Located in the northern part of Italy, on the coast of the Ligurian Sea, Genoa is definitely not one of the most popular Italian cities. This is surprising considering how much this city has to offer! Beautiful old town, sea, rocky beaches, colorful buildings, delicious food, what more could you want? We have prepared 20 places to see in Genoa for you, and we hope that our post will encourage you to visit and help you plan your trip.
So far, we have only visited Cinque Terre in Liguria, which charmed us and is still one of our favorite places in Italy. Genoa, about which we knew very little, except that it is located in the land of pesto and focaccia, tempted us with cheap tickets for a long weekend on St. Patrick’s Day. After a few hours of searching online for what to see there, we already knew that fitting everything that interests us into two days would be impossible. So, what did we see and recommend? Keep reading!
Piazza della Vittoria – 20 places to see in Genoa
The spacious and monumental Victory Square is located in the center, with the Triumphal Arch erected in 1931 to commemorate those who died in World War I. The square is located near the Brignole train station and is one of the main arteries of the city.
Scalinata delle Tre Caravelle – 20 places to see in Genoa
Right next to Victory Square are the green-covered stairs of Scalinata delle Tre Caravelle. It’s worth climbing to the top for a better view of Victory Square – there is a parking lot on the square, so we recommend visiting on Sunday when there are no cars and the square looks much better. At the top of the stairs, you’ll find narrow steps leading even higher to the walls of Mura delle Cappuccine, where the views are even better! From there, you can notice that Genoa is a multidimensional city, which makes it even more interesting!
Piazza Colombo – 20 places to see in Genoa
Piazza Colombo is located near XX Settembre street in the lively part of the city, where you will find pubs, bakeries, and shops. The 19th-century square is adorned with the Fontana del Genio Marino fountain in the center.
Piazza Corvetto – 20 places to see in Genoa
Piazza Corvetto is an important transportation hub, and while wandering between the old town, parks, and the newer part of Genoa, we stumbled upon it quite a few times. Piazza Corvetto is one of the largest and most representative squares in Genoa, named after Emanuele Corvetto, a Genoese politician of the Napoleonic era. In the center of the square stands a statue of Vittorio Emanuele II on horseback.
Spianata dell’Acquasola Park – 20 places to see in Genoa
One of the few parks in the city center located on a “higher” level, where you can admire views. The park has a playground and a bar – everyone will find something for themselves there.
Villetta Di Negro Park – 20 places to see in Genoa
A park that is a small urban oasis, where you can escape from the city noise. The park stretches from street level up to the level of one of the many viaducts, so you have to exert yourself a little, but the views from the top are worth a few minutes of walking. The park has a small waterfall, and little green parrots fly overhead. An ideal place to rest after intensive sightseeing!
Casa di Colombo – 20 places to see in Genoa
Not everyone knows that Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, and his house, where he lived as a child, is located right next to the city gate. The house is not too impressive, and its original version was demolished in the 17th century, but it was rebuilt in the 18th century. In Columbus’s time, the house probably had two or three floors, and a shop was located on the ground floor.
Porta Soprana – 20 places to see in Genoa
An impressive city gate with two towers, which is part of the city walls and the gateway leading to the city from the east. The walls of Genoa were built in the 12th century to protect the Republic of Genoa from the invasions of Emperor Barbarossa. The gate is located right next to Christopher Columbus’ house. We highly recommend entering the old town from this side, as there are many colorful buildings and it is very picturesque.
Il Gesù Church – 20 places to see in Genoa
Unassuming from the outside, but beautiful inside, Il Gesu Church belongs to the Jesuit order. Whatever one may say – in Genoa, they really know how to make churches, practically every one of them is worth visiting inside and paying attention to. In the church of Il Gesu, there are two paintings by Rubens – The Miracle of St. Ignatius and The Circumcision of Christ, as well as The Assumption of Guido Reni.
Piazza San Matteo – 20 places to see in Genoa
A small, narrow square next to the San Matteo Church, another church worth visiting in Genoa. San Matteo Square was one of the main squares in the historic center of the city, the residence of one of the prominent Genoese families, the Doria family. The square is surrounded by characteristic palaces with black and white facades, with friezes of small arches.
Palazzo Ducale – 20 places to see in Genoa
The Doge’s Palace is the former residence of the rulers of Genoa during the time of the Republic of Genoa. The palace is located on the impressive Piazza De Ferrari. The building has been rebuilt multiple times and after a fire was reconstructed in the neoclassical style. The palace suffered damage during the bombings and underwent thorough restoration only in the 1990s.
Piazza De Ferrari – 20 places to see in Genoa
One of the main squares of the city, next to which is located the Doge’s Palace. Extremely impressive and monumental, located in the heart of Genoa, between the historic and “new” parts of the city. In the center, there is a beautiful fountain and the square is surrounded by historic buildings that currently serve as offices.
San Lorenzo Cathedral – 20 places to see in Genoa
The marble cathedral located near the Doge’s Palace was built between the 12th and 14th centuries. It is another church in Genoa whose interior is mesmerizing with rich frescoes.
