Hotel Excelsior Palace couldn’t get much closer to the sea. It’s right on the edge of Rapallo with amazing views over the marina and Bay of Portofino. The best views are from the infinity pools in the beach club, which is normally open from mid June to September. There’s two pools to choose from; one saltwater and one freshwater. You can also chill out on the cabanas, relax in the whirlpool or eat lunch at the Eden Roc Restaurant. It’s a five-star experience spending the day here. For a real ‘La Dolce Vita’ moment, jump on one of the boats from the beach club’s private jetty and sail down the Italian Riviera. You can organise and pay for this locally at the hotel.
The main hotel building dates back to 1901 and there’s lots of historic touches like antiques and paintings on the walls. The rooms have an old-world glamour about them with parquet floors and large windows, or sea view balconies if you upgrade to an Exclusive Room. The Lord Byron Restaurant is in the main building and you eat seasonal, local dishes – we love dining al fresco here during the summer. If you fancy something different, head into town where there are lots of local restaurants and bars to try. It’s about a 15-minute walk to the centre of Rapallo (bear in mind there's a steep hill and steps to get there) so you can easily explore the town and drink in the views from the beachfront promenade. There’s lots to see and there’s a train station in the town so you can get further afield too.
Transfer time: approx. 45 mins from Genoa airport or 1 hour 30 mins from Pisa airport by private car.
