Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to Grand Hotel Bristol Resort & Spa, Ligurian Riviera
Facts in brief
Official star rating 5
Location In an elevated position overlooking the Gulf of Tigullio, 1.5km from Rapallo centre.
Annual opening 31 May to 1 November
Closest airport Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport
Distance from airport 40 minutes by car
Closest railway station Rapallo
Distance from railway station 5 minutes by car
Hotel facilities and services
ERRE Spa with Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, Kneipp path, hot tub, and four treatment rooms, rooftop Le Cupole Michelin-recognised restaurant, La Veranda Bistrot, Flamingo Pool Bar & Pizzeria Gourmet, The Silk Lounge Bar, Marina di Bardi Beach Club Restaurant & Bar, seasonal outdoor pool, fitness centre with TechnoGym equipment, Mediterranean gardens with camellias and azaleas, bicycle hire, art gallery with rotating exhibitions, private parking, valet parking, complimentary shuttle to beach club and town centre, 24hr front desk, concierge services, laundry and dry cleaning, room service.
Complimentary
Wi-Fi, fitness centre, and shuttle service to Marina di Bardi Beach Club and town centre.
Land sports
Cycling
Out and about nearby
The charming town of Rapallo offers the 16th century Castello sul Mare jutting into the Gulf, illuminated each July with fireworks celebrating Our Lady of Montallegro, and the palm-lined Lungomare Vittorio Veneto promenade, where the Thursday market brings local life to the waterfront. The Sanctuary of Montallegro, perched 612m above sea level, is reached via the historic Rapallo-Montallegro cable car, which has climbed through spectacular coastal views since 1935, arriving at this important pilgrimage site founded in 1557. The legendary village of Portofino, just 10km away, enchants visitors with its famous harbour, where luxury yachts float beside pastel-coloured buildings, whilst Castello Brown commands views from its mediaeval hilltop and trails lead to the lighthouse through Portofino Natural Park's 80km of hiking paths. Santa Margherita Ligure provides elegant resort atmosphere within a few kilometres, its Villa Durazzo gardens offering panoramic views and access to protected marine areas. The picturesque fishing village of Camogli preserves authentic maritime traditions, with the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta revealing unexpected golden interiors and Dragonara Castle standing watch over a bay where whales and dolphins are sometimes spotted. The Abbey of San Fruttuoso sits in a secluded bay accessible only by sea or steep woodland trails, its 10th century Romanesque complex housing the tombs of the Doria family and the underwater Christ of the Abyss statue. Sestri Levante is home to the Bay of Silence, recognised as Italy's fifth most beautiful beach, and the larger Bay of Fables, where Hans Christian Andersen once stayed. The five spectacular villages of the Cinque Terre cling to dramatic cliffs 60km away, connected by hiking trails and direct trains from Rapallo. The historic city of Genoa lies 35-40km away, offering the continent's largest aquarium, the revitalised Porto Antico, the UNESCO-listed Palazzi dei Rolli, and the towering La Lanterna lighthouse that has guided ships since 1543.
Sports nearby
Boat excursions, kayaking, paddleboarding, diving, golf, and hiking in Portofino Natural Park.
Everything was extremely well organised.Mr P, May 2025
From about
Holiday Code EXH908
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to Grand Hotel Bristol Resort & Spa, Ligurian Riviera
The Grand Hotel Bristol Resort & Spa has welcomed discerning travellers to the Portofino Coast since 1904, when the Costa family established this rose-pink Liberty-style landmark. Today, under the ownership of the Rocchi family through R Collection Hotels, and recognised as a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World group, the property seamlessly blends its storied past with modern luxury across 80 rooms, most offering breathtaking views of the Gulf of Tigullio and the picturesque Portofino promontory. The elegant Art Nouveau façade, crowned by distinctive domes, rises amongst Mediterranean gardens, where camellias, rhododendons, and azaleas flourish, whilst interiors feature creamy yellow palettes, bleached wood floors, rich velvets, and custom-designed furnishings crafted with locally-sourced touches. The hotel's rich history reflects over a century of Italian hospitality excellence, having attracted literary and artistic luminaries including Nobel laureate André Gide, Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius, and, reportedly, Ernest Hemingway, evolving by the 1950s into a favoured destination for jet setters and Hollywood icons. The ERRE Spa is one of the largest wellness facilities on the Portofino Coast, spanning an impressive 2,000sqm, with Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, Kneipp path, emotional showers, steam room, hot tub with jacuzzi features, and four treatment rooms. The extensive treatment menu utilises high-quality Esthederm and 5 Monde products, offering deep-tissue massages, hot stone therapy, aromatherapy, Ayurvedic treatments, and the innovative Aquasoma water massage. Culinary experiences represent a cornerstone of the guest experience under the leadership of Michelin-trained Chef Andrea Cannalire, who collaborates with regional farmers, fishermen, and wild herb gatherers to craft menus celebrating authentic Ligurian flavours. Perched on the sixth-floor rooftop, Le Cupole earns recognition in the Michelin Guide and received the World Luxury Awards' Best Luxury Rooftop Restaurant accolade in 2022, serving sophisticated Italian cuisine with panoramic views of the star-lit sea and Portofino promontory. La Veranda Bistrot occupies the panoramic main-floor terrace, offering traditional Italian dishes and seasonal menus that showcase the freshest local produce and day's catch. The poolside Flamingo Bar & Pizzeria Gourmet, opened in 2023, serves wood-fired pizzas, gourmet focaccia, and Hawaiian-style poké bowls, whilst The Silk Lounge Bar provides expertly mixed cocktails throughout the day. The Marina di Bardi Beach Club delivers exclusive access to one of the most sought-after beach destinations on the Portofino Coast, located just three minutes away via complimentary shuttle. This private enclave features two zones - a family-friendly beach with direct sea access and water activities, and an elevated terrace with a luxurious whirlpool offering panoramic Mediterranean views - alongside a contemporary restaurant and bar serving fresh seafood and light fare. The hotel's seasonal outdoor pool overlooks the Gulf of Tigullio, framed by Mediterranean greenery and the pastel hues of the Ligurian landscape. In addition, the property's art programme, in partnership with Rome's Nuar Art Gallery, brings rotating contemporary exhibitions to the permanent gallery space.
