City guide · Italy

Genoa

Genoa is the sixth-largest city in Italy and the capital of the region of Liguria in northern Italy.

4 ready itineraries · 3, 5, 7, 10-day plans

Genoa is the sixth-largest city in Italy and the capital of the region of Liguria in northern Italy. As of 2026, 566,247 people live within the city's administrative limits.

While its metropolitan city has 820,691 inhabitants, more than 1.5 million people live in the wider metropolitan area stretching along the Italian Riviera. thumb|Alley in Old Genoa Genoa has one of Europe’s largest preserved historical centers, made up of an incredible number of tiny streets and alleys called Caruggi. Walking through it will plunk you right back to olden times when Genoa was the most important harbor of the Mediterranean sea.

Best for: First-time visitors who want Genoa without a car. The 3-day plan stays inside walking range of Old City.
Skip if: Skip Genoa if you only want a beach week or an airport layover. This cluster is for people who will walk most days.

Pick a trip length

One plan per length — open it and walk the days in order.

5-day preview

Skim the walking days, then open the full plan.

Full plan

1
Old City
Walk Old City in Genoa. Start at Christopher Columbus House, then Spianata Castelletto and Via Garibaldi. Stay on foot.
Christopher Columbus House · Spianata Castelletto · Via Garibaldi · The Old Harbour · …
2
Old City
Walk Old City in Genoa. Start at Via Balbi, then Museum of Modern Art - Villa Croce and Museums of Fine Arts - Strada Nuova. Stay on foot.
Via Balbi · Museum of Modern Art - Villa Croce · Museums of Fine Arts - Strada Nuova · Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art · …
3
Museums
Walk Museums in Genoa. Start at Gallery of Modern Art, then Wolfsoniana and Luxoro Museum. Stay on foot.
Gallery of Modern Art · Wolfsoniana · Luxoro Museum · Raccolte Frugone · …
4
Museums
Walk Museums in Genoa. Start at Ligurian Archeological Museum, then Ippolito National Antarctic Museum and Palazzi dei Rolli. Stay on foot.
Ligurian Archeological Museum · Ippolito National Antarctic Museum · Palazzi dei Rolli · Santa Maria di Castello · …
5
Day trip toward Cinque Terre
Leave Genoa for the day. Come back to the same bed.
Cinque Terre · Rapallo · Portofino

Where to stay

Bases that fit the walking plan.

Full guide →

Old City
2 to 4 nights
Walking this plan
Base here if you want Christopher Columbus House, Spianata Castelletto, Via Garibaldi on foot.
Museums
2 to 4 nights
Walking this plan
Base here if you want Museum of Modern Art - Villa Croce, Museums of Fine Arts - Strada Nuova, Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art on foot.
Other sights
2 to 4 nights
Walking this plan
Base here if you want Righi, Corso Italia, Boccadasse on foot.

Getting there & when to go

Lock timing and airport basics early.

Best time

Genoa works year-round for a walking trip. Shoulder months are easier on crowds and hills.

Shoulder months
High season
Low season
Rain days

Season guide →

Airport

Genoa Airport (XXX)

Locals will say driving around the city is somewhat faster than public transportation (traffic jams at rush hours notwithstanding), but once you have reached your destination you are faced with the nightmare and frustration of looking for a nonexistent parking spot. It is not just chance that most locals switched from cars to scooters - to the extent that even finding a spot for a scooter has become difficult too. All attractions within the center are in walking distance or well served by public transportation, therefore a car is of no use at all. If you still decide to drive into the city, don't bet on available street parking (there are street parking fees anyway) go directly to a parking garage and hope not all of them are full.

Public transit from XXX30 to 60 minutes · Local ticket price. Check the operator the week you fly.
Taxi or licensed ride hail20 to 45 minutes · Treat any number you see online as an estimate, not a quote.

Transfers →

Practical notes

Short reads before you book.

Understand

thumb|300px|right|The romantic port of Genoa, with its lovely seaside buildings and wooded rolling hills thumb|right|300px|The busy city port, filled to the brim with yachts, boats, cruises, ferries and cargo ships. Genoa is a very important sea town in the Mediterranean When visiting northwestern Italy (Milan, Turin) it is absolutely worth staying for a couple of days or a weekend in Genoa.

The city is a good base to explore the Italian Riviera and world-famous places like Portofino and the Cinque Terre. Genoa is a place where you discover daily new surprises, even if you stay for years.

Get in

The main airport bus, Volabus, drops off at the ferry terminal (Via Milano) and the two train stations. On the way back, it picks up only at the two train stations and near the Metro at Piazza De Ferrari.

Get around

All attractions within the center are in walking distance or well served by public transportation, therefore a car is of no use at all. If you still decide to drive into the city, don't bet on available street parking (there are street parking fees anyway) go directly to a parking garage and hope not all of them are full.

Stay safe

Streets in Genoa are usually quite safe, especially in the main tourist areas and residential areas. Downtown, Quarto dei Mille, Quinto del Mare and Nervi are all safe districts during the day as well as the evening.

However, some limited areas in the historical centre off the main alleys might be subject to petty crime or just be uncomfortable for the general tourist (e.g. prostitutes waiting for clients in the middle of the day in dark side alleys just a couple of blocks away from a tourist attraction).

Related guides

Helpful next pages for Genoa.