Genoa

Landmarks & monuments

Explore the Aquarium of Genoa to see more than 5,000 animals from 400 species at Italy's largest aquatic zoo. Learn how the aquarium was built for the Genoa Expo '92, and the variety of conservation programs that it is involved in. Discover a venue that is home to the biggest display of aquatic biodiversity in Europe. Venture into the fascinating waters of the world as you explore more than 70 tanks of wonderful aquatic creatures. Marvel at animals from the Antarctic, such as penguins, and see sharks, seals, jellyfish, and the colorful fish of the coral barriers. Head to the Cetacean Pavilion, designed by Renzo Piano, and be amazed the playful bottlenose dolphins at 4 open-air pools.

Genoa, included among the Unesco world heritage sites, is the capital of Liguria and the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. Climb aboard the panoramic buses and observe the numerous monuments and grandiose buildings dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries that stand along Strada Nuova. With the ticket valid for 24 or 48 hours you can admire both the historic center and the seafront of Corso Italia. This bus is also an ideal way to reach shopping places. Thanks to the possibility of getting on and off at any stop, you can visit attractions such as the cathedral of San Lorenzo, built in different styles ranging from Gothic to Renaissance and Palazzo Ducale. The best art collections can be visited in three different buildings of the Strada Nuova Museums. See Rubens' masterpieces alongside other works by Italian and local artists. Enjoy the 360° panorama from the second floor of the bus. Treat yourself to a stroll along the elegant Via Garibaldi, located in the cultural heart of Genoa, lined with imposing buildings and refined shops. Near the Porto Antico you will find numerous attractions suitable for the whole family, including the Aquarium where you can watch the dolphin show. Buses leave daily, every 20-30 minutes, until late afternoon, when you can give yourself some time to discover the city's lively nightlife. The heart of the city is represented by the ancient part of Genoa, up to the border marked by Piazza Sarzano and via San Lorenzo. With the ticket valid for 24 or 48 hours you can also board the buses the following day and stop at the lift that takes you to the Spianata Castelletto panoramic point. While admiring the most beautiful monuments of Genoa, you have the opportunity to listen to the informative commentary of the audio guide available in different languages. Historical Route- Red Line Stops 1) Acquario 2) Garibaldi 3) De Ferrari 4) Brignole Train Station 5) Via XX Settembre 6) Carignano 7) Corvetto 8) Portello - Spianata Castelletto 9) Principe Train Station 10) Cruise Terminal 11) Mei Coastline Route - Blue Line Stops 1) Acquario 2) Garibaldi 3) De Ferrari 4) Piazza della Vittoria 5) Boccadasse 6) Levante Water Front - upon request 7) Via XX Settembre 8) Galleria Mazzini 9) Portello- Spianata Castelletto 10) Principe Train Station 11) Cruise Terminal

Admire breathtaking views of the Ligurian coast from the sea on this tour from Genoa to Portofino. Leave from the Genoa's Porto Antico and spend free time soaking up the quaint features of Portofino and its extraordinary harbor before returning to Genoa. Check-in at the ticket office which is conveniently located next to the Genoa Aquarium in the late morning. Set off in a comfortable and spacious boat. Relax on the way to Portofino with views of the Italian Riviera's azure waters and picturesque villages. Arrive at Portofino around noon and have two hours to purchase a tasty lunch, stroll along the pastel-colored houses, or to visit the Piazzetta which is a cobbled square with spectacular views of the harbor. Capture pictures of the 16th-century Castello Brown. Bid farewell to Portofino and return take in the lush coast on the way back to your meeting point in Genoa's bustling Porto Antico.

Immerse yourself in the largest aquatic biodiversity exhibition in Europe. Stroll through the world's most fascinating seas and waters as you discover the ocean and enjoy an unforgettable experience. In spectacular settings, enjoy new thematic itineraries to get to know all the secrets, curiosities, and details of a place that never ceases to surprise and excite. Enrich your visit with lunch at the Tender Cafè, which is a fast food bar inside the Aquarium of Genoa which has a splendid terrace overlooking the port of Genoa.Lunch is sandwich (baby sandwich in child's menù) and chips. Lunch also includes 1 drink of your choice (0,40l Adult menù - 0,30l child menu).

Join a cetacean-watching boat tour in the Pelagos Sanctuary with a marine biologist guide. See the marine animals in their natural habitat and learn about their species, habits, behavior, and more. Upon arrival, receive an introductory briefing about the Pelagos Sanctuary from your expert marine biologist guide. Learn more about its history, conservation programs, and the species that populate it, including fin whales, sperm whales, Cuvier’s beaked whales, bottlenose dolphins, and many more. Set sail on the open sea and reach some of the most favorable locations to spot various species of marine mammals in their natural habitat. Wait in anticipation of spotting a distant breach, or a jump that announces the arrival of a pod of dolphins. In full compliance with non-disturbance directives, approach the aquatic mammals by boat and see them frolicking in their natural habitat. Learn more about the curiosities of the species from your expert biologist guide, including their diet and mannerisms. After admiring the jumps or breaches, go in search of other marine species within the sanctuary. Feel free to ask the guides plenty of questions and learn about the important work being undertaken to protect native marine life.

