Genoa: Aquarium of Genoa Entry Ticket
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Visit the Aquarium of Genoa to experience the largest display of aquatic biodiversity in Europe. See varieties of animals like penguins, sharks, and seals.
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Known as “La Superba”, yet despite the considerable wealth accumulated over centuries of maritime trade, Genoa possesses a humble soul. It settles for standing in the shadow of Rome, Venice, Naples and other stars of Italian tourism, when it truly deserves a place in the spotlight.
How much this city has to offer its visitors! Simply glance at our list of 10 things to see in Genoa to understand the variety of experiences and emotions you can discover in Liguria’s capital. You’ll move from the opulence of noble palaces along the Golden Mile to the colourful and chaotic charm of working-class neighbourhoods, from modern attractions like the Aquarium and Biosphere to echoes of the Middle Ages in historic churches, from the vibrancy of the waterfront in the Porto Antico to the peaceful quiet of viewpoints overlooking the city centre.
Genoa’s tourism slogan is “more than that”. Absolutely right—there’s much more to it. But these 10 attractions below, scattered across the port area, old town and surrounding hills and all easily accessible, make an excellent starting point for falling in love with a city too often overlooked.
The top attraction in Genoa is undoubtedly the Aquarium, one of the largest and most spectacular in Europe. Inside a modern structure designed by Renzo Piano, you’ll come face-to-face with sharks, dolphins, penguins, seals, jellyfish, rays, pufferfish and hundreds of other marine species both amusing and awe-inspiring.
It opened in 1992 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America by Genoese navigator Christopher Columbus and immediately became the city’s primary attraction, surpassing museums and historic palaces in popularity.
Thanks to the opening of Genoa Aquarium, the Porto Antico area was rescued from decay and abandonment, becoming the city’s most vibrant district.
Genoa’s historic centre is a maze of narrow streets bordered by colourful houses that rise vertically: these are the caruggi, the tight medieval alleyways that characterise Ligurian villages.
Venturing into the caruggi of central Genoa is the best way to connect with the city, uncover its secrets and admire its architectural and artistic treasures. Until a few decades ago they were a neglected, dirty and dangerous area; today, clean and safe, they’re a source of civic pride.
Wandering through the caruggi, you’ll stumble upon noble residences, ancient churches, characteristic little squares, artisan shops, historic bars where masters of Genoese singer-songwriter tradition once performed. Hidden among these streets are some of Genoa’s finest focaccia shops.
The other unmissable maritime attraction in Genoa’s Porto Antico is Galata Museum of the Sea, an innovative and technological museum that recounts six centuries of maritime life marked by discoveries, wonders, perils, riches and fears.
Housed in a modern glass and steel building adjoining an ancient arsenal, the museum displays full-scale reconstructions of historic boats, antique globes and maps, artefacts from explorers and navigators and much more. The museum’s crowning glory, however, is its interactive experiences.
An integral part of the museum is the chance to visit a real submarine, the S518 Nazario Sauro moored in the dock facing the entrance. For those who suffer from claustrophobia and prefer not to enter the submarine, a pre-show has been designed that faithfully recreates the conditions of life and work inside a submarine.
What could be the symbol of a city that has bound its history and fortune to the sea if not a lighthouse? Genoa’s symbol is indeed La Lanterna, the lighthouse that since 1543 has scanned the horizon from atop a 40-metre-high rocky outcrop overlooking the sea.
The lighthouse stands 117 metres tall; you can climb to the first landing by ascending 172 steep steps. From there you’ll enjoy an exceptional view of the city and open sea, steeped in timeless romanticism and the nostalgic allure of lighthouses, those ancient guardians of the sea and invaluable allies to every navigator.
You can reach La Lanterna on foot via a pedestrian path starting from the ferry terminal, located west of Porto Antico.
Known as “Strada Nuova“, yet it already boasts five centuries of history during which it has amassed architectural and artistic masterpieces—hence it’s also called “The Golden Mile“. The official name of this street in central Genoa, dating back to the mid-16th century, is Via Garibaldi.
