For a first visit of two or three days, stay between the old town and the Porto Antico: the Aquarium, the caruggi alleys, the Palazzi dei Rolli and plenty of places to eat are all within walking distance. If you want more peace and quiet, pick Castelletto or the De Ferrari and Brignole area; if you’d rather be by the sea and slow down, choose Albaro, Boccadasse or Nervi, with the centre about 15 minutes away by train or bus.
Genoa is a long, vertical city, and the right area depends on three things: whether you arrive by car or by train, how many day trips along the coast you plan, and how much evening noise bothers you. Below you’ll find each area with its pros and cons, followed by the places to stay we have already selected in the city.
The areas at a glance
| Area | Best for | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old town | First visit, couples | Everything on foot, atmosphere | Noise, stairs, no car access |
| Porto Antico | Families, Aquarium, cruises | Flat, harbour views | Touristy, expensive parking |
| De Ferrari and Brignole | Train travellers | Transport links, wide streets | Less character |
| Principe and Via Balbi | Arrivals from Milan or the west, ferries | Station and port close by | Quiet alleys at night |
| Castelletto | Calm and views | Quiet, lifts down to the centre | Uphill |
| Albaro and Boccadasse | Couples, families, the sea | Corso Italia, smart district | Centre 15–20 min by bus |
| Nervi | Slow stays, Golfo Paradiso | Parks, seafront walk, train | Far from the museums |
Where to stay in Genoa, area by area
Old town
The heart of the city is a maze of alleys between the port, Piazza De Ferrari and Via Garibaldi. Staying here means stepping straight into the caruggi, with the Cathedral of San Lorenzo and the Palazzi dei Rolli nearby and focaccia bakeries and trattorias on your doorstep. Many rooms are in old palazzi, sometimes on the fourth or fifth floor with no lift: if you travel with heavy luggage, ask before you book.
There are two downsides. Some streets are noisy at night, especially at weekends. And the old town is a limited traffic zone (ZTL): you can’t drive up to the door. Towards Via Prè and the lower part of the Maddalena district the alleys are quiet after dinner. They are not places to avoid, but here it pays to choose a place on a main street and take the usual big-city precautions. The upper part, towards Via Garibaldi and Piazza De Ferrari, is calmer. This is where you’ll find, for example, the Hotel Bristol Palace, in a historic building 100 metres from the square.
Porto Antico
The Porto Antico is the easiest choice for families. The Aquarium, the Galata Maritime Museum and the Biosfera are a few steps away, the quays are flat and pedestrian, and boats leave from here for harbour tours and, in the warmer months, for Camogli and Portofino. Cruise and ferry passengers often spend the night before departure here too. The old town is right behind, and the metro stops at San Giorgio and Darsena. The flip side: it’s the most touristy part of town, and the car parks are expensive and fill up at weekends.
De Ferrari, Via XX Settembre and Brignole
This is 19th-century Genoa, with wide streets, arcades and shops. It’s less picturesque than the old town but quieter at night and very handy for transport. Brignole is the station to use for day trips to Camogli, Santa Margherita and the Cinque Terre, and the metro takes you to De Ferrari in a few minutes. You’ll find city hotels of every category, such as the Best Western Moderno Verdi, 100 metres from the station. Behind Brignole, towards Marassi, prices are often lower.
Principe and Via Balbi
The area around Piazza Principe station is practical if you arrive by train from Milan or the western Riviera, or if you have a ferry to catch: the terminal is close and the metro runs to the centre. Via Balbi, with the Royal Palace and the University, is a few minutes away. The Hotel Continental stands opposite the station. Keep in mind that almost all trains stop at both Principe and Brignole, so there’s no need to pick your base just by your arrival station. In the evening the alleys between Principe and Via Prè are quiet.
Castelletto
Castelletto is the residential district on the hill above the centre, famous for the Spianata di Castelletto and its view over the slate roofs. It’s green, quiet and connected to the centre by public lifts, such as the Castelletto Levante lift down to Piazza Portello. Ideal if you want to explore on foot but sleep away from the nightlife. Here you’ll mostly find small hotels and guesthouses in early 20th-century buildings, like the Albergo Caffaro, on the sixth floor of a historic building. Since November 2025 the lifts and funiculars require an AMT ticket: if you use them several times a day, the day pass is better value.
Albaro, Foce and Boccadasse
To the east the city opens onto the sea. Foce and Albaro are elegant districts of villas and Art Nouveau buildings, linked by Corso Italia, the seafront promenade of more than two kilometres that ends at Boccadasse, the old fishing village with colourful houses around a tiny beach. This is the right area for a couple or a family who want an evening stroll by the sea and a swim in summer. The centre is 15–20 minutes away by bus. Parking is easier than in the centre, but if your hotel has spaces, book one. On summer weekends Boccadasse gets very crowded, especially at sunset.
Nervi, Quarto and Quinto
At the far eastern end, Nervi feels like another world: the Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi, about two kilometres along the rocks, the Parks of Nervi with their historic villas, and a small harbour. It has its own station, about 15 minutes from Brignole, and Camogli is even closer. It’s the ideal base for a slow stay, for travellers with a car and for anyone combining Genoa with the Golfo Paradiso. Options include the family-run Locanda Villa Moderna and the Savoia Apartments, with a pool, two minutes from the station. Quarto and Quinto, between Albaro and Nervi, are quiet residential districts by the sea, good for families, but you’ll always need a bus or train to reach the centre.
Hotel, B&B or apartment?
