Things to Do in Genoa: 18 Highlights Worth Seeing

Genoa Attractions on a Map

Most of Genoa’s highlights are located in the old town and its surroundings. You can easily reach all of them on foot.

We’ve marked the attractions on a map so you can get a quick overview for your trip to Genoa. You can also save the map and view it offline.

Highlights in Genoa's Old Town

San Lorenzo Cathedral

You’ll find the enormous San Lorenzo Cathedral right in the middle of a large piazza. It’s been standing here since the Middle Ages and is the centerpiece of the old town. Climb the cathedral’s bell tower and you’ll be rewarded with a stunning panorama over Genoa — the ticket costs 5 euros.

If you just want to look around inside, it’s free. You’ll see an impressive amount of gold, frescoes, and stained glass windows. Seriously beautiful. The entire San Lorenzo Cathedral is an absolute must when visiting Genoa.

For a first taste of the old town and some fascinating stories, we really recommend the walking tour through the historic center. It’s available in English and well worth doing.

Book the old town walking tour with a local

Piazza de Ferrari

Piazza de Ferrari is something like the modern heart of Genoa. This is where the historic old quarter ends and the more contemporary part of the city begins, with a shopping strip along Via XX Settembre.

The Palazzo Ducale also stands on Piazza de Ferrari. It hosts exhibitions, concerts, readings, and workshops — and the exhibitions are often free. There’s also a small café in the entrance area. Just pop in to see what’s on, or enjoy a proper espresso inside the Palazzo.

Our tip: On Via XX Settembre, you’re sheltered under arcades on both sides of the street. So if you catch a rainy day in Genoa, you can just go shopping without getting wet.

Piazza San Matteo

Just one alley over is Piazza San Matteo. This small and very quiet square has two churches and a monastery.

To the left of the black-and-white San Matteo church, a narrow staircase leads up to the monastery garden. Don’t skip it — the inner courtyard is perfect for a little break or even a picnic.

San Pietro in Banchi

Genoa has had its ups and downs throughout the centuries, and the church of San Pietro in Banchi is the best example of that. To afford the church at all, shops were built underneath it — the rental income made it possible to place the church on top.

It’s not a large church, but its position above the shops makes it truly remarkable. Inside, every corner looks different, because many wealthy Genoese families each contributed to its construction.

When you go in, someone may approach you and offer to share the history of the church. These are volunteer members of the congregation — always happy to receive a small donation, but their main goal is simply to share their story.

Strade Nuove

Along the Strade Nuove stand over 150 magnificent city palaces. Built by the nobility, some were even used for state visits.

Many of the palazzi are now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you can explore their entrance areas freely. The Palazzi Rosso, Bianco, and Doria Tursi on Via Garibaldi can also be visited as museums, including their interiors.

If you’d like to dig deeper, we recommend a guided tour of the palazzi — available in English and Italian.

Our tip: If you’re interested in the palazzi and museums in Genoa, the Genova Museum Card might be just the thing for you. It starts at 25 euros for 24 hours and lets you visit the museums and palazzi at a leisurely pace. The ticket also includes use of public transportation.

Book the guided tour of the palazzi

Belvedere Castelletto

Behind the Strade Nuove, Genoa rises steeply uphill. From up there, you get a great view of the city and the harbor — and you don’t even have to walk. Take the elevator Ascensore Castelletto Levante – Portello at Piazza del Portello and buy your ticket at the vending machine right next to it.

Once you’re up top, take a short stroll around the block. You’ll find cafés, restaurants, and gelato shops, plus even more photo opportunities.

Porta Soprana

Porta Soprana is Genoa’s former city gate. You can even climb the towers — though you’ll want to be in decent shape and have no fear of heights.

Just a few steps beyond Porta Soprana, a small, charming house is tucked away. This is said to be the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. Inside there’s a small museum about his life — worth it if the topic genuinely interests you, but easy to skip otherwise.

Either way, take a look around the area near the old walls. You’ll find some great restaurants, focaccia stands, and cafés.

Our tip: At the café Il Barbarossa — with Elvis by the door — in the late afternoon you’ll get a complimentary spread of antipasti with your aperitivo that really delivers. Afterward, you can easily push dinner back by an hour.

Highlights at Genoa's Harbor

Porto Antico

Genoa’s harbor is so enormous that it’s divided into different sections. The most beautiful part is the Porto Antico. It was completely renovated not long ago and has plenty of things to see and do.

