Top attractions in Genoa

It doesn’t find a place in most itineraries of Italy, but you’ll find many things to do in Genoa if you’re on the lookout for a quintessential Italian experience. The port city is very special indeed. It was home to the original wanderer—Christopher Columbus. Yet it’s overshadowed by other Italian cities such as Venice and Rome today. Genoa isn’t overwhelming or splendid but its typical Italian nature is what makes it special. There are no picture-perfect panoramas of the Amalfi Coast or stunning monuments of Rome here—instead there are dozens of rustic houses, quaint pasticcerias, scruffy alleyways, and hidden eateries. It provides a peek into the daily lives of Italian people and seduces visitors into giving up everything to live La Dolce Vita.