white concrete building with water fountain during daytime

Genoa

Genoa is a working port in northwestern Italy, with a medieval old town, merchant palaces on Via Garibaldi and focaccia from local bakeries.

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Genoa is the capital of Liguria, on the Ligurian Sea in northwestern Italy, and one of the country's largest ports. Its historic center is one of the largest medieval old towns in Europe, a tangle of narrow lanes, churches and small squares around the cathedral of San Lorenzo. In the 16th and 17th centuries, wealthy merchant families built palaces along the Strade Nuove, today Via Garibaldi. UNESCO has listed these Rolli palaces as World Heritage since 2006.

Genoa suits travelers who care more about food and architecture than beaches. Focaccia, pesto, farinata and seafood are part of everyday eating here, and you will find them in bakeries and casual trattorias across the old town. Spring and early autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking the historic center. Plan at least two nights for the old town and the palaces, plus a day trip along the coast to Camogli or Cinque Terre.

Genoa in five

Walk the caruggi by day, the harbor by nightThe old town's narrow lanes are rewarding in daylight. After dark, stay on the busier streets and the Porto Antico waterfront, and ask your hotel which blocks to skip.
See the Rolli palaces on Via GaribaldiUNESCO lists Genoa's Strade Nuove and Palazzi dei Rolli. Several palaces on Via Garibaldi are museums, and opening days vary, so check the museums' official page before you plan a morning around them.
Book the Aquarium for a weekday morningThe Aquarium of Genoa on the Porto Antico draws school groups on weekdays and families at weekends. Reserve a timed ticket on its official site and check the hours for your date.
Ride the regional train to the Riviera, not a carTrains from Genoa Brignole and Piazza Principe reach Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure and La Spezia. Old-town traffic zones and parking make a car a liability here.La Spezia and Cinque Terre
Eat focaccia for breakfast, trofie al pesto for lunchLook for bakeries selling focaccia genovese by the slice and trattorias serving trofie with pesto. Skip restaurants whose main street tables push multilingual photo menus.

Things to do in Genoa

See all attractions in Genoa

white and pink concrete buildings during daytime

Museum · GenoaPalazzo Spinola National GalleryThe entrance can be easy to miss; follow the small street from Piazza di Pellicceria and turn right.

Castle · GenoaD'Albertis CastleConsider visiting on a weekday for a quieter visit.

Museum · GenoaPalazzo Doria TursiThe courtyard and some public areas can be visited without paying for museum entry; look upstairs too.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to GenoaPut the places you like in Genoa on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Genoa Cristoforo Colombo (GOA); Milan airports about 1.5–2 hours by train
Getting there: Train: Milan and Turin about 1.5–2 hours, Rome 4–5 hours
Getting around: Walking, buses, a small metro and funiculars
Best base: The old town, or near Piazza Principe or Brignole station
Time needed: 1–2 days, 3 with day trips along the Riviera

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Mild, quiet
FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Mild, quiet
MarchRain12 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Spring starts
AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Spring, showers
MayRain13 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Good walking
JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh25°Low18°Warm, sunny
JulyClear8 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Hot, busy
AugustClear7 rainy daysHigh28°Low21°Ferragosto, hot
SeptemberClear10 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Warm, rain risk
OctoberRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Heavy rain risk
NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh14°Low9°Wet, grey
DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Mild, quiet

Average daily high and low in Genoa, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Genoa

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 1°
Humidity: 74%
Wind: 10 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Genoa

11:38 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today17°11°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue17°13°3%Tuesday: Clear. High 17°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 3%.
Wed16°12°8%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 8%.
Thu14°12°9%Thursday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 9%.
Fri16°11°35%Friday: Rain. High 16°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 35%.
Sat15°11°15%Saturday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 15%.
Sun15°11°26%Sunday: Rain. High 15°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 26%.

Updated 09:16 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Portofinoabout 40–60 min by train and bus or boatA harbor village reached via Santa Margherita Ligure.Read the guide
Camogliabout 30 min by trainA fishing town with a pebble beach and tall painted houses.
La Spezia and Cinque Terreabout 1.5–2 hours by trainThe five villages are reachable on a long day, but sleeping there is easier.Read the guide

Before you go to Genoa

Trains along the RivieraRegional trains to Camogli and La SpeziaRead the guide

Old town food walksFocaccia and pesto tasting routesCompare walking tours

eSIM for ItalyMaps in lanes where signal dropsRead the guide

Travel insurance for ItalyDelay cover for rail and ferry daysRead the guide

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Rules for Genoa, checked

Italy is in the Schengen area. Most non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Check entry rules on the Italian visa site before you book.Source
Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
Cover shoulders and knees before entering churches in Genoa, including the cathedral of San Lorenzo.
Check with the Italian Ministry of Culture before you take antiques or art out of Italy, since some cultural objects need an export licence.

Plan around Genoa

All of Italy

Trains, cities and coast: where Genoa fits in a route

Read the guide La Spezia

The gateway to Cinque Terre and Portovenere

Read the guide Portofino

Harbor village on the Riviera di Levante

Read the guide Cinque Terre

Five villages, trails and the park card

Read the guide Italy by train, off-peak

Frecciarossa, Italo and regional trains compared

Read the guide Tourist taxes in Europe

City tax per night, and how it is collected

Read the guide

Genoa FAQ

How many days do you need in Genoa?

Two days covers the old town, the Rolli palaces, the Aquarium and a harbor walk. One day works as a stop between Milan and the coast. Add a third only for Camogli, Portofino or Cinque Terre day trips by train.

Is Genoa worth visiting?

Yes, if you like dense old cities and food. It has far fewer tour groups than Florence or Venice, a UNESCO palace street and some of Italy's best focaccia. It is less polished than the Riviera, so expect grit alongside grandeur.

Is Genoa safe for tourists?

Mostly yes around the main sights. The old town's lanes and the streets around Piazza Principe feel rougher late at night, so stay on busier streets after dark and watch for pickpockets in crowds.

What is Genoa famous for eating?

Focaccia genovese, pesto with trofie or trenette, farinata (a chickpea flatbread) and fish dishes. Look for bakeries and trattorias away from the main tourist street.

Can you visit Cinque Terre from Genoa in a day?

You can, but it is a long day: allow about 1.5–2 hours each way by train to La Spezia, then local trains. Staying in La Spezia saves hours and costs less than the villages.