When you’re working out where to stay in Genoa, the neighbourhood matters a lot. The city is steep and long, and some alleys are charming by day but rough in the evening. Here are my six picks for areas and three hotels in each.

Where to Stay in Genoa: The Best Areas

• Centro Storico (Old Town) - best area for first-time visitors
• Porto Antico - best area for families and the aquarium
• Via Garibaldi & Piazza De Ferrari - best area for culture, shopping and luxury
• The area around Genova Brignole - best area for day trips by train
• Boccadasse & Corso Italia - best area for the sea and sunsets
• Nervi - best area for peace and quiet, parks and swimming

Below, I go through the areas one by one with a map, transport, price level and three hotels in each, from the most expensive to the cheapest. The prices come from a search for a weekend in May for two people, so expect higher prices in the summer holidays and during the Salone Nautico boat show, which fills the city every autumn.

1. Centro Storico (Old Town) - best area for first-time visitors

• Distance to the centre: You’re staying in the historic centre. From San Lorenzo Cathedral, it’s a 5-minute walk to Piazza De Ferrari and the same down to the harbour.
• Transport: The alleys are too narrow for cars, so you walk everywhere. The metro has stations at San Giorgio, Darsena and De Ferrari on the edge of the neighbourhood.
• Time from Genoa Airport: About 25 minutes on the Volabus to Principe or De Ferrari plus a 5 to 10-minute walk, or about 20 minutes by taxi to the edge of the Old Town.
• Price level: € to €€€. The three places below cost roughly £95 to £185 per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
• Safety: Fine in the eastern part during the day and evening. The western part around Via Prè, Via del Campo and Via della Maddalena can feel unsafe once the shops have closed.

Centro Storico is Genoa’s Old Town and one of the largest continuous medieval quarters in Europe. It stretches from the old harbour up towards Via Garibaldi and is a maze of caruggi, the narrow alleys where the buildings are so tall that the sun rarely reaches the ground. This is where you’ll find San Lorenzo Cathedral with its striped black and white marble façade, Piazza San Matteo, where the Doria family had their houses, and Piazza delle Erbe, where the city’s young people sit outside in the evening.

This is also where you’ll eat best. Focaccia from one of the old bakeries, farinata from the stone oven and trofie with pesto alla genovese are everyday fare, and if you want to taste your way through it all with a local, you can join a food tour of the Old Town for around €54 (around £45).

See hotels in Centro Storico here.

I’d stay here if it’s your first trip to Genoa and you want the city right outside your door. You can walk to the harbour, Via Garibaldi and Piazza De Ferrari in a few minutes, and around Piazza delle Erbe and Via San Lorenzo things stay lively until late. In the morning, you buy focaccia at the bakery downstairs and drink your coffee standing at the bar, just as the Genoese do.

The downside is that Centro Storico is gritty. Drugs are dealt in some of the western side streets, and several alleys are dark at night, so choose an address in the eastern part between San Lorenzo, Piazza San Matteo and Piazza Banchi. Many B&Bs are in old palazzi with steep stairs, and taxis can rarely drive right up to the door, so pack light.

Hotels in Centro Storico

Palazzo Cicala - rooms in a palazzo right opposite the cathedral

Palazzo Cicala is on Piazza San Lorenzo, overlooking the cathedral’s façade and a couple of minutes from Palazzo Ducale. You stay in an old palazzo with a lift and double, triple and quadruple rooms, so it works for families too, and it was the most expensive of my three suggestions here. Staff aren’t always on site, and some guests struggled to get in, so get the check-in instructions in good time.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Fantastic location. Fantastic building.”

See photos and book Palazzo Cicala here.

Hotel Torre Orefici - small hotel with suites in the middle of the alleys

Hotel Torre Orefici is on Vico Carlone near Piazza Soziglia, a couple of minutes from both San Lorenzo and Via Garibaldi. It’s a proper hotel with a lift and a breakfast buffet featuring local specialities, and as well as double rooms there are junior suites, a split-level suite and a suite with a hot tub. Several guests mention that the standard rooms are small.

From one review: “Good location in the middle of the historic town.”

See photos and book Hotel Torre Orefici here.

