Search
Genoa

Tourist Attractions in Genoa

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Genoa. Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps.

16 Attractions
★4.5 Average rating
8 Categories

About Genoa

Genoa, Italy's historic maritime powerhouse, unfolds along a belt of Ligurian hills where red-tiled roofs spill toward the sparkling port. The city rewards wandering eyes in its UNESCO-listed palaces on Via Garibaldi, centuries-old caruggi weaving a maze of alleys, and the Anchovy-scented markets around the old harbor. Highlights include the impressive Aquarium of Genoa, one of Europe’s largest, the soaring Lanterna lighthouse, and the Genoa Cathedral. Rich maritime museums, vibrant trattorie serving pesto Genovese and fresh focaccia, and day trips to charming Cinque Terre or the Riviera await. A living tapestry of history, culture, and sea-air vitality.

Top-16 Tourist Attractions in Genoa

Piazza De Ferrari — Landmark, rated 4.6/5 1
Landmark Fountain

Piazza De Ferrari

4.6 ★★★★★ 42,446 reviews

Piazza De Ferrari is Genoa’s grand central square, a magnetic hub that blends neoclassical façades with the city’s maritime energy. Framed by the ornate Palazzo della Regione, the ancient Palazzo Ducale nearby, and the neoclassical Teatro Carlo Felice, the square centers on a towering bronze fountain spouting beneath palm trees and overhead arches. Visitors stroll along lined arcades, sip espresso at terraces, and catch street performances, while the surrounding streets lead to the old harbor and Via Garibaldi. It's a perfect gateway to Genoa’s history, culture, and life.

P.zza Raffaele de Ferrari, 16121 Genova GE, Italy
Opening hours · Today: Open 24 hours Open now
  • MondayOpen 24 hours
  • TuesdayOpen 24 hours
  • WednesdayOpen 24 hours
  • ThursdayOpen 24 hours
  • FridayOpen 24 hours
  • SaturdayOpen 24 hours
  • SundayOpen 24 hours
Good for kids
Entrance Parking
Open on map Website ↗
Cattedrale di San Lorenzo — Religious site, rated 4.6/5 2
Religious site ChurchPlace Of WorshipAssociation Or Organization

Cattedrale di San Lorenzo

4.6 ★★★★★ 12,559 reviews

The Cattedrale di San Lorenzo is Genoa’s grand medieval church, dating from the 12th to 14th centuries and blending Romanesque and Gothic influences. Set in the heart of the old city, its striking exterior and richly decorated interior house Renaissance chapels, marble inlays, and centuries of devotional art. Visitors can explore the nave, admire the Ark of St. Lawrence, and peek into the cathedral’s chapels, crypt, and treasury, where relics and sacred objects reveal Genoa’s maritime-era wealth. It’s a living monument of faith, art, and urban history.

Piazza S. Lorenzo, 16123 Genova GE, Italy
Opening hours · Today: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 – 7:00 PM Open now
  • Monday8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 – 7:00 PM
  • Tuesday8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 – 7:00 PM
  • Wednesday8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 – 7:00 PM
  • Thursday8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 – 7:00 PM
  • Friday8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 – 7:00 PM
  • Saturday8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 – 7:00 PM
  • Sunday8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 – 7:00 PM
Entrance
Open on map Website ↗
Doge's Palace — Landmark, rated 4.6/5 3
Landmark Event VenueConvention CenterMuseumService

Doge's Palace

4.6 ★★★★★ 8,718 reviews

Palazzo Ducale, or the Doge’s Palace, is Genoa’s grand medieval-to-Renaissance landmark that once housed the ruling Doges and the city’s government. Today it’s a vibrant cultural hub set around majestic courtyards and richly decorated halls, including the impressive Maggior Consiglio and ornate salons filled with art and furniture. Visitors wander through gilded rooms, climb stairways, and glimpse centuries of political history, then enjoy rotating exhibitions, concerts, and panoramic rooftop views over Genoa’s medieval alleys and harbors. A must for architecture buffs and culture lovers seeking immersive Genoese heritage.

