Genoa: the ultimate guide to visit it in 2026

Squeezed between the mountains of the Ligurian-Genoese Apennines and the blue of the sea, Genoa is a city of a thousand faces and a thousand colors. Stretched vertically, it's the place that gave birth to Christopher Columbus and that has been sung many times by poets and singer-songwriters such as the beloved Fabrizio De Andrè.

Alongside the most famous attractions such as the Aquarium and the Lantern, the lighthouse that reminds us of its glorious past as a Maritime Republic, you'll discover an enchanted world made of picturesque alleys, the caruggi, winding through the historic center all the way down to the sea, where historic workshops still thrive, filling the air with their scents and precious crafts. 

And that’s not all: you can’t miss the the charming maritime village of Boccadasse, the stunning Rolli Palaces, the stories of Genoa’s ancient aristocracy, magnificent walks in nature, and the many attractions in its surroundings.

Keep reading and discover with us this incredible city!

Genoa offers its visitors a unique experience of history, art, culture, and delicious cuisine. Its authentic soul and unexpected corners have earned it a place among the Luminous Destinations 2026, a selection of Italian locations most appreciated for their cultural identity.

It’s a city to be discovered slowly, away from the hectic pace of mass tourism. The capital of exquisite pesto and fine food is also home to some of Italy’s most important artistic events and festivals.

Why visit Genoa in 2026? Because next to its splendid historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and to the numerous and evocative destinations in and around the city, you’ll be able to mingle with the citizens just like a local and participate in one of the many events scheduled for this year ranging from art to music and literature passing through sports.

If you want to have an authentic and Italian experience that combines history, beauty, food, walks and nature, events and culture and a different concept of tourism: slower and more sustainable, then Genoa is the right place!

The historic center of Genoa is made up of an incredible tangle of narrow alleys, the famous caruggi from which small squares suddenly open up. Splendid mansion that preserve incredible works of art alternate with ease with old churches and artisan workshops without interruption.

The architectural styles overlap and the past merges with the present, it is here that the soul of the city resides, sung so many times by the famous Genoese singer-songwriter Fabrizio De Andrè.

The structure of the old nucleus is medieval in style and is inextricably linked to the history of Genoa, from its past as a Maritime Republic to the patriotic battles and the Carboneria of Giuseppe Mazzini. Genoa was also the birthplace of Goffredo Mameli, one of the most famous figures of the Italian Risorgimento.

The historic center goes from Carignano hill to the Genoa Piazza Principe Station. Walk through the historic center, let yourself be surprised by every corner, stop in front of an historic residence or a votive shrine, savor the smells that emanate from the shops where ancient recipes with a genuine flavor are still prepared and appreciate the work of the artisans. Genoa is an authentic Italian experience.

Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli form a network of splendid Renaissance and Baroque noble palaces, which were part of an extraordinary public custom of hospitality for state visits of the Republic of Genoa.

Since 2006 they have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even just from the outside, walking through the old center you can admire courtyards, loggias, interiors decorated with stucco and wonderful frescoes. The UNESCO site includes 42 Palaces of the over 100 existing scattered throughout the old center of the city, partly private and partly public, some of which are always open and can be visited all year round.

But if you want to take advantage of the opportunity to visit even the less accessible ones, we suggest you don't miss the Rolli Days, an eagerly awaited weekend that this year will take place in autumn, in which dozens of private and public Palaces will be open to the public, in addition to guided tours led by experts, the prestigious Palazzi dei Rolli will be animated by events and shows. If instead you want to take on the role of an ancient guest of the Republic as it happened in the past, then the Rolli Experience is for you; a long weekend in which you can stay overnight in the ancient palaces following a program full of events that includes guided tours within the city, musical entertainment and tastings and themed dinners.

The Parco delle Mura is one of the places most loved by the Genoese and is now a protected natural area. If you want to get away from the sounds and rush of the city, it won't take long to find yourself in an enchanting natural landscape, made of green paths that immerse themselves in conifer and oak forests, in spring the meadows are transformed into an idyll colored by the yellow of the broom.

We are in the Parco delle Mura, 12 km of city walls: the longest in Europe and around the walls what were once unassailable military forts built between the 17th and 19th centuries. An ideal place to walk accompanied only by the chirping of birds and a light sound of the sea in the distance, the view from here is wonderful and worth the trip.

The Forts Walk includes several structures: Forte Castellaccio, Forte Sperone, Forte Begato, Forte Puin, and Forte Diamante. To reach them, you can take the scenic Zecca–Righi funicular or the Casella Train, which departs from the city center and, along a historic line that feels like a picturesque model train, takes you to the Campi stop, passing through green hills with sea views.