B&B Dormire dai Grimaldi - budget B&B with a lift and a good breakfast

Dormire dai Grimaldi is on Vico San Luca by the shopping street Via San Luca, about 300 metres from Palazzo Rosso and close to Piazza Banchi. There’s a lift and air conditioning, the breakfast with fresh pastries gets praise, and you can choose between comfort, superior and deluxe rooms. The alley looks rough at first glance, and several guests mention it, but that’s typical of this part of the Old Town.

One guest highlights: “The location was close to lots of sights and restaurants.”

See photos and book Dormire dai Grimaldi here.

2. Porto Antico - best area for families and the aquarium

• Distance to the centre: Right next to the Old Town. From the aquarium it’s a 5-minute walk to San Lorenzo and 10 to 15 minutes to Piazza De Ferrari.
• Transport: The San Giorgio and Darsena metro stations are by the harbour, and this is also where the Navebus harbour ferry crosses the bay to Pegli.
• Time from Genoa Airport: Around 20 minutes on the Volabus to Principe and a 15-minute walk along the harbour, or around 20 minutes by taxi straight to your hotel.
• Price level: € to €€€. The three places below cost roughly £85 to £230 per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
• Safety: Safe and full of families during the day and in the evening. Keep an eye on your bag in the crowds by the aquarium, and avoid the dark alleys leading up from Via Gramsci late at night.

Porto Antico is the old harbour that Genoa’s own star architect, Renzo Piano, brought back to life for the Columbus Expo in 1992. Today the quays form a car-free promenade with cafés, boats and views of the mountains behind the city. The centrepiece is the Aquarium of Genoa, one of the largest in Europe, with around 400 animal species, including dolphins, seals, penguins and sharks. It’s open every day, and an adult ticket costs from 26 euros (around £22).

Next door is the Biosfera, a glass sphere containing a rainforest, and the Bigo, the white crane-like sculpture, lifts you up above the harbour in a panoramic lift. A little to the west you’ll find the Galata Museo del Mare maritime museum with a real submarine moored at the quay, and in the distance stands the Lanterna lighthouse, the city’s landmark since 1543. If you want to skip the queue in summer, you can buy an aquarium ticket in advance, but it’s a little more expensive than at the door.

See hotels near Porto Antico here.

I’d stay here if you’re travelling with children, or if you’d rather have water and space around you instead of narrow alleys. It’s the flattest area in the whole city, so you avoid the hills with a pushchair, and the Old Town is just across the road when you head out to eat. The aquarium, the Biosfera and the Bigo can easily fill a whole day with kids.

The downside is the Sopraelevata, the elevated motorway that runs along the harbour and separates Porto Antico from the Old Town. It’s noisy, and many rooms on the inland side look straight out onto it. There also aren’t many hotels right down on the quayside, so most of the options are apartments and a single large chain hotel. In summer the quays are also packed with cruise passengers and day-trippers in the middle of the day.

Hotels near Porto Antico

NH Collection Genova Marina - four-star hotel on the pier 50 metres from the aquarium

NH Collection Genova Marina sits at the far end of Molo Ponte Calvi in the middle of the harbour, and several rooms have a balcony overlooking the boats. The breakfast buffet includes Ligurian fish and healthy options, and parking costs 20 euros (around £17) per night. Some guests found the rooms too warm at night.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “I recommend this hotel. I appreciated the peace and quiet, the location and the cleanliness, even though it’s not a new hotel.”

See photos and book NH Collection Genova Marina here.

Palazzo Del Porto - apartments with kitchens and a large roof terrace

Palazzo Del Porto is on Via al Varco Quadrio at the southern end of Porto Antico, a few minutes’ walk from the aquarium. All units have a kitchenette, some have sea views, and from the roof terrace you can look out over the whole harbour, making it a good choice for families. The building is on one of the main roads, and several guests mention traffic noise.

From a review: “It’s a very large place, clean, you can find free parking behind the hotel, and there’s a huge terrace with 360-degree views!”

See photos and book Palazzo Del Porto here.

Palazzo Cambiaso Albergo Etico - spacious apartments at a low price

Palazzo Cambiaso is on Via al Ponte Calvi, right opposite the NH hotel’s pier, so you have the aquarium on one side and the Old Town on the other. You stay in apartments with city views, several with a kitchenette, there’s a lift and a terrace, and the price was the lowest of the three. If you’re a large group, don’t expect enough kitchen equipment for a bigger dinner.

