Genoa itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Genoa, day by day: Piazza De Ferrari, the caruggi of the old town, the Doge's Palace, the cathedral and the palaces of Via Garibaldi first, with focaccia from a friggitoria, the Old Port and sunset at Spianata Castelletto, then Staglieno cemetery, the Aquarium, the fishing village of Boccadasse, Palazzo Reale and the Galata sea museum on a second day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Genoa in 1 day
Day 1
Piazza De Ferrari
Genoa's main square, with its large bronze fountain, the Carlo Felice opera house and the side of the Doge's Palace.
Mercato Orientale
Genoa's big covered food market on Via XX Settembre, with produce stalls and a food court for focaccia, pesto and local dishes.
Historic centre of Genoa (caruggi)
A walk through the caruggi, the narrow medieval lanes of one of Europe's largest old towns, with shrines, small shops and bakeries.
Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale)
Former seat of the doges of the Republic of Genoa, now a cultural centre with large exhibitions, courtyards and a tower.
Musei di Strada Nuova (Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco, Palazzo Doria-Tursi)
Three Renaissance and Baroque palaces on Via Garibaldi, part of the Rolli World Heritage site, with paintings by Van Dyck and Caravaggio.
Genoa Cathedral (San Lorenzo)
Black-and-white striped Gothic cathedral with a treasury museum and an unexploded British naval shell from 1941 kept inside.
Antica Friggitoria Carega
Old-town fry shop near Piazza Caricamento serving paper cones of fried fish, panissa and vegetables, a classic Genoese street snack.
Old Port (Porto Antico) and Piazza Caricamento
Waterfront redesigned by Renzo Piano, with the Bigo lift, harbour walks and the arcaded Sottoripa lined with snack bars.
Genoa in 2 days
Day 1
Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno
Vast hillside cemetery known for its realist marble sculptures and grand family tombs, one of Europe's great monumental cemeteries.
Spianata Castelletto viewpoint (lift)
Terrace above the old town reached by a public lift, with a wide view over the rooftops and the port, best near sunset.
Musei di Strada Nuova (Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco, Palazzo Doria-Tursi)
Three Renaissance and Baroque palaces on Via Garibaldi, part of the Rolli World Heritage site, with paintings by Van Dyck and Caravaggio.
Aquarium of Genoa
Italy's largest aquarium on the Old Port, with dolphins, sharks, penguins, seals and jellyfish in a long series of tanks.
Old Port (Porto Antico) and Piazza Caricamento
Waterfront redesigned by Renzo Piano, with the Bigo lift, harbour walks and the arcaded Sottoripa lined with snack bars.
Genoa Cathedral (San Lorenzo)
Black-and-white striped Gothic cathedral with a treasury museum and an unexploded British naval shell from 1941 kept inside.
Day 2
Church of the Gesù
Baroque Jesuit church near Piazza De Ferrari, richly decorated, with altarpieces by Rubens.
Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale)
Former seat of the doges of the Republic of Genoa, now a cultural centre with large exhibitions, courtyards and a tower.
Antica Friggitoria Carega
Old-town fry shop near Piazza Caricamento serving paper cones of fried fish, panissa and vegetables, a classic Genoese street snack.
Piazza De Ferrari
Genoa's main square, with its large bronze fountain, the Carlo Felice opera house and the side of the Doge's Palace.
Historic centre of Genoa (caruggi)
A walk through the caruggi, the narrow medieval lanes of one of Europe's largest old towns, with shrines, small shops and bakeries.
Mercato Orientale
Genoa's big covered food market on Via XX Settembre, with produce stalls and a food court for focaccia, pesto and local dishes.
Boccadasse
Old fishing hamlet of pastel houses around a pebble cove, reached along the Corso Italia seafront; popular for gelato and sunset.
Palazzo Reale
Seventeenth-century palace of the Balbi family, later a royal residence, with a hall of mirrors, frescoed rooms and a terrace garden.
Watch: Genoa
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Genoa
Spring and autumn are the best seasons, mild for walking the hilly old town, though autumn can bring spells of heavy rain. Summer is warm and humid, cooled by the sea, and winter is mild but often wet. The Genoa International Boat Show fills the city's hotels in September.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Genoa on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Genoa on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Genoa on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Genoa
- The three palaces of the Musei di Strada Nuova on Via Garibaldi share one ticket; Palazzo Rosso's rooftop terraces look out over the old town.
- Genoa Cathedral and many old-town churches close for a long midday break; visit them in the morning or late afternoon.
- The caruggi are narrow, steep in places and best walked; public lifts and funiculars, such as the Castelletto lift, save the climbs to the hillside viewpoints.
- Try the local food on the go: focaccia, farinata and fried snacks from the old-town friggitorie, and pesto alla genovese at lunch.
- The Aquarium of Genoa is busiest at weekends and in school holidays; book a timed ticket ahead and go early in the day.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Boccadasse: Frabckpckr96, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Church of the Gesù: José Luiz, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale): Jensens, Public domain
- Genoa Cathedral (San Lorenzo): Julian Lupyan, CC0
- Historic centre of Genoa (caruggi): Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno: Twice25 & Rinina25, CC BY 2.5
- Musei di Strada Nuova (Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco, Palazzo Doria-Tursi): sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Port (Porto Antico) and Piazza Caricamento: Ambroise Louis Garneray, Public domain
- Palazzo Reale: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Piazza De Ferrari: ValeDeNe / Teatroge, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Spianata Castelletto viewpoint (lift): Panek, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
