From Wikitravel

Genoa (Italian, Genova) is an historical port city in northern Italy. Genoa was the European Capital of Culture for 2004.

Contents 1 Understand 2 Get in 2.1 By plane 2.2 By train 2.3 By car 2.4 By bus 2.5 By boat 3 Get around 4 See 5 Do 6 Learn 7 Work 8 Buy 9 Eat 9.1 Budget 9.2 Mid-range 9.3 Splurge 10 Drink 11 Sleep 11.1 Budget 11.2 Mid-range 11.3 Splurge 12 Contact 13 Stay safe 14 Cope 15 Get out

Understand

Get in

By plane

The Aeroporto di Genova - Cristoforo Colombo provides several daily flights from other major European cities such as Rome, Amsterdam, London, Munich, and Paris. From the airport it is fairly easy to rent a car or take a shuttle to the city center.

By train

Genoa can be easy travelled to by train from Milan, Turin, Rome, Tuscany (Pisa, Livorno and Florence (changing train in Pisa or Viareggio)) and France (There is a direct train connecting with Nice).

By car

Coming from Milan you can reach Genoa via the A7-E62 (approx. 145 km). Mind though that the last part, from Serravalle to Genoa, is incredibly twisty, making you wonder if you’re still on the highway or accidentally have taken a wrong turn into a motordrome. It’s therefore advisable to take an alternative route, turning off the A7 at the deviation near Tortona and heading on the A26/A7, following Genova, Ventimiglia, Savona, Voltri; making it a longer (+20 km), but certainly safer and more comfortable trip, unless you want to spice up you journey and observe how (some) Italians drive. The same highway is less twisty northbound.

Coming from Turin you can either take the A6/E717 to Savona (137 km) and then go to Genoa following the beautiful, but twisty A10 coast highway (an other 45 km) or follow the Genova Piacenza indications you'll find on the ringroad heading south. This latter is the shorter alternative (170 km total), but offers less sightseeing opportunities.

Coming from the French Riviera just follow the highway A10 and enjoy the sight (approx 160 km from the French border).

Coming from Tuscany you can take the A12 from Rosignano to Genoa; mind that you must have snow chains on board between the gates of Carrodano and Sestri Levante when travelling from November 1st to March 31st, even though snow is seldom a problem here.

By bus

Genoa can be reached via Eurolines coach from many European countries.

By boat

Get around

There regular buses servicing the whole city, but the timetables one can see at stops are not always reliable. In addition to this there is a short tube railway connecting the city center with the perypheral district of Rivarolo.

Trains travel through the whole city in the east/west direction; this is probably the best way to travel if you plan to see some perypheral districts on the coastline, as no bus travels for the whole width of the city.

The hystorical center is serviced by bus only around some important squares and streets (Piazza Acquaverde for Stazione di Piazza Principe, Piazza della Nunziata, Largo Zecca, Piazza Corvetto, Piazza Caricamento); caruggi are best seen on foot.

See

• The Aquarium ([1]);
• The Naval Museum;
• The Cathedral of San Lorenzo;
• The historical center;

Genoa is known to have Europe’s biggest historical center. This is the heart of the old city. It’s made up of an incredible amount of tiny streets and alleys called Caruggi. Walking through it will plump you right back in ancient times when Genoa was the most important harbour of the Mediterranean sea. The city is generally safe, but caution is to be applied, especially at night time and in the more quiet zones toward Piazza Principe and the old harbour, due to presence of small criminality.

• The natal house of Cristoforo Colombo. In piazza Dante you will find what is said to be the natal house of Columbus;

• The impressive fortification belt built on the hills surrounding the city, originating in the 16th Century;

• There is a funicular railway servicing Monte Righi, where one can have pleasant walks on the surrounding hills and to the fortifications (see above), or just admire the spectacular view of the city and the Mediterranean Sea.

• Spianata Castelletto is a nice belvedere where one can have a pleasant view of the city and of the seaport. It can be reached by public lift from Piazza della Nunziata or on foot from that very same square.

Do

Learn

Work

Buy

Eat

The vast majority of places charges service for a fixed amount per person, as is custom in Italy.

Budget

• Trattoria Da Maria, Vico Testadoro 14 - ph. +39 010 581080 - Close to Piazza de Ferrari, traditional regional cuisine and a practical and crowded atmosphere. Possible opening for lunch only, no reservation.

• Osteria La Lanterna, Via San Siro 12R - ph. +39 010 2461608 - Close to Via San Luca and Museo del Risorgimento, this restaurant offers mainly fish dishes at a very reasonable price.

Mid-range

Splurge

Drink

Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

• Hotel Cairoli , Via Cairoli 14 - Ph. +39 010 2461454 - Fax +39 010 2467512 [2]. Situated in the historical center of the city and close to the Museum of the Risorgimento, the Aquarium, the Bigo and the Porto Antico. Single room from 55€, double room from 75€ (as of September 2006).

Splurge

• Hotel Bristol Palace[www.hotelbristolpalace.com/]
• Best Western City [www.bestwestern.it/city_ge/]
• Hotel Savoia Majestic [www.hotelsavoiagenova.it]
• Sheraton Genova [www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/search/hotel_detail.html?propertyID=313]
• Hotel Romantik Pagoda

Contact

Stay safe

Cope

Get out

Genoa makes a good base to explore Cinque Terre, La Spezia, or Chiavari.

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