You’ll find cafés, restaurants, shops, and museums right along the waterfront. Just stroll through the Porto Antico and soak it all in. The best starting point is the San Giorgio metro station.

Genoa Aquarium

The Acquario di Genova is the second largest aquarium in Europe. Plan for about two and a half hours to make your way through all 39 tanks. You can look forward to penguins, dolphins, seals, and sharks, among other things.

The aquarium gets busy — you’ll save a lot of time by buying your ticket online in advance.

Aquarium ticket — skip the line

Museo del Mare Galata

The maritime museum is a genuinely cool spot with interactive exhibition rooms, simulators, and a full-size Genoese galley.

There are many ships, a submarine you can explore from the inside, and the chance to steer ships yourself in simulators. A perfect pick for a vacation with kids or on a rainy day.

One heads-up: it gets very, very hot inside in summer. In July and August, it’s noticeably hotter inside than outside.

Ticket for the Galata Museum with submarine

Via Sottoripa

On the building side along the Porto Antico, between the Darsena and San Giorgio metro stations, you’ll find the ancient arcades of Via Sottoripa. Focaccia stands, souvenir shops, and restaurants line up one after another.

Walking along the arcades feels like you’ve stumbled into an Arabian bazaar. At the souvenir shops, you can absolutely try bargaining.

Torre della Lanterna Lighthouse

Since 1128, the light in Genoa’s lighthouse has come on every evening. It is the oldest still-functioning lighthouse in the world — and along with San Lorenzo Cathedral, one of the defining symbols of this port city.

The tower is 77 meters tall and sits on a rock about 40 meters high. Around the base, there’s a small park with a great vantage point. And while you’re there, check out the small museum inside the lighthouse — you can also climb up to the middle level of the tower.

Attractions Outside Genoa's Old Town

Arco della Vittoria

At the eastern end of Via XX Settembre, you’re right at the Arch of Victory. The Arco della Vittoria was built in memory of the victims of World War I.

You can’t go inside — it’s viewable from the outside only. On a sunny day, it makes for a great photo stop.

Our tip: When walking from Piazza Verdi toward the Arch of Victory, make a quick espresso stop at one of the small stands along the way.

Staglieno Cemetery

A bit further north lies the monumental Staglieno Cemetery. It’s genuinely beautiful, with old statues and arcaded walkways. If the city gets too hectic, we highly recommend making the trip out here.

Bus 634 takes you directly from the Piazza Principe or Darsena stops to Cimitero Staglieno. You’ll need either a 100-minute ticket or a 24-hour ticket.

Passegiata Anita Garibaldi in Nervi

Want a quick escape to the sea without the harbor? Head to the Anita Garibaldi waterfront promenade in the neighborhood of Nervi. The path runs 2 kilometers along the rocky coastline — perfect for a walk, even in flip-flops.

Cafés and restaurants are scattered all along the way. We recommend Bagni Medusa — it’s right on the promenade, has a natural pool, and the bar serves cocktails, snacks, and pizza.

From the Brignole or Principe train stations, you can reach Nervi by regional train in 20 minutes. You’ll need an AMT / Trenitalia ticket.

Hidden Gems in Genoa

Museo Internazionale del Cinema

Into movies? Then the Cine Ciak, or Cine Passioni, on Piazza Banchi is right up your alley.

Film history, props, lightsabers, and figures from King Kong, Batman, Frankenstein, and James Bond await you in this film museum housed in a stunning historic market hall.

By the way: At Piazza Banchi you’ll find several stalls selling comics and antique books, among other things. Browse through them if you’re a bookworm — you can find real treasures there.

Villetta di Negro

Villetta di Negro is the most beautiful park in the city. Small grottos and a waterfall are hidden throughout — it’s a lovely surprise.

The park is perfect for a breather. There are plenty of shady spots, and from the upper section you get a wonderful view of the city.

Right in the middle of the park stands the Museo d’Arte Orientale Edoardo Chiossone — said to be the most important museum of Oriental art in all of Italy.

Mercato Orientale

Tucked along the shopping strip Via XX Settembre is an old market hall you absolutely have to walk through.

This is where locals do their shopping. You’ll find fresh fruits and vegetables, salami and prosciutto, seasonal products, and espresso bars dotted throughout. No local passes through without stopping for a coffee.

And beyond the delicious focaccia and espresso doppio, it’s a fantastic place to take beautiful photos of the colorful market stalls.

Our tip: Go in the morning — some stalls close in the afternoon.