Enjoy an entry ticket to The City of Children and Young Museum in Genova. Walk through this museum and heighten your senses as you play and interact with art and colorful digital technology that will take you on a journey to discover yourself. Discover a world of pure imagination. Enter all interactive rooms any route you like. Marvel at the kaleidoscope of brightly colored, mind-blowing optical illusions and test your senses as you walk through this extraordinary museum.  Smell, see, touch, hear and taste your way through this exhibition. Listen to sound waves, see shapes, play with reflections and mirrors, find out all about taste buds, and touch the eye-catching displays. Walk around and take selfies at the 3D nose, the lollipop displays, or whatever tickles your fancy; these photos will surely get you lots of Instagram likes.  Experience an unforgettable, fun day out for all the family that will take over your imagination. 

A fun traveling exhibition dedicated to the fascinating world of optical illusions. An exhibition able to excite and surprise all visitors thanks to more than 70 optical illusions, combinations of art, architecture, elements of psychology, physics and optics. An interactive exhibition that will entertain visitors by putting their senses and minds to the test, managing to make anyone doubt their perceptions. Interactive exhibition where you can learn while having fun. Impress your friends with amazing photos!

Enjoy two of Genoa's top attractions with this combined entry ticket for the Aquarium of Genoa and the City of Children and Youth. Find the perfect entertainment for your whole family in Italy's largest aquarium, and explore a play area with over 3,000 square meters devoted to children's activities. At the City of Children and Youth, enter an exhibition that uses the "Five Senses" as a tool to transmit knowledge and have fun, guiding children and teenagers on a journey to discover themselves and the world through multisensory adventures. Enjoy a colorful environment with 5 rooms dedicated to the 5 senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Spend time in spaces dedicated to interactive experiences, with no set route — move from room to room as you please to explore your senses. Next, immerse yourself in the largest exhibition of aquatic biodiversity in Europe. Discover 600 animal species, from the rarest manatees to popular marine mammals like dolphins. Experience new thematic itineraries to learn about all the secrets of the underwater world. Witness a shark tank with holographic effects. See white lacquered walls designed to look like ice as you learn about the harsh conditions of the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic areas. Observe gentoo penguins and magellanic penguins in the Ice Kingdom that mimics the climate of the Falkland Islands. Visit 2 renovated areas in the Aquarium of Genoa dedicated to the conservation and recovery of animals in difficulty or rescued by the authorities from dangerous situations and entrusted to the aquarium.

Immerse yourself in the enchanting underwater world of the Genoa Aquarium, the largest aquarium in Europe, where marine creatures of every shape and color welcome you to a magical environment. Through transparent tanks, you'll admire majestic sharks, vibrant fish, and extraordinarily recreated marine environments. The Aquarium offers an exciting journey through the world's oceans, providing an educational and engaging experience for all ages. After this underwater adventure, treat yourself to a gastronomic break in a historic Genoese Focacceria, where the tradition of focaccia reaches perfection. Taste a freshly baked focaccias, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, expertly prepared according to recipes passed down through generations. The experience is complete with the blend of the marine wonder of the Genoa Aquarium and the enveloping flavors of focaccia, offering you an unforgettable day of discovery, excitement, and culinary delights.

Visit the wonderful Genoese residences of the XVI century and join this guided tour (in Italian and English with a bilingual guide) of the Rolli Palaces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A guided tour of some of the most sumptuous residences built by the aristocratic Genoese families during the so-called “ Secolo d’Oro“ (“The Golden Century”), between the 16th and 17th century. The System of the "Palazzi dei Rolli" includes splendid palaces with open staircases, courtyards and loggias overlooking gardens. The palaces, positioned at different levels, were part of a network of public hospitality houses for state visits, as decreed by the Senate of the Republic of Genoa in 1576. The “Rolli” (named from the parchment rolls in which the palaces were inscribed) were subdivided into three “bussoli”, balloting lists, where the palaces were registered according to their richness and dimension. Lots were drawn to decide which palace would have the privilege - and the duty - of playing host to visiting state dignitaries. The first “bussolo” was for cardinals, princes and viceroys, the second for large scale landowners and third for princes of lesser standing and ambassadors: the first example of hôtellerie in Europe. The “Rolli” were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006. These exclusive and elegantly decorated residences did not escape the eye of a fine artist as the great Flemish painter Rubens, who at the beginning of the 17th century published a book collecting the drawings of these buildings as a residential model for the Antwerp nobility. Experience a piece of Italy's extravagant Golden Century in Genoa.