IT · Liguria · 44.41°N 8.93°E

genoa

A maze of old port lanes, painted palaces and focaccia still warm from the bakery.

Best time
April–June and September are warm and good for walking and coastal day trips. July–August is hot and busy; October and November bring the heaviest rain.
How long
2 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Milan Malpensa, usually via Dubai, Doha or Istanbul, about 16–18 hours all in. Trains from Milano Centrale reach Genoa in about 1.5–2 hours. Italy is 6 hours behind KL in summer and 7 in winter.
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IT · Liguriagenoa44.41°N 8.93°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,A maze of old port lanes, painted palaces and focaccia still warm from the bakery.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingGenoaIT, Liguria
KLgenoa
≈ 9,982 km from KL, as the crow flies
Piazza de Ferrari, Genoa, Italy

Photo: Julian Lupyan · CC0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Genoa is a working port with one of Europe's largest medieval old towns behind it. Dark, narrow lanes open onto painted palaces, bakeries and tiny squares, and lifts and funiculars carry you up the steep hills above the harbour.

Makan

  1. Focaccia genoveseThin, oily and salty, with little dimples. Locals dunk it in milky coffee for breakfast.Map ↗
  2. Trofie al pestoPesto was born here: basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil and cheese on short twists of pasta.Map ↗
  3. FarinataA thin chickpea pancake baked in a wood oven and sold by the slice.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. The caruggiThe old town's maze of narrow lanes, full of small shops, churches and bakeries.Map ↗
  2. Via GaribaldiA street of Renaissance palaces, several of them now art museums, part of the UNESCO-listed Rolli palaces.Map ↗
  3. Porto AnticoThe old harbour, redesigned by Renzo Piano, with Italy's biggest aquarium.Map ↗
  4. BoccadasseA fishing hamlet of coloured houses round a pebble cove, at the end of the seafront walk.Map ↗

Good to know

  • The Castelletto lift and the Righi funicular save steep climbs and finish at good viewpoints.
  • Piazza Principe station is closer to the old port; Brignole suits the eastern side of the centre.
  • Halal food is limited, mostly kebab shops; focaccia, farinata and pesto pasta are easy meat-free meals.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.