Somewhere Drive
Genoa and its port from the hillsDestinations · Europe

Visiting Genoa

Genoa climbs straight up from its harbor, with a huge medieval old town squeezed in between. Here are the basics for planning a visit, with more of our own notes to come.

From our trip

Our Genoa, Italy trip notes

What we learned on the ground in Genoa, Italy: the practical things we'd tell a friend before they go.

Getting around

  • The old town is a maze of narrow lanes the Genoese call caruggi, and it's best explored on foot.
  • The city climbs steeply from the water, so expect stairs and hills.

Don't miss

  • The Porto Antico, the old harbor Renzo Piano redesigned for Expo 1992, now home to the city aquarium.
  • Via Garibaldi and Via Balbi, lined with the Palazzi dei Rolli, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006.

Day trips

  • Regional trains run along the Ligurian coast in both directions, so the seaside towns nearby are easy to reach.
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