Are you thinking about checking out the beautiful city of Genoa in Italy for the day? Well, I’ve got you covered with my one-day in Genoa itinerary. I’m going to dive into all the best places to visit, those must-visit restaurants and cafes, and the best ways to get to and from this amazing city.
Genoa is known for its historic streets and prominent port status throughout the years. It’s been a vital city since Roman times and the architecture and vibe of the city prove that! Wandering around Genoa, you can easily get lost in the history and beauty of the buildings and labyrinth streets!
So, let’s get started and help you plan your day trip to stunning Genoa!
Of course, trying to cram all of the below attractions into one day can be a bit extreme, so pick the ones that interest you the most and you can check out the rest on your next visit!
Piazza de Ferrari
If you’re looking for the beating heart of Genoa, you’ll find it at Piazza de Ferrari. As the city’s main square, there’s a good chance that you’re going to pass through it at least once during your one-day Genoa itinerary.
Dominated by a beautiful and huge fountain in the middle of the square, Piazza de Ferrari is a great place to enjoy a coffee and people-watch before heading off to the next destination on your list.
Cathedral of San Lorenzo
Would it be a visit to an Italian city if there wasn’t an impressive cathedral to look at? Well, Genoa’s Cathedral of San Lorenzo doesn’t disappoint. With distinctive black and white striping on the outside, it’s a unique Romanesque cathedral that’s beautiful inside and out.
Once inside, you’ll be treated to stunning frescos depicting biblical stories and Italian scenes. One of the most famous things about the Cathedral of San Lorenzo is that it’s said to be home to the ashes of John the Baptist, who’s also the Patron Saint of Genoa.
Boccadasse
So, Boccadasse isn’t just one attraction, it’s a whole neighborhood. In fact, it’s a fishing village that’s within Genoa itself. With its own attractive beach, brightly colored houses, and boutiques it’s well worth traveling the 20 minutes from the center of Genoa.
As it’s a fishing village, you know that the seafood restaurants and cafes are on point. Make sure you grab lunch while you’re here and get a table that overlooks the harbor. You’ll be able to stare out at the sea and even see fishermen bringing in the catch of the day.
Nervi
If you’re thinking about traveling to the outskirts of Genoa, make sure you visit Nervi. Another small fishing village on the edge of the city, Nervi is home to a cultural museum, a beautiful marina, tons of amazing seafood restaurants, and much more.
The showstopper, however, has to be Parchi di Nervi, which is home to a beautiful coastal botanical garden, a series of villas, and even a museum of modern art. It’s well worth journeying out of the main city center for this quaint village paradise.
Palazzo Reale
Otherwise known as the Royal Palace Museum, Palazzo Reale is a beautiful former palace complex in the heart of Genoa. In addition to the amazing 17th-century architecture and artworks, you can wander around the enchanting Hall of Mirrors, twirl around the ballroom, or pretend you’re a royal in the throne room!
Outside, you can explore the stunning manicured gardens that capture the Genovese sunshine. The attached roof terrace gives you some of the best views in the whole of Genoa, so make sure you carve out time to get up there and enjoy the 360-degree panorama!
Palazzo Ducale
This impressive 13th-century palace used to be home to the Doges of Genoa back in the day. Much like in Venice, doges were the chief magistrate of the republic, so they had a lot of power and often showed it with lavish palaces that were filled with art and the latest design trends.
Now, Palazzo Ducale is a museum and hosts cultural events throughout the year. You can wander the halls, chill out in the inner courtyard, which is beautiful, or check their calendar of events to see if anything coincides with your visit.
Palazzi dei Rolli
So, Palazzi dei Rolli is a series of historic streets and alleyways in Genoa. However, it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. That’s because these streets, including the mighty Via Garibaldi, used to be home to some of the richest and most influential families in the whole of Italy.
As such, you can find amazing palaces and mansion houses, such as Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Bianco. In fact, Palazzo Bianco was actually built for the famous Grimaldi family. If you recognize the name, it might be because it’s one of the surnames of Monaco’s royal family.
This is a hugely historic and influential area, with its roots in the 16th century. Definitely make an effort to spend some time exploring these streets and various palaces!
Porto Antico
The expansive waterfront is home to an amazing aquarium, various high-end restaurants, and more. Formerly, the historic Old Port, Porto Antico is now a modern harbor area that’s always got something going on.
Whether you want to stop for a spot of lunch on the waterfront, head out for a cruise around the bay, or even check out a replica of a 17th-century Spanish galleon, you can do all of that and more at Porto Antico. It’s also a great place to enjoy the sunset before you head back to your base!
