WHERE TO GO IN GENOA

⚓Porto Antico (Old Port)

Overview: Revitalized by architect Renzo Piano, the Old Port is Genoa’s cultural and recreational hub, lined with museums, restaurants, and attractions.

Address: Calata Molo Vecchio, 15, 16128 Genova GE, Italy
How to Get There: 10-minute walk from Genova Piazza Principe station or Metro “San Giorgio”.
Highlights: Beautiful marina, Bigo panoramic lift, shops, aquarium, and scenic promenades.
Price to Enter: Free to walk around; attractions within may have separate fees.

🐠Aquarium of Genoa (Acquario di Genova)

Overview: Italy’s largest aquarium and one of Europe’s top marine life exhibits, with over 12,000 animals and immersive marine environments.

Address: Ponte Spinola, 16128 Genova GE, Italy
How to Get There: Inside Porto Antico, walkable from “San Giorgio” Metro stop.
Highlights: Sharks, dolphins, penguins, jellyfish tunnel, tropical forest section.
Price to Enter: €28 adults; €19 children (4–12); under 3 free.

🏛️Via Garibaldi & the Palazzi dei Rolli

Overview: This UNESCO World Heritage Street features 16th-century Renaissance palaces once used to host visiting dignitaries. Many now house museums.

Address: Via Garibaldi, 16124 Genova GE, Italy
How to Get There: A 5-minute walk from San Giorgio Metro station.
Highlights: Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco, Palazzo Doria Tursi—all filled with Baroque art and lavish interiors.
Price to Enter: €9 for a combined ticket to all three main palaces; free on the first Sunday of the month.

⛪Genoa Cathedral (Cattedrale di San Lorenzo)

Overview: A dramatic Gothic-Romanesque cathedral with alternating black and white stripes and a peaceful yet grand interior.

Address: Piazza San Lorenzo, 16123 Genova GE, Italy
How to Get There: 2-minute walk from San Giorgio Metro station.
Highlights: Treasury Museum, bomb shell that never exploded (WWII relic), and 12th-century architecture.
Price to Enter: Free entry; €6 for the Treasury Museum.

🖼️ Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace Museum)

Overview: A stunning 17th-century palace featuring royal apartments, grand staircases, and a breathtaking Hall of Mirrors.

Address: Via Balbi, 10, 16126 Genova GE, Italy
How to Get There: A 2-minute walk from Genova Piazza Principe station.
Highlights: Lavish frescoes, royal furnishings, gardens with sea views.
Price to Enter: €6 adults; €3 for EU citizens under 26; free under 18.

🌄Spianata Castelletto

Overview: A panoramic terrace offering the best view over Genoa’s rooftops, port, and sea. Perfect for sunset photos.

Address: Belvedere Luigi Montaldo, 16124 Genova GE, Italy
How to Get There: Take the Art Nouveau public lift from Piazza Portello or walk uphill.
Highlights: Cityscape views, historic buildings, romantic atmosphere.
Price to Enter: Free; lift costs €1.50 (AMT ticket).

🏰Galata Museo del Mare (Sea Museum)

Overview: Europe’s largest maritime museum, exploring Genoa’s seafaring past with hands-on exhibits, ship replicas, and immersive experiences.

Address: Calata Ansaldo De Mari, 1, 16126 Genova GE, Italy
How to Get There: Near the Old Port; walkable from “Darsena” Metro station.
Highlights: 17th-century galley, submarine Nazario Sauro, migration exhibit.
Price to Enter: €17 adults; €12 children (4–12); combo tickets with submarine €21.

🧱Boccadasse

Overview: A picturesque former fishing village with colorful buildings, pebbled beaches, and ice cream parlors.

Address: Via al Capo di Santa Chiara, 16146 Genova GE, Italy
How to Get There: Bus #31 or #42 from Genova Brignole station (~20 minutes).
Highlights: Sunset views, swimming in summer, romantic strolls, traditional trattorias.
Price to Enter: Free.

🍝Mercato Orientale (MO)

Overview: A vibrant covered market in central Genoa offering everything from Ligurian focaccia and pesto to fresh produce and seafood.

Address: Via XX Settembre, 75R, 16124 Genova GE, Italy
How to Get There: 5-minute walk from Genova Brignole station or Metro “Brignole”.
Highlights: Street food court upstairs, authentic food souvenirs, local vendors.
Price to Enter: Free entry; meals €5–€12.

🗿Musei di Strada Nuova Night Tour (Seasonal)

Overview: A special evening tour through the UNESCO-listed palaces of Via Garibaldi, lit up at night with guided storytelling.

Address: Via Garibaldi, Genoa (meeting point varies)
How to Get There: Central Genoa; accessible via metro or on foot.
Highlights: Night-time atmosphere, historical insights, fewer crowds.
Price to Enter: From €12

Final Tips for Visiting Genoa

Best Time to Visit: Spring (April–June) and early autumn (September–October) are ideal.
Travel Card: Consider the Genoa Museum Card for access to multiple museums and the city’s lift/funicular system.
Local Food to Try: Trofie al pesto, focaccia Genovese, farinata (chickpea pancake), and gelato in Boccadasse.