Liguria Attractions Guide 2026

Top attractions

The most popular and significant attractions in Liguria.

1. 1

   Acquario di Genova (Genoa Aquarium)

   attractionAdult €22-29 (approx $24-31), dynamic pricing · Child €16-20 ages 4-12 (approx $17-22), free under 42.5-3 hours

   The largest aquarium in Italy and one of the biggest in Europe, designed in part by Renzo Piano and opened for the 1992 Columbus Expo in Genoa's Old Port. It houses around 70 tanks and more than 12,000 animals across some 600 species, including sharks, dolphins, penguins and a Madagascar rainforest biosphere. The aquarium is open 365 days a year and uses dynamic, date-based pricing.

   Tip: Buy timed tickets online via acquariodigenova.it to lock in lower dynamic prices and skip the queue · The Wednesday afternoon offer from 2PM is the cheapest standard entry · Combine with the Galata Museo del Mare and submarine on a single combo ticket for better value

2. 2

   Palazzi dei Rolli and Via Garibaldi (Strada Nuova Museums)

   museumAdult €14 combined ticket (approx $15) · Child Free under 18 (EU citizens)2-3 hours

   Via Garibaldi, the 16th-century 'Strada Nuova', and its Palazzi dei Rolli were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006 for their concentration of aristocratic Renaissance and Baroque palaces. Three of them form the Musei di Strada Nuova: Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Bianco hold major collections with works by Van Dyck, Rubens, Caravaggio and Veronese, while Palazzo Tursi serves as Genoa's city hall and displays Paganini's violin, the 'Cannone'. A single combined ticket admits visitors to all three palaces.

   Tip: One combined ticket covers Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Tursi · Climb to the roof terrace (mirador) of Palazzo Rosso for free city views · Pick up the audioguide for context on the Rolli palace system

3. 3

   Cattedrale di San Lorenzo (Genoa Cathedral)

   landmarkAdult Cathedral free; Treasury €6 (approx $6.50) · Child Free under 1245 minutes-1 hour

   Genoa's striped black-and-white marble Romanesque-Gothic cathedral was consecrated in 1118 and dedicated to Saint Lawrence. Its Museo del Tesoro (Treasury) holds the Sacro Catino, a green glass dish long believed to be the Holy Grail, along with relics associated with Saint John the Baptist. An unexploded British naval shell from World War II still rests inside the nave as a reminder of the 1941 bombardment.

   Tip: The cathedral interior is free; the Treasury Museum requires a separate ticket · Look for the WWII shell that struck but failed to detonate in the right nave · Modest dress covering shoulders and knees is required

4. 4

   Palazzo Ducale Genova

   museumAdult Courtyards free; exhibitions approx €13 (approx $14) · Child Approx €4 ages 6-13 (approx $4.50), free under 61.5-2 hours

   The former residence of the Doges of the Republic of Genoa dates to the late 13th century and gained its Baroque facade in the 18th century. Today it is Genoa's principal cultural and exhibition center, hosting major international art shows throughout the year. The Torre Grimaldina, the building's former prison tower, can be climbed for views over the historic center, while the grand courtyards and atrium are free to walk through.

   Tip: The atrium and courtyards can be visited for free even without an exhibition ticket · Check palazzoducale.genova.it for the current temporary exhibition before visiting · Combine a tower climb of the Torre Grimaldina with the exhibition ticket where offered

5. 5

   Galata Museo del Mare

   museumAdult Museum €10; with submarine €17 (approx $11 / $18) · Child €7 ages 4-12 (approx $7.50), free under 42-3 hours

   The largest maritime museum in the Mediterranean is set in a former 17th-century arsenal in Genoa's Darsena district. Its highlights include a full-scale reconstructed Genoese galley, an extensive section on Italian emigration, and panoramic views from the rooftop Mirador. Moored outside is the WWII-era submarine Nazario Sauro (S 518), which visitors can board as a floating exhibit.

   Tip: Buy the combined ticket if you want to board the Nazario Sauro submarine · An Aquarium plus Galata plus submarine combo gives the best overall value · Don't miss the rooftop Mirador terrace for harbor views

6. 6

   Boccadasse

   landmarkAdult Free · Child Free1-1.5 hours

   Boccadasse is a historic former mariners' village within Genoa's elegant Albaro neighborhood, with origins possibly dating to the 11th century. Its tiny pebble cove is framed by pastel-colored fishermen's houses stacked against the cliff, making it one of the city's most photographed corners. The village sits at the eastern end of the seafront Corso Italia and is famous for its gelato shops.