Piazza Giacomo Matteotti, 9, 16123 Genova GE, Italy
Opening hours · Today: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM Open now
  • Monday7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Tuesday7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Wednesday7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Thursday7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Friday7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Saturday7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Sunday7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Parking Cards accepted
Entrance Restroom
Open on map Website ↗
Acquario di Genova — Aquarium, rated 4.4/5 4
Aquarium

Acquario di Genova

4.4 ★★★★★ 80,422 reviews

The Acquario di Genova is a landmark aquarium housed in a striking waterfront building that sea-loving visitors flock to for an immersive marine journey. As one of Europe’s largest and oldest aquariums, it showcases a vast array of species—from graceful rays and curious seahorses to powerful sharks—across multiple immersive tanks and interactive zones. Travelers can expect panoramic views, a dramatic 360-degree tunnel, touch pools, and engaging exhibits that illuminate the Ligurian and global oceans. It’s a family-friendly, educational experience that blends conservation messages with thrilling close-up encounters.

Ponte Spinola, 16, 16128 Genova GE, Italy
Opening hours · Today: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM Open now
  • Monday10:00 AM – 7:30 PM
  • Tuesday10:00 AM – 7:30 PM
  • Wednesday10:00 AM – 7:30 PM
  • Thursday10:00 AM – 7:30 PM
  • Friday10:00 AM – 7:30 PM
  • Saturday9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Sunday9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Good for kids Cards accepted
Entrance Parking Restroom Seating
Open on map Website ↗
Porto Antico, rated 4.5/5 5
Tourist attraction

Porto Antico

4.5 ★★★★★ 14,563 reviews

Porto Antico is Genoa’s renovated old port, reshaped by architect Renzo Piano into a vibrant riverside complex of promenades, plazas and attractions. It’s where cruise ships dock beside modern eateries, boutique shops and art installations, making it a lively gateway to the city’s maritime heritage. Visitors can stroll the scenic waterfront, ride the Bigo panoramic lift for sweeping views, and visit top attractions such as the Galata Museo del Mare and the nearby Aquarium of Genoa. It’s a family-friendly hub that blends history with contemporary Italian flair.

Calata Molo Vecchio, 15, 16128 Genova GE, Italy
Opening hours · Today: Open 24 hours Open now
  • MondayOpen 24 hours
  • TuesdayOpen 24 hours
  • WednesdayOpen 24 hours
  • ThursdayOpen 24 hours
  • FridayOpen 24 hours
  • SaturdayOpen 24 hours
  • SundayOpen 24 hours
Good for kids Cards accepted
Entrance Parking Restroom
Open on map Website ↗
Galata Museo del Mare — Museum, rated 4.5/5 6
Museum History Museum

Galata Museo del Mare

4.5 ★★★★★ 10,761 reviews

The Galata Museo del Mare in Genoa is the largest maritime museum in the Mediterranean, housed in the historic Porto Antico area. It brings Genoa’s seafaring heritage to life through immersive galleries that trace navigation, shipbuilding, and exploration from ancient boats to modern vessels. Expect authentic ship interiors, meticulously reproduced cabins, and thousands of artifacts, instruments, and models that illustrate ocean routes, trade, and naval life. Interactive stations let visitors pilot a ship, test compass skills, and feel the thrill of departure, making it a comprehensive, family-friendly voyage into seafaring history.

Calata Ansaldo De Mari, 1, 16126 Genova GE, Italy
Opening hours · Today: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM Open now
  • Monday10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Tuesday10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Wednesday10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Thursday10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Friday10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Saturday10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Sunday10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Good for kids
Entrance Parking Restroom
Open on map Website ↗
Royal Palace Museum — Museum, rated 4.5/5 7
Museum

Royal Palace Museum

4.5 ★★★★★ 3,931 reviews

The Royal Palace Museum in Genoa, or Palazzo Reale, is a late 17th‑century Baroque palace turned superb museum. It preserves opulent state rooms, frescoed ceilings, period furniture, porcelain, tapestries, and other decorative arts once owned by the Savoy and noble families of the Republic. Visitors step into refined salons, grand staircases, and intimate chambers that reveal how Genoa’s elite lived and entertained. Expect guided tours and immersive displays, plus rotating exhibitions exploring art, fashion, and court life. Located in the historic Via Garibaldi district, it offers a captivating glimpse of royal life in Genoa.

