough for swimming (22-27°C), low humidity, fewer families than July-August and clearer Ligurian skies.
Top Attractions in Rapallo
💡 Bring a coffee from a nearby bar (€1.20 at a local pasticceria) and sit on one of the benches near the harbour to watch the boats.
💡 Check the side chapel to the left of the altar – the painted wooden crucifix dates from the 1400s. The bells ring at 7am sharp; don't stay in a nearby hotel if you're a light sleeper.
💡 Go at sunset for the best light on the castle and the bay. The interior gallery is usually free on certain days, check the tourist board.
💡 The market (Sat 08:00–13:00) is cheap for local fruit, cheese, and olive oil—buy a paper cone of olives from the Ligurian stall at the north end. Most churches are unlocked in the morning; San Francesco has a wooden crucifix from 1220.
💡 Look for the carved wooden crucifix near the left altar—locals say it was found floating in the bay. The church is quietest between 10-11am.
💡 Check the town notice board or tourist office for current exhibition dates. If no exhibition, the exterior and harbour views from the gangway are still worth the detour.
💡 Go before 10 am for the best produce. The cheese stall near the fountain has excellent local formaggio di capra (goat cheese). Market days: Tuesday and Saturday.
💡 Go at sunset for the best light over the Gulf of Tigullio. The internal museum costs €3 but is often quiet midweek.