Between natural parks for trekking excursions, enchanting villages that recall postcard landscapes, famous or lesser-known locations, without going as far as the Cinque Terre, the surroundings of Genoa offer so much and will make you think that a trip to these parts would be worth more than a quick visit, almost to leave your heart.

Let's start this exploration from the ancient maritime village of Boccadasse, among the iconic and most loved places in Genoa, just a quarter of an hour by car from the center, it is located between Corso d'Italia and Capo Santa Chiara, its colorful houses by the sea are enchanting.

Let's move towards Recco: here a stop is a must even just to taste the famous Focaccia filled with crescenza present in all the local bakeries, a little further away, we can reach the village of Camogli.

On the opposite side of the coast, almost on the border with France, another famous place that if you are a music fan you will want to include in your itinerary: Sanremo, famous for the Italian music festival that takes place every year in February.

From a nature perspective, the area is ideal for trekking, including the Beigua Regional Nature Park, listed as a UNESCO Global Geopark since 2015, and, in the hinterland of Genoa, just an hour and a half by car, the Aveto Regional Nature Park. Here you'll find small lakes nestled in the Lame forest and a landscape dominated by the highest peaks of the Ligurian Apennines.

From January to December, Genoa comes alive with a rich calendar of events ranging from art and music to sports and international festivals.

In spring and summer, highlights include events such as Euroflora, the international flower and plant exhibition, along with cultural and music festivals spread throughout the city, featuring artistic programs, concerts, and open-air events. But even in autumn and winter, and generally throughout the year, the city offers a wide range of cultural events:

- The Premio Paganini, a historic international violin competition traditionally held in October, which from 2026 will be complemented by an even broader program of events dedicated to the great Genoese musician.

- The Rolli Experience, offering a weekend among the Rolli Palaces with guided tours, cultural activities, and stays in historic residences.

- The exhibition “Ottocento Svelato. Racconti di musei e collezioni nella Genova del 19th century”, launched in 2025 and continuing into 2026, showcasing rarely displayed collections across several museums and historic palaces in the city.

- Genova delle Arti 2026 (April 17 – June 19), a citywide project that transforms Genoa into an open-air stage across museums, theatres, and urban spaces.

Alongside major events, Genoa hosts fairs, local festivals, and cultural initiatives throughout the year, helping to keep the city vibrant in every season.

Genoa, a city between sea and mountains, has a rich and varied Mediterranean culinary tradition that ranges from first courses to second courses of both fish and meat, passing through other specialties, you just need to take a walk around the historic center and be magnetically attracted by the lovely aromas of the artisan workshops, bakeries or restaurants busy cooking the dishes of the day.

But the symbols par excellence of the gastronomic tradition of this city appreciated and famous throughout the world are Pesto and Genoese focaccia, that just saying the names would make you want to take a trip to Genoa just to taste them, prepared following the wisdom of tradition and local ingredients.

Do not leave without having tried Trofie al Pesto, a type of pasta originating from the province of Genoa, seasoned with a pesto prepared strictly with Genoese DOP basil; you should know that there are different varieties of pesto, many stories linked to this recipe and local and even family traditions.

Another simple but delicious recipe to try at any time of the day, even for breakfast, is Genoese Focaccia, while Focaccia di Recco is a variant we have already told you about.

The commercial soul of Genoa is deeply linked to the history of the city and dates back to the period of the Maritime Republic, when the city was a melting pot of meetings and commercial exchanges.

Even today, walking through the old heart of Genoa, you will be surprised to come across so many historic shops, fabric and textile shops where skilled seamstresses can create custom-made ties and suits for you, refined chocolate shops and confectioneries, laboratories of all kinds from glass to stamps through the production of corks, keeping ancient traditional techniques alive.

Visiting these shops is particularly suggestive because many of these activities are located in historic buildings, or use original historic equipment or instruments, in some cases still functioning.

To preserve this heritage, a Register of historic shops has been established. 103 are those already included, but the list is still long and over time all those existing in the area will gradually be added.

In the Italian geography, the city of Genoa occupies a truly strategic position and getting there is really very simple, whatever your starting point you have all possible means of transport at your disposal.

Genoa's Cristoforo Colombo Airport is located in Sestri Ponente and is connected to the center by public transport. The port and maritime stations connect Genoa with the main ports of the Mediterranean.

It's also possible to reach the Ligurian capital by train, which is a convenient solution for moving around the region Liguria among all the suggestive destinations that make up the city's surroundings. Finally, if you travel by car, the motorways that reach Genoa are: A12, A10, A26 and A7. Genoa is waiting for you, seize the moment!