In the area

WHAT TO DO

What to do in Genoa?

You won’t get bored in Genoa. Name it and the possibilities are at your disposal. This city has been of importance for over two thousand years. For the Romans, it was the harbour for their infamous Armada. It has always been a central port, claiming its role in the rich Italian history, resulting in a vast cultural heritage, discovered in almost every Genoese street.

You can spend a lifetime trying to uncover all the beautiful inheritances. Apart from this splendour, there’s the unique location; port city and capital of the Liguria region, there is a direct connection to the azure Ligurian coast. The backbone of Genoa is protected by a ridge of the Apennine Mountains, which can be reached from the city centre in about fifteen minutes through a number of funicular trains (funicolari).

Should you want to go and explore outside the city, then you can visit one of the richest regions of Italy, including landmarks such as Portofino, Cinque Terre, Milan, Turin, San Remo… where true Italian culture can be discovered and experienced!

Discover the city

Some Genoa highlights

The beach

Have a wonderful beach break in Genoa: with more than 35 km of coastline this is a good summer destination, with a sea of iridescent turquoise and emerald shades. Ligurian beaches can provide a full range of services for a comfortable holiday: deck chairs and umbrellas, changing cabins, showers and playgrounds. Most of them are located in the Eastern and Western parts of the town, consisting of small areas, seamlessly flowing into one another: from Boccadasse, a tiny jewel next to the city centre with its small pebble beach, to the fishing village of Camogli, part of the Portofino protected area, from the sandy beach of Paraggi to the rocky cliffs of Mulinetti, and many more…enjoy your genoese summer!

Genoa surroundings

Genoa has a great position for day trips out of the city, with many attractions worth seeing: discover the beauties of the hinterland and the Ligurian coast where you will be able to find hidden places and amazing landscapes.

Top destination is without doubt the Cinque Terre Protected Area, a string of five fishing villages linked by the famous Via dell’Amore (Love Path). Included in Unesco Mankind’s World Heritage, this is a unique place in the world where people have carefully built terraces to cultivate olives and grapes on the steep landscape right up to the cliffs over the Mediterranean Sea. The easiest way to get there is by the special Five Lands Express trains which run every 20 minutes from mid March until November 1st – 1 hour and a half ride.

No holiday in Genoa is complete without a trip to Portofino: a luxurious retreat just 40 km far from the city, famous for its Piazzetta, its painted façades and its tiny port full of yachts, at the centre of the regional Nature Park. Next to it Santa Margherita, called the Pearl of the Gulf, and Camogli, the Gem of the Golfo Paradiso, two small colourful cities to put in the “places to see” list. Between Portofino and Camogli rises the bay of Paraggi, small and hidden and perfect for hours of pure relaxation- a perfect spot for diving.

But, let’s remember Genoa is stretched between sea and mountains: don’t forget to discover the hinterland, and follow for example a panoramic route with the Genoa-Casella railway. Leaving from Manin square (next to the city centre) this historical train is the appropriate choice for an outdoor trip with the whole family and crosses three Genoese valleys in about an hour: fortresses, villages, forests, valleys…

Museums

City of splendor and aristocratic beauty, defined by poets “superba”, which means both proud and arrogant, Genoa offers visitors a glimpse of authentic Italian life dressed with a deep and unvarnished sense of history.

If you wish to take a journey to the past and find out about the city’s history and culture you will find that Genoa is well-endowed with a number of museums, dedicated to everything from cultural and natural history to the navy, cathedrals, royalty and noble families: more than 28 locations many of which housed in fine historic buildings in the city centre (and all of them situated within 10 km).

The most impressive of these are maybe the Musei di Strada Nuova (Palazzo Bianco, Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Tursi), which are all located on Via Garibaldi, the former Strada Nuova, an amazing Renaissance street lined with astonishing palaces declared UNESCO World Heritage in 2006. Are you an art lover? Then you’ll find flammish painters’ masterpieces, the Paganini’s violin, amazing artworks and frescos all worth of any king..Don’t forget to visit Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) in via Balbi, next to the city centre decorated with frescoes, stuccos, paintings, sculptures, furniture and fittings belonging to the noble and royal families who lived there and Palazzo Ducale in Piazza De Ferrari, the main square of the town, which on the ground floor hosts art exhibitions, debates and conferences.

