Genoa City Guide And Airport Transfer Service

Genoa, the capital city of Liguria in Italy, houses Europe’s most thriving seaport, Gothic architectural structures, and ancient art and culture. It has borne the harsh impacts of many battles and wars, including World War II. Genoa, also known as Genova, is the sixth largest city in Italy; it has a 30 km long coast at the Ligurian sea and covers 243 square kilometres up to the Apennine Mountain range. Though this ancient city offers several beautiful sights for every kind of tourist, it is not known to many around the world. The underrated city of Genoa is a gem that one must definitely add to their list when visiting Italy.

 "Arsenal" - shipbuilding mega-factory   |  Click by TeaMeister from Flickr

During ancient times, Genoa witnessed conflicts and battles, especially the port which suffered huge losses. It was under the reigns of the Romans, Carthaginians, Carolingians, and Flavius Belisarius among others since the 4th Century and finally gained independence during the 11th Century. And ever since, the city has only flourished through all the hardships and miseries.

Port of  Genoa   |   Click by N i c o l a from Flickr

The primary industry in Genoa is shipbuilding; others produce iron and steel, petroleum, locomotives, textiles, sugar, paper, cement,  fertilisers, chemicals, electrical railway and marine equipment. Shipbuilding is also an important business worldwide. Genoa is a significant hub for banking and commerce. The port, which is the principal source of revenue for the city, has the highest volume of both passenger and freight traffic among all Italian ports. It mainly handles grain, imports crude oil, olive oil, coal, cotton and silk textiles; and exports fine wine.

Genoa offers a bunch of tourist attractions that the world doesn't know about. The Cathedral of San Lorenzo, Santi Ambrogio e Andrea and Piazza Matteotti, the Via Garibaldi palaces, and the Port of Genoa proudly stand to depict the history of Genoa. A visit to the Acquario di Genova Aquarium, The Museum of the Sea- Galata Maritime Museum, and the Royal Palace Museum will simply take up most of the day. Genoese food is what makes the city even more lively! Creamy Pesto, a variety of fresh seafood, Focaccia, Farinata, and Vegetable Pies, are all lip-smacking dishes which are a treat to the taste buds.

The city is full of historical monuments, seaports, ships and boats, its lanes boast restaurants and cafes that serve delicious Genoese food and the people here are equally welcoming.

Book Your Airport Transfers in Genoa

One might think that transportation in Genoa must be inconvenient considering its location. But surprisingly, the coastal city has several forms of transportation. Public transport like city buses, elevators, funiculars, subways, and private cabs and taxi transfers take tourists everywhere in and around the city.

The public transport in Genoa offers a variety of ways to travel around the city; it is managed by AMT (Azienda Mobilità e Trasporti). City buses are the most frequently used transportation in Genoa.

Car, Genoa      |      Click by EarlRShumaker from Flickr

Public transport: Though walking is the most suitable form of transport to enjoy the true spirit of the coastal city of Genoa, there are a bunch of public transportation that makes it the second best form to travel.

There are more than 140 bus lines that run throughout the city. The buses that run around the city are the most extensive; the tickets are valid for 90 minutes that are available on the newsstands.  On-demand ‘Drinbus’ services are on frequent rides during the day and in some crowded areas in the evenings as well. These buses halt at a fixed number of stops that depend upon the number of bookings and area. To visit all the historical monuments and port areas in Genoa, buses make the most flexible way of transport because of their frequent rides. 

The city also has a subway line recognized by a red M. It has 8 stops that are:

1. Brin
2. Dinegro
3. Principe (at Principe railway station)
4. Darsena
5. San Giorgio
6. Sarzano/Sant'Agostino
7. De Ferrari
8. Brignole (at Brignole railway station)

Subway tickets are available at the automatic ticket machines and just like bus tickets, they are valid for 90 minutes.

Train, Genoa      |        Click by Maurizio Boi from Flickr

Genoa has 2 funiculars (Sant'Anna and Zecca-Righi) connecting the city's core to Genoa's mountainous terrain. The Zeca-Righi funicular railway line on the Righi hill of Genoa connects to several stations in the city. Along with funicular the city also has elevators that the locals use to go atop the mountain to visit all the scenic points.

Due to the city's congested lanes and the popularity of other kinds of transportation, cabs and taxis are less common. But with time, taxi rides have become more frequent. The local Radio Taxis that are recognized by the yellow and white badge on the doors can be hailed on the streets or found at the bus and railway stations anytime. The regular taxi rates range between 7 euros to 50 euros according to the distance. Private taxi trips, taxi transfers, and airport transfers have become quite popular in the city with the number of tourists increasing. A taxi trip to visit all the famous attractions in the city is the easiest way of sightseeing.

Genoa Airport Transfers and Private Taxis Services

The only international airport in Genoa is the Genoa City Airport. It is locally known as Christopher Columbus Airport (Via Pionieri e Aviatori d'Italia, 1, 16154 Genova GE, Italy). This airport is built on an artificial peninsula. Building an airport in a coastal area was undoubtedly a tough row to hoe but there was no other option considering the business the city was making in the initial years.

Train, Genoa      |     Click by Jeremy Segrott from Flickr