Two days in Genoa, from palaces to the sea
For a first visit to Genoa, give yourself time for two contrasting settings: the narrow lanes of the historic centre and the waterfront opening onto the sea. Spend day one between De Ferrari, San Lorenzo and Porto Antico. On day two, start with art on Via Garibaldi and finish in Boccadasse if the weather allows. The route avoids placing every museum in one day. Visitors who want a deeper palace visit can move Boccadasse to a third day. Distances that look short may take longer once slopes and stops are included, so adjust the walking sections to your own pace.
Airport and railway connections
The airport’s official information describes Volabus as a connection through the centre and main railway stations taking approximately half an hour. Allow extra time for baggage collection and the next departure; this is not a promise of reaching your hotel thirty minutes after landing. Airlink is a different option, connecting the airport with Sestri Ponente Aeroporto railway station. Check whether your chosen ticket covers the airport leg rather than assuming that a city transport product includes it. When arriving by train, note whether your booking names Brignole or Piazza Principe. Save the full station name for your return journey and confirm actual departures with the operator.
From De Ferrari to San Lorenzo
Begin around Piazza De Ferrari. Taking in the surroundings of Palazzo Ducale and Carlo Felice before heading towards San Lorenzo gives a useful transition from a broad square to the tighter streets beyond. Pause opposite the cathedral to study its striped façade. This itinerary uses the exterior as its landmark; check separate arrangements for worship, indoor visits and special areas if you wish to enter. A short coffee break between streets gives the morning a more comfortable rhythm than continually moving to the next photograph.
Finding your way through the lanes
Part of the pleasure of the historic centre lies in finding another passage at almost every turn. If you have a fixed appointment, however, mark a point where you can return to a main street. The lanes known as caruggi are better explored through short detours than treated as one straight corridor. Leave larger bags at your accommodation before exploring. When stopping for a picture, keep doorways and passageways clear. Spending longer in a few streets often reveals more than trying to cover every alley on the map.
Palazzo San Giorgio and Porto Antico
As you approach the waterfront from San Lorenzo, the exterior of Palazzo San Giorgio makes a useful stop. Treat it as a point connecting city and harbour rather than a guaranteed palace interior visit. Continue into Porto Antico and give yourself room to sit, watch the water and regain your bearings after the enclosed streets. With children, a shorter waterfront walk followed by an early meal can be enough for the afternoon.
If you wish to add the aquarium or another ticketed attraction, reserve a separate block of time for it. This guide does not claim opening hours or ticket inclusion for those businesses. Adding an indoor visit means that you may need to shorten the outdoor route; there is no reason to preserve every stop at the expense of enjoying the day. In windy weather, return towards the centre and reconsider the seaside portion tomorrow. If you want to stop at your hotel before dinner, include that return walk in the schedule rather than treating it as spare time.
Via Garibaldi and the museum visit
The Strada Nuova Museums link Palazzo Rosso, Bianco and Tursi. Their calendar for 28 September 2026–18 April 2027 gives 10am–6:30pm, with admission ending one hour earlier. Only Rosso opens on Mondays; 25 December is closed. At the 9 October check, Rosso’s lift was temporarily unavailable, so visitors unable to use stairs should discuss access before coming. During Rolli Days, admission follows a reserved guided route. Check your actual date before planning around normal entry. A generous morning allocation also makes it easier to look at works properly instead of continually moving towards the next room.
A seaside break in Boccadasse
Use the rest of day two for Boccadasse if weather and energy permit. The colourful houses around its small waterfront show a different side of Genoa from the palace streets. Do not treat it as a neighbouring stop reached in a few steps after leaving the museum. Check the current public transport route or allow enough time for a longer walk. Simply sitting with the view can be a worthwhile purpose for the visit. Keep a margin for returning to the centre if dinner is booked there.
Staying at Bristol Palace
Hotel Bristol Palace is a specific central option at Via XX Settembre 35. The hotel highlights its proximity to De Ferrari metro station. Drivers should request current arrival instructions in advance; the published valet-garage hours are 8am to 11pm, so an overnight arrival may need a different arrangement. Compare breakfast inclusion, cancellation conditions and room categories separately before booking. A central location is useful if you want a short rest during the day, but it is only one part of the decision. Weigh the total price against the services you actually need rather than choosing on location alone.
A full dinner at Ristorante Giotto
Ristorante Giotto, at the same address, publishes daily lunch service from 12:30pm to 2:30pm and dinner from 7pm to 10:30pm. Its official dinner menu includes a Ligurian-style fish main with pumpkin, potatoes, Taggiasca olives and pine nuts, prepared using Pigato wine. This provides a substantial meal after walking. Ask which fish is available that day and whether the preparation meets your dietary needs. Seasonal menus can change, so the linked dish is a checked example rather than an availability guarantee. Inform the restaurant if you are delayed, and leave time between the museum and dinner for a relaxed return.
Before setting out
Set the fixed parts of the itinerary first: museum date, dinner time and departure transport. Then fit the exterior walks around them. If Monday is your only museum day, adjust expectations to the Rosso-only arrangement instead of promising yourself all three palaces. If the weather is poor, keep the second afternoon in the centre and give the art visit more time. Comfortable footwear matters more here than a tightly timed list of landmarks. Save the hotel address and railway station offline, and check the operator notices shortly before leaving so that your route reflects the day you are actually travelling.
Sources: Genoa Airport, Visit Genoa, Strada Nuova Museums, Bristol Palace, Ristorante Giotto. Checked on 9 October 2026.