If you travel with kids you can’t miss Galata Museum This is the largest maritime Museum in the Mediterranean Sea, exactly in the place where in ancient times the genoese fleet was built. At one corner of the Porto Antico, it is a unique place where you can visit a real submarine, get on board on a 17th-century galley and, thanks to 4D technology, experience a shipwreck, or Genoa Lighthouse Museum just under the historic lighthouse, at the end of the Porto Antico, and which summit offers one of the most spectacular views of the city’s sunset, or the Natural History museum with 6,000 items on display, an enormously rich scientific collection made up of 4.5 million artefacts and specimens from all over the world: animals, fossils, plants and minerals.

The Genova Museum Card is a single ticket, valid for 24 hours, which allows you to access only once the 28 city museums, 19 civic museums and 9 non-civic museums, for the price of 15 euro inclusive of AMT public transport.

Art & Design

Find your way to design. Jump into the heart of Genoa Design District and meet its creative people, in a project of territorial marketing which offers an amazing opportunity to enjoy innovative fashion, design, art and architecture. During the Annual Design Week Genoa historic centre turns into an open air lab with design expositions, events and installations.

The Design District is located between Via San Lorenzo, via San Bernardo and Piazza delle Erbe and hosts in a beautiful historic setting more than 50 studios and shops dedicated to art and design.

Shopping

Spend a day of fashion, shopping and art visiting Genoa: a shopping experience for every kind of taste, from high-end ateliers to local streets with unique boutiques, to larger shopping areas (malls). Start from the main shopping streets: the best boutiques (Gucci, Louis Vuitton,Dolce & Gabbana and Prada for instance) are located in via Roma, via XXV aprile, Galleria Mazzini and via XX Settembre.

Enjoy the experience of local shopping strolling down the narrow streets of the historic centre: Handcrafted jewelry, artwork from local artisans, baked goods made with recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation…

If you prefer a comfortable shopping day just head to Fiumara Shopping Centre: a shopaholic’s paradise which offers more than just shopping: stores (covers everything from children’s wear, men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, shoes, sporting good stores, beauty products, electronics), but also restaurants, bars and cafes.

Porto Antico

How to spend a beautiful day in Genoa? Strolling around Genoa’s Old Port of course. The world famous architect Renzo Piano redeveloped this area which is now a really cool place with many attractions: The Aquarium of Genoa, which is the largest in all of Europe housing more than 12000 specimen; the Biosphere, a spherical pavillion housing tropical animals and plants; the Bigo Panoramic lift and the Ferris wheel which offer the opportunity to admire the city from above. Take a long walk along the seafront promenade and be sure to visit the old cotton warehouse and the Galata Maritime Museum, jump onto a the replica of a pirate Galeon and finally… just relax and try some typical tasteful food in one of the many restaurants and small cafès in the area. Enjoy!

Nightlife

Switch on the magic of an italian night: start with an aperitivo at dusk, with generous free snacks or a buffet full of tasty genoese appetizers in a very stylish place like the outside tables at Oltremodo, on the deck of the ship ‘Italia’, just past the Aquarium, or at the panoramic cafè at Galata Museo del Mare. Stroll around in Piazza delle Erbe in the old town behind palazzo Ducale and live the street like a true Genoese, moving from a caruggio to another with a drink in your hand.

In Genoa you can find small bars and pubs at every corner but if you are in a very romantic mood bring your beloved one along the seafront and enjoy the magic of a night with a spectacular view.

For young people the city offers many discos and clubs with live music, including the special Silent Disco at Palazzo Ducale. In winter times fall in love with the Opera at the Carlo Felice theatre or go to the movies at the multiplex cinema La Fiumara. During the summer season Corso Italia and the Old Port are often home to DJ sets and dance nights. So, grab your Corochinato Asinello wine (Typical Genoese aperitif to be served cold and smooth with only a slice of lemon) and enjoy your night!

Food & drinks

Which better way to know a country than to eat its food? Every corner of Genoa has a “Bar” which is the italian word for cafè: you can drink coffee there, of course, but most of the times you can also have a quick but tasteful meal for lunch and, in the evening, drink something with your friends. Italians enjoy so much spending time together sharing meals or drinks than, often, the first attempt to flirt with a girl is “ti posso offrire un caffè?” (may I buy you a coffee). In the historic centre of Genoa you can experience quality food in luxurious traditional locations or enjoy super tasty dishes in homely pubs. And if your evening is still “young”, start with an “aperitivo”, which is that moment just before dinner, used to snack some food and a light cocktail.

Restaurants

It is commonly said that whenever there’s a discussion on the countries known for their food, Italy never misses on the list – and Genoa in particular can offer you a delicious and tasteful holiday.

