Genoa Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Genoa tours, the medieval old town and Palazzi dei Rolli, the great Aquarium, pesto and focaccia food tours, and stunning boat trips to Portofino and the Cinque Terre. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Genoa itinerary.
rating
Explore Genoa by interest
Whatever brings you to Genoa — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Portofino
The glamorous Riviera village.
ExploreCinque Terre
The five cliffside villages.
ExploreOld Town
Caruggi alleys and the Palazzi dei Rolli.
ExplorePesto & food
Pesto, focaccia and farinata.
ExploreAquarium & port
Italy’s largest aquarium.
ExplorePalazzi dei Rolli
The UNESCO noble palaces.
ExploreCooking classes
Pound pesto and roll pasta.
ExploreDay trips
Portofino, Cinque Terre and the Riviera.
ExploreTop attractions in Genoa
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Portofino
The glamorous Riviera village.
Cinque Terre
The five cliffside villages.
Old Town caruggi
The medieval alley maze.
Pesto & focaccia
Ligurian flavours.
Genoa Aquarium
Italy’s largest aquarium.
San Lorenzo Cathedral
The striped medieval cathedral.
Old Port
Renzo Piano’s harbour.
Camogli & Santa Margherita
Pretty Riviera towns.
Genoa in 1 day
- 1Old town caruggi
- 2Palazzi dei Rolli
- 3Aquarium & Old Port
- 4Pesto & focaccia
Genoa in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Old town & Aquarium
- 2Pesto class
- 3Day 2: Portofino
- 4Camogli boat
Genoa in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Old town & Aquarium
- 2Day 2: Portofino
- 3Day 3: Cinque Terre
- 4Riviera evenings
Genoa with kids
- 1Aquarium dolphins
- 2Galata Sea Museum
- 3Caruggi explore
- 4Focaccia & gelato
45 min awayPortofino
The glamorous Riviera village.
1.5 hrs awayCinque Terre
The five cliffside villages.
40 min awayCamogli
A charming fishing town.
1 hr awaySan Fruttuoso
A seaside abbey reached by boat.
40 min awaySanta Margherita
An elegant Riviera resort.
1.5 hrs awayPortovenere
A colourful Gulf of Poets town.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Genoa visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September) bring warm, pleasant weather and a swimmable sea with thinner crowds — the best times to visit.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Mild, blooming days ideal for the old town and Riviera boat trips, with the sea warming by June.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Warm and busy, perfect for the coast and Portofino, though the Cinque Terre and Riviera fill up; book ahead.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Warm sea, golden light and fewer crowds — a wonderful time for the city and the Riviera.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Mild and quiet, good for the old town, museums and the Aquarium, with lower prices, though some boat trips reduce.
Boat season
Boat trips to Portofino and the Cinque Terre run mainly from spring to autumn; in winter, trains are the reliable option.
One day
Enough for the old town, the Aquarium and pesto.
Two days
Add a Portofino boat trip.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, Portofino, and the Cinque Terre.
Four to five days
Add more Riviera towns and coastal walks.
A week or more
Use Genoa as a base to explore the whole Ligurian coast.
Travelling with kids
Mix the Aquarium, the Sea Museum and the Old Port at a gentle pace.
On foot
Genoa’s old town is a walkable (if steep and maze-like) network of caruggi alleys best explored on foot.
Metro & funiculars
A short metro line, plus historic funiculars and lifts, help with Genoa’s steep hills and link the upper neighbourhoods.
Boats & ferries
Boat trips and ferries from the Old Port reach Portofino, Camogli and the Riviera — the scenic way to travel.
Trains
Genoa’s coastal railway links Portofino (Santa Margherita), the Cinque Terre and the Riviera towns cheaply and frequently.
Day-trip transport
Boat tours and trains bundle the Riviera day trips, the easiest way to reach Portofino and the Cinque Terre.
From the airport
Genoa Airport links to the centre and station by the Volabus shuttle in about 30 minutes.
Book boats & food tours ahead
Popular Portofino and Cinque Terre boat trips and small-group food and cooking tours sell out — book ahead in summer.
Pre-book the Aquarium
The Genoa Aquarium is very popular; pre-book a timed ticket to skip the queues, especially at weekends.
Currency & tipping
Italy uses the euro; service is often included, though rounding up for good service is appreciated.
Eat the focaccia
Try Genoa’s famous focaccia (best in the morning), farinata, and pesto with trofie pasta — Ligurian classics.
Look up in the caruggi
Explore the atmospheric caruggi alleys and grand Palazzi dei Rolli, but keep your bearings in the maze-like old town.
An underrated city
Often overlooked, Genoa rewards with a vast medieval old town, grand palaces, a great aquarium and a perfect Riviera base.
Portofino boat trips
Popular Portofino and San Fruttuoso boat tours sell out — book ahead.
Cinque Terre trips
Cinque Terre day trips fill up in summer — reserve early.
Genoa Aquarium
Pre-book timed Aquarium tickets to skip the queues.
Pesto cooking classes
Small-group pesto and pasta classes have limited places — book ahead.
Food tours
Genoa food tours fill up — reserve early, especially at weekends.
Summer peak
July and August are busy on the Riviera — plan ahead.
Portofino trips
Around €55–110 for a Portofino and Riviera boat tour.
Cinque Terre trips
About €70–120 for a full-day Cinque Terre day trip.
Aquarium
Roughly €27–35 for Genoa Aquarium entry.
Pesto & food tours
Around €40–90 for a pesto cooking class or food tour.
Old Town walks
About €15–40 for a guided Genoa walking tour.
How to save
Take cheap coastal trains to Portofino and the Cinque Terre, and eat Genoa’s great-value focaccia and street food.
Genoa through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Mild days and reviving Riviera boat trips.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- The sea warms by June; great for the coast.
- Best for
- Warm days for Portofino and the coast.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Busy; book boats and Cinque Terre ahead.
- Best for
- Warm sea and fewer crowds on the Riviera.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A wonderful time for the city and coast.
- Best for
- Mild, quiet days for the old town and Aquarium.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lower prices; some boat trips reduce.