Genoa Cruise Port Guide

The short answer

Genoa is easy: you dock about 1 km from the center and can walk to the old town and the Aquarium. The Palazzi dei Rolli palaces on Via Garibaldi are a UNESCO site. Portofino and Cinque Terre are reachable by train, but a combined trip is rushed.

Getting ashoreShip docks

Distance to townAbout 1 km to the city center; Piazza Principe train station is about 400 m (6 minutes' walk) (Ports of Genoa).

Gateway forGenoa old town, Aquarium, Palazzi dei Rolli; trains to Portofino (via Santa Margherita) and Cinque Terre

Walk to Old town and Porto Antico (Aquarium)About 15-20 minutes (approximate) · Free

On the chart

Where Genoa lies

Where your ship docks

Ships dock at the Stazioni Marittime terminals: Ponte dei Mille or Ponte Andrea Doria, in the city's old harbor area.

Shuttle. Not needed.

From the gangway

Getting to the sights

The way	Time	Cost
Walk to Old town and Porto Antico (Aquarium)	About 15-20 minutes (approximate)	Free
Walk to Piazza Principe station (trains to Santa Margherita / Cinque Terre)	About 6 minutes (400 m)	Free
Metro, bus or walk (AMT) to Via Garibaldi / upper town	Short	AMT ticket; price not verified

Walk to Old town and Porto Antico (Aquarium)

Time About 15-20 minutes (approximate)Cost Free

Leave the terminal and walk east along the harbor to Porto Antico.
The old town lanes (caruggi) start just inland.

Flat along the harbor.

Walk to Piazza Principe station (trains to Santa Margherita / Cinque Terre)

Time About 6 minutes (400 m)Cost Free

Follow signs to Genova Piazza Principe.

Train fares not verified on Trenitalia.

Metro, bus or walk (AMT) to Via Garibaldi / upper town

Time ShortCost AMT ticket; price not verified

Metro from Principe to De Ferrari or San Giorgio, or walk.

AMT tickets can be bought by contactless card.

Worth the trip

What to see

Aquarium of Genoa

One of Europe's largest aquariums, at Porto Antico.

How: Walk from the ship.
Time: 2-2.5 hours
Tickets: Adults from 26 euros; over-65 from 20 euros; ages 4-12 from 16 euros. Open daily 9:00-20:00, last entry 18:00. Fixed-date tickets lock you into a time slot (Acquario di Genova, approximate).

Via Garibaldi and the Palazzi dei Rolli

UNESCO-listed Renaissance and Baroque palaces (Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco, Palazzo Tursi).

How: Walk or metro.
Time: 1.5-2 hours
Tickets: Museum prices not verified.

Old town lanes and San Lorenzo Cathedral

One of Europe's largest medieval centers; striped marble cathedral.

How: Walk.
Time: 1.5 hours
Tickets: Cathedral free (not verified).

Piazza De Ferrari

Genoa's grand central square and fountain.

How: Walk.
Time: 20 minutes
Tickets: Free.

A day ashore

Your day, hour by hour

Planned for a typical call. Check your ship's all-aboard time and be back an hour early. The ship will not wait.

8:30 Walk off the ship toward Porto Antico.
9:00 Aquarium (fixed time slot booked ahead).
11:15 Walk into the old town; San Lorenzo Cathedral; Piazza De Ferrari.
12:30 Lunch: try focaccia and pesto.
13:30 Via Garibaldi palaces.
15:30 Walk back (about 20-25 minutes); be on board 1 hour before all-aboard.

Wise counsel

What goes wrong, and how to avoid it

Beware

The old town is a maze of narrow, hilly lanes; keep a map on your phone.
Watch your bag in the busy old-town alleys.
Italy has frequent announced transport strikes (trains, buses, ferries), often on Fridays. Check the Italian Ministry of Transport strike list (scioperi.mit.gov.it) the week before your port day.

Do this

Book the Aquarium Flexi ticket if your arrival time may change.
Genoa is the home of pesto; order trofie al pesto.

Practical matters

Fees, money and access

Rules & fees

No cruise visitor caps or fees found.

Accessibility

Terminal has escalators and lifts; harbor front is flat. The old town has steep lanes and steps.

Money

Euro (EUR). Visa and Mastercard work in most shops, restaurants and museums; tap-to-pay is common. Carry 20-40 euros in cash for small cafes, toilets, markets and some buses. Use a bank ATM (inside or at a bank) and always choose to be charged in euros, not dollars, when a card machine or ATM asks.

Onward