Prepare your trip to Genova

Genoa from Corsica: book your ferry

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Reaching Genoa from Corsica by ferry means choosing comfort and freedom of travel. Cors'Express offers direct maritime connections between Corsica and Genova, the great Ligurian metropolis. You travel with your car and luggage without weight limits, on board comfortable and regular ferries throughout the year.

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The crossing drops you off directly in the port of Genoa, a few minutes walk from the historic center classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To plan your stay and discover local tips, the site of the Genoa Tourism Office (Visit Genoa) is a very comprehensive resource.

Visiting Genova: the essentials

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The Caruggi and San Lorenzo Cathedral

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Genoa has one of the largest medieval historic centers in Europe, and it can be visited primarily on foot. The caruggi are the narrow and winding streets that form a veritable labyrinth between the station and the port. There are family grocery stores, artisans, churches that open without warning into small shaded squares. San Lorenzo Cathedral, at the end of Via San Lorenzo, is the inevitable landmark of this stroll.

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The Rolli Palaces

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Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Rolli Palaces are a group of aristocratic residences from the 16th and 17th centuries concentrated mainly in Via Garibaldi. Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco, and Palazzo Doria Tursi house exceptional art collections with works by Van Dyck, Rubens, and Veronese. Twice a year, during Rolli Days, palaces normally closed to the public open their doors for free guided tours.

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The Porto Antico and the Aquarium

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Redesigned by the architect Renzo Piano on the occasion of the 1992 International Exhibition, the old port is now a lively promenade open to the sea. The Genova Aquarium, one of the largest in Europe, is located there and is a very popular visit for families. Right next door, the Galata Museo del Mare traces the maritime history of Genoa with particularly well-done life-size reconstructions.

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The Castelletto belvidere

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To end the day on a high note, take the public lift to Castelletto belvidère. The panoramic view of the city, the slate roofs, and the Gulf of Genoa at sunset is simply magnificent. It is one of the favorite spots of the Genoese themselves.

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Excursions from Genova

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Cinque Terre and Portofino

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A 1-hour train ride from Genova Piazza Principe station, Cinque Terre are five villages clinging to the cliffs of the Ligurian coast, all listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore can be visited ideally on foot or by local train. A little closer, Portofino and its pastel-colored port can be reached in 30 minutes by train and then by shuttle. These two stops are well worth a day trip during your stay in Genoa.

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Boccadasse, the village within the city

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Only 3 kilometers from the center, the district of Boccadasse is an ancient fishing village with intact charm, with its colorful houses huddled around a small cove. A stroll along the seafront from the chic district of Nervi gets you there easily. Allow 2 to 4 days for a complete discovery of the city and its surroundings.