Arrival
I traveled to Genoa with seven friends, so finding a place that could fit all of us was a bit of a challenge. We ended up at an Airbnb called Sky On The Roofs with a small rooftop terrace. There was also a stunning church right next to our Airbnb called Chiesa di Santa Maria Maddalena. If you’re traveling solo or with a smaller group, I highly recommend checking out Hotel/Hostel recommendations on Reddit. If you arrive by car, please note that the roads in the city are pretty narrow. We went there with a VW Transporter...
Downtown
Narrow Alleyways (Caruggi)
Genoa is a medieval city, and the streets in the city center are super narrow. Locals call them Caruggi. When I first walked inside, it felt like I was in a maze with lots of cafes, shops, and restaurants. Some of the streets were a bit run down and had an unpleasant smell here and there.
Piazza De Ferrari
Piazza De Ferrari is the main square of Genoa. There you'll find the government building, Palazzo della Regione Liguria, the Doge's Palace, a historic building which is now a museum, and a few other other buildings, such as a former stock exchange, Palazzo della Borsa Valori.
Cathedral of San Lorenzo
Near the Piazza De Ferrari, there is the Cathedral of San Lorenzo. It's nothing too special though, I found the church next to my Airbnb more impressive.
Via Giuseppe Garibaldi
This street is full of palaces and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Yay!
Spianata dell'Acquasola
I found this park with a great view while exploring the city. You might want to check this out if you have the time.
Porto Antico
Porto Antico is the port of Genoa. There are tons of nice restaurants and the second largest aquarium in Europe. Admission is €26 for adults. I didn't have the time to go there though. Additionally, you can take the Bigo Panoramic Lift to get a view over the city for €6. However, I would recommend to save that money and head to Spianata dell'Acquasola to get a great view for free.
Food
Now to the best part of the trip! You should try Focaccia bread, a Ligurian speciality. I got mine from a bakery at the Piazza di Fossatello. There are also a few cafes at the place where you can have coffee and great Italian pastries. For dinner I would recommmend going to Rossopomodoro at Porto Antico. You can enjoy the view at the port while eating. I got a Neapolitan Pizza with Buffalo Mozarella. There is also an ice cream shop called La Voglia Matta near the restaurant which I can recommend. Lastly, I found the store Le delizie di San Matteo that sells great Amaretti.
Public Transport
The city itself is quite compact and walkable, so you usually don’t need to use public transportation. However, if you want to explore places further from the center, the city has many bus lines and even a subway system.
Conclusion
Genoa is not a must-see in Italy, but it’s a great stopover if you’re planning to travel further south or to the French Riviera.