GenoaLigurian Coast · Italy

All About Genoa

Genoa (or Genova in Italian) has a prime location in northern Italy. As the capital of the region of Liguria, the city straddles the Gulf of Genoa in the Ligurian Sea part of the Mediterranean. It has looked towards these waters for much of its history. Indeed, for seven hundred years Genoa rivaled Venice for supremacy in the seas around the Italian peninsula. It is sometimes still nicknamed, La Superba, or ‘The Proud One’ because of its impressive range of landmarks and reputation as a regional powerhouse that stretches back to medieval times.

Boasting a magnificent coastline and a huge array of attractions, Genoa’s old town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006. One of the largest districts of its kind in modern-day Europe, there has been no better time to look into purchasing ferry tickets to Genoa. Ferryscanner makes it incredibly easy to compare and book ferry tickets to Genoa all throughout the year.
 

Routes and Ferries to Genoa

If anywhere has sailing in its blood, it’s Genoa, the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. While it’s no longer possible to reach the New World from the city, there is still a great range of ferry tickets to Genoa available. The closest destination that can be reached by ferry from Genoa is Bastia on the island of Corsica, which is ruled by France. The ferry company Moby Lines routinely makes the crossing in either direction in about five hours. Foot passengers should expect to pay somewhere in the region of €26 per person.

South of Corsica, two ports on the Italian island of Sardinia are also easy to reach from Genoa. There is an excellent choice of departures to Olbia, since this route is operated by no less than three different ferry companies – Tirrenia, Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV), and Moby Lines. The shortest sailings to Olbia last ten hours, and the longest is 12.5 hours, with these different options comparable on Ferryscanner. Prices for an adult foot passenger range between €32-45, with additional costs for anyone looking to take a motor vehicle such as a motorbike or family car on board. Alternatively, it’s also possible to reach Porto Torres in Sardinia in just over 12 hours at a cost of €47 with GNV.

The last island destination for those seeking ferry tickets to Genoa is Sicily. Crossing much of the length of mainland Italy, GNV ferries make the trip to the Sicilian capital, Palermo, located on the island’s north coast. Passengers are given the option of airplane-style seating or private cabins, since these sailings have a scheduled duration of 20.5 hours, with much of this time taking place overnight. At a cost of around €90, what could be better than waking up in a whole new destination come morning?

Keep in mind that Sicily isn’t the last destination that can be reached by ferry from Genoa, because both GNV and Tirrenia operate routine ferries further south to North Africa, specifically the capital city of Tunis in Tunisia. These sailings last between 34 and 35 hours and cost €88-94.

Genoa has two major railway stations, both of which receive high-speed trains and regional services heading as far afield as Rome and the French Riviera. Genoa Principe is located in the west of the city closest to the port, while Genoa Brigole is to the east, close to the city’s major attractions.

The city’s international airport, Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport, lies on an artificial peninsula 7.5 kilometers northwest of the city center. There are daily flights to Rome, as well as major cities in Europe including Paris and London.
 

Ports of Genoa

The port of Genoa is the busiest in Italy and is very important for the whole Mediterranean. It is so large that it occupies around 700 hectares of land and 22 kilometers of coast. The majority of ferries arrive and depart at the eastern end of the port (closest to the city center), in the historic harbor. Here ticket holders will find several dedicated passenger terminals that together provide 13 separate ferry berths. The port also contains well-equipped marinas designed for those seeking to moor their private yachts. Because of the complexities of the ports of Genoa, it’s recommended to arrive at least two hours ahead of your scheduled departure time.
 

Best Beaches

Although it isn’t well known for its beach escapes, there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t enjoy a day at the beach in and around Genoa. Given the fantastic weather the city experiences from April until the end of September, it’s a great way to spend your time here.

Boccadasse Beach

Located in the district of the same name approximately 10 minutes from downtown Genoa, Boccadasse Beach is a small but attractive pebble beach. One of the region’s calmer beach getaways, facilities are limited to those in the neighborhood, which is only a short walk away.

San Fruttuoso Beach

Situated within Portofino Marine Nature Park, San Fruttuoso beach is a blend of pristine sand and pebbles. Offering sunbeds and umbrellas, the waters are turquoise blue, making it a favorite spot for families in particular.

Baia del Silenzio

Around 40 kilometers from central Genoa, the Baia del Silenzio is celebrated across Italy for its beauty. Surrounded by pastel-colored buildings and local fishing boats, it’s one of the best beaches for those seeking the soft sand needed for beach sports or sandcastles.

Baia dei Saraceni

Accessible by road and by rail, Baia dei Saraceni is another fine sand beach with exquisite waters. Keep in mind that since it is a private beach you will be charged for entering and making use of the various amenities, such as the lifeguard patrols.
 

Places to Visit

Genoa’s long and illustrious history ensures that there is an awesome selection of attractions for anyone with a bit of free time in the city. Among them are sights and museums that could keep someone busy for a couple of weeks. If you don’t have that sort of time, check out the best places to visit in Genoa below.

Corso Italia

The Corso Italia links two of Genoa’s neighborhoods, Baccadesse and Foce. First laid out in 1908, this seaside promenade runs for 2.5 km and fills up in the evening hours with locals taking a nightly coastal walk.

Palazzo Ducale

It’s not only Venice that has its Palazzo Ducale or Doge’s Palace. A giant structure, Genoa’s version is used today as a museum and cultural center, allowing the public to explore several centuries of treasures that were formerly only seen by visiting heads of state.

The Lighthouse

Standing tall beside the port, the city’s square-form lighthouse was constructed in 1543. Rising to a total height of 76 meters, it remains one of the world’s tallest. As a symbol of the city, it continues to guide vessels into safe harbor, while the museum next door covers both the lighthouse and its port through its exhibits.
 

Transportation Around Genoa

The Genoa metro system is perhaps the easiest form of public transportation to use in the city since its automated ticket machines can be used to purchase fares in a multitude of languages in addition to Italian. It consists of a single line (colored red on maps) that runs from Brin in the northwest to Brignole mainline railway station in the east. Its route includes several station stops within the center of the city. Since the city has large hills, there are also two funicular railways and ten public elevators connecting the upper and lower portions of the city, as well as a slightly confusing array of buses and trolleybuses operated by AMT.