How to get to Genoa in 2025 – your transport guide in Italy

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Table of Contents:

Why to go to Genoa

When to travel to Genoa

How to get to Genoa

Public transport in Genoa

Car rental in Genoa

Where to stay in Genoa

What to see in Genoa

Why to go to Genoa

Genoa is a city with a long history and located on the shore of the Ligurian Sea. It is considered to be the sixth largest city in Italy. In addition, it is the largest seaport in Italy and the center of the Ligurian Riviera, being located in the Gulf of Genoa. The historical center of Genoa is under UNESCO protection.

After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Genoa. I figured out how to get to the city, where to stay & what to see there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Genoa.

With a large number of historical and cultural attractions, Genoa is both an independent tourist center and a “gateway” to the Ligurian Riviera. The tourist infrastructure is well-developed here. Most of Genoa’s attractions are open for viewing. There is a funicular inside the city, which helps to move around the city.  Genoa includes about 500 hotels of various star categories, from fashionable five-star hotels to guesthouses and hotels without stars, as well as apartments. Genoa is rightly considered to be one of the major tourist centers in Italy.

I would like to recommend travellers booking almost everything for visiting Genoa in advance! I mean plane tickets, hotels, transfer or car rental services, tickets for attractions, etc. This city gets packed with travellers. Some of them are staying in the city, some of them travelled around the region, but anyway the last thing you need is to waste time waiting in a queue for hours!

When to travel to Genoa

Genoa has a fairly moderate climate, with July considered to be the warmest month and January to be the coldest one, but even in January the temperature stays above 0 С (or above 32 F). Most often the weather in winter varies from +9 to +12 C (or from + 48 to +53 F). In addition, the rains may occur during the winter season. Summer in Genoa is warm; the rains are insignificant, and a cool light breeze blows from the sea. In summer you can swim in the Ligurian sea; the beaches closest to Genoa can be found in Recco and Camogli. The local shore is washed by the Ligurian Sea, which in the summer season warms up to a comfortable +24, +25 C (or +74, +77 F).

Spring and autumn in Genoa are perfect for excursion holidays. The air temperature during this period ranges from +15 to +20 C (or +59, +68 F); the rains may take place this time of the year, but most often they are short-term. In autumn and spring, Genoa has not so hot weather as in summer, so you can take longer walks. On the other hand, in autumn and spring there is significantly less rain than in winter, which also contributes to successful excursion holidays.

How to get to Genoa

Milan-Genoa Train

The most convenient and fastest way to get to the towns of the Ligurian shore upon arrival in Milan, incl. to Genoa is to take a high-speed train; You can check the current train timetable and purchase tickets in advance at the Raileurope booking service. There is my step-by-step instruction how to reach your travel destination from Milan:

1.If you arrive at Malpensa airport, you can get to Milan railway station by train (the travel time is about 40 minutes; departure is from terminal No. 1), by shuttle (the travel time is 50-60 minutes depending on traffic situation; departure is also from terminal No. 1). There is also the option of a direct bus from Malpensa Airport to Genoa, departing once a day at 12.30, suitable only for those arriving in Milan around the same time.

If you fly to Bergamo airport, you can get to Milan station by bus (departures every half an hour), or by regional train of type R or RE (the travel time is approximately 50 minutes);

2.Once at the central station of Milan called Milano Centrale, you need to change trains. Trains from Milan to Genoa run from early morning. Thus, high-speed trains such as IC, EC, ICE will take you to the administrative center of Liguria in just an hour and a half, but the cost will be higher than for trains such as R, RE (regional), which cover the same distance in 2 hours. Trains to Genoa depart from Milan Central Station every half an hour.

Milan-Genoa Bus

In addition to the train, you can get to Genoa from Milan by regular bus, but it runs only 4 times a day – at 8.15, 12.00, 14.40, 21.00. The bus company Flixbus operates the route. Departure is from Lampugnano Bus Station. The travel time is 2 hours 5 minutes. To Genoa, buses arrive at the Fanti Principe bus station. As I know Flixbus is a pretty popular bus service in Europe and designed for cheaper trips with affordable prices, so why not try it?

