Genoa travel guide - where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Genoa, Liguria, Italy.
Accommodation overview
Genoa offers hotels across every budget, from hostels and small guesthouses in the caruggi to grand four- and five-star hotels near Principe station and on Via XX Settembre. The most useful bases are the Centro Storico and Porto Antico for sightseeing, the Principe and Via Balbi area for trains and cruise ships, Brignole and De Ferrari for business and shopping, and the eastern seaside districts of Albaro, Boccadasse and Nervi for a quieter stay. The western Pegli and Sestri Ponente areas suit airport and beach stays. Hostels and budget hotels cluster around Principe, Via Balbi, Via XX Settembre and Brignole, while the highest-end properties sit around Piazza Principe, Via Corsica and Piazza San Lorenzo.
- Budget
- EUR 20-110/night (~$23-127), including hostel dorm beds from about EUR 20-25 (~$23-29)
- Mid-range
- EUR 70-200/night (~$81-230)
- Luxury
- EUR 150+/night (~$173+)
- Where to stay
- Centro Storico or De Ferrari for sightseeing; Principe or Brignole for trains; Nervi or Albaro for seaside quiet
Hotels by budget
Find accommodation that fits your travel budget.
Budget-friendly
Hotel Olympia
Two-star hotel on Via XX Settembre, a few minutes' walk from Brignole station and Piazza De Ferrari.
Check rates on Booking.comAlbergo Novecento
Small guesthouse with 8 rooms about 5 minutes on foot from Brignole station. Reception runs 09:00-21:00.
Check rates on Booking.comAlbergo Caffaro
Long-established central hotel on Via Caffaro, operating for over 70 years and under new management since September 2022.
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One-star hotel in the Foce district east of Brignole station.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Fieramare
One-star hotel on Corso Torino in the Foce area, east of Brignole station.
Check rates on Booking.comB&B Hotel Genova Principe
Budget-chain hotel on Piazza Acquaverde in front of Genova Piazza Principe station, beside the Columbus monument.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Agnello d'Oro
Three-star hotel in Vico delle Monachette near Piazza Principe, on the edge of the Via Balbi university quarter.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Nuovo Nord
Two-star hotel on Via Balbi, the street of the Balbi, Durazzo and Reale palaces, a short walk from Principe station. Guest rating 8.6/10 on Trip.com.
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Hotel with 37 renovated rooms on Piazza della Nunziata in the historic centre.
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Three-star hotel on Via Cantore in Sampierdarena, west of the centre.
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One-star hotel on Via San Pier d'Arena in Sampierdarena, west of the centre.
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Two-star hotel in a villa with a garden in Nervi, close to the Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi, the Parchi di Nervi and the Galleria d'Arte Moderna.
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Three-star hotel in Quarto near the Gaslini hospital, with a conference room.
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Small three-star hotel in Albaro, a short walk from the beaches at Boccadasse and Sturla.
Check rates on Booking.comRex Hotel Residence
Three-star residence-style hotel in Albaro near the seafront at Boccadasse.
Check rates on Booking.comManena Hostel
Hostel in the former Sestiere della Maddalena in the historic alleys, near Via Garibaldi and the Porto Antico. Breakfast and linen are included.
Check rates on Booking.comOStellin Hostel Genova
Hostel with three dorms and four private rooms, 5 minutes on foot from Piazza De Ferrari and Via Garibaldi.
Check rates on Booking.comMarathon Hostel
Large hostel of 150 beds across three floors, a few minutes' walk from Piazza De Ferrari and from Brignole and Principe stations.
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Hostel on the third floor of an early 1900s building about 5 minutes from Brignole station and 2 minutes from the Mercato Orientale.
Check rates on Booking.comOstello Bello Genova
Hostel on Via Balbi a few minutes from Piazza Principe station, with a bar, lounge and optional buffet breakfast at EUR 9.90 per person.
Check rates on Booking.comOstello per la Gioventu Genova
Youth hostel on the hillside about 1 km from the Righi funicular terminus, reliant on buses to reach the centre. Reported as closed midday 11:30-14:30.
Check rates on Booking.comOstello SuGenova
Hostel on the Salita Nuova di Nostra Signora del Monte, on the hills east of the centre.
Check rates on Booking.comB&B Helvetia Suite
Apartment on Via Cairoli sleeping five, with breakfast at Hotel Helvetia about 200 m away. About 5 minutes from Darsena metro station.
Check rates on Booking.comFlair House B&B
Small bed and breakfast on Via Caffaro in the centre.
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Guesthouse on Via Caffaro in the northern part of the centre.
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Self-