One guest highlights: “Everything was fantastic: a beautiful and spacious apartment, comfortable beds, quiet (apart from a short while in the morning).”

See photos and book Palazzo Cambiaso here.

3. Via Garibaldi & Piazza De Ferrari - the best area for culture, shopping and luxury

• Distance to the centre: You’re right in the middle of the city. From Piazza De Ferrari it’s a 5-minute walk to Via Garibaldi and 10 minutes down to the harbour.
• Transport: De Ferrari metro station is right under the square, and the Volabus stops on Via XX Settembre. The lift up to Castelletto and the funicular to Righi both start a few minutes away.
• Time from Genoa Airport: About 25 minutes on the Volabus to the stop at Piazza De Ferrari, or about 20 to 25 minutes by taxi.
• Price level: €€ to €€€€. The three places below cost roughly £120 to £300 a night when I searched for a weekend in May.
• Safety: The safest part of the city centre, with wide, well-lit streets. Street sellers and pickpockets hang around the fountain, so keep an eye on your bag.

Via Garibaldi was originally called Strada Nuova and was laid out in the 16th century for the republic’s wealthiest families. The street is part of the Strade Nuove and the Palazzi dei Rolli UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the name comes from the lists, or rolli, of palaces where the state lodged distinguished guests from 1576 onwards. Three of the palaces, Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Doria-Tursi, now make up the Musei di Strada Nuova, with paintings by Van Dyck and Rubens among others. If you’d like to get inside the palaces that are usually closed, you can take a guided tour of the Rolli palaces from around €14 (about £12).

A couple of minutes to the south is Piazza De Ferrari, with its large bronze fountain, the Palazzo Ducale and the Teatro Carlo Felice opera house. From here, Via XX Settembre, lined with arcades and shops, runs towards Brignole. From Piazza del Portello, the old lift takes you up to Spianata Castelletto, where you get views over the rooftops and the harbour, and from Largo della Zecca the funicular carries you up to Righi and the forts above the city.

See hotels near Via Garibaldi and Piazza De Ferrari here.

I’d stay here if you want a proper hotel with a reception, a lift and a breakfast buffet, and if museums, opera and shopping are high on your list. The Old Town is right next door, but you sleep on wider, quieter streets.

The downside is the price, as this is where the city’s most expensive hotels are. Via XX Settembre is also one of the busiest streets in Genoa, so ask for a room facing the courtyard if you’re a light sleeper. And remember that the city is steep: everything north of Via Garibaldi is uphill.

Hotels near Via Garibaldi & Piazza De Ferrari

Hotel Bristol Palace - five-star classic with the famous staircase

Bristol Palace is on Via XX Settembre, 100 metres from Piazza De Ferrari, in a historic building with an elliptical staircase the hotel is famous for. There’s a restaurant, a breakfast buffet with gluten-free options and a score of over 9 from almost 6,000 reviews. Parking costs €29 to €32 (around £25 to £27) a night, and several guests found it a hassle.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “A thoroughly beautiful place with beautiful decor.”

See photos and book Hotel Bristol Palace here.

Best Western Plus City Hotel - modern four-star hotel close to the Palazzo Ducale

City Hotel is on Via San Sebastiano between Piazza Corvetto and Piazza De Ferrari, about 200 metres from the Palazzo Ducale. It’s a modern hotel with a restaurant, a gym and a big breakfast buffet featuring Ligurian specialities. Parking costs €25 (around £21) per day, which several guests feel is expensive.

From one review: “The location (the hotel is in the historic centre, so you can see the sights on foot), the staff are very helpful and polite, and the breakfast is really good.”

See photos and book Best Western Plus City Hotel here.

Il Giardino della Tartaruga - guesthouse with a garden and sun terrace below Castelletto

Il Giardino della Tartaruga is on the fourth floor of a building on Via Caffaro, a couple of minutes behind Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Doria-Tursi and close to the lift up to Castelletto. There’s a lift, a garden and a sun terrace, the breakfast buffet has both vegetarian and gluten-free options, and its score is one of the highest in the area. The building is poorly soundproofed, so you can hear the neighbours.

