Day Trips From Rapallo to Cinque Terra and Genoa

The trains are easy. Just look at the schedule on the Trenitalia website. Most of the trains are regional trains that don't require reservations or advanced purchase (same price bought at last minute, trains can't sell out). If you have a smart phone, the Trenit app is extremely helpful with schedules. You can also buy tickets with the phone. I am registered with Trenitalia so used their app to buy train tickets as needed on my recent trip to Italy and the Riviera.

Unfortunately, the "medium to light" hiking trails in the Cinque Terre are closed right now (between Riomaggiore and Manarola and Manarola to Corniglia - the "lower trails"). Hiking between Corniglia and Vernazza and Vernazza to Monterosso are "medium to hard" hikes - you might be OK with one of them if you take your time, but there are a lot of steps up and down. You might start with Monterosso to Vernazza. A hiking pass is required for that. Take an early train and get going before the trails get mobbed with people.

Alternately, you could take a ferry beyond the Cinque Terre to Porto Venere, a lovely town too. An all-day ferry pass lets you stop in any of the towns (except Corniglia).

Closer to Rapallo, you might consider walking to Santa Margherita Ligure and hiking from there to Portofino - more in the "easy" hike category. You can take the ferry or bus back to Santa Margherita Ligure. Consider taking the ferry in the other direction to the lovely town of Camogli and taking the train back to Rapallo from there.

Not sure a day trip to Genoa would be super interesting. It's not a tourist attraction - although the aquarium there is pretty nice. I'd live in Genoa but not sure I'd spend a day there on vacation unless it was on my way to another destination.

Here is the ferry schedule:

http://traghettiportofino.it/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/01/Linea-1-INGLESE-2019-web.pdf

Hiking around Portofino:

https://www.portofinotrek.com/trek/gb/6-trail-map

If walking back from Portofino to SML along the coast and it's lunch time, stop at Dal Alfredo [closed Monday].

Take a ride on the Rapallo Cable Car.

Not sure a day trip to Genoa would be super interesting. It's not a tourist attraction - although the aquarium there is pretty nice. I'd live in Genoa but not sure I'd spend a day there on vacation unless it was on my way to another destination.

I did a day trip to Genoa (more like 1/3 of a day) a few years ago. Some parts of it are interesting, but it wasn't my favorite place for sure. Some people really like Genoa, so I'm reluctant to warn people away from it. You never know what people's preferences are.

Thanks, all, for your suggestions. Replanning our trip based on the feedback...this is a great place to share information!

Bryan, in regards to the CT (Portofino is outside of the formal boundaries of that region)....

There are no "cities" in the park: there are five villages and they are small (Monterosso) to tiny (Corniglia). As previously noted, 2 of the four segments of the most-traveled route between them - the SVA2/Blue Trail/Sentiero Azzurro - are closed and will remain so this season. The legs between Monterosso>Vernazza> Corniglia are open but, like any of the trails in the park, can close at any time for weather or damage. This map shows you where the open trails are and provides descriptions of each:

http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Esentieri-outdoor.php

Black lines are closed trails; orange lines are open-but-skilled trails; green lines are open trails. The green line trails may or may not be "easier" depending on length and physical fitness.

You do need park passes to hike any open segment of the SVA2, and combo 1-day trail +unlimited 2nd-class rail passes within the region are (La Spezia, Levanto, + the 5 CT villages in between) are available as well:

http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Ecinque-terre-card.php

We hiked the SVA2 back when only the leg between Corniglia and Manarola was closed, as it has been for many years now. Sections involve a lot of steep, shallow steps both up and down, and I'll say it's not for couch potatoes, anyone with knee or hip problems, compromised breathing, or with very small children. You are also required to have adequate footwear: no flimsy flipflops or non-hiking sandals. That said, you also do not need hiking boots: we did it in just the sturdy, closed-toes shoes with good tread (good tread is a MUST for Italy for dealing with slippery surfaces!) we wore for the rest of our trip. I'd expect it to be a busy, conga line of hikers during peak hours.

If they might be useful, I'd included a couple of youtube videos of both open sections in this thread for someone who was afraid of heights:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/steep-cliffs-on-hikes-in-cinque-terre

Andrew is correct ... if you have compelling reason to visit Genoa I do not want to dissuade you. We visit Bologna when in Italy but we have friends who live there so I have a compelling reason but for most visitors I wouldn't think Bologna would be high on their list.

I would suggest reading up on Genoa before deciding. If you like architecture I am sure you would find it of interest. (I have bypassed it in favor of small villages, but I never count any place out in Italy.)
RE hiking, you will be adjacent to Portofino park, where you can hike without hundreds on your tail as in CT. I would spend my days there and in lovely Camogli and Santa Margarita Ligure, all of which are linked by ferry and bus and hiking path. There is one hike in the park you may wish to avoid, but it is well marked. (It involves using chains and is not for the faint of heart.)