Public transport in Genoa

Despite the fact that the historical center of Genoa is quite compact and the most convenient way to explore it is on foot, public transport in the city is also very well developed. In addition to the buses and metro, public transport in Genoa also includes funiculars, elevators and ferries. Funiculars and elevators help to overcome the hilly landscapes of the city, and ferries help to move around the Gulf. Tickets for public transport in Genoa can be one-time (100 minutes on any transport) or one-day with an unlimited travel limit. Tickets can be purchased from special automatic machines or at kiosks at bus stops.

Car rental in Genoa

Car rental in Genoa is a fairly popular option. Most often, travelers rent a car in Genoa not to move around the city, but to explore the surroundings of Genoa. Getting around the Ligurian shore by car is quite convenient as there are a lot of high-speed roads. In addition, it is impossible to reach some settlements by train. A classic example is the famous Ligurian resort of Portofino and the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, which can be reached only by car.

In order to rent a car in Genoa, you need to have a passport, a driver’s license, and a bank card to pay for services and to block the deposit. The registration procedure usually takes no more than 20 minutes. You can find rental points in the central areas of the city, as well as at the airport. For example, 15+ more different rental companies have offices at Genoa airport. You can also book the desired class of car at the required rental point in advance via specialized online car rental services, for instance:

Discover Cars is a service for searching, comparing and booking cars for renting;

Economybookings is a search service for cheap car rentals around the globe.

I really like both online services as they have a decent search with a lot of useful options to find out the best available car rentals. I would recommend comparing them both to discover available hot deals.

Where to stay in Genoa

Genoa hotels are presented in all-star categories with a predominance of 4- and 3-star hotels. The pricing policy of city hoteliers is considered to be more affordable compared to such tourist centers of Italy as Rome, Milan or Venice. The majority of hotels in Genoa are located either close to the historical center or to the Gulf. When choosing where to stay in Genoa, you should take into account the location of the hotel, because this will help you to save time moving around the city. After some research I did a list of popular accommodation options in Genoa and it includes the following hotels:

Grand Hotel Savoia 5* has a good location, close to the Gulf of Genoa and within walking distance from the central train station, which will be convenient for those who travel to Genoa by train. The hotel is housed in an elegant building from the late 19th century, but is equipped with modern facilities including a jacuzzi, a sauna and a fitness centre. There is also a bar and a lounge area on site. There is a playground for kids, so the hotel is rather convenient for families with children. Parking is also available. All hotel rooms are divided into classic, superior, deluxe and suite types. All rooms have air conditioning, free internet access, flat screen TV, a safe, a hairdryer and a minibar. Breakfast can be included in the price, or optionally paid separately, depending on the type of room. The room rate does not include city tax (3 EUR per night per person);

NH Collection Genova Marina 4* has a good location. The hotel is located on the Gulf, within walking distance of attractions such as the Aquarium, St. Lorenzo’s Cathedral and the Bianco and San Giorgio palaces. The nearest metro station is located within a radius of 250 m. The hotel has a fitness center, a restaurant, and a parking area. The terrace overlooks the old harbour. Most rooms also have views of the Gulf. The rooms have air conditioning, a minibar, a safe, a hairdryer, a telephone, free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TV. The hotel serves a buffet breakfast, included in the room rate. Check-in at the hotel is from 15.00, check-out is until 12.00. The room rate does not include the city tax of EUR 3 per night per person;

Best Western Porto Antico 3* is located in the historical center of the city, a 10-minute walk from Genoa harbor. The metro station is within walking distance from the hotel. The hotel is housed in a historical building, but at the same time has modern equipment, incl. Wi-Fi operating throughout the hotel. The rooms have TV, air conditioning, a safe, a hairdryer, a minibar, and a coffee pot. Breakfasts are paid separately. There is paid parking nearby the hotel. Check-in at the hotel is from 14.00, check-out is until 11.00;

La Superba Rooms & Breakfast is located in a historic building in the center of Genoa. The Aquarium and the old port are a 3-minute walk from the hotel. A bus stop, a metro station and the central station are within a radius of 500 meters. Parking is also available. The hotel rooms have a balcony overlooking the sea, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, TV, and a hairdryer. Some rooms have shared bathrooms, some have separate ones. Breakfast is included in the room price. The hotel regularly receives maximum scores from guests for cleanliness and comfort. Check-in is from 14.30, check-out must be made before 11.00.