Hotels: the centre and the Porto Antico have hotels of every category, many in historic buildings. They’re the most convenient choice for a weekend, with a reception desk and often deals with nearby car parks.
B&Bs and guesthouses (affittacamere): very common in the old town and Castelletto, often in period apartments with high ceilings and only a few rooms. Check the floor, the lift and the check-in time: there’s often no permanent reception.
Apartments: good value for families and stays of four nights or more, especially in Albaro, Foce and Nervi. In the old town, read reviews carefully for comments on noise and stairs.
Every type of accommodation charges the municipal tourist tax, which depends on the type of property and is usually paid on site.
Recommended places to stay in Genoa
Hotel ★★★★★
Grand Hotel Miramare
Santa Margherita Ligure
Excellent
Located in Santa Margherita Ligure, Grand Hotel Miramare offers a sun terrace, a saltwater swimming pool immersed in the tropical garden, and views of the Tigullio Gulf.
Check availability
Hotel ★★★★
Hotel Bristol Palace
Recommended accommodations in the historic center of Genoa · Genoa
Fabulous
Featuring a majestic elliptical staircase leading to the elegant rooms, Hotel Bristol Palace is set in a historic building in the center of Genoa, 100 meters from Piazza De Ferrari.
Check availabilityHotel ★★★★
Hotel Continental Genova
Recommended accommodations in the historic center of Genoa · Genoa
Fabulous
Hotel Art Nouveau opposite the Piazza Principe Station, offers a view of the city. It offers elegant rooms with parquet floors, free WiFi and a large breakfast buffet.
Check availabilityHotel ★★★★
Hotel Palazzo Grillo
Recommended accommodations in the historic center of Genoa · Genoa
Fabulous
Hotel Palazzo Grillo is set in a historic building in Genoa, 300 meters from the Aquarium. It offers free WiFi and a terrace overlooking the city. Reception 24 hours a…
Check availabilityHotel ★★★★
NH Collection Genova Marina
Porto Antico · Genoa
Optimal
Located in the Porto Antico area, a 5-minute walk from the center, Genova Marina is near the Maritime Museum and just 50 meters from the Genoa Aquarium. It offers free…
Check availabilityHotel ★★★★
Hotel De Ville
Porto Antico · Genoa
Excellent
Located in Genoa, Hotel De Ville features a bar, shared lounge and city views. There is a restaurant, 24-hour front desk, room service and free WiFi throughout the building.
Check availabilityHotel ★★★★
Salsedine Relais
Boccadasse · Genoa
Awesome
Located in Genoa, Salsedine Relais offers accommodation with free WiFi, air conditioning and a terrace. Offering private parking, the accommodation is 5 km from the University of Genoa.
Check availabilityPractical tips
Train or car
In Genoa you hardly need a car. If you arrive by train, stay near a metro stop (there’s a single line, from Brin to Brignole via Principe, San Giorgio and De Ferrari) and walk. If you arrive by car, the old town is a ZTL with camera-controlled gates and blue-line parking is paid Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm: choose a hotel with a garage or leave the car at a park-and-ride, such as Dinegro near the Genova Ovest exit. For Albaro and Nervi, the Genova Est or Nervi exits are more convenient. Fares and routes are on the AMT website.
From the airport
Cristoforo Colombo airport is at Sestri Ponente, about 7–9 km from the centre. The Volabus links arrivals with Principe, De Ferrari and Brignole: for a short stay, sleeping near one of these stops saves you a taxi.
When to book
Genoa has no real low season: besides summer, it fills up on spring bank holidays, during the Rolli Days and above all for the Boat Show (Salone Nautico), held from 1 to 6 October in 2026. For those dates, book months ahead or stay in Nervi or the nearby towns. In winter, outside events, you’ll find the best rates.
Staying near Genoa
If you want the sea on your doorstep and plan to visit Genoa on day trips, look along the railway to the east: Bogliasco, just past Nervi, Recco and Camogli, about 25 minutes by train from Brignole. To the west, Arenzano is about half an hour by train, with a long pedestrian seafront. Everything to see in the city is in our Genoa guide; to choose the right part of Liguria for your trip, read where to stay in Liguria.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in Genoa for a first visit?
The old town near Piazza De Ferrari, or the Porto Antico: you’re within walking distance of the Aquarium, the alleys and the Palazzi dei Rolli. If noise bothers you, Castelletto is one lift ride from the centre.
Is it safe to stay in Genoa’s old town?
Yes, the old town is busy with residents and visitors. In the evening some parts towards Via Prè and the lower Maddalena are quiet: choose a place on a main street and take the usual big-city precautions.
Is it better to stay near Principe or Brignole station?
Almost all trains stop at both. Brignole is handier for day trips to Camogli, Portofino and the Cinque Terre and for the De Ferrari area; Principe for ferries and Via Balbi.
Where should I stay in Genoa with a car?
In a hotel with a garage, or outside the old town, which is a ZTL: Albaro, Foce, Nervi or around Brignole. Alternatively, leave the car at a park-and-ride and take the metro.
Where can I stay in Genoa near the sea?
In Albaro and along Corso Italia, in Boccadasse or in Nervi. The centre is 15–20 minutes away by bus or train.
How many nights do I need in Genoa?
At least two for the centre, the Porto Antico and the Aquarium; three or four if you want to add Nervi, Boccadasse and a day trip to Camogli or Portofino.
When are hotel prices in Genoa highest?
In summer, on spring bank holidays and during major events, especially the Boat Show in early autumn. For those dates, book well in advance.