While you’re in the Porto Antico area, you might notice a suspiciously large crane with multiple arms coming off it. This is the Bigo Panoramic Lift and it takes passengers around 60 meters off the ground and gives you 360-degree views of the city and out towards the water.
I’d recommend doing this as the light starts to disappear to give you the perfect sunset experience.
Christopher Columbus House
So, you probably know all about the explorer Christopher Columbus, but did you know that he was born and grew up in Genoa? Well, you can discover how he grew up and what it was like in Genoa during this time at the Christopher Columbus House.
Although it’s not the original house that Columbus grew up in, it is an 18th-century reconstruction of the original. Now a museum, you can find out all about this time period in Genoa. Fair warning, It’s tucked away in the historic center, so you can easily miss it if you’re not on the lookout!
Caruggi
If you love the Spaccanapoli area of Naples, then you’re going to love the Caruggi area of Genoa. Essentially, it’s the name of the historic center of Caruggi, characterized by winding alleyways that turn into a bit of a labyrinth!
You might want to wear your walking sneakers for this one, as the Caruggi area is located on top of a hill in the city. However, you will be rewarded with amazing views of the city below as well as out across the water.
Porta Soprana
No, it’s not another port! Porta Soprana is the historic gateway to the city of Genoa. This insane tower and gate combination was originally built way back in the 1100s and was restored in the 19th and 20th centuries. It’s definitely an imposing sight!
It’s actually one of the key symbols of the city to this date, so you can see the two towers’ imagery on a lot of things as you walk around the city. This was one of many gates into the city, but as it’s the Eastern gate, it was one of the major entry points into Genoa.
Aquarium of Genoa
I’m not a big fan of aquariums so I put this last.
As the largest aquarium in the whole of Italy, the Aquarium of Genoa is a showstopper and a great place to visit if you’re traveling with kids. Spanning a massive 33,000-square-foot along the Old Harbor area, the Aquarium of Genoa houses over 12,000 animals from 600 different species.
Whether you want to wander around and stare in awe at the fish, learn more about the aquarium’s conservation efforts, or want to find out what kind of marine wildlife is local to the area, this amazing aquarium can deliver.
Places to Eat
Okay, one of the main reasons to visit Italy is to eat delicious food. Visiting Genoa is no different. As the home of Pesto Genovese, the green pesto that is beloved all around the world, and filled with fresh seafood from the port, Genoa is a foodie paradise.
Here are a few of my favorite spots to check out while you’re in Genoa for the day.
Focaccia E Dintorni
Okay, I am not joking when I say that this is the best focaccia in Genoa. Located near Porto Antico, it’s the perfect affordable lunch that you can take to the front and eat happily on a bench with those sea views. It’s so good in fact that it doesn’t need any toppings.
Getting a classic focaccia from this tiny deli is going to be the best thing you eat in your entire trip, trust me!
Pasticceria La Iacona
While this isn’t the cheapest place in Genoa, Pasticceria La Iacona is one of the best pastry shops in the city. With freshly baked treats each day, there’s bound to be something for everyone. The item I’d recommend has to be the Crostata.
It’s essentially an Italian jam pie or tart and you can get them as full pies or as tiny little bites of joy to have with your coffee.
Romanengo Confectioner’s Shop
If you’re looking to dine in at your pastry shop and soak up some history at the same time, you’ll want to check out the famous Romanengo Confectioner’s Shop.
With a history that spans back to the 1800s, this opulent pastry shop features a formal sitting room where you can enjoy these delectable treats at a slow and relaxing pace.
Trattoria Rosmarino
If you’re looking for a modern spot that serves up classic Ligurian, local cuisine, look no further than Trattoria Rosmarino. This popular spot offers up all your favorite pasta dishes and is located on a side street of Piazza de Ferrari, so it’s super central.
It’s also really reasonable when it comes to the prices! With all that going for it, if you’re visiting at peak times or on a weekend, definitely book in advance.
Il Genovese
Okay, so we cannot talk about eating in Genoa without talking about pesto. In fact, the bright green pesto that most of us recognize is actually called Pesto Genovese and was made right here in Genoa, so they know what they’re doing!
At Il Genovese, they specialize in local dishes and have pesto dishes that are to die for. They’re so fresh – it’ll be the best pesto you’ve ever tasted!
Day Trips from Genoa, If You Want to Stay Longer
Are all of these amazing things to do and places to eat making you want to extend your stay in Genoa. Well, if you do there are some amazing places further afield that you might want to check out while you’re here.
