Welcome to Genoa (Genova in Italian), a beautiful port city with one of the biggest historic centers in all of Europe! While travelers often prioritize other Italian cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice, Genoa is just as worthy of a visit and is also the closest if you’re among the many travelers visiting the French Riviera!
The historic city on the Ligurian Riviera in Northwestern Italy has a metropolitan area of about 1.5 million inhabitants (similar to Ottawa, Calgary, or Edmonton). It’s one of the best places in Italy to use Marriott points to get the most free hotel nights.
You can easily spend a few days there, but it’s also an ideal destination for a side trip, as it’s only about a 2-hour ride from Milan or Turin or 2.5 hours from Nice. It’s also 1 hour away from the Cinque Terre, so if you want to discover these beautiful villages, you can always stop off in Genoa during your trip.
Here are 8 things to do in Genoa, Italy.
1. Old Town (Centro Storico)
The city’s historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so you definitely want to check it out! You can walk around the Old Town easily.
Whether you explore by yourself or join a guided walking tour, you’ll venture through narrow streets (known as the Caruggi) and see beautiful tiled floors, architectural treasures, charming cafés, and boutiques everywhere.
On Piazza De Ferrari, the square at the heart of Genoa, the iconic fountain will marvel you.
Take some time to visit 1 or 2 of the Palazzi dei Rolli, a collection of stunning Renaissance and Baroque palaces that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. For example, you can choose to visit Palazzo Ducale or Palazzo Rosso, both of which are open to the public.
The majestic Genoa Cathedral (Cattedrale di San Lorenzo) is also worth your time.
2. Old Port (Porto Antico)
Porto Antico is Genoa’s historic harbor area. Genoa has been an important port city for centuries. The Republic of Genoa was one of the biggest maritime republics!
The Old Port has been upgraded and turned into a lovely seafront area with lots to do, like the aquarium, the Biosphere, the Bigo panoramic lift, and many restaurants.
While you are there, you can’t miss the iconic Lanterna lighthouse at the entrance of the Old Port. It’s a famous symbol of the city, and you can climb to the top for panoramic views of the harbor.
You can book a boat tour to contemplate the historic maritime district from the water.
3. Boccadasse
Boccadasse is a charming, colorful little fishing village near Genoa. It’s a truly peaceful escape from the city life.
You can watch the small fishing boats in the harbor, try some tasty seafood at nearby restaurants, or just chill out on the beach surrounded by colorful buildings.
Walking along the seaside path feels really special, even more so at sunset.
4. Spianata Castelletto
The Spianata Castelletto viewing point offers an amazing panorama (perhaps the best) of Genoa’s skyline, harbor, and hills.
You can really see how big the city is from up there, especially the harbor.
For a small fee, you can take an elevator for a quick ride up.
5. Villa Durazzo Pallavicini
Located in the Pegli district, the Villa Durazzo Pallavicini is a historic villa famous for its stunning gardens, which are considered one of the most beautiful examples of English Romantic-style landscaping in Italy.
It’s a lovely place for a walk in nature and a nice picnic.
6. Street food
If you’re a foodie traveler, you won’t be disappointed to have added Genoa to your European itinerary!
Delicious treats can be found even without looking for them, with the street vendors in La Maddalena, Mercato Orientale, and Piazza Caricamento.
Start by tasting Genoa’s signature bread, called focaccia, as well as farinata, a savory chickpea pancake. The city also gives its name to Genoa salami, so you know you’ll find good salami there.
If you love seafood, the sandwich called panini con la Frittura di Pesce (panini with fish fry) is a must.
Last but not least, pesto alla Genovese is a famous sauce from Genoa that you can’t miss. It’s made with fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and olive oil. This sauce on a focaccia bread is divine.
7. Nightlife
In Genoa, there are nightlife hotspots in various neighborhoods. If you want to grab a drink, the areas surrounding Piazza delle Erbe, Porto Antico, and San Lorenzo are full of bars.
But if you want to dance the night away, Corso Italia is the place to be (and it’s also lovely for a daytime walk along the promenade).
This area is famous for its lively nightclubs, particularly around Punta Vagno and Lungomare Lombardo. Or, you could join a pub crawl and just go with the flow!
8. Relaxation
If you want to relax after busy days of exploring the city, you can splurge on a nice hotel for at least a part of your stay. Trivago has plenty of accommodation options in Genoa.
But the best option is a beautiful free hotel — and it’s easy to get! Our Flytrippers readers have earned over 3 million dollars in free travel with our travel rewards deals, so you should take advantage of them too (this hotel deal is a great one for beginners).
The AC Hotel Genova is a beautiful hotel just a 10-minute walk from the beach or train station to Cinque Terre. It’s also relatively close to the old city and all its attractions (15 minutes by car or 30 minutes by bus).
It costs 10,500 Marriott points per night (52,500 for 5 nights) in October (and even less if you travel in the low season). That’s just 5,250 points per person per night with 1 companion! It’s not as cheap as Marriott hotels in Southeast Asia, of course, but that’s not bad at all for Southern Europe.
The current welcome bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card gives you 53,000 (or 106,000 points if your companion takes advantage of it, too).
The cash price is C$1,205 ($241/night for 5 nights) so using points can give you great value — these particular dates give you more than twice our conservative Flytrippers Valuation! You can read how Marriott Bonvoy points work if you want to know more.
The terrace looks like a great spot to chill if you want to spend a day at a slower pace in Genoa.
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Summary
The gorgeous city of Genoa in Italy is full of surprises. These 8 fun activities will make you fall in love with this destination that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
What would you like to know about the things to do in Genoa? Tell us in the comments below.
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Featured image: Genoa, Italy (photo credit: Aleksandr Popov)
