A seaside town with a thousand facets, boasting a long and glorious history: from the narrow alleys to the stately palaces, from the baroque churches to the small squares, Genoa is a continuous surprise for the attentive visitor. After all, it was Fabrizio de Andrè who said that “apart from the wide expanse of the sea, it is a city of ups and downs, made of narrow streets and curves, thus a city that constantly surprises you.” For this reason, creating a short list of things to see in Genoa in a day is not at all simple. Even the most diligent visitor, with the most intelligent itinerary from morning to evening, will end up excluding many attractions of the Ligurian capital. Sometimes, however, it is not possible to do otherwise: here are the attractions to see in Genoa in a day.

Genoa in a Day: A Proven Itinerary

The Old Port

The discovery of Genoa can only start from its waterfront. Here, around our tourist port, you can find museums, cultural centers, shopping galleries, bars, restaurants, and attractions of all kinds, in every season. Undoubtedly among the main attractions are the grand Galeone Neptune, the famous Bigo built for the 1992 expo, and the maritime museum Galata.

The Genoa Aquarium

The most well-known attraction of the Old Port is certainly the Aquarium, which deserves a separate mention. Showcasing to visitors of all ages sharks, manatees, moray eels, seals, and many other animals from every corner of the world, this enormous aquarium is rightly famous internationally. A quick visit requires between 2 and 3 hours – although it must be said that one could spend entire days here!

Cathedral of San Lorenzo

After the Aquarium, it’s time to leave the sea behind and venture into the narrow alleys of the Old Town, to get a little lost among these picturesque medieval streets. The destination to reach, without haste, is the Cathedral of San Lorenzo. It’s impossible not to recognize it at first glance: tall and massive, it is built with white and black marble, and boasts two decidedly photogenic large lions. The cathedral of the Genoese amazes outside and even more inside, especially in its right nave, where an exact copy of an unexploded bomb from 1941 is preserved, a memory of one of the fiercest attacks suffered by Genoa during the world conflict.

Piazza De Ferrari

A few steps from the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, Piazza de Ferrari can be considered the heart of the town, and is easily recognizable by the large bronze fountain. Here it is worth lingering to admire the buildings overlooking the square, such as the Palazzo Ducale, the seat of the dogate of the ancient Republic, the Teatro Carlo Felice, as reconstructed after World War II, and the Stock Exchange building, the best example of Liberty style in Genoa.

Garibaldi Street

A visit is certainly also deserved by Via Garibaldi, the so-called “Strada Nuova,” home to the museum route dedicated to ancient art. This street connects three historic residences now owned by the municipality, namely Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco, and Palazzo Doria Tursi. Together with Via Balbi, Lomellini, and San Luca, Via Garibaldi is the reference point for the fantastic Palazzi dei Rolli, the stunning residences of the Genoese nobility between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

The Lantern of Genoa

So far, the entire itinerary to see Genoa in a day has taken place within a few hundred meters, perfect for a day on foot. To conclude the day in the best way, one could finally aim for a destination outside the historic center, namely the Lantern of Genoa, not coincidentally the symbol of the town. This historic tower rises above everything with its 77 meters in height, atop a small hill: by climbing 172 steps, it is possible to reach the top of the lighthouse, to enjoy a unique and dizzying view of the port of Genoa and the town.