Getting Around Genoa: An Overview
Genoa is a dense, hilly port city, and its geography shapes how visitors move around it. The historic centre is one of the largest and most densely populated old towns in Europe, a warren of narrow lanes known as caruggi, while the city climbs into the surrounding hills. The good news for visitors is that nearly all the main attractions in the centre are within walking distance of each other or well served by public transport — so much so that a car is of little use in the city. Public transport is operated by AMT and generally runs until around 01:00.
Walking in the City Centre
Walking is the natural way to explore central Genoa. The old town's caruggi are best experienced on foot, and the main sights, the port area and the two central train stations are all connected by walkable routes. One practical caution: if you arrive at Principe station and plan to walk to the port, mapping apps will often route you through the vicoli toward Via del Pré. That route is very direct but can feel intimidating. A calmer alternative is to follow Via Balbi until you reach the roundabout with a large church on the left, then turn right onto Via delle Fontane, the main road leading to the port area.
Metro, Funiculars and Lifts
Genoa has an underground metro line that links the main square, Piazza De Ferrari, with the northwestern neighbourhood of Rivarolo. Along the way it serves the historical centre, the Porto Antico tourist area, Principe main train station and the ferry terminal at Dinegro — making it a useful spine for visitors moving between the centre, the waterfront and the station.
Because the city rises steeply from the sea, a network of public elevators and cable railways (funiculars) connects the centre with the hillside neighbourhoods. Two of these are worth riding for the views alone: the upper station of the Ascensore di Castelletto elevator and that of the Funicolare del Righi both offer astonishing panoramas over the city.
Buses and Trams
The bus network, run by AMT, covers the whole city. It can be somewhat confusing to navigate: some routes only run at certain times and are replaced at other times by similar routes with different numbers, so it is worth checking the specific routes and timetables you need in advance. In the historic centre, buses serve only certain important squares and streets rather than penetrating the narrow lanes.
Trenitalia suburban and regional trains also function as part of the local transport picture, running east–west along the coast and connecting the coastal neighbourhoods and suburbs with the centre. This is the most convenient way to reach peripheral districts or towns along the coastline.
Tickets and Passes
As is common in Italy, tickets are not sold on board — except at night or on Sundays, when they are available at an increased price. Normally you buy before boarding, at a newspaper kiosk, a tobacconist's or an underground station, and validate the ticket at a punching machine once on board the bus or on the platform of the metro, funicular or elevator.
The simplest option for many visitors is the AMT Genova app, which loads in English if that is your phone's language. Tickets can be bought through it with Apple Pay and similar methods without registering an account, and they are validated immediately with a countdown of the remaining validity. The app also provides full route and ticket information, though not route planning. One tip from experience: don't buy tickets before you actually need them.
A single ticket is valid for 110 minutes after validation for an unlimited number of journeys in any direction on most transport options — bus, metro, funicular, elevators and so on. The exceptions that require separate tickets are the Volabus airport bus, the Navebus ferry from Pegli to the city centre, the train to Casella, and bus 782 to Portofino. A 24-hour pass (METDaily) is also available, as is a group daily pass valid for four people; both must be validated at the start of your first ride. If you need a ticket at hours when tobacconists are closed, you can buy one by SMS: send a text reading "AMT" to the published number, and the reply message serves as your ticket, valid for 110 minutes.
AMT tickets and passes are also valid on Trenitalia trains within the city limits (Voltri and Nervi). On trains, a single ticket allows only one ride, and you must validate it again at the yellow punching machines at the stations — check the back of the ticket for the correct validating space marked "Trenitalia". If you travel outside the city limits, you need a separate Trenitalia ticket, bought at a counter or machine. It is wise to buy return tickets straight away, since minor stations often have no ticket counter and their machines may not work.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are available in the city, and the airport run in particular is subject to a fixed rate (with an extra fee for large groups and a per-person fee at night). The source material does not describe ride-hailing services in Genoa, so visitors should not assume they are widely available; taxis and public transport are the dependable options.
Driving and Parking
Locals will tell you that driving around the city is somewhat faster than public transport, traffic jams at rush hour notwithstanding — but once you arrive, you face the frustration of hunting for a parking spot that may not exist. Most locals have switched from cars to scooters, and even finding scooter parking has become difficult. Street parking is limited and subject to fees, so if you do drive into the city, head straight for a parking garage and hope it isn't full. Driving to the beach on a sunny weekend is best forgotten entirely; finding a spot within walking distance of the beach is a rare event. Use public transport instead.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA) has several daily flights from major European cities including Rome, London, Munich, Amsterdam, Paris and Madrid. From the airport it is fairly easy to rent a car or take a bus into the city centre.
- Volabus: the main airport bus, it drops off at the ferry terminal (Via Milano) and the two train stations. On the return journey it picks up only at the two train stations and near the metro at Piazza De Ferrari. It can only be boarded with the METDaily 24-hour ticket (€10), which can be bought on the bus — and that ticket is then valid for most public transport in the city for connections and exploring.
- Genova Airlink: connects only to the nearby railway station.
- Taxi: taxis from the airport to the city centre operate on a fixed rate, plus an extra fee for large groups and a per-person fee at night.
Arriving by Train
Genoa has two main train stations. Brignole serves most local routes and gives access to many bus lines. Principe serves local and long-distance trains, and some trains from Milan and beyond stop only there. Both are well connected to the metro and bus network, and both are stops on the Volabus route to and from the airport.