Are you going to be in Genova for a longer time or just a few days? There is a lot to explore! Here is a list of Genova inisde and out from my own perspective.
I came to Genova without knowing anything about the city. Frankly, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I didn’t get the volunteer work until two days before I arrived. When I tried to do a quick search on what to see and do, there was unusual little information about the city. Genova had a somewhat negative reputation, and I began to worry about my spontaneous decision. When I got there it turned out to be a hidden gem of adventure with its narrow alleys, interesting sights and charming day trips. Therefore, I wanted to show you my perspective. A much sunnier one!
Genova has beautiful day trips very easily accessible such as Bocadasse, Bogliasco, Portofino and Sankt Margaretha. But the city also has beautiful things inside like Dolphin watching and hidden lookouts. If you want to know more, read on.
I’m going through:
– Daytrips – The route of Sestri Levante
– Genova – Viewpoints
– See The City
Tip: if you want to find something in particular press ctrl F and search for your word.
Daytrips – Sestri Levante
I stayed in Genova for three weeks as a volunteer at Ostello Bello. (Volunteer at Ostello Bello Genova) The hostel was very central and only two minutes from the station. Therefore, it was very easy to go on a spontaneous daytrip. Sestri Levante is a route that goes through many places I will mention below, very relevant for lazy travelers 😉
Boccadasse
Boccadasse is a famous beach not far from Genova. Many tourists come here to sunbathe, swim and eat at the restaurants. With its colorful houses and the art lining the road, it’s a charming place. If you don’t want to swim or eat there, you’re done with the place pretty quickly. In high season it can also be quite full of people.
This is one of the more touristy places and can be fun to combine with other places.
Nervi
If you plan to visit Boccadasse, you can visit Nervi afterwards! Nervi is a small village outside Genova. In Nervi there are the classic Genovese architecture paintings on the houses. The small village gives a homely feel with its picturesque streets and orange trees hanging over them. I and a couple of other travelers tasted the oranges, of course. They were sour and not to be recommended!
Near the station is a beautiful park. With flowers and exotic trees. If you are alone, I recommend bringing a book and taking a quiet moment in the nature!
Another day, a friend and I stumbled upon a focacceria near another small park by a large building. That focaccia remains top two on my list of good focaccia! (Your diet will consist of 50% focaccia, trust me) Maybe you’ll find it too?
Bogliasco
One day me and a German girl I volunteered with decided to go on a daytrip. We sat at the breakfast table and looked at the map. Pointed out the name and said: “Let’s go!”. Without any further thought, we packed our things and went to the station. When we arrived in Bogliasco, we were pleasantly surprised. Bogliasco was very beautiful with its cliff edges hanging over the turquoise sea and the white beach looking out between them. There were gardens of tanned stone and spiky little cacti. Everything was calm. No people wandering the streets. We followed the road upwards and came to a charming gelateria. There we ate our first Italian gelato and looked out at the sea. It felt like a vacation!
When we finished the ice cream, we made our way down to one of the pebble beaches. We laid down to sunbathe and then took a dip in the icy water.
Bogliasco was one of my favorites. So beautiful and serene. This probably depends on the season. We were there at the beginning of May, but if you have the opportunity, go there!
Pieve Ligure
One cloudy day I decided to take a small trip to Pieve Ligure. I ended up standing under a pillar as the rain poured down and a crackling bolt of lightning strucked ten meters from me. When the rain eased I started looking for a cafe, but Pieve Ligure was not a place for cafes. Before I arrived at an outdoor cafe area covered by a rain cover, I was drenched. The rain had started again and it thundered down over the streets, and little me.
In the small tent, some locals sat and laughed happily at my splashing entrance. There I sat until it stopped raining.
I didn’t see much of Pieve Ligure, but I think it’s a nice place to stop at, or drive by. It has its own charm!
Recco
I visited Recco, Sankt Margaretha and Porto Fino in the same day. It all started when I met a new-found friend on a train. It was on his recommendation that we went. As he was from Genova. We went to Recco. Because there would be a special Focaccia that was only baked there. It was flat, big and round. The baker behind the counter divided it for us and together we went down to a charming pebble beach. It was windy. A few surfers tried to take advantage of the small piece of beach with bigger waves. We sat on a bench with a stone bridge under our feet and looked out over the dramatic cold blue sea. The foccacia was still warm and filled with good cheese that wouldn’t let go when you tried to bite into it. It was dramatic weather, but a very nice experience. Do like us! Eat focaccia and watch surfers 🙂
Sankt Margaretha
After Recco we went to Sankt Margaretha. The town is very beautiful. When you walk there, you get that special pleasant city feeling!
