Via Garibaldi
First-timersThe street of palaces, on the edge of the old centre.
Genoa city guide
Things To Do In Genoa
A working port with one of the largest medieval centres in Europe, palaces built by bankers, the best focaccia and pesto in the world, and the Cinque Terre an hour away.
11
Hostels in the city
8.7
Average, from 12,517 reviews
€1–2
A slice of focaccia
42
Palaces on the UNESCO list
1.5 h
To the Cinque Terre
La Superba
Genoa was one of the great maritime republics of the Middle Ages, and its bankers financed half the kings of Europe. The wealth built two cities in one: the caruggi, a maze of narrow medieval lanes running down to the port, and the Strade Nuove, streets of Renaissance palaces so grand that the city kept an official list of them for hosting visiting dignitaries.
The Palazzi dei Rolli and the Strade Nuove are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old centre is one of the largest in Europe, dark, steep and full of life.
Genoa is still a working port, and it has a rough edge that puts some visitors off. It is also cheap, authentic and full of food you cannot find anywhere else. Two days covers the city, and the Riviera, Portofino and the Cinque Terre are within easy reach by train.
Where to stay
The old centre is the place to be, but it is a maze. Stay near the edges, around Via Garibaldi or the port, for easier nights.
Caruggi
AtmosphereThe medieval lanes around Piazza delle Erbe and San Lorenzo. Lively, rough at night.
Porto Antico
Being near the waterThe old harbour, with the Aquarium and bars.
Principe
TransportAround Piazza Principe station.
Boccadasse
A calmer stayThe fishing village on the edge of the city.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 7 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
How long have you got?
The routes we would take, in the order we would take them.
Things to do
Things to do in Genoa
Walk Via Garibaldi, the Strada Nuova, lined with Renaissance palaces. Three of them, Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Tursi, form one museum with a single ticket, and the roof terrace of Palazzo Rosso has one of the best views in the city.
Then get lost in the caruggi, the narrow lanes of the old centre, down to the Cathedral of San Lorenzo with its black-and-white striped façade, and on to the Porto Antico, the old harbour redesigned by Renzo Piano.
The Aquarium, at the Porto Antico, is one of the largest in Europe. The Galata Maritime Museum, next door, is excellent on the city's seafaring history and emigration.
Take the lift up to the Spianata Castelletto for the view over the rooftops and the port. Take the bus or walk out to Boccadasse, a tiny fishing village of painted houses on the edge of the city, for the sunset.
Free things
Free things to do in Genoa
The caruggi, the old lanes, are free and the city's great attraction. So is Via Garibaldi from the outside, and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo.
The Porto Antico is free to walk. The seafront promenade at Nervi, east of the centre, runs along the cliffs for two kilometres.
Boccadasse is free and perfect at sunset.
On certain weekends in spring and autumn, the Rolli Days open many of the private palaces to the public for free.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Genoa
Genoa is the home of pesto, and pesto Genovese here is made with local basil, pine nuts, garlic, pecorino and olive oil, served with trofie or trenette. It tastes nothing like the jar.
Focaccia is the other institution, sold in bakeries from early morning for a euro or two a slice, and eaten for breakfast dipped in cappuccino. Farinata, a thin chickpea pancake, and fried fish in a paper cone are the street food.
The friggitorie and bakeries of the old centre are the cheapest places to eat. Trattorias serve pasta for €10 to €14.
Nightlife
Going out in Genoa
Genoa has a lively, local night out. The squares of the old centre, Piazza delle Erbe above all, are full of bars and students late into the night.
The Porto Antico and the Darsena have bars by the water.
Aperitivo with focaccia and snacks costs €7 to €10, and a beer is €4 to €6.
Getting around
Getting around Genoa
The centre is walkable but steep, and Genoa has an unusual network of public lifts and funiculars climbing the hills, on the same ticket as the buses and the single metro line.
The airport is west of the city, with a bus to the stations.
Genoa has two main stations, Piazza Principe and Brignole. Trains run along the coast to Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure and the Cinque Terre, and to Milan and Turin in about an hour and a half to two hours.
For the Cinque Terre, regional trains reach Monterosso in about an hour and a half.
Costs
What Genoa costs
Genoa is one of the cheaper big cities in the north. Dorms are typically €22 to €32, focaccia is a euro or two, and a trattoria meal is €15 to €25. A careful day is €50 to €65.
The costs that add up are the Aquarium and day trips to the Cinque Terre, where trains and trail cards cost extra in the high season.
