Genoa airport: how to get to the city and the Riviera
From Genoa airport to the centre and the Riviera: Volabus, Airlink, train, taxi, car and hire, with times for the Levante, Ponente and Cinque Terre.
Il terminal dell'aeroporto di Genova
Distance to the centre
about 7–9 km
Volabus (code VLB)
Principe, De Ferrari and Brignole in about 30 minutesyou need a 24-hour Met Daily ticket
Genova Airlink + train
shuttle to Sestri Ponente Aeroporto stationthen a regional train
Taxi
rank outside arrivals, 24 hoursmeter plus a €2.50 supplement, minimum fare €15
Car
"Genova Aeroporto" toll exit on the A10with its own junction
Parking
Kiss&FlyP1 and P2, with online booking
Genoa airport (Cristoforo Colombo, code GOA) stands on an artificial peninsula in Sestri Ponente, about 9 km from the centre according to the airport’s own figures (other sources say 7.4 km, depending on where you measure). It has a single two-floor terminal: arrivals on the ground floor, departures and boarding upstairs. It handled more than 1.5 million passengers in 2025. Getting into town normally takes about half an hour; here is how to choose between the Volabus, train, taxi and car, and how to carry on to the Riviera.
By Italian Riviera editorial team·Updated on ·4 min read
How to get from the airport to the centre
Volabus
The Volabus is the AMT service linking the airport with the two main stations. Towards the airport it stops at Brignole (terminus), Piazza De Ferrari, Principe and Airport Arrivals. From the airport it goes via Via Milano / Ferry Terminal, then Principe, Via XX Settembre / De Ferrari and Brignole. The trip takes about 30 minutes and the stop is at the arrivals exit.
You need a Met Daily ticket (24 hours, valid on the whole AMT network), bought on board by contactless card, in the AMT app, online, at the airport machine, at ticket offices or at the Brignole and Principe metro stations. Fares and times change, so check the page: AMT Volabus. Sources disagree on the price and the last departure is not confirmed. If the Volabus is not running, use the alternative below.
Genova Airlink and train
Airlink is the AMT shuttle that takes you from arrivals to Genova Sestri Ponente Aeroporto station in about 5 minutes, roughly every 15 minutes from 6:00 to 22:00. You cannot buy the ticket at the stop or on board: use the AMT app, SMS or the Trenitalia website. You can also walk across the RFI footbridge (about 20 minutes according to Wikivoyage). From the station regional trains reach Principe and Brignole in 10–20 minutes; check times on Trenitalia.
Taxi
Taxis wait outside the terminal 24 hours a day. The airport’s service charter gives the meter plus a fixed €2.50 supplement and a €15 minimum, with agreed fares to Principe and Brignole for groups. According to the press the city introduced a fixed fare to the centre in 2021, but the 2026 amount is not confirmed: ask the driver before you set off. Allow 15 to 30 minutes depending on traffic.
By car
Leave at the “Genova Aeroporto” toll exit: the A10 (Savona–Ventimiglia), A26, A7 and A12 reach the airport by a junction separate from the city streets. Into town you use the coast road and the elevated road.
From the airport to our destinations
No train leaves from the airport itself: take Airlink to Sestri Ponente, or the Volabus to Principe or Brignole. From there regional trains run along the Riviera.
Cinque Terre: no direct link; change at Genoa or La Spezia. From Genoa to Monterosso takes 1 h 15 to 2 h depending on the train (Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore are on the same line)
Parking is run by the airport and is booked online, usually at a lower price. There is the Kiss&Fly area for short stops, P1 opposite the terminal (about 2 minutes on foot) and the cheaper P2, further away (about 5 minutes). If you book P1 online, do not use the Telepass lane. 2026 rates are not confirmed: see the airport’s official site. Several car hire companies have desks on the arrivals floor.
Alternative airports
For the Riviera di Ponente and the Côte d’Azur, Nice can make more sense, as it is closer to Sanremo and Ventimiglia; for the Cinque Terre and Levante many travellers choose Pisa, with a train via La Spezia. Milan Malpensa and Linate, and Turin, help if you are coming from the north or have direct flights. Compare flight times and connections before you decide: we give no train times or prices we could not verify.
Practical tips
Night and last departure: Airlink does not run at night (6:00–22:00) and the last Volabus is not confirmed: after the last departure the taxi is your option
Luggage: you can take luggage on the Volabus without a reservation (unofficial source)
Reduced-mobility assistance: available at arrivals and departures, to be booked; P1 has reserved spaces
Strikes: before you travel check the transport ministry calendar and the airport website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Genoa airport
How far is Genoa airport from the centre?
About 9 km according to the airport (7.4 km in other sources). By Volabus it takes about 30 minutes.
How do I get from the airport to Principe station?
By Volabus (about 30 minutes, Met Daily ticket) or by Airlink to Sestri Ponente and then a regional train.
Is there a direct train from the airport?
No. The nearest station is Genova Sestri Ponente Aeroporto, reached by the Airlink shuttle or on foot over the RFI footbridge.
Does the Volabus run in the evening?
It runs every day, but the last departure is not confirmed: check the AMT website.
How much is a taxi?
Meter plus €2.50, minimum €15; ask for the price before you go.
How do I get to the Cinque Terre?
There is no direct link: take the Volabus or Airlink to a Genoa station, then the train to La Spezia or the villages.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Genoa
All places to stay in Genoa on Booking: compare prices and availability.