Here are concentrated Genoa’s finest palaces, known as “The Rolli“: sumptuous Renaissance and Baroque buildings that once served as residences for the city’s wealthiest families. Built to display magnificence and bring prestige to the families within, they were central to a unique system of high-ranking public hospitality that compensated for the absence of a royal palace.
Some of these palaces remain private residences, others have been converted into municipal offices or banks. Three have become museum venues: collectively known as “Strada Nuova Museums”, they comprise Palazzo Rosso, home to the Brignole family art collection, Palazzo Bianco, which displays Italian and European paintings from the 16th to 18th centuries, and Palazzo Tursi, containing various municipal halls and exhibition spaces.
If you have time, we recommend visiting the palaces’ interiors, but a stroll along Via Garibaldi is sufficient to experience the sumptuous atmospheres of Genoa’s Golden Age.
Genoa’s most famous religious building is the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, the Genoese cathedral. It is dedicated to Saint Lawrence the Martyr but is renowned for housing the remains of Genoa’s patron saint, John the Baptist, which are said to have arrived in the city during the time of the Crusades.
Built at the end of the 11th century on the remains of an early Christian basilica, it was enlarged and modified in subsequent centuries. The result is a magnificent church blending distinct architectural styles. Don’t stop at the splendid two-tone stone façade: the church deserves to be visited from within as well.
From the right aisle, you can access the Cathedral Treasury Museum, where the Sacro Catino is housed—according to legend, this is the Holy Grail!
On a hillside 15 minutes’ walk from Porto Antico stands the distinctive Castello d’Albertis, a building that imaginatively blends vastly different architectural styles.
An expression of its owner’s eclectic personality, Captain Enrico Alberto D’Albertis, the palazzo is a neo-Gothic residence built in the 19th century upon the remains of 16th-century fortifications and enriched with decorative elements evoking adventures in exotic lands and colonial atmospheres.
It now houses the Museum of World Cultures, displaying a collection amassed by the captain during his maritime and terrestrial travels, supplemented by subsequent donations from Africa, America and Oceania.
For many Italians, Genoa is synonymous with singer-songwriters. If you’re among them, don’t miss a small but well-curated museum whose name and address evoke a famous Fabrizio De André song and is dedicated to the Genoese School that made the history of the Italian singer-songwriter tradition.
Mistakenly known as “The De André Museum”, Via del Campo 29 Rosso is housed in what was once the “Musica Gianni Tassio” shop, a historic meeting place for musicians and enthusiasts. Following Faber’s death it became a memorial space for his fans, though the museum also dedicates space to other historic figures of the Genoese school including Luigi Tenco, Bruno Lauzi and Gino Paoli.
On display you’ll find original vinyl records, photographs, books, period magazines and memorabilia; the collection’s centrepiece is the “Esteve ’97”, the guitar once owned by De André.
An enormous sphere of steel and glass floats in the waters of Genoa’s Porto Antico, catching every visitor’s eye: this is the Biosphere, a striking structure designed by Renzo Piano that encloses a genuine tropical forest within.
Through a state-of-the-art air conditioning system, a microclimate has been created within the sphere that allows over 150 plant species to flourish, providing refuge for turtles, fish, insects and brightly coloured birds.
It’s truly a unique botanical garden in both location and structure, allowing you to experience the emotions of a tropical setting just steps away from an Italian city’s historic centre!
One of Genoa’s finest vantage points is the Montaldo viewpoint, better known as the Spianata Castelletto, a square in the historic centre accessible via a splendid Liberty-style lift or a scenic road. A fortress called Castelletto once stood here, which was demolished in 1849—hence the name’s origin.
From here you’ll enjoy a spectacular view of the rooftops, domes and towers of the historic centre, with Porto Antico in the background. The gallery leading to the lift is also particularly lovely, entirely decorated with tiles and recently restored.
Once at the top, you can sit on the benches in the shade of the trees and rest from the tiring walks along the city’s steep streets.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
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