Via Balbi, 10, 16126 Genova GE, Italy
Opening hours · Today: Closed Closed now
  • MondayClosed
  • Tuesday1:30 – 7:00 PM
  • Wednesday9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Thursday9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Friday9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Saturday9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • SundayClosed
Good for kids
Entrance Restroom
Open on map Website ↗
Lanterna di Genova — Landmark, rated 4.4/5 8
Landmark Cultural LandmarkMuseum

Lanterna di Genova

4.4 ★★★★★ 2,900 reviews

The Lanterna di Genova is the city’s iconic lighthouse, rising over Genoa’s harbor as a symbol of maritime heritage. Impressive and photogenic, it anchors the waterfront and evokes centuries of seafaring trade and exploration. Visitors can explore the tower’s storied history in a small museum and, when open, climb to a viewing platform for sweeping panoramas of the Porto Antico, the narrow streets of the old town, and the Ligurian Sea beyond. A visit blends culture, history, and standout coastal vistas, making it a must for any Genoa itinerary.

Piazzale S. Benigno, 16149 Genova GE, Italy
Opening hours · Today: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Open now
  • MondayClosed
  • TuesdayClosed
  • WednesdayClosed
  • ThursdayClosed
  • Friday10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Saturday10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Sunday10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Good for kids Parking
Entrance Restroom
Open on map Website ↗
Submarine Nazario Sauro, rated 4.5/5 9
Tourist attraction

Submarine Nazario Sauro

4.5 ★★★★★ 2,162 reviews

The Submarine Nazario Sauro is a retired Italian Navy diesel-electric submarine moored in Genoa's historic port as a floating museum. Named after the World War I hero Nazario Sauro, it offers visitors a rare, up-close window into life beneath the waves, from cramped bunk rooms to the claustrophobic torpedo room and a look at the diesel engines. It is part of Genoa’s maritime heritage and, with guided tours and interpretive displays, invites travelers to imagine daily life at sea, the submarine’s wartime service, and Italian naval history.

Calata Ansaldo De Mari, 1, 16126 Genova GE, Italy
Opening hours · Today: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM Open now
  • Monday11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Tuesday11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Wednesday11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Thursday11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Friday11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Saturday11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Sunday11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Good for kids Cards accepted
Parking Restroom
Open on map Website ↗
Casa di Cristoforo Colombo — Historic site, rated 4/5 10
Historic site Historical PlaceMuseum

Casa di Cristoforo Colombo

4 ★★★★★ 10,183 reviews

Casa di Cristoforo Colombo in Genoa is a preserved 15th-century city house that is often presented as the birthplace or family home of the famed explorer. The site functions as a small museum, inviting visitors to step into narrow Genoese lanes and a late-medieval interior filled with period furnishings and informative panels about Columbus, his era, and Genoa’s maritime power. Expect guided and self-guided tours, atmospheric courtyards, and a sense of how daily life shaped the man who would change world exploration. A concise, authentic dive into Genoa’s enduring seafaring legacy.

Vico Dritto di Ponticello, 37, 16121 Genova GE, Italy
Opening hours · Today: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM Open now
  • MondayClosed
  • Tuesday10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Wednesday10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Thursday10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Friday10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Saturday10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Sunday10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Good for kids Parking
Open on map Website ↗
Musei di Strada Nuova - Palazzo Rosso — Museum, rated 4.6/5 11
Museum Art Museum

Musei di Strada Nuova - Palazzo Rosso

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,558 reviews

Nestled on Genoa’s UNESCO-listed Strada Nuova, Palazzo Rosso is the Red Palace that forms part of the Musei di Strada Nuova. This elegant 17th‑century residence now hosts a curated collection of Genoese and Italian art, period rooms, and decorative furnishings that illuminate the city’s mercantile heritage. Visitors can wander grand salons, admire masterworks from the Baroque to the Rococo, and glimpse intimate palace life through richly furnished interiors. It’s ideal for art lovers and architecture enthusiasts alike, offering atmospheric views of the old town and a window into Genoa’s cultural evolution.

Via Garibaldi, 18, 16124 Genova GE, Italy
Opening hours · Today: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM Open now
  • MondayClosed
  • Tuesday10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
  • Wednesday10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
  • Thursday10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
  • Friday10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
  • Saturday10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
  • Sunday10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Good for kids
Entrance Restroom
Open on map Website ↗
Palazzo Grimaldi della Meridiana, rated 4.7/5 12
Tourist attraction

Palazzo Grimaldi della Meridiana

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,272 reviews

Palazzo Grimaldi della Meridiana is a striking Renaissance-era palace tucked in Genoa’s historic Strade Nuove, famed for its remarkable meridiana—an ornate sundial emblazoned across the façade that once helped mark solar time for the aristocracy. Visitors can expect elegant noble rooms, beautiful frescoes, carved stuccoes, and rich period furnishings that reveal the Grimaldi family’s prestige. The palace offers guided tours that illuminate its architectural evolution and the science of the sundial, while surrounding courtyards and city views provide a quintessential Genoese atmosphere.

