Genoa Holidays

Italy's most underrated city and a proper foodie destination. Genoa is a big, beautiful port city on the Ligurian coast with a UNESCO-listed medieval old town, grand Renaissance palaces and the kind of food scene that makes you wonder why everyone bangs on about Rome. This is where pesto was invented, where focaccia is a way of life, and where you can be exploring narrow ancient alleyways one minute and staring out at the Mediterranean the next. It's also a brilliant base for day trips to Cinque Terre and Portofino, both reachable by train in under an hour.

🧳 Good to Know - Holidays to Genoa 2026 / 2027

• ☀️ Summers are warm and sunny at 25-28°C, with the best weather from May to September. Winters are mild but rainy, making spring and early autumn the sweet spot for sightseeing without the sweat.

• 💶 Genoa is proper good value for a major Italian city. A focaccia from a bakery costs a couple of euros, a casual meal runs about €12-15, and a beer is around €4-5. Much cheaper than Milan or the Cinque Terre villages.

• 🏛️ Genoa has one of the largest medieval old towns in Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site packed into a maze of narrow lanes called caruggi. It's atmospheric, a bit gritty, and full of surprises around every corner.

✨ Genoa Holiday Highlights

• 🍝 The birthplace of pesto alla Genovese - try it on trofie pasta at a traditional trattoria, washed down with a glass of Ligurian Vermentino

• 🏛️ The Palazzi dei Rolli, a collection of stunning Renaissance palaces on Via Garibaldi, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and free to wander past (some open their doors for tours)

• 🐬 Italy's largest aquarium, the Acquario di Genova, sits right on the revamped Porto Antico waterfront and is a brilliant day out for families

• 🚂 Cinque Terre is under an hour by train, Portofino about 40 minutes, and the pretty fishing village of Camogli just 30 minutes - all cracking day trips from Genoa

• 🌅 The Spianata Castelletto viewpoint gives you a panoramic sweep across the rooftops, harbour and sea - best at sunset with an Aperol Spritz from one of the nearby bars

🏨 Top Genoa Hotels 2026 / 2027

Genoa's hotel scene offers everything from grand seafront five-stars on the Riviera to sleek city-centre four- stars and converted historic palaces in the old town. The coastal options outside the city are brilliant if you want to combine a beach break with city day trips.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

• Grand Hotel Arenzano - A four-star with a private beach, outdoor pool, spa and beach shuttle, about 15km west of Genoa in the seaside town of Arenzano. 109 rooms with extra beds and cots available. Three bars (including poolside and beach) plus La Veranda restaurant. Proper family resort feel with easy access to the city by train.

• Punta San Martino - A four-star converted from a WWII fort, perched on the cliffs above Arenzano with jaw-dropping views over the Gulf of Genoa. Two outdoor pools, a children's playground, a restaurant and a funicular down to the beach. 75 rooms, free parking and a setting the kids will think is properly cool.

💑 Couples

• Grand Hotel Miramare - A stunning five-star in Santa Margherita Ligure, about 40 minutes from Genoa by train and just 4km from Portofino. Heated seawater pool, wellness centre, 77 elegant rooms with sea views and lush gardens. 50 metres from the beach. The romantic showstopper in the area.

• Palazzo Grillo - A boutique hotel inside a 1545 UNESCO-listed palace in the heart of Genoa's old town. Just 25 rooms with original historical details, a library, and a rooftop breakfast terrace with views over the Genoese rooftops. Dripping with character and seriously romantic.

✨ Luxury

• Grand Hotel Miramare - The standout luxury pick. Five-star service in a grand Riviera setting with a heated seawater pool, wellness centre and fine dining. Santa Margherita Ligure is gorgeous in its own right, and Portofino is a short boat ride or drive away.

• NH Collection Genova Marina - The upscale city option. 140 rooms (some with private harbour-view terraces), rain showers, pillow menus and Nespresso machines. Right by the Old Harbour and Aquarium, 200m from the historic centre. Slick and modern.

💰 Value

• Hotel Genova Liberty - A no-frills base right in the centre, walking distance to the Mercato Orientale food market and Piazza Colombo. Budget-friendly rooms with the essentials covered. From £19pp deposits.

• Hotel Assarotti - Central location near Brignole station with breakfast included, a 24-hour bar and a 20-minute walk to the aquarium. Clean, simple and well-positioned for exploring.

👉 See all Genoa hotels

🗺️ Genoa Holidays 2026/2027 - Travel Guide

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

• 🐬 The Acquario di Genova at Porto Antico is Italy's largest aquarium, with sharks, dolphins, penguins and jellyfish across 70 tanks. Kids absolutely love it and you can easily spend half a day here.

• 🚠 Take the Bigo panoramic lift at Porto Antico for bird's-eye views of the harbour, or ride one of Genoa's funiculars up into the hills for a different perspective on the city.

• 🎮 The Citta dei Bambini e dei Ragazzi (City of Children) near the aquarium is a hands-on science museum designed for kids aged 2-12, with interactive exhibits on water, physics and the senses.

• 🍕 Walk the caruggi (old town lanes) and grab focaccia from a bakery, arancini from a street stall and gelato for afters. Genoa is one of the cheapest major Italian cities for eating out with kids.

💑 Couples

• 🌅 Head to Spianata Castelletto at golden hour for panoramic views across the city and harbour, then wander down into the old town for dinner at a candlelit trattoria.

• 🍝 Book a pesto-making class and learn to bash basil, garlic, pine nuts and Parmesan the traditional way with a mortar and pestle. Brilliant fun and you get to eat the results.

• 🚂 Day-trip to Portofino for a dose of Italian Riviera glamour - colourful harbour, designer boutiques and seafood lunches by the water. About 40 minutes by train and then a short bus or ferry.

• 🏛️ Stroll Via Garibaldi and duck into the Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Bianco art galleries for Flemish and Italian masterworks in gorgeous Renaissance interiors.

🎉 Groups

• 🍻 Bar-hop through the caruggi - the old town lanes are packed with tiny wine bars, craft beer spots and aperitivo joints. Via San Lorenzo and the streets around Piazza delle Erbe are the best areas.

• 🍳 Book a group cooking class to learn trofie al pesto, focaccia and farinata (Genoa's famous chickpea pancake). Most classes include a market visit and a sit-down meal with wine.

• 🚢 Take a ferry along the coast from Porto Antico for views of the Ligurian coastline, or hop on the train to Cinque Terre for a group day out hiking between the five villages.

🏛️ Culture

• 🏰 The Galata Museo del Mare is one of the biggest maritime museums in the Mediterranean, with historic ships you can board, interactive exhibits and a section on Italian emigration.

• 🏛️ Genoa's Cathedral of San Lorenzo has a treasury containing what is said to be the Holy Grail (or at least one of many claimed candidates). The black-and-white striped facade is unmissable.

• 🎭 The Carlo Felice Opera House hosts world-class opera and ballet, and the ornate Teatro della Tosse in the old town puts on contemporary theatre and performance.

Getting around

Genoa’s public transport makes it a breeze to get around, with options that suit every style. The city’s buses and metro are reliable, covering all major sights and neighbourhoods. For a more scenic route, hop on the iconic funiculars or lift systems, some of which offer sweeping views of the city. Genoa’s port area is easy to explore on foot, and if you fancy something different, a ferry ride gives you a fresh perspective of the coastal gems. And, for those keen on day trips, Genoa's central railway station connects you to nearby Italian hotspots like Cinque Terre and Portofino.