Is the name Margaretha familiar? In fact, the famous natural “Margaretha” pizza comes from here and so does the white flowers with the yellow center! This town has nice streets and many large boats to look at in the harbor.
If you are a wanderer I suggest you take the road to Portofino. It is very beautiful and an experience in itself, but do it when it’s not too hot. It takes about an hour.
Portofino
We never planned to walk from Santa Margherita to Portofino, but we started walking on the winding road that clung to the mountain. Beside the road there were small stairs that led to amazing lookouts. All of a sudden we were halfway there, and we decided that we might as well go all the way. To be honest, I almost thought that the hike was better than the destination 😉
Portofino had many large boats, and a mountain to explore, but we were too tired to explore. Instead, we sat down on a stone bench and looked out over the sea while we talked. The shops and the food in Portofino is pretty expensive. It can be smart to bring your own food.
You can also get there by boat. My friend did. It is definitely a place to see. Especially during low season!
The afternoon came and the air was perfect. The way home felt easy. Our intense day was over.
Cinque Terre
Monterosso – Vernazza – Corniglia – Manarola – Riomaggiore
Cinque Terre is a place that needs a full day. You can take the train between the villages or you can walk the hiking trail.
My tips for the hiking trail is to bring food and water, wear real shoes and thin comfortable clothes, the hike has a lot of stairs and is longer than you think. You have to pay a small amount to hike the first three locations. If you then want to hike to the other two, you have to pay again. It was a pretty hot day and we didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into. By the time we got to the third village Corneglia, we were tired and done for the day. Hike if possible during the low season. We were there on May 13 and there were already a lot of people then.
The hiking trail was a bit physical, but stunning! It was so fun and hard at the same time. I loved it!
Arenzano
Arenzano is on the other side of Genova.
The place has nice beaches and a nature-protected park for, among other things, birds such as peacocks and turtles. During certain times the flowers bloom in beautiful colors. We were there on a cloudy day in May. The flowers had almost bloomed, so it might be nicer to be there earlier months on a beautiful day. A cozy place that can be fun to visit.
Genova
Viewpoints:
Genova, Funicolare Zecca – Righi
One beautiful day when the sun was high in the sky, my Italian friend and I took the train up to one of the mountains that surrounded Genova. The train climbed straight up the mountain, after a few minutes we jumped off at the top. When we exited the station, we ended up on a small road that led us to an astrology park. Here you could read about the planets and enjoy the quiet environment. There were a variety of lookouts up there, but the best one was right above the station. We took the stairs up a while before the train went home. There we were greeted by a breathtaking 360 view. You could see the city but also the mountains beyond. When we climbed onto the wooden deck, it felt like we were on top of the world. I think that is one of the best views of Genova.
Funicolare Zecca – Righi
16136 Genoa, Metropolitan City of Genoa, Italien
Centro Est
The Wooden Elivator –
If you like mystery, this is the riddle for you!
Go to one of Genova’s large car tunnels located in the city center. When you stand on the sidewalk in the middle of the tunnel, there should be a door. Enter and follow the passage. If you are on the right path in the right tunnel, you will be met by an elevator there. The elivator is old fashioned and made of dark lacquered wood. I almost thought something was going to happen when the wood snapped suspiciously. It didn’t! No worries!
After a short journey uphill, you will arrive. When I got there, I was greeted by a small courtyard with children playing football. The small place was surrounded by a fence and if you stood and looked out you could see the whole city. Very beautiful, especially at sunset! Not many tourists find their way there.
Does it sound like a wonderful place that you want to visit? Congratulations! I have tried to look up the coordinates, but it is impossible! Maybe it’s like The Room Of Requirement in Harry Potter? Only found by those who search 😉 I found the elevator thanks to my volunteer work at Ostello Bello. My volunteer friend showed me the place. The receptionist at the hostel had drawn a map for her. If you want to find the place, you can always ask a local, a shop or a receptionist!
They know a lot about the city and can certainly advise you on other places you should visit!
Hikes
I personally didn’t hike much during my time in Genova, but I look forward to doing so if I visit Genova again. Around the city and a bit further away there are many hikes and also old ruins that you can hike to. Then you really get a view!
See The City
Museum
In Genova there are overwhelmingly many museums. Sometimes with just a few steps in between.