Cinque Terre
Even if you don’t know Cinque Terre by name, you’ll know it from the brightly colored waterfront houses that you’ve seen on Instagram. These five towns lie between Genoa and La Spezia, and you can be at the most famous of the towns, Portofino, in just 25 minutes on a direct train from Genoa.
It’s super touristy, so expect lots of crowds and expensive prices. Staying in Genoa and visiting for the day is probably one of the most affordable ways to visit Cinque Terre!
La Spezia
If you’re looking for another Italian port city that’s less touristy than Genoa, head down the coast for the day to La Spezia. As it used to be one of the key naval ports in Italy, there are plenty of interesting maritime museums if you’re interested in naval history.
If you visit, you can also check out some of the amazing archeological sites that go back as far as prehistory times!
Pisa
Let’s be honest, Pisa is known for one thing and it’s the Leaning Tower. Jump on the train from Genoa and in about one hour and 40 minutes, you’ll be in Pisa. In addition to the mandatory photo opportunity, you can visit this beautiful riverside Tuscan city.
The architecture has an entirely different vibe to Genoa, and you can try a ton of amazing Tuscan dishes and wines!
Milan
Finally, if you travel an hour and 30 minutes northeast, you’ll arrive in Milan. The fashionista capital of Italy needs little introduction.
From the iconic Duomo to the Galleria Umberto to the canals and waterways of the Navigli neighborhood, Milan is always an amazing place for a day trip.
Traveling to Genoa
Okay, first things first, how are you getting to and from Genoa? If you’re staying in Nice, Genoa is located around 200km to the east if you follow the coast road, but you can also easily have a day trip to Genoa from Milan, La Spezia, Florence, Pisa, Turin, and more.
So, with that in mind, let’s look at the different modes of transport that can help you get to Genoa from cities and towns on both sides of the French and Italian border within a few hours of travel time.
By Train
Probably the quickest and easiest way to travel to Genoa for the day is by train. If you’re coming from Nice, you’ll have to change to Ventimiglia and the whole trip takes between 3 hours to 3 hours and 20 minutes.
You can get trains from Milan that only take an hour and a half. Traveling from Pisa is around an hour and 40 minutes. If you’re coming from La Spezia, the train time is just under an hour.
I’d definitely recommend using the Trainline app to book trains if you want to visit areas around Genoa. You’re definitely going to want to book at least a day or two in advance, especially in peak season or at weekends.
We tried to book to travel to Genoa on the same day in May and the trains were already full, so we had to take a longer train with more stops. It’s not the end of the world, but when you only have a day in Genoa, you want to make the most of it!
On average, trains from Nice to Genoa cost €16 – €23 one-way which is super affordable considering it’s a three-hour journey!
By Bus
If you’re on a budget, you might consider checking out the Omio app. I use this app all the time to work out the cheapest way to get around as it brings together routes and prices from different operators and compares them all based on travel duration and price.
It’s really great when it comes to buses because there aren’t a ton of reliable bus comparison websites that you can use all around Europe.
You can use Omio to book a Flixbus from Nice to Genoa for as little as 8 Euros if you book in advance. Journey time is actually sometimes quicker than the tree as it’s a direct route and can be anywhere from 2 hours and 40 minutes to 3 hours and 20 minutes depending on the route.
Road Trip
If you’re exploring the area by car anyway, you can of course drive to Genoa. There are many major highways and picturesque coastal roads feeding into the port city, so it’s normally a decent drive.
You might have some issues finding parking once you’re there, so you might want to park further out on the outskirts of the city and get a local train or bus into the center.
Where to Stay
If you’re looking to stay in Genoa, the average price per person for a hotel room is around 88 Euros per night. It’s a lot cheaper than staying in the popular Cinque Terre area, so if you want to have a few days exploring that area, you’re better off staying in Genoa and doing day trips.
For context, the train from Genoa to Portofino only takes 25 minutes. Want somewhere that’s a little less touristy? Head down to La Spezia, another Italian port city that’s brimming with charm but is often less busy.
It can be a little bit more expensive, coming in at 118 Euros per person per night, but you are a lot closer to Cinque Terre.
Dayna Brockbank is a travel and language-learning blogger who has lived around the world but has now settled in Nice, France. She speaks 3 languages at varying levels of fluency: Spanish, Italian, and French, and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Spanish Education. She and her husband focus on making travel part of life by living cheaply and traveling on a budget.