The caruggi, the view points and the seafront are free.
Safety
Staying safe in Genoa
Genoa is generally safe, but the old centre needs care at night. The lanes around Via Prè, the Maddalena and parts of the port area are rough after dark, with drug dealing and petty crime.
Stay on the busier streets at night and keep your bag close.
The lanes are steep and the stones slippery in the rain.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Genoa
The Italian Riviera is on the doorstep, by train.
Cinque Terre
Five villages on the cliffs, linked by train and footpath. Single train tickets between villages cost €5 to €10 by season.
Camogli
A colourful fishing town on the Riviera, and boats to San Fruttuoso.
Portofino
The famous harbour, small and very expensive.
San Fruttuoso
An abbey in a cove reachable only by sea or on foot.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The Rolli Days, when the palaces open, are the best time to be in the city.
Staff pick
1–6 October
Genoa International Boat Show
The Genoa International Boat Show in Genoa, Italy, is the Mediterranean’s largest yachting showcase, bringing together over 1,000 brands and vessels across more than…
Staff pick
22 Oct – 1 Nov
Festival della Scienza (Genoa Science Festival)
The Genoa Science Festival is an international celebration of scientific discovery, bringing together scientists, researchers, artists, and authors from around the world. Visitors can…
2 Oct – 8 Nov
Ottobre Paganini Genova
Genova honors Niccolò Paganini on the 186th anniversary of his death with a month-long festival filled with music and cultural events. From October 2…
9–11 October
Book Pride Genova
Book Pride Genova 2026 is a national fair dedicated to independent publishing, held over three days in October. You will find over 100 publishing…
16–18 October
Rolli Days
Rolli Days 2026 invites you to explore the artistic and architectural beauty of Genoa over a special autumn weekend. The event celebrates the 20th…
9 Apr – 5 Oct
Incontri in Blu: Men, Women & Stories of the Sea
Incontri in Blu is a cultural series dedicated to the culture of the sea, its stories, and protagonists. The 7th edition takes place at…
1 October
Cavalli Marci
Cavalli Marci is a theatrical event taking place at the Politeama Genovese in Genoa. The show is scheduled for the evening of October 1,…
1–6 October
66th edition of the Genoa International Boat Show
The 66th edition of the Genoa International Boat Show is scheduled to take place from 1 to 6 October 2026 in Genoa, Italy. It…
Hostels
Where to stay in Genoa
Genoa has a small number of hostels in the old centre and near the stations. These are the top-rated right now, live from Hostelworld.
OStellin Genova - Hostel
Dorms from €25 a night
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B&B BLUE HOME
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Ostello Bello Genova
Dorms from €27 a night
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Victoria House Hostel
Dorms from €25 a night
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Home Genoa Hostel
Dorms from €23 a night
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Manena Hostel
Dorms from €21 a night
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Marathon Hostel
Dorms from €10 a night
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When to go
April to June and September to October are ideal. Summer is hot and the coast busy; winter is mild.
Jan
Mild and quiet
Feb
Mild. Carnival season
Mar
Spring
Apr
Good. Rolli Days possible
May
Excellent
Jun
Warm. Riviera busy
Jul
Hot. Coast packed
Aug
Ferragosto crowds
Sep
Boat show. Excellent
Oct
Rolli Days. Superb
Nov
Mild and wet
Dec
Quiet, festive
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. Genoa is milder in winter than the rest of the north, sheltered by the mountains.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Transport assumes walking and the odd bus or lift. Cinque Terre trains and trail cards cost more in high season.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Genoa travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Genoa worth visiting?
Yes, for one of the largest medieval centres in Europe, the Renaissance palaces, the best focaccia and pesto in the world, and easy access to the Riviera.
Is Genoa safe?
Generally, yes. Take care in parts of the old centre at night, especially around Via Prè and the Maddalena.
Can I visit the Cinque Terre from Genoa?
Yes. Regional trains reach Monterosso in about an hour and a half, and trains between the villages cost €5 to €10 each way depending on the season.
What should I eat in Genoa?
Pesto with trofie, focaccia from a bakery, farinata and fried fish in a paper cone.
How many days do you need in Genoa?
Two for the city, plus days on the Riviera and the Cinque Terre.
What are the Rolli Days?
Weekends in spring and autumn when Genoa's historic palaces, the Palazzi dei Rolli, open to the public.
When is the best time to visit Genoa?
April to June and September to October.
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