Genoa

Main sights

• Via Garibaldi

  The old Strada Nuova, lined with Renaissance and Baroque palaces, and the heart of the UNESCO site. Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Tursi together form the Musei di Strada Nuova. Published listings show them closed on Mondays, so check before you go.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Via Garibaldi (opens in a new tab)
• Porto Antico

  The old harbour, rebuilt with a seaside promenade, museums, cafés and the aquarium. Walk here from the caruggi via Piazza Caricamento.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Porto Antico (opens in a new tab)
• San Lorenzo Cathedral

  A striped Gothic façade, completed in the early 14th century, on a church consecrated in 1118. Inside, an unexploded British naval shell that landed in the nave in February 1941 is still on show with an inscription. The treasury museum is underneath.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for San Lorenzo Cathedral (opens in a new tab)
• Piazza De Ferrari

  The central square, with the Carlo Felice theatre and the Palazzo Ducale beside it. Via San Lorenzo leads from here down into the old town, and De Ferrari has its own metro stop.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Piazza De Ferrari (opens in a new tab)
• Boccadasse

  An old fishing village of pastel houses around a small cobblestone beach, at the east end of Corso Italia. A narrow street climbs from the bay to Capo di Santa Chiara, with wide views along the coast towards Portofino.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Boccadasse (opens in a new tab)

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Neighbourhoods worth wandering

• Centro Storico

  The caruggi, reached from De Ferrari or the Porto Antico. Via San Lorenzo and the lanes around it are busy with visitors and pickpockets alike. Take more care north of Piazza Caricamento, around Via Pré and near Principe station, and avoid dark, empty alleys.

• Castelletto

  The hill above the old town, with the Spianata Castelletto belvedere looking over the roofs and port. The Art Nouveau lift from Piazza Portello saves a 57-metre climb.

• Boccadasse

  Seaside quarter in Albaro, about 3.5 km from Brignole station. Explore the narrow lanes above the bay, known locally as creuze.

Best areas to explore on foot

1. Caruggi

   The lanes between Piazza De Ferrari and the port. There is no traffic here, so a map app and a loose plan work better than a fixed route. The self-guided walk on this page, Palaces and caruggi, runs 1.8 km.

2. Via Garibaldi to Castelletto

   Walk Via Garibaldi past the palaces, then take the 1909 lift from Piazza Portello up to the Spianata Castelletto. It climbs 57 metres, so you can walk back down through the old streets.

3. Corso Italia to Boccadasse

   Genoa's seafront promenade runs a little over 2 km from Foce to Boccadasse. It is level, and suits walkers, runners and skaters. Turn down to the sea at the end for the village.

4. Righi and the hills

   The Zecca-Righi funicular climbs from Largo Zecca to a major viewpoint over the city and sea. From Righi, you can walk the wooded hills towards the old fortifications, but allow plenty of time.

Practical walking notes

• Terrain

  A flat old town and seafront, with steep hills behind. Lifts and funiculars handle the worst climbs.

• Lifts and funiculars

  Use the Castelletto lift from Piazza Portello and the Zecca-Righi funicular to gain height, then walk downhill. AMT runs both, so check its site for times and tickets.

• Lanes

  The caruggi are narrow and can be disorienting, so keep a map on your phone.

• Crossing roads

  Drivers and scooter riders may not give way at crossings without signals. If a car stops for you, watch for a scooter passing it.

• Pickpockets

  Watch your bag around Via San Lorenzo, Via San Bernardo and Via San Donato, and on city buses.

• Principe to the port

  Avoid Via Pré. From Principe station, follow Via Balbi to the roundabout with the large church on your left, turn right onto Via delle Fontane and continue to the port.

When to visit

• Spring

  Best.

• Summer

  Warm.

• Autumn

  Mild.

Getting there and getting around

Arriving

• By rail

  Trains reach Milan in 1.5 hours.

Local transport

• Metro and funiculars

  Cover the city.