Unfortunately I only saw one of the museums:
Musei Nazionali di Genova – Palazzo Reale
It was cozy and easy to visit, and it didn’t take long. The style was very royal. If this museum is not for you however, there is a large selection. Genova is a historically famous city, and can give you all the facts you could ever dream of!
Some museums you can visit when it rains:
Castello D’Albertis – Museum Of World Cultures
Royal Palace og Genoa
Strada Nuova-Museums
Villa del Principe
Palazzo Spinola
Columbus’ house, porta Soprana city gate and st Andrew Cloister
Museum of Risorgimento
Gianettino Luxoro Museum
More on: musei di genova
Wander The City
Piazza Giacomo Matteotti Is a nice place to visit and also has an outdoor bookshop if you are interested!
Piazza De Ferrari is the centrum of Genova. The square is beautiful to visit in both sun and rain. The first time I was there it was pouring rain. I didn’t have anything that could withstand the rain, but it was very beautiful and peaceful to walk the alleys of Genova alone in the rain. There’s something special about rainy days, don’t you think?
Porto Antico – Was the first place I wanted to visit. Using google maps, I walked through the city and ended up on a park bench. Hungry, thirsty and exhausted from my long journey the day before. Google Maps led me down completely wrong roads and couldn’t help me at that moment. It wasn’t until a couple of weeks later that I got to see Genova’s famous harbor when I was searching for the boat which would show me Genova’s wild sea life. The harbor is one of the cleaner places in the city and attracts more tourists. Depending on how you like to travel, you can decide if it is something for you. Personally, I thought it was best to watch it when I was going to something else.
If you can’t find the harbor, ask someone! Don’t be a fool. Like me…
Scalinata delle tre Caravelle I saw for the first time when I was looking for a specific store. I had been walking for over an hour and a half. I went in to the store. Bought what I was going to buy. Started walking, and found this nice staircase. When I had gone up the stairs and sat on a bench I realized I had bought the wrong variety and had to go back. By the time I was walking home, I was tired. It was among the first days when I still didn’t understand the bus system. Genova is big. Make sure you understand the system so you don’t have to walk when you don’t want to.
Santissima Annunziata del Vastato Are you a church travel-visitor like me? I go into every church I see, but honestly only when I travel. And often to see the beautiful architecture and to feel the quiet compact feeling. This is another beautiful church that is worth a look!
Cattedrale di San Lorenzo is very beautiful and has a perfect staircase to sit and eat Focaccia on!
Giardini Gilberto Govi–Skatepark Are you a traveling skater? This is a nice place for you who want to practice, learn something new, or just relax and have a fun day.
In Genova there is a nice park on a balcony facing the sea. Many local skaters go there. It is a park with a few ramps and a colorful rink where you can ride anything on wheels!
At Giardini Gilberto Govi I learned how to balance and turn on a skateboard. The days there were happy and sunny. Those were simple days to live.
To learn something new about something you know or don’t know is one of the best things with travelling in my opinion! It gives a sense of purpose and lightness that can sometimes be lost when traveling for a long time. It doesn’t have to be something that costs money. It can be something simple. Like writing poetry, drawing, practicing your charasmatic side or something entirely different!
Explore! Sometimes it’s nice to just wander the streets and see where you end up, even if you can get tired of that too. There are endless streets to discover in Genova. You can walk and walk and the grid of roads never seems to end. My warning though is to be careful when it comes to the narrow alleys near the center. They attract with their unique charm, but when you enter you can get an unpleasant feeling. If you really want to experience those streets as a solo woman. Make sure you wear the right clothes and be careful. (More on safety will come in a future post)
Whale Watching
Since I was little, I have adored dolphins and other sea creatures! Seeing them in the wild is something special. This is a boat trip of about four hours and for less than 50 euros. If you don’t get to see any dolphins or whales on your first trip, you can rebook your trip for another day for free.
I got to see dolphins twice and sperm whales twice. Since it’s wildlife, it’s hard to predict how much of them you’ll see, but otherwise you’ll have a nice boat trip. Bring some food to eat when the minutes get long.
I found my ticket at: Whale Watching Genova
Note: There is also a famous aquarium in the port of Genova, but I had not read about animal care and therefore did not go there. Some of my hostel friends went there and they enjoyed it!
Conclusion
This was a mixed collection! Genova has so much to offer and I will always remember my first solo trip and my first volunteer work in Genova and Italy. The places I’ve told you about have meant a lot to me and created adventures I couldn’t have dreamed of! Are you going to Genova or have you been there? Feel free to add more tips and your own stories!