What to see in Genoa

Genoa is a medieval city with a rich history. There are many historical and cultural monuments that have been preserved here. For a long time throughout its history, Genoa was an independent city-state, and this left its mark on the appearance of the modern city. Many ceremonial palaces (so-called palazzos), cathedrals, churches, squares are a typical picture for Genoa. In addition, Genoa is also one of the major ports of Italy; without the port and rocky landscapes, it is difficult to imagine Genoa as it is.

Via Garibaldi

Via Garibaldi is essentially considered to be the main street of the city. From a tourist point of view, there are a lot of attractions such as Palazzi di Rolli and others. In total, there are about 100 palaces in Genoa, and most of them are located on Via Garibaldi, so it is not surprising that this part of the city is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The most famous buildings on the street are three palazzos called Rosso, Bianco and Tursi, all of which are museums now.

The street was built back in the 16th century according to a comprehensive development project. Most of the buildings are made in the mannerist style. In addition to the three above-mentioned palazzos, the facades of the Spinola, Clemente, Agostino, Baldassarre, Doria, Durazzo and other palaces are also of interest. In total, there are about 42 palaces along Via Garibaldi, which then continue on Via Baldi and Piazza Marose.

Cathedral of San Lorenzo

In Genoa it is quite difficult to single out the predominance of any one architectural style; many different styles and trends are mixed here. So, the Cathedral of San Lorenzo amazes with its Gothic heaviness. This cathedral is already almost 11 centuries old, and its striped marble facades still inspire people who see it for the first time. The interior of the cathedral also has a mixture of Gothic and Romanesque styles. Many vaults separate one part of the cathedral from another. Another remarkable detail of the Cathedral of St. Lorenzo is the so-called Holy Grail which is kept here (or at least an ancient vessel, brought from numerous crusades). You can look at it in the treasury of the cathedral.

The treasury of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo is located in underground rooms and consists of several exhibition halls. In the halls you can find, in addition to the sacred vessel, about 500 more exhibits. Among the exhibits you can see both historical and art objects. San Lorenzo is considered to be a Catholic Cathedral, so I would recommend following the rules of visiting inside the building. In addition, it should be taken into account that during church services, observation of the interior of the cathedral and its treasury for tourist purposes is closed.

Ferrari Square

The central square of the city is Ferrari Square, named after the duke de Ferrari, a well-known politician and philanthropist of his time. Many streets of Genoa converge at this point, so when walking around the city, you can come across this square more than once. In the center of the square there is a large hemispherical fountain and a monument dedicated to Giuseppe Garibaldi, and around it you can see such buildings as the Stock Exchange building, the Doge’s Palace, the Church of the Gesu, the City Theater and the Museum of the Ligurian Academy of Fine Arts. Each of the buildings represents a certain interest; their styles are often mixed, but at the same time they form a single composition.

The Church of the Gesu is an interesting building, both outside and inside. Initially, you might think that this is just another lavishly decorated church, but it’s worth going there nonetheless. In addition to the magnificent gilded interiors and painted domes, it houses a real treasure which is a collection of paintings by Rubens. If you decide to visit the church, remember that it is a Catholic Cathedral, so viewing the interior during services is prohibited.

Palazzos Reale, Ducale, Bianco, Rosso, Tursi

Palazzo Reale is one of the best-preserved palazzos in Genoa, and this applies not only to the facades, but also to the interior items inside the building. Furniture, paintings, dishes – all of this decoration has an authentic view. Palazzo Reale dates back to the 17th century and was home to many members of the nobility, including the Balbi family, Durazzo and representatives of the Savoy dynasty. The palace is made in a lush and somewhat pretentious Rococo style with a wide variety of stucco moldings and other decorations, so that sometimes your eyes run wild.

The interiors of the palace are made with no less pomp. This becomes especially noticeable in the Throne Hall and the mirror gallery, where there is entirely carved furniture, many candelabras and painted ceilings. Among the art objects in the palace are paintings, sculptures and frescoes by Italian artists. The courtyard of the palazzo is also interesting; here you can find a small pond and landscape figures of trees and bushes. I found out detailed information for visiting the palace:

• The Reale Palace is open to the public every day except Mondays, from 09.00 to 19.00.
• Entrance costs 6 euros per person.
• Location is Via Balbi (within walking distance from the train station and the Aquarium).
• From the city center you can get there by bus # 20 and 35.