Piazza Banchi – 20 places to see in Genoa
One of the narrow, medieval squares that is bustling with life. Piazza Banchi is hard to miss if you are heading towards the port (which, in our opinion, is not worth the attention). Near the square, there is an interesting building Loggia di Banchi (Loggia della Mercanzia), which is considered one of the most representative buildings in the city.
The origins of this building date back to the Middle Ages, and the first building for trade was erected in 1415 (trade flourished there due to its location near the port). In the 19th century, the building was purchased by the Chamber of Commerce, and later it housed the Stock Exchange and the Commodity Exchange. The building suffered during the bombing of the city in World War II.
Via Garibaldi – 20 places to see in Genoa
Via Garibaldi is one of the main arteries of the old town, famous for the numerous palaces located along the street. Since 2006, Via Garibaldi has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Palace enthusiasts can walk from one to the other, and we recommend visiting Palazzo Podestà with its beautiful fountain in the courtyard.
Belvedere Castelletto – 20 places to see in Genoa
Our favorite viewpoint, an excellent place to observe the sunset! When traveling to Genoa, it is good to know that the city, aware of its hilly location, offers a range of elevators and funiculars, which we were not entirely aware of when climbing each hill and cursing the city’s topography. You can also reach Belvedere Castelletto by elevator. The elevator ride was free, but we do not know if it is always the case or if we were lucky to come on a special day – there was a ticket vending machine for city tickets next to the elevator. Next to the viewpoint itself, there are several bars and cafes.
Villa Gruber – 20 places to see in Genoa
The villa itself may not be particularly impressive, and you cannot visit its interior, and it definitely needs renovation. In front of the villa, there is a small park where locals like to spend their time. It may not be a must-visit place, but if you want to venture into more local areas, where not too many tourists go, it is worth going there.
Nervi – 20 Places to see in Genoa
As we mentioned before, the port of Genoa is not very impressive, and those looking for a maritime atmosphere in the city center may be a bit disappointed. For this reason, we recommend taking a bus (for example, line 15 from Brignole station, the ticket costs €1.5 and can be purchased at a kiosk) or a train and go to Nervi. From Nervi, we recommend walking back to Genoa, according to Google Maps, the walk takes 2 hours, but we assure you that it will take you much longer because the views along the way are truly breathtaking!
Nervi is a peaceful (at least it was peaceful in March), colorful, seaside town. Right next to the train station is a pedestrian path leading along the coast, but we also recommend spending some time exploring the town itself. The beginning of the trail is a specially designated path that will lead you, among other places, to the picturesque Porticciolo di Nervi. The next part leads along the seafront, then near Vernazzola beach, you should stick to the beach and the sea, delve into the alleys and reach Boccadasse through a viewpoint. From there, the trail leads along the seaside promenade to the city center.
Spiega di Vernazzola – 20 Places to see in Genoa
A small rocky beach and the colorful houses surrounding it. A place where you want to sit and look at the sea accompanied by an Aperol or morning cappuccino.
Boccadasse – 20 Places to See in Genoa
Another colorful, picturesque place full of houses in shades of yellow, orange, and red with green shutters. Boccadasse also has a small rocky beach, and the town can be admired from a viewpoint. If you manage to find a free table at La Strambata restaurant, be sure to stop there for an aperitivo!
Where to eat in Genoa?
MOG Mercato Orientale – market enthusiasts should definitely visit this place! In the morning, the market offers fresh products, and when the shops selling fruits and vegetables close, the evening market life begins. Restaurants serve food and alcohol there until late at night. During the week, the market closes at 10 pm, and on weekends, it is open until midnight.
Fra Diavolo – a chain with Neapolitan pizza of the highest quality! The prices are not low, but their pizzas are a real masterpiece. We especially recommend the pizza with mortadella, stracciatella cheese, and pistachio pesto.
La Locanda in Centro – a restaurant serving local specialties with such an extensive wine list that browsing it can give you a headache (they have a division into all Italian regions!). Their pesto pasta is poetry, the pasta itself is soft and homemade, it practically melts in your mouth, and the pesto is incredibly aromatic! It’s not one of the cheapest places, but it’s really worth going there.
Trattoria Ugo – if you’re going there on the weekend, definitely make a reservation (also check the opening hours, Italian restaurants are not open all day). A traditional trattoria serving delicious food at quite good prices. We tried the octopus in a slightly spicy, tomato sauce, and we tell you, it was heavenly!
Cremeria Buonafede – traditional Italian gelato with such a creamy consistency that one would want to kiss its creator’s feet. The flavor is very good, but in our opinion, it could be a bit more intense, but the creaminess of the ice cream surpasses everything!
Calico – a restaurant located at the scenic viewpoint of Belvedere Castelletto, serving aperitivo with a great view. The price of a glass of wine is around 3.5-4 euros, the wine is served from barrels, and snacks such as olives, nuts, and chips are also served with it. You can also order more substantial snacks to go with your wine. We especially recommend it for the sunset view!
