Plan & Book Your Trip to Genoa

I’ve always arrived by train from Milan, but the city itself requires a mix of walking and local transit to handle the steep hills.

Walking the Caruggi
The historic center's narrow lanes are best explored on foot, just be prepared for steps and uneven ground.

Public Lifts & Funiculars
The AMT network operates public elevators and funiculars that make reaching the hillside viewpoints much easier.

Metro and Buses
A practical way to cross the city center or travel between the two main railway stations.

Genova Piazza Principe
The main railway station on the western side of the city, perfectly situated for accessing the port and cruise terminals.

Genova Brignole
The eastern railway station, placing you closer to the grand shopping streets and modern commercial center.

Because Genoa is built along steep coastal mountains, choose a base that balances your preferred atmosphere with luggage access when booking hotels, guesthouses, or vacation rentals:

Piazza Principe Station Hotels
I stayed here before a cruise, and it is a highly practical choice for the ferry port and western train connections.

Porto Antico Waterfront Stays
Stay near the waterfront for easy access to the Aquarium, maritime museums, and evening dining with a view.

Piazza De Ferrari Hotels
Genoa's grand central square, placing you right between the historic medieval lanes and modern shopping streets.

Brignole & Shopping District Rentals
Look near Via XX Settembre for apartments and stays surrounded by grand arcades and much gentler, flatter walking routes.

Much of my time here is spent simply exploring the lanes, squares, and views, finding beauty in the working-city atmosphere.

The Caruggi
Wander the narrow, historic alleys of the old center, where churches and small shops are tucked into everyday residential streets.

Castelletto Evening View
My favorite memory of Genoa—take the public lift up the hill for incredible views over the city, and bring gelato.

Piazza De Ferrari & San Lorenzo
Walk from the grand central fountain down to the striking, striped facade of the city's main cathedral.

Via Garibaldi Palaces
Walk this historic street to see the grand Palazzi dei Rolli, built by Genoa’s wealthy merchant families.

The Old Port & Galata
Explore the renovated waterfront and visit the maritime museum to understand the city's deep connection to ships and emigration.

After giving Genoa a few days of its own, the regional rail line makes it easy to explore the quieter coastal towns nearby.

Camogli
A beautiful, colorful harbor town that is very easy to reach by train for a relaxed day trip.

San Fruttuoso Abbey
Take a boat from Camogli or Portofino to reach this secluded abbey tucked into a small coastal bay.

Santa Margherita Ligure & Portofino
Explore these famous, elegant coastal resorts just a short distance down the Riviera.

Milan
A contrasting, fast-paced city stay that works perfectly as an onward destination or your arrival hub.