Genoa

1. The port

    1.1 Arriving by car

    1.2 Parking

    1.3 Arriving by plane

    1.4 Arriving by train

2. on foot

3. Shuttle Buses

4. Sightseeing

    4.1 Trackless train

    4.2 Hop on Hop off

5. Taxis

6. The top sights

7. Book shore excursions

    7.2 Meine Landausflüge

    7.1 Get Your Guide

The capital of Liguria is a major port city in Northern Italy. Genoa has approximately 565,000 inhabitants and is a true hidden gem. Surrounded by mountains and the sea, Genoa is more than just an important and large Mediterranean port. It offers numerous sights and is always worth a visit.

The Port of Genoa is one of the largest in the Mediterranean. It is a multi-service port with a variety of specialized terminals. These are operated by private companies and are suitable for all classes of ships. The port handles cargo vessels as well as cruise ships and ferries. The cruise terminals are used almost exclusively by the MSC cruise line, whose Mediterranean cruises begin and end in Genoa. Other cruise lines call at Genoa rather infrequently.

There are five passenger terminals in the Port of Genoa, three of which are mainly used for ferries. The Ponte Andrea Doria and Ponte dei Mille are reserved for cruise ships. 

Driving in Genoa is anything but easy. We also got lost and had great difficulty finding the entrance to the harbor. Even most navigation systems struggle here. The area around the port, in particular, is truly confusing and causes most cruisers to take a wrong turn. It is advisable to study the route beforehand.

Coming from the A7, take the Genova Ovest exit and drive to the toll booth. One kilometer after the toll booth, you will pass through a noise protection tunnel, followed immediately by a fork in the road. At this fork, keep half-right. Essentially, just take the 'middle path' at this junction. If you continue following the Piazzale della Camionale, it will lead under a bridge with a sharp left turn. Shortly after, you will see an ERG gas station on the right. Just before the station, turn left onto Via Cantore. Follow this road to the end and then turn left. After 600 meters, keep right onto Via Adua. After another 300 meters, you will see the entrance to the port on your right.

The easiest way to park your car in Genoa is the Garage Ponte Dei Mille. Your car is collected directly at the cruise terminal and parked for you (Vallet Parking). The car keys remain with the garage operator. After your trip, the staff will meet you at the same spot and tell you exactly where your car is parked. We used this service in Genoa and were very satisfied. The parking space can be reserved online. You can find prices and booking information here.

All parking garages in the vicinity are displayed on Parkvia. Here, you can choose the parking garage that best suits your needs.

Genoa Airport is located just 6 km from the port. The most convenient way to reach the harbor is by taxi. Depending on traffic, the ride takes about 10 minutes, but you should allow for some extra time as a buffer. Expect to pay around €25 for the trip.

A more budget-friendly option is the line 100 public bus. The journey takes approximately 15–20 minutes and costs about €3 per person. You should get off at the Porta Principe stop; from there, it is only a few minutes' walk to the ship.

There are two main train stations in Genoa. From the Genova Principe station, it is about 1.5 km to the harbor. On foot, the walk takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes. If that is too inconvenient with luggage, you have two options: you can either take a taxi for about €5 or use bus line 18 to the port for around €3. The Genova Brignole station is about 7 km from the harbor. From there, you can also either take a taxi or bus line 20.

The Port of Genoa is located right in the heart of the city. From the cruise terminal, it is only about a 15-minute walk to the old town.

Since the city center is so close, there are no shuttle buses

If you keep to the right after leaving the port, you will quickly reach the tourist train stop. The tour lasts about 45 minutes and, unlike the well-known Hop-On Hop-Off buses, the train is able to drive through the narrow alleys of the old town. Information about the sights is provided via headphones; however, there is no option to hop on or off during the tour.

Genoa also features the iconic red double-decker buses from City Sightseeing. There are two lines, each with 11 stops. The red line runs through the city center, while the blue line covers the city center and also drives along the coast. You can purchase tickets on-site or in advance online here.

In the Stazione Marittima Ponte dei Mille, there is a counter for taxis and tours where you can book a taxi. The largest taxi dispatch center in Genoa is Radio Taxi 5966 Genova, which uses the 'Your Taxi' app. Radio Taxi 5966 also offers tours of the surrounding areas; you can find more information and prices here.

Genoa is a very popular travel destination. Not only do cruise ships dock here, but there are also many day-trippers. As a result, you might encounter long queues at the top attractions, or find that tickets are only available for specific time slots. For these sights, it is well worth booking a 'fast-track' ticket or a fixed time slot in advance:

Meine Landausflüge offer you fantastic cruise trips at the most popular ports worldwide. Typically, they are available in much smaller groups and at more affordable prices than the cruise line’s own excursions. All our options are carefully selected to guarantee you an unforgettable outing experience.

• Small group sizes  
• Punctual return guarantee  
• Convenient pick-up and drop-off service from/to the port  
• Money-back guarantee for itinerary changes and port cancellations  
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour (Flex option up to 60 minutes before the tour start)

With GetYourGuide, you can book land excursions in small groups, often at better prices than those offered by cruise lines. All experiences are carefully selected and reviewed by experts. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start of the excursion.

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