In addition to the Palazzo Reale on Via Balbi, the Basilica of Santissima Annunziata is also very interesting. In addition to its elegant exterior, the cathedral will amaze you with its interior decoration. Among other things, the interiors of Santissima Annunziata are decorated with marble, gilding, wall and ceiling frescoes and paintings, and the vault is supported by many carved columns.

Palazzo Ducale, or the Palace of the Genoese Doges, is a palace that once housed the rulers of Genoa (when it was still a city-state). It is not surprising that the palace is located in the very center of the city – on Ferrari Square. The construction of the palace took place in the 13th century, since then the building has been well preserved, although it has been restored many times. Currently, the Palazzo Ducale houses a museum. It is an excellent opportunity to see the neoclassical interiors of the building from the inside. The greatest interest inside the palace are the Great and Small Halls, decorated with frescoes and paintings, as well as the chapel, also richly decorated by artists.

• The palace is open every day, seven days a week.

Palazzo Bianco, or White Palace, once belonged to the powerful Grimaldi family, and now houses an art gallery of Italian and Flemish artists. Caravaggio, Memling, Murillo, Strozzi, Van Dyck, Rubens – the works of all these artists can be seen inside.

Palazzo Rosso, or Red Palace, once belonged to the Brignoli family. Her descendants inherited numerous “portrait” collections of such masters as Strozzi, Pretty and Van Dyck, as well as interior items such as tapestries, frescoes, and textiles.

Palazzo Tursi also has a long history, and received its name from the surname of a noble family who lived here. Of the remaining valuable items, you can find collections of coins, ceramic tableware, tapestries and Paganini violins.

Palazzo San Giorgio

The construction of the San Giorgio Palace dates back to the 13th century. This building has served many different purposes, including a town hall, a prison, and a bank; at the moment this is an administrative building, but its facades are so elegant and painted that one can hardly guess something similar here. For obvious reasons, you can’t get inside the building, and it’s unlikely to be interesting, but it’s definitely worth exploring the palazzo from the outside. The palace is located in the historical center of the city, on Piazza Caricamento, located close to Piazza Ferrari and the Aquarium.

Viewpoint of Castelletto

Since Genoa is located on the hills, it is not surprising that there are quite a few natural decks that serve as viewing points for observing the city from above. The Castelletto observation deck is one of the most popular among others. To go upstairs, you need firstly to get to Portello Square, where the coveted elevator to the top is located. The Castelletto observation deck offers panoramic views not only of the city center (its historical and business part), but also of the Genoese port. The panorama of Castelletto is a 360-degree view.

In my point of view, another good observation deck is the roof of Palazzo Rosso, just opposite the Castelletto observation deck. The observation deck on the roof of the Rosso house is less known. It also offers views of the city center and harbor, just from a slightly different angle. In addition to the observation deck on the roof, Palazzo Rosso has beautiful interiors decorated with works of Italian artists. Once upon a time, the owner of the palace donated the collections of art objects to the city, so anyone who visits the palace can now admire them.

Aquarium of Genoa

The Aquarium is one of the most popular attractions in Genoa, located right on the Genoese harbor next to the Biosphere, which is also a museum of natural history.

The Genoa Aquarium is, in fact, an oceanarium with a huge collection of underwater inhabitants not only of the Ligurian Sea, as one might think, but also of other water areas. Here you can find penguins, manatees, fur seals, stingrays and, of course, a large collection of a wide variety of fish. The Aquarium of Genoa is considered to be almost the largest in all of Europe. In its area there are about 70 water reservoirs, and the species of fish and animals correspond to the waters of the Ligurian Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea (this is the distance that Christopher Columbus, a famous native of the Genoese Republic, once covered). There is some useful information for visiting that I discovered:

• The aquarium is open daily, seven days a week, from 9 am to 8 pm.
• The cost of an adult ticket is from 20 euros, a child ticket is from 18 euros.
• You can also purchase combined tickets for the Aquarium and Biosphere, another attraction located in Genoa harbor.

The Biosphere is a kind of tropical botanical garden, where you can also get acquainted with the unique tropical fauna. In addition to the Biosphere, with a combo ticket you can also visit the Galata Maritime Museum, which tells you about the history of navigation of the Genoese discoverers.

Photo above the article: dronepicr