Room descriptions
The Grand Hotel Bristol Resort & Spa has 80 rooms, each with Wi-Fi, air conditioning, satellite or HDTV, soundproofing, minibar, in-room safe, hair dryer, and bathrobes
Everything was extremely well organised.Mr P, May 2025
From about
Holiday Code EXH908
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to Grand Hotel Bristol Resort & Spa, Ligurian Riviera
The journey and how you get there
For a holiday to the Grand Hotel Bristol Resort & Spa, you can fly to Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport and take the Malpensa Express train to Genova Piazza Principe station, then continue by train to Rapallo's centrally located railway station, followed by a short taxi ride or the hotel's shuttle service. Alternatively, we can arrange private transfers or a hire car from the airport. The hotel is an excellent choice for a self-drive touring holiday of the Italian Riviera and Liguria, and a car proves useful for exploring the coastal villages. Rapallo's excellent train connections along the Ligurian coast also provide direct services to Genoa, Milan, Pisa, and the Cinque Terre villages.
Additional information
Children: The Grand Hotel Bristol Resort & Spa welcomes families, with many room types offering space for additional guests.
Everything was extremely well organised.Mr P, May 2025
From about
Holiday Code EXH908
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to Grand Hotel Bristol Resort & Spa, Ligurian Riviera
About Ligurian Riviera
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to the Italian Riviera incorporates the stretch of coast from the French border in the west to La Spezia in the east. This region has been long famed for its gloriously mild climate, its luxuriant vegetation of vines, olives, lemons, olives, cypress, pines, bougainvillaea and roses, and its colourful fishing villages of gaily-painted shuttered houses nestling on cliff-sides and in coves. To the west of Genoa the road along the coast forms a corniche with fishing villages, resorts and fruit orchards, this part of the coast being known as the ‘Riviera dei Fiori' as its mild climate encourages abundant flowers, notably roses and carnations. To the east of Genoa the coastline of the Ligurian Riviera is more rugged with promontories such as the Portofino peninsula, renowned for its graceful beauty, sheltered coves, wide bays and larger resorts. Inland, seemingly a world removed from the coast are greenish-grey rugged mountains and hill towns, ruined castles and fast flowing streams. There are abundant chestnut woods and remote valleys, caverns and grottoes and interesting little churches. The Ligurian Riviera is a delightful holiday region where the emphasis is on stylish and tasteful rest and relaxation.
Highlights of the Ligurian Riviera
There are numerous places of interest on and around the Ligurian Riviera. Visit the resort of Nervi with the collection of clocks, fabrics, furniture and lace in the Villa Luxoro and its Galleria d'Arte Moderna. Genoa, a busy port and bustling city, also has fine palaces such as the Palazzo Reale and the Palazzo Bianco and the fascinating Steglieno Cemetery, full of elaborate tombs. The wild beauty of the Cinqueterre should be seen from the ancient footpath, the Sentiere Azzurro, which links the coastal villages. The Abbbazia di San Fruttuoso on the Portofino Peninsula can be reached by boat or on foot. In Camogli sea shells adorn the house walls and the castle contains a display of sea creatures. Flower market in Sanremo early mornings. Giardino Hanbury near Ventimiglia. Diano Marino known for its olives and sandy beaches. Visit Andora Castello, inland from Alassio, known as the finest mediaeval building on the western Riviera.
Cultural highlights of the Ligurian Riviera
The 12th Century Church of San Matteo in Genoa, with its striped black and white Gothic facade. The 16th Century Via Garibaldi in Genoa, designed by Cantone. The `Adoration of the Magi` by Joos van Cleve in the Church of San Donato in Genoa. Crucifixion by Van Dyck in the Church of San Michele di Pagana between Santa Margherita and Rapallo.
Festivals in the Ligurian Riviera
Festivals include the Blessing of the Fish in Camogli in May and the Stella Maris procession of boats to the Punta della Chiappa in August. Procession at Montallegro, above Rapallo, is held at the beginning of July. La Spezia holds a `Festa del Mare` on first Sunday in August.
Gastronomy in the Ligurian Riviera
Local cuisine is influenced by the sea in particular and the mountains to the north. Local specialities include dishes made with pesto for example Trenette al Pesto and Farinata which is a flat bread of chickpea flour and oil, thin like a pancake and eaten as a snack. Pansoti with walnut sauce is a Ligurian speciality of spinach and egg filled pasta with a sauce of nuts, garlic, herbs, ricotta and olive oil.