One guest highlights: “The place was beautiful, and we loved the garden and the terrace where we had breakfast.”

See photos and book Il Giardino della Tartaruga here.

4. Around Genova Brignole - best area for day trips by train

• Distance to the centre: About 1 kilometre east of Piazza De Ferrari. It’s a 15-minute walk into the centre along Via XX Settembre.
• Transport: Regional trains along the coast towards Nervi, Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure, the Cinque Terre and La Spezia, trains to Milan and Turin, the metro to Principe and city buses from Piazza Verdi.
• Time from Genoa Airport: About 30 minutes on the Volabus, which terminates at Brignole. The Met Daily ticket costs 10 euros (around £8) and is valid for 24 hours across the whole city network.
• Price level: € to €€. The three hotels below cost roughly £90 to £140 per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
• Safety: Safe and busy during the day. At night it’s quiet around the station and Piazza Verdi, so walk home along Via XX Settembre rather than the dark side streets.

Genova Brignole is the city’s eastern station, a palatial building from the early 1900s on Piazza Verdi. The neighbourhood around it is newer and flatter than the Old Town, with wide streets, offices and ordinary residential blocks. Via XX Settembre starts just round the corner, and on the way into the centre you’ll pass Mercato Orientale, the city’s covered food market, where you can pick up pesto, olives and fruit for your trip.

The train is the reason to stay here. Regional trains to La Spezia run along the coast, getting you to Monterosso in about an hour to an hour and a half, and you can hop off at all five villages. If you’d rather sleep out there, I’ve written about where to stay in the Cinque Terre, and the paths between the villages are managed by the Cinque Terre National Park. For Portofino, take the train to Santa Margherita Ligure in about 35 to 50 minutes and bus 782 for the final stretch. You’ll find timetables and tickets at Trenitalia.

See hotels near Genova Brignole here.

I’d stay here if Genoa is mainly your base for day trips along the Riviera without a car, or if you’re arriving late in the evening on the Volabus. You can find out how to buy tickets and read the timetables in my guide to trains in Italy.

The downside is the atmosphere. The area is practical but not charming, and in the evening you’ll need to walk 10 to 15 minutes to find the cosy restaurants. The hotels are mostly standard city hotels aimed at business travellers. On the plus side, this is where you’re most likely to find a free room when the Old Town is fully booked, and prices are among the lowest in central Genoa.

Hotels near Genova Brignole

Starhotels President - four-star hotel right opposite the station

Starhotels President is in Corte Lambruschini, right opposite Brignole, so the platforms and the Volabus are just a few minutes from the door. There’s a gym, a restaurant, a breakfast buffet and indoor parking for 25 euros (around £20) per night. The hotel is in an office complex, and some guests feel the location is a little out of the way.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The room exceeded my expectations, it was excellent, clean and comfortable.”

See photos and book Starhotels President here.

Hotel Bel Soggiorno - classic city hotel on Via XX Settembre

Hotel Bel Soggiorno is on Via XX Settembre, about 500 metres from Brignole and 10 minutes from Piazza De Ferrari, so both the train and the centre are within walking distance. There’s a 24-hour reception, a breakfast buffet and soundproofed rooms, and discounted parking costs 20 euros (around £17) a day. The rooms are small, as several guests point out.

From one review: “Central location and a very clean place.”

See photos and book Hotel Bel Soggiorno here.

Sure Hotel by Best Western Nologo - simple, budget hotel with a terrace

Nologo is on Via Sauli, about 450 metres from the station and just off Via XX Settembre. It’s a simple hotel with a 24-hour reception, a sun terrace and a deal with a nearby garage for 18 euros (around £15) a day, and it was the cheapest of the three. The rooms are small, and breakfast is only available on request.

One guest highlights: “The location is so convenient for everything.”

See photos and book Nologo here.