Practical Tips for Genoa

Where to Stay in Genoa

In Genoa, you can find a hotel room starting at around 80 euros per night. Almost all the attractions are in the old town or at the harbor, so we recommend looking for a place to stay in one of those areas.

Here are our three hotel recommendations for the area:

When is the best time to visit Genoa?

Genoa sits right on the coast, surrounded by mountains and hills — which makes the weather a bit more unpredictable than in the rest of Italy.

In July and August, Genoa can get very hot. Especially in the narrow alleyways of the old quarter, where there’s no breeze at all, it can feel stifling. In May and June, as well as in September and October, temperatures range between 68 and 79°F (20–26°C). This is the sweet spot for sightseeing — not too hot, not too cold.

From June through September it rains the least; otherwise, expect rain on around eight days a month throughout the year.

From November through April, it rarely gets warmer than 59°F (15°C). Truly frosty conditions are rare, though — you’ll still want a jacket. The upside of visiting in the off-season is that the city is wonderfully quiet.

How many days should you plan for Genoa?

Since all the highlights are in the old town or at the harbor, you can already see a lot of Genoa in two days. Three days is even better — you’ll have time for the museums and the many culinary delights the city has to offer.

With four or five days, you can add one or two day trips along the coast or into the countryside.

Getting to Genoa

Because Genoa is less touristy than other Italian cities, flight connections from many European hubs are limited. Direct flights are available from a handful of cities — the flight takes just over one hour. Cristoforo Colombo Airport is very centrally located. The easiest way into the city is by combining the Airlink bus and train.

Fun fact: The internationally standard liquid restrictions for carry-on luggage explicitly do not apply to pesto in Genoa. If you’re flying out of Genoa airport, you’re allowed to bring as much pesto as you like.

You can also get to Genoa by car if long road trips don’t bother you. Just make sure there’s parking available near your hotel — a car in Genoa itself is pretty much useless.

And there’s another particularly scenic way to arrive: the ferry from Sardinia. Regular crossings depart from the port in Olbia to Genoa, taking around 10 to 12 hours depending on the route and operator. Various ferry companies serve this route with daytime and overnight sailings, so you can plan flexibly.

Book the ferry to Genoa at Direct Ferries

Getting Around

Genoa’s public transportation all falls under the AMT network — which includes rack railways and elevators, because Genoa stretches up into the surrounding hills.

Tickets are very affordable. Check in advance whether a single ticket or a 24-hour ticket makes more sense for your plans.

There’s also a hop-on hop-off bus in Genoa. It’s fairly affordable too — tickets start at 25 euros. It stops at Piazza de Ferrari, the Arch of Victory, Via Garibaldi, and the harbor. It doesn’t go through the oldest part of the old town with its narrow alleyways, of course.

Hop-on hop-off ticket

Culinary Specialties in Genoa

Like every Italian city, Genoa has its own unique specialties. These culinary highlights are an absolute must-try:

Pesto Genovese

Yes, the world-famous pesto was invented right here in Genoa. Pesto Genovese is the city’s biggest export, and you’ll find it on almost every corner. The restaurant Cavour 21 is renowned for its exceptional pesto and has already been crowned world champion for it.

Focaccia

In Genoa, focaccia has a longer tradition than pizza. It’s perfect for a quick snack between meals. You’ll find focaccia stands throughout the city — you really can’t go wrong. Just grab whatever looks most appealing.

Torta and Farinata

Torta and farinata also have a long tradition in Genoa. Torta here refers to a savory torta, similar to a quiche — delicious and incredibly filling. Farinata are pancakes made from chickpea flour. At Antica Sciamadda, you’ve been able to get the finest torta and farinata since 1850.

Our tip: Grab your snack from Antica Sciamadda, head over to the Porto Antico, and watch the boats and people go by. If you happen to have a bottle of wine and some cups in your bag, the break is perfect.

Travel Costs

Genoa is still a lesser-known gem for travelers. That means the cultural and arts offerings are very affordable, hotel prices aren’t excessively high, and food and drink costs are moderate.

Here’s a quick overview of what to expect:

Double room in a good mid-range hotel: 80 to 200 euros
Bottle of water: 1 to 3 euros
Glass of wine: 3 to 7 euros
Large beer: 4 to 7 euros
Espresso: 0.90 to 4 euros
Focaccia: 1.70 to 4 euros
Pizza: 6 to 12 euros
Dinner at a casual restaurant: 10 to 30 euros
Dinner at an upscale restaurant: 40 to 100 euros
Metro ticket: from 1.50 euros