   Tip: Walk the full length of Corso Italia from the city to reach Boccadasse on foot · Buy a gelato and eat it sitting on the pebble beach by the boats · Bus lines 31 and 41 connect the center to the village

7. 7

   La Lanterna (Genoa Lighthouse)

   landmarkAdult Approx €9 (approx $10) · Child Approx €8 reduced (approx $8.50)1-1.5 hours

   Standing 77 meters tall (and 117 meters above sea level), La Lanterna is one of the world's oldest working lighthouses, with origins around 1128 and the current tower dating to 1543. It is the enduring symbol of Genoa and is reached by a scenic walkway along the old harbor walls. An adjoining museum tells the city's maritime story, and visitors can climb to the first panoramic terrace.

   Tip: Access is mainly on weekends outside summer, so check lanternadigenova.com before going · The terrace closes in high wind or rough seas · Reach it via the panoramic walkway from the ferry terminal area

8. 8

   Spianata Castelletto Viewpoint

   landmarkAdult Free; lift requires a standard AMT transit ticket (approx €2 / $2.20) · Child Free30-45 minutes

   This pine-shaded esplanade, officially the Belvedere Luigi Montaldo, sits about 80 meters above Genoa's old town and offers one of the finest panoramas over the historic rooftops, the Old Port and La Lanterna in the distance. It occupies the site of the former Castelletto fortress, demolished in 1849. The viewpoint is most charmingly reached by a historic Art Nouveau public lift rising from Piazza del Portello.

   Tip: Take the Art Nouveau elevator up from Piazza del Portello using an AMT transit ticket · Sunset light over the old town and harbor is the photographer's favorite · Combine with a wander down through the Castelletto stairways into the centro storico

9. 9

   Cinque Terre National Park

   natureAdult Trekking Card from €7.50/day; Treno MS Card from €19.50/day (approx $8 / $21) · Child Trekking Card from €4.50 ages 4-11 (approx $5)1-2 days

   A UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1997, the Cinque Terre National Park protects five centuries-old fishing villages, dramatic terraced vineyards and a rugged stretch of the eastern Ligurian coast in La Spezia province. It is one of Italy's smallest yet most heavily visited national parks, linked end to end by the Cinque Terre Express regional train. Trail access requires a Cinque Terre Card during the paid season from mid-March to early November.

   Tip: Buy the Cinque Terre Treno MS Card if you plan to ride the train between villages all day · Check live trail status at parconazionale5terre.it as landslide closures are common · In winter the trails are free and no card is required

10. 10

    Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail)

    natureAdult Included with Cinque Terre Card from €7.50 (approx $8) · Child Reduced with Cinque Terre Card from €4.50 (approx $5)Half to full day for open sections

    The Sentiero Azzurro, trail number 592, is the classic coastal footpath linking the five villages of the Cinque Terre. Its most famous section, the Via dell'Amore between Riomaggiore and Manarola, reopened in August 2024 after years of closure. As of mid-2026 the Corniglia-Vernazza and Vernazza-Monterosso sections are open, while the Manarola-Corniglia section remains closed due to long-term landslide instability. A valid Cinque Terre Card is required to walk any section in the paid season.

    Tip: The central Manarola-Corniglia coastal section is closed long-term; detour by train or high trail · Wear proper hiking shoes as the path is uneven and exposed in places · Check the live trail map before setting out as sections close after rain

Attractions by category

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Hidden gems

Off-the-beaten-path attractions worth seeking out.

Practical information

What you need to know before you go.

Hours

Most museums open 9AM-7PM and many close on Mondays; villages, churches and viewpoints are generally always accessible

Fees

Museum entry typically €8-16, the Aquarium €22-29; villages, beaches and most churches are free, with some sites charging €2-10

Best Times

Late spring (May-June) and September for the best weather without peak summer crowds; early mornings to beat day-trippers in the Cinque Terre and Portofino

Booking

Book Acquario di Genova tickets online for lower dynamic prices, and buy a Cinque Terre Card before hiking the coastal trails

Tips for visiting attractions

Make the most of your sightseeing time.

Frequently asked questions