We’ve prepared a handpicked list of the best things to do in Genoa, Italy. Stick around if you want to learn the best attractions to enjoy and fun activities to do in this lovely northwestern Italian city.
Thanks to its impressive landmarks and glories on the seas, Petrarch dubbed Genoa “la Superba” or “the proud one.” For several centuries, the city had been the capital of one of the most powerful maritime republics.
Situated on the Gulf of Genoa in the Ligurian Sea, Genoa has always been one of the most important Mediterranean harbors and is currently the busiest in Italy and in the whole Mediterranean Sea.
As the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, the city of Genoa is rich in maritime tradition. It also boasts many fine examples of medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Gothic architecture.
Genoa is the capital of northwest Italy’s Liguria region, one of the cities that make up the world-renowned Italian Riviera.
The city is noted for its wealth of cultural history in art and music as well as cuisine. It is also the birthplace of the world-famous pesto sauce and focaccia bread.
Suffice it to say, there’s no running out of fun things to do in Genoa.
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The Best Things To Do in Genoa, Italy
Here’s our handpicked list of the best things to do in Genoa, Italy.
1. Start your tour of Genoa at the city’s main square – Piazza de Ferrari
Located in the center of the city between the historical and the modern center, the 11,000-sq.m. Piazza de Ferrari is part of the ancient district of Portoria, dedicated to Raffaele De Ferrari (Duke of Galliera). It is home to various important cultural institutions.
Piazza de Ferrari is Genoa’s main square and the city’s commercial, financial, and economic hub. It is noted for its beautiful central bronze fountain that was created in the 1930s but has been restored in the recent years along with a major redesigning of the piazza.
Due to successive urban interventions which unified two adjoining areas, the square now has an irregular shape. It is a nice place for taking photos or simply sitting around people-watching.
2. Take a stroll by the sea at Porto Antico
Porto Antico (Old Port) is one of the best places in Genoa for walking. As the departure point for boat trips and walking tours, this old port is one of the city’s most visited areas. Numerous attractions in Genoa are found here, from museums and culturual shows/events to shops and restaurants.
Since Porto Antico is such a tourist magnet, you must be careful with your belongings. Should any untoward incident occur, head to the Tourist Office in the area and you’ll be directed to the police station.
3. Visit Acquario di Genova (Genoa Aquarium)
The largest aquarium in Europe at 33,000 square feet (3,065 square meters), Acquario di Genova offers an enchanting journey through its extremely large exhibition of biodiversity and ecosystems.
This is especially great when you’re in Genoa with young kids. They showcase an enormous collection of all kinds of sea creatures from manatees to penguins, crocodiles, turtles, and jellyfish. Do not miss the vivarium section!
Book directly at their official website and spend 2-3 hours at the Acquario di Genova to fully enjoy the experience. Since it’s right in the historic center of Genoa, you can reach the aquarium fast and easy.
ALSO READ: 15 Best Things To Do in Italy with Kids
4. Enter the Porta Soprano
The grand, towered Porta Soprana is the best-known among the three gates of the ancient walls of Genoa. It served as the gateway to the city for those arriving from the east.
Also known as Porta di Sant’Andrea after the hill it sits upon, this beautiful gate was built in 1155 and underwent massive restorations in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is tucked away from the main road that leads to Piazza De Ferrari, right next to the house of Christopher Columbus.
As the symbol of Genoa, Porta Soprana will catch your eyes immediately when you see it. It’s a nice spot for taking photos with lots of eateries and restaurants nearby – one of the absolute must-see places in Genoa.
5. Climb one of the world’s oldest and tallest lighthouses – Lanterna di Genova
An iconic landmark of the city, Lanterna di Genova (Lighthouse of Genova), or simply Lanterna, is a massive masonry lighthouse with fortifications and a museum. Apart from serving as a symbol and a landmark for Genoa, the Lanterna is the city port’s main lighthouse.
Built in 1128, it is the third oldest lighthouse in the world, next to Egypt’s Pharos of Alexandria and Spain’s Tower of Hercules. At almost 250 feet (383 feet when measured with the natural rock it’s standing on), it is also one of the world’s tallest.
You can climb to the first viewing platform, halfway up the lighthouse, where nice views of the city and the harbor await you. But please note that access to the top half of the tower is exclusive to the military.
6. Visit Galata Museo del Mare (Genoa Maritime Museum)
Genoa’s maritime museum Galata Museo del Mare opened to the public in 2004. It is one of Italy’s largest and also among the most important of its kind in the Mediterranean.
