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Things to Do in Genoa (2026)
Start your Genoa adventure at the historic Old Port (Porto Antico), revitalized by architect Renzo Piano. Visit the Aquarium of Genoa (Ponte Spinola), one of Europe's large… 🏛️ Explore the Old Port
Start your Genoa adventure at the historic Old Port (Porto Antico), revitalized by architect Renzo Piano. Visit the Aquarium of Genoa (Ponte Spinola), one of Europe's largest, open daily from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM (last entry 6:00 PM), with adult tickets around 27 euros. Climb the Bigo panoramic lift for sweeping views, or stroll the promenade to the Biosphere tropical garden. Insider tip: buy a combined ticket online to skip lines and save a few euros.
🏰 Wander the Caruggi
Genoa's medieval old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a labyrinth of narrow alleys called caruggi. Get lost in the area around Via del Campo and Piazza San Matteo, where you'll find hidden piazzas, artisan shops, and historic churches like San Lorenzo Cathedral (Piazza San Lorenzo, open 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM). For a local experience, visit the Mercato Orientale (Via XX Settembre 75r) in the morning for fresh produce and Ligurian specialties. Keep an eye on your belongings, as some alleys can be dimly lit at night.
🖼️ Discover Palazzi dei Rolli
The Rolli Palaces, a UNESCO site, are a collection of Renaissance and Baroque mansions built by wealthy Genoese families. Many are open to the public on select days, but you can admire their facades along Via Garibaldi, now home to museums like Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Rosso (Via Garibaldi 11, open Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, combined ticket around 9 euros). Insider tip: visit on the first Sunday of the month when many museums offer free entry. Don't miss the stunning frescoes and art collections inside.
🌊 Stroll Boccadasse
Escape the city bustle with a 20-minute bus ride (line 31 from Brignole) to Boccadasse, a picturesque fishing village with colorful houses and a pebble beach. Relax at a seaside cafe like Cremeria di Boccadasse (Via Aurora 5) for gelato, or dine on fresh seafood at Trattoria Osvaldo (Via Al Capo di Boccadasse 12). The sunset here is magical, so time your visit for early evening. Insider tip: walk along the cliff path to Vernazzola for even quieter views.
🍝 Taste Ligurian Cuisine
Genoa is the birthplace of pesto, so try it fresh at Trattoria da Maria (Vico Testadoro 14r), a no-frills spot open for lunch only (12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, closed Sundays). For focaccia, head to Panificio Mario (Via San Vincenzo 61r) for a slice of the classic or topped with cheese. Dinner favorite: Scurreria Beer & Bagel (Piazza Scurreria 1r) for craft beer and local dishes. Expect to pay around 15 to 25 euros for a full meal at a trattoria.
🚡 Ride the Historic Funiculars
Genoa's public transport includes historic funiculars and elevators that double as sightseeing attractions. Take the Zecca-Righi funicular (from Largo della Zecca) up to Righi for panoramic views of the city and harbor. The Ascensore Castelletto Levante (from Piazza Portello) offers a quick climb to the Castelletto neighborhood. A single ticket costs 2 euros and is valid for 100 minutes on buses, metro, and funiculars. Insider tip: buy a daily pass (4.50 euros) if you plan multiple rides.
🎨 See Street Art and Museums
Beyond classical art, Genoa has a vibrant street art scene, especially in the neighborhood of Cornigliano. Visit the Museo di Sant'Agostino (Piazza Sarzano) for medieval and Renaissance sculptures, open Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, admission 6 euros. For contemporary art, check out Palazzo Ducale (Piazza Matteotti) which hosts rotating exhibitions. Insider tip: the Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art (Piazzale Mazzini 4) is a hidden gem with a stunning collection.
🌃 Enjoy Evening in Porto Antico
As the sun sets, the Porto Antico comes alive with lights and activity. Grab a drink at one of the bars along the promenade, like Bar Porto Antico (Calata Molo Vecchio 15), or dine at Ristorante Zeffirino (Via XX Settembre 20) for a splurge. In summer, there are often open-air concerts and events. Insider tip: the Bigo lift is also open in the evening, offering a different perspective of the illuminated harbor.
the aperitivo angle is missing here. around 7pm most bars in the centro storico do the Genoese version, you buy a drink for 6 or 7 euros and they bring out focaccia, olives, sometimes farinata and a little plate of trofie. Bar degli Asinelli on Piazza Sant'Elena is my usual, tiny place but the spread is honest. way better value than a sit-down dinner if you're on a budget, and it's how locals actually eat before a night out.
one correction on the Rolli palaces, the free first Sunday thing is real but the queues at Palazzo Rosso get silly by 10am, go right at opening or skip it and do Palazzo Reale on Via Balbi instead, quieter and the throne room alone is worth the ticket.
solid list, the funicular tip is the one people always sleep on. one thing i'd add: the zecca-righi funicular is great but if you're already up at righi, walk another 15 min to the belvedere above the fortress, the view over the port at dusk is better than anything at the bigo and it's free. also the nervi promontory walk (bus 15 from brignole) gets skipped by most guides but the passeggiata Anita Garibaldi along the cliffs is probably the best 2km in the city, do it early morning before the tour groups show up. bring water, there's basically one kiosk halfway
Good write-up, though I'd push back slightly on Trattoria da Maria. It's fine and cheap but it's become a bit of a tourist pilgrimage, and the queue at 12:30 is brutal. For pesto I'd rather send people to Pestobene on Via di Canneto il Lungo, small place, they pound it in front of you, and you can buy a jar to take home. Also worth knowing: most of the caruggi bakeries sell farinata fresh out of the pan around 6pm, and that plus a slice of focaccia is a better cheap dinner than most sit-down spots.