Salita di S. Francesco, 4, 16124 Genova GE, Italy
Opening hours · Today: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM Open now
  • Monday10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • TuesdayClosed
  • Wednesday10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Thursday10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Friday10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Saturday10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Sunday10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Good for kids Cards accepted
Entrance Restroom
Open on map Website ↗
Porta Soprana — Monument, rated 4.6/5 13
Monument

Porta Soprana

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,198 reviews

Porta Soprana is Genoa’s best-preserved medieval city gate, a dramatic stone overlook that once framed the entrance to the ancient town. Framed by crenellated towers and heavy doors, the gate stands as a sentinel to Genoa’s mercantile 12th- to 14th-century heyday, when the walls protected the Republic’s wealth and ambition. Today visitors wander the surrounding historic lanes, imagining caravans and citizens threading in and out of a bustling port, then step inside to explore narrow staircases and the atmospheric courtyards that echo with centuries of stories. It’s a compact, authentic glimpse into Genoa’s fortified heart.

Via di Porta Soprana, 16123 Genova GE, Italy
Opening hours · Today: Open 24 hours Open now
  • MondayOpen 24 hours
  • TuesdayOpen 24 hours
  • WednesdayOpen 24 hours
  • ThursdayOpen 24 hours
  • FridayOpen 24 hours
  • SaturdayOpen 24 hours
  • SundayOpen 24 hours
Good for kids Parking
Open on map
Villetta Di Negro — Park, rated 4.3/5 14
Park

Villetta Di Negro

4.3 ★★★★★ 2,226 reviews

Villetta Di Negro is a compact, leafy park perched above Genoa’s historical center, named for the Negro family who once owned the land. Perched on a sunny hillside, it offers peaceful winding paths, shaded benches, and panoramic views of the old town and the harbor. Visitors come for an easy, scenic escape within the city, with artful statues and a refined Belle Époque charm that hints at Genoa’s layered history. It’s ideal for a relaxed stroll, a quiet photo stop, and a gentle hillside promenade at sunset.

Piazzale Giuseppe Mazzini, 4, 16122 Genova GE, Italy
Opening hours · Today: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM Open now
  • Monday8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Tuesday8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Wednesday8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Thursday8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Friday8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Saturday8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Sunday8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Good for kids Dogs allowed
Entrance Parking
Open on map Website ↗
Chiesa di Santa Maria di Castello — Religious site, rated 4.7/5 15
Religious site ChurchPlace Of WorshipAssociation Or Organization

Chiesa di Santa Maria di Castello

4.7 ★★★★★ 913 reviews

Chiesa di Santa Maria di Castello is a venerable church overlooking the old town of Genoa, dating to the Middle Ages. Its sturdy Romanesque nave and later Gothic additions house quiet chapels, medieval frescoes, and a small cloister. Worth visiting for its historical atmosphere, panoramic views from its hilltop location, and its proximity to winding lanes of the Castello district. Visitors can expect a peaceful interior, incense-scented silence, and a glimpse of Genoa's religious and civic history. It blends devotion with a sense of Genoa's layered past and is a gentle stop between quests for art and architecture.

Salita di Santa Maria di Castello, 15, 16123 Genova GE, Italy
Opening hours · Today: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 3:00 – 6:00 PM Open now
  • Monday10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
  • Tuesday10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
  • Wednesday10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
  • Thursday10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
  • Friday10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
  • Saturday10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
  • Sunday10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Open on map
Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno — Cemetery, rated 4.5/5 16
Cemetery Service

Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno

4.5 ★★★★★ 554 reviews

The Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno in Genoa is a vast 19th-century burial landscape famed for its astonishing sculptural art and architectural variety. Wander its tree-lined avenues to discover marble angels, dramatic altars, and allegorical monuments created by leading Italian sculptors of the era. Beyond mourning, it feels like an outdoor gallery where every tomb tells a story of wealth, industry, and devotion. Visitors can expect quiet paths, panoramic sea views from higher terraces, and guided tours that illuminate neo-classical, romantic, and Art Nouveau motifs.

Piazzale Giovanni Battista Resasco, 2, 16137 Genova GE, Italy
Opening hours · Today: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM Open now
  • Monday7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Thursday7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Friday7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Saturday7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Sunday7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Entrance Parking
Open on map Website ↗