Spanish architect Guillermo Vazquez Consuegra designed the museum’s building located in the city’s old port area. It was built on the site of a 15th-century shipyard that was converted into a dock area called Galata, named after a neighborhood in Istanbul, Turkey, which was once a colony of the Republic of Genoa.
This expansive maritime museum showcases original artifacts, life-sized ships, and even a moored submarine. Here you’ll get a great good overview of the city’s naval and maritime activities from the late Middle Ages to modern times through exhibitions that are sorted according to different topics and eras.
Galata Museo del Mare is one of the most important places to visit in Genoa that anyone shouldn’t miss.
7. Check out the Duomo di Genova
Duomo di Genova or Genoa Cathedral, otherwise known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Lawrence, is a Gothic-style Roman Catholic church in Genoa that is dedicated to Saint Lawrence (San Lorenzo). It was erected between the 12th and 14th centuries with some later additions such as the bell tower and dome which were built in the 16th century.
This stunning cathedral is made of slate and Tuscan marble in black, white, and pink. Apart from the rich interior, wonderful exterior, and famous façade with two lion statues, what makes the Duomo di Genova more interesting is the undischarged bomb from World War II. The bomb is now safe but was left in the cathedral on display.
Please note that female visitors with uncovered shoulders or very short skirts or shorts are not allowed in the cathedral.
8. Admire the ancient palaces on Via Garibaldi
Via Garibaldi is a street in Genoa’s historical center, famous for the ancient palaces or the Palazzi dei Rolli (“Palaces of the Lists”) standing there.
Via Garibaldi is one of the Strade Nuove (“New Streets”) that the Genoese aristocracy built during the Renaissance. It was dedicated to Italian general and patriot, Giuseppe Garibaldi. In 2006, La Strade Nuove was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with its 42 majestic palaces dating back to the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
A visit to Via Garibaldi to admire its famous palazzi is a must-do in Genoa. Never miss it!
9. Take in the 360° view of the city from Spianata Castelletto
Situated in a residential quarter in Genoa, the Spianata is a walkway and platform that serves as a “balcony” suspended over the city’s historic center.
Here you can have a 360° view of Genoa and its port. Admire the slate rooftops, medieval towers, Baroque domes, as well as the ships on the sea in the distance – it’s one of the most delightful activities in Genoa.
Spianata Castelletto can be reached through a series of steps or an elevator in Art Nouveau style. For an even more enchanting experience, we recommend riding the elevator.
10. Discover the Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi a Nervi
Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi a Nervi (Nervi’s Parks and the Anita Garibaldi Promenade) is located in the easternmost portion of Genoa, in a charming seaside village called Nervi, a few kilometers away from the city center. The village of Nervi is perched on a cliff overlooking the sea.
The promenade, named after Giuseppi Garibaldi’s Brazilian wife and comrade-in-arms, also overlooks the sea. It is sandwiched by rocks and the spacious parks.
The best sunsets in Genoa can be experienced on the Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi. From up here you can glimpse at the Promontorio di Portofino and the outline of Corsica on a clear day.
11. Explore the quaint little fishing village of Boccadasse
Located just a stone’s throw away – about 4 kilometers – from Genoa’s city center, Boccadasse is an authentic small fishing village that offers delightful local cuisine and fun swimming opportunities.
“Boccadasse” comes from “Bocca d’azë,” which translates as “mouth of the ass” due to the shape of the small bay. Legend says the village was established at the end of the 10th century by Spanish fishermen who were caught by a storm and sheltered in this bay.
This village is in the heart of a cove overlooking the sea. Here you can spend a day just wandering its little streets, sampling its gastronomic treats, and relaxing on the beach.
Boccadasse is a hidden gem that boasts marvelous colored houses all along the hill leading up to the castle of Capo Santa Chiara, as well as cozy bars and restaurants in front of the beach. Exploring the village is a must-do in Genoa.
12. Stop by the Cimitero Monumentale di Staglieno
Listed as one of the best cemeteries to visit in Italy, stopping by the 19th-century Cimitero Monumentale di Staglieno (Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno) to admire its beauty is among the unique things to do in Genoa.
This burial ground is a magical, wondrous place with its ornate tombs by some of Italy’s important sculptors such as Leonardo Bistolfi and Pietro Canonica.
Cimitero Monumentale di Staglieno is not only a feast for the eyes but for the heart and soul as well. It’s fantastical, moving, and ultimately – one of the most interesting places in Genoa that you should not miss.