5. Boccadasse & Corso Italia - best area for the sea and sunsets

• Distance to the centre: Around 4 kilometres east of Piazza De Ferrari. Walking along the seafront, it takes you just under an hour to reach the Old Town.
• Transport: City buses run from Brignole and the centre along Corso Italia and through Albaro in around 20 to 30 minutes. A taxi from Brignole takes 10 to 15 minutes.
• Time from Genoa Airport: Around 30 minutes by taxi, or around an hour on the Volabus to Brignole and then a bus out along the coast.
• Price level: € to €€. The three places below cost roughly £75 to £140 a night when I searched for a weekend in May.
• Safety: Very safe. Albaro is one of the city’s nicest residential districts, and the promenade is full of families and runners until late in the evening.

Boccadasse is an old fishing village that the city has grown right out to, yet it has kept its colourful houses, its little pebble beach and the boats pulled up between the houses. According to Genoa’s tourist office, Corso Italia, the promenade from Foce to Boccadasse, is around 2.5 kilometres long, and it’s the Genoese people’s favourite Sunday stroll. Along it you’ll find beach clubs with sunloungers, where you pay for a spot in summer.

In the evening, half the city sits on the rocks and walls of Boccadasse with an ice cream or an aperitivo, watching the sun go down behind the harbour. From the little square, a flight of steps leads up to Capo Santa Chiara with views along the coast, and behind the fishing village lies Albaro with its villas, gardens and quiet streets. There are good seafood restaurants in Boccadasse, but they’re small, so book a table at weekends, especially if you want to sit out by the water.

See hotels in Boccadasse and along Corso Italia here.

I’d stay here if you’re a couple who want the sea close by and the city’s most romantic sunset, or if you’ve been to Genoa before. You get swimming, morning runs along the water and a peaceful night’s sleep, and the centre is still just a bus ride away. Many of the places are apartments and small guesthouses, so the area also suits a slightly longer holiday where you cook for yourself.

The downside is the distance, as you have to take a bus or taxi every time you want to go into the Old Town, and buses run less often in the evening. There are no real luxury hotels, only small hotels, guesthouses and apartments, and at weekends in summer it’s packed with day-trippers.

Hotels in Boccadasse & along Corso Italia

Hotel La Capannina - hotel with a garden 200 metres from the water

La Capannina is on Via Tito Speri just behind Boccadasse, around 200 metres from the sea. The top-floor rooms have a terrace overlooking the bay, there’s a garden and a tennis court, and there’s free parking, but only a few spaces. The bathrooms are small, and some guests would like more variety at breakfast.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The location is incredible, the sea and the restaurants are less than a five-minute walk from the hotel.”

See photos and book Hotel La Capannina here.

A&B Affittacamere a Boccadasse - small guesthouse with a high score

A&B Affittacamere is on Via Arnaldo da Brescia above Boccadasse, around an eight-minute walk from the beach at Vernazzola. It’s a small guesthouse with air conditioning, self check-in and free parking nearby, and its score is the highest of the three. It’s in a residential area, and some guests mention noise from the neighbours.

From one review: “Good communication and clear instructions on how to get in.”

See photos and book A&B Affittacamere a Boccadasse here.

Le Stanze di Boccadasse - budget rooms a few minutes from the fishing village

Le Stanze di Boccadasse is on Via Felice Cavallotti, a few minutes’ walk from the fishing village and around nine minutes from the beach at Vernazzola. The rooms are simple, with air conditioning and daily cleaning, and the price was the lowest of the three. Garage parking costs 15 euros (around £13) a day, and several guests mention that it’s a long way to the sights.

One guest highlights: “Lovely hotel. Clean room and toilet, soft white towels, hairdryer, hand soap and shower gel.”

See photos and book Le Stanze di Boccadasse here.

6. Nervi - best area for peace and quiet, parks and swimming

• Distance to the centre: Around 10 kilometres east of Piazza De Ferrari. Nervi is an old seaside resort that is now part of the City of Genoa.
• Transport: Regional trains from Genova Nervi station to Brignole in around 10 to 15 minutes, and in the other direction towards Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure and the Cinque Terre.
• Time from Genoa Airport: Around 35 minutes by taxi via the motorway, or about an hour on the Volabus to Brignole and then the regional train.
• Price level: €€ to €€€€. The three hotels below cost around £120 to £420 per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
• Safety: Very calm and safe. In the evenings and out of season the streets are quiet, and many restaurants close in the afternoon.