Food is all around you. There’s a great trattoria on every corner of the narrow streets of the historical centre! If you want to savour some typical cuisine, head to Sottoripa and its surroundings in front of the ancient port, and you’ll find restaurants, sandwich shops and the famous friggitorie where to buy fresh fried fish. Next to the shop district don’t miss the most tasteful pesto of the town at the “il Genovese” in via Galata. For a stylish seafood dinner, try Soho, not far from the Acquario, with a lounge that also acts as a fish market where you can take away fresh fish.

For a nostalgic evening, enjoy Zeffirino’s menu, where Frank Sinatra himself was bewitched with genoese food. And, if you really want to charm your beloved one, enjoy top quality food at “the Cook” – a Michelin star awarded restaurant housed in a superb 14th century residence with renaissance affrescoes located in Vico Falamonica. So… as you say in Italy… buon appetito!

Sports

If you are fond of sports, Genoa offers hundreds of opportunities to have a good time.

Exploring the sea, for example, is one of the best ways to turn your simple holiday into a wildlife adventure: Genoa’s coast is an ideal starting point for diving and snorkeling, whale watching, sailing and boat trips. Varazze is one of the most popular spots to surf in northern Italy. Half an hour drive west of Genoa, this little town in the picturesque region of Liguria attracts hundreds of surfers during the peak season. If you play golf your ideal destination is the Golf Club Pineta di Arenzano, next to Varazze and only half an hour from the city centre. Moreover, the surroundings of the town are a real open-air gym: free-climbing, hiking, cycling or mountain bike trails. Genoa will be the European Capital of Sport in 2024 with a very rich program of events scheduled between national, international and paralympics.

Last but not least, Genoa is the city where Italian football was born and from which it spread out. Its harbour has always connected the city with the rest of Europe. Thanks to this connection, the first society of a sport that unequivocally changed the culture of the entire country, was created. Genoa is in fact the name of the oldest Italian professional soccer club.

Hiking

Where the mountains meet the sea: hidden away between the amazing mountain range and deep blue sea, Genoa is a good choice for an active outdoors holiday, with some of the most scenic hiking trails in all of Italy. From the challenging “San Fruttuoso to Camogli hike”, a scenic trek with a wonderful view of the Ligurian Riviera, to the simple strolls of the Parco delle Mura and the Ring of the 15th century forts on the hills surrounding the town, Genoa offers countless possibilities of open air activities. Above the city, the dramatic natural amphitheatre of the mountains and its forts are easily reachable by one of the many funicolars – for example the Funicolare Zecca-Righi connects Largo della Zecca, on the edge of the historical centre, to the stations on the Righi hill… and if you are a bike lover, bring your mountain bike with you and enjoy a memorable MTB cycling trip with a wonderful view of the entire gulf…

Historical centre

Genoa has Europe’s largest historical centre, authentic in every detail: jump into the past in the old town and be charmed… you’ll see, around the corners of its labyrinth of alleys, hidden gems that leave people speechless. Start from Porta Soprana, one of the ancient gates to the city, next to the House of Columbus, and walk along until Piazza Matteotti, to admire the main entrance of Palazzo Ducale, where many of the city’s exhibits and cultural events unfold, with its two spectacular façades and gorgeous interior architecture.

Don’t miss the renaissance Church “del Gesù”, whose interiors boast splendid baroque decorations together with two works by Rubens, then head to via San Lorenzo and be impressed at the grandeur and history of the early 13th-century San Lorenzo Cathedral with its black and white striped marble façade. Next to it, Piazza San Matteo, a well preserved medieval tiny square and the Church and Cloister which belonged to the powerful and wealthy Doria family. Then head to Piazza De Ferrari, the most important square in town, admire the big fountain and walk along via XXV aprile and get to via Garibaldi, home to the Palazzi dei Rolli UNESCO Heritage Site, a system of more than 100 splendid Renaissance palaces: Check out the stunning frescoes in the majestic rooms of Palazzo Rosso (Red palace) as well as the works of art in the Gallery, and don’t miss the splendid white façade of Palazzo Bianco (White Palace), which houses a fine collection of 17th-century art. And, well, that’s not all….visiting Genoa can be an unforgettable experience indeed… remember the words that Petrarca, a famous italian poet, used in 14th century to describe “Genoa the Proud”: “You will see a regal town, placed against a hill, proud for its men and walls whose features make it the lady of the sea”