Excelsior Palace Portofino Coast
By the Top3Hotels editorial team. Based on Booking.com guest scores and reviews, location data and reference prices. We did not stay at this hotel. Updated 2026-10-24.
Excelsior Palace Portofino Coast is worth booking if you want a five-star seafront stay in Rapallo and are happy to pay about double our Budget pick. It has the top guest score of the 6 hotels we compared, though breakfast gets mixed comments.
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Sold out? See available alternatives →Who it suits, and who should skip it
Couples and families who want sea views, a spa and a pool in one place are the natural fit. The property lists beachfront access, a spa, a gym, a pool, a restaurant and family rooms, and pets are tagged in the listing data. Guests single out the panoramic views over the sea, the bay and the harbour.
Skip it if you mainly want a bed between day trips. At €200 a night it costs well over the sample median of €133.58, and our other two picks in Rapallo are much cheaper with good scores.
Location and getting around
The address is Via San Michele Di Pagana 8, Rapallo. Guests rate the location 9.6 out of 10. Walking times here are straight-line estimates and real routes will be longer.
None of the listed sights is close. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montallegro is about 3.6 km away, around 45 minutes on foot. San Fruttuoso Abbey is about 5.3 km away, roughly 66 minutes, and the Christ of the Abyss about 5.5 km, roughly 69 minutes. All three are far, so plan on public transport or a taxi rather than walking.
What guests say
The hotel scores 9.1 out of 10 from 1,279 reviews, joint first of 6 eligible hotels in the sample. That is a large, consistent base of feedback.
Views come up again and again, from both rooms and terraces. Staff are described as professional, friendly and attentive, with help on valet parking and luggage.
Breakfast is the weak spot. It is a large buffet that includes prosecco, but some guests mention limited variety and instant coffee. At this price, that is worth knowing in advance.
Price compared with our other Rapallo picks
Reference prices seen for a 2-night stay in November 2026 for 2 adults put this hotel at €200 a night. These are not live quotes, so check today's price for your dates.
Hotel Cavour, our Budget pick, was €81 a night with a score of 8.1 and 3 stars. Hotel Astoria, our Best Value pick, was €98.95 a night with 8.9 and 4 stars. Excelsior Palace costs about €100 more per night than Hotel Astoria for a small step up in score plus the spa, pool and beachfront access listed here.
Breakfast is listed as a buffet, but whether your rate includes it has not been confirmed. Check before you compare totals.
Why it made our top 3
We compared 6 eligible hotels in Rapallo. For the Luxury slot, five-star hotels are prioritised, and this one has 5 official stars plus the joint highest guest score in the sample. Its spread of facilities, from spa to pool to beachfront access, also fits what most people expect from that category.
Before you book
Room size, noise, renovation condition, breakfast inclusion and cancellation terms have not been assessed. Opening times and any fees for the spa, pool and gym also need checking for your dates, especially in November.
If sea views matter, check that the room type you book actually faces the sea. Confirm the cost of valet parking and any pet fees if they apply to you.
Check prices on Booking.com ↗We may earn a commission if you book. It never changes our pick.
Sold out? See available alternatives →Questions travellers ask
Is Excelsior Palace Portofino Coast worth the price?
For travellers who will use the spa, pool and sea-view terraces, yes. The score of 9.1 from 1,279 reviews is the joint best in our sample. If you only need a place to sleep, Hotel Astoria or Hotel Cavour cost far less.
Can I walk to San Fruttuoso Abbey from the hotel?
It is about 5.3 km away, around 66 minutes on foot as a straight-line estimate. That is far, so public transport or a taxi is the practical choice.
Does the hotel have a pool and spa?
The property lists a pool, a spa and wellness centre, and a gym. Opening times and any fees are not confirmed, so check them for your dates.
Is breakfast good at Excelsior Palace Portofino Coast?
It is a large buffet with prosecco. Some guests find the variety limited and mention instant coffee, so expectations should be moderate.