Nervi was one of the Riviera’s smart health resorts back when wealthy Europeans started heading south for the winter, and you can still see it in the villas and palm trees. Its signature sight is the Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi, a promenade of around two kilometres that winds along the rocks from the little fishing harbour, with the sea right below you and views all the way to the Portofino peninsula on clear days.

Behind the promenade lie the Parchi di Nervi, a string of connected parks around old villas with a rose garden, palm trees and several art museums. In summer you swim off the rocks and from the small bathing establishments, and in the evening you eat fish by the harbour, where it’s far quieter than in the city. If you’re driving further along the Riviera, you can compare prices on car hire at Booking.com, but expect narrow roads and expensive parking in Portofino and Camogli.

See hotels in Nervi here.

I’d stay here if you want a beach holiday with Genoa as a day trip rather than the other way round, or if you want a holiday without a car and still be able to reach both the city and the Riviera by train. It’s also the only area in this guide with hotels that have a pool. The train ride to Brignole is so short that you can visit museums in the city in the morning and lie by the water in the afternoon.

The downside is that you have to take the train every time you want to go into Genoa, and your evenings in the city end early because the trains run less often late at night. Out of season Nervi is very quiet, and if you want nightlife and plenty of restaurants to choose from, it’s the wrong choice.

Hotels in Nervi

Capitolo Riviera - five-star hotel with a pool and spa by the sea

Capitolo Riviera is on Viale delle Palme, around 150 metres from Nervi station. There’s an outdoor pool open all year, a spa with sauna and steam room, a private beach area, a garden and many rooms with sea views, and it was by far the most expensive hotel in this whole guide. Parking is handled by hotel staff for a fee, and some guests feel the breakfast doesn’t quite match the price.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The whole experience was fantastic. Friendly and very helpful staff.”

See photos and book Capitolo Riviera here.

Hotel Villa Moderna - family-run villa hotel with a garden

Hotel Villa Moderna is on a private road around a seven-minute walk from the station and five minutes from the Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi. It’s a small hotel in a villa with a garden, a terrace and owners whom guests praise for being so helpful. There’s no pool and no sea view, and several guests say parking is hard to find.

From a review: “The owners were incredibly helpful during our stay.”

See photos and book Hotel Villa Moderna here.

Hotel Esperia - hotel in its own grounds two minutes from the train

Hotel Esperia is on Via Val Cismon, around 100 metres from Nervi station and five minutes from the promenade. The hotel sits in its own landscaped garden with a restaurant, a bar and free on-site parking, and some rooms have sea views. Several guests feel the rooms could do with an update.

One guest highlights: “Fantastic location close to the station, yet in its own landscaped garden.”

See photos and book Hotel Esperia here.

Where not to stay in Genoa?

I’d avoid the western part of the Old Town around Via Prè and Via del Campo, and the streets right by Principe station, which are dark and unpleasant at night even though prices are low. Also be wary of hotels in Sampierdarena and the old industrial districts towards the airport, which are far from everything you’ll want to see, unless you have an early flight.

Remember too that Genoa is built up the hillsides. A flat in Castelletto or up by Righi can have a gorgeous view, but check whether there’s a lift or funicular nearby, or the walk home will be a steep flight of steps.

If it’s your first trip to Genoa, I’d stay in the eastern part of the Centro Storico, and if you want a proper hotel with a reception and breakfast buffet, the area around Via Garibaldi and Piazza De Ferrari is the safe choice. If you’re travelling with children, pick Porto Antico near the aquarium, and if you’re mainly doing day trips to the Cinque Terre and Portofino, stay by Brignole. If you want the sea and some peace and quiet, Boccadasse and Nervi are the best choices.

From the airport, the easiest option is the Volabus from AMT, which runs to Principe, Piazza De Ferrari and Brignole in around half an hour. If you’re carrying on around northern Italy, Turin and Milan are a couple of hours away by train, and I have guides on where to stay in Turin and where to stay in Milan. If you’re heading south towards Tuscany, you can read about where to stay in Pisa, and if you’re taking the train west along the coast towards France, I’ve also written about where to stay in Nice.

The post Where to Stay in Genoa? The 6 Best Areas & Places to Stay appeared first on Destination Well Known.