3 Days in Genoa: Itinerary 2026
Start at 9:00 AM at Porto Antico, where the Aquarium of Genoa (Ponte Spinola) opens at 9:00 AM; tickets cost around 27 euros for adults. From there, walk 10 minutes… 🏛️ Day 1: Old Port and Caruggi
Start at 9:00 AM at Porto Antico, where the Aquarium of Genoa (Ponte Spinola) opens at 9:00 AM; tickets cost around 27 euros for adults. From there, walk 10 minutes to Piazza Caricamento and enter the caruggi (narrow alleys) of the historic center. Spend the morning exploring Via San Lorenzo and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, which is free to enter and open from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. For lunch, try a slice of focaccia at a bakery on Via di Canneto il Lungo for about 2 euros.
🚢 Afternoon: Porto Antico to Boccadasse
After lunch, visit the Galata Museo del Mare (Calata De Mari, 1), which is open from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM and costs 17 euros for adults. Then take bus 31 from Piazza Caricamento to Boccadasse, a 20-minute ride, to see the colorful fishing village. The bus runs every 10 to 15 minutes, and a single ticket costs 2 euros. Spend the late afternoon walking along the promenade and watching the sunset over the Ligurian Sea.
🍝 Evening: Dinner in the Center
For dinner, head back to the center and try trattoria Da Maria (Via di Prè, 124), which serves traditional Genoese dishes like trofie al pesto for around 12 euros. The restaurant opens at 7:00 PM and fills up quickly, so arrive early or reserve. After dinner, stroll through Piazza De Ferrari, which is beautifully lit at night, and enjoy a gelato from a nearby shop for about 3 euros.
🏰 Day 2: Castello and Spianata
Begin Day 2 at 9:30 AM with a visit to Castello D'Albertis (Corso Dogali, 18), a castle museum with panoramic views; entry is 6 euros and it opens at 10:00 AM. From there, walk 15 minutes to Spianata Castelletto, a terrace offering a free panoramic view of the city. Take the public elevator from Piazza Portello for 1.50 euros or walk up the stairs for free. Have lunch at a nearby pizzeria on Via XX Settembre, where a margherita pizza costs about 7 euros.
🖼️ Afternoon: Museums and Via Garibaldi
In the afternoon, explore the Strada Nuova Museums on Via Garibaldi, including Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Bianco. A combined ticket costs 9 euros, and they are open from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, closed on Mondays. Afterward, walk 5 minutes to Piazza Corvetto and enjoy a coffee at a historic café for around 1.50 euros. Then take bus 36 to the Belvedere viewpoint for another perspective of the city.
🍷 Evening: Wine and Local Eats
For dinner, try Osteria del Cavallo (Via del Cavallo, 3), a cozy spot serving Genoese specialties like stoccafisso for about 15 euros. The osteria opens at 7:30 PM and is popular, so booking ahead is wise. After dinner, enjoy a glass of local Vermentino wine at a bar in Piazza delle Erbe, where a glass costs around 5 euros. The square is lively until late, especially on weekends.
🌊 Day 3: Nervi and Coastal Walk
On Day 3, take the train from Genova Brignole to Nervi, a 20-minute ride costing 2 euros. Start at 9:00 AM with a walk along the Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi, a 2-kilometer seaside promenade with stunning views. Visit the Nervi Museums (Via Capolungo, 3), which include the Gallery of Modern Art; entry is 8 euros and opens at 10:00 AM. Have lunch at a seaside restaurant on Via Oberdan, where a seafood pasta dish costs around 14 euros.
🚌 Afternoon: Return and Last Stops
After lunch, take the train back to Genova Brignole and visit the Chiostro di San Matteo (Piazza San Matteo), a peaceful cloister open from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Then walk 10 minutes to Piazza San Matteo and explore the nearby Doria Tursi Palace. For a final treat, grab a piece of pandolce, a traditional Genoese cake, from a bakery on Via Soziglia for about 4 euros. End your day with a farewell dinner at a restaurant in the old port, such as Le Piastre di Emma (Via di Sottoripa, 5), which serves fresh fish and opens at 7:00 PM.
Solid plan overall, though I'd tweak Day 1. The Aquarium is fine but skip it if you've seen big aquariums before, the real Genoa is in the caruggi and you could spend those two hours wandering instead. One thing you missed: the Ascensore Castelletto Levante near Piazza Portello is worth it for the view, but check the schedule because it closes for lunch around 12:30 and reopens at 3, which catches people out. Also on Day 3, the train to Nervi runs from Brignole roughly every 20 minutes, but validate your ticket at the machine before boarding, the fines are real and they do check.
been living off via del campo for years so a couple things on day 1 that the guide gets slightly off. da maria is fine but its become a bit of a tourist stop, for trofie al pesto at that price id walk five more min to via di prè proper and hit one of the trattorie past the bridge, less english menu, same 12 euro. also the focaccia on canneto il lungo is good but the real move is a sciamadda for farinata, the chickpea one baked in the wood oven, thats the genovese snack not the bakery slice.
on day 3 the nervi train is right but be careful, genova has two stations near the center, brignole and principe, and the nervi trains mostly leave from brignole so dont rock up to principe and panic. validate at the green machine before you board, i got a 40 euro fine once for forgetting, they dont care that you're a tourist.
one thing nobody mentioned, if you're there in late may the rolli days open a bunch of the palazzi for free, so check the dates before you pay the 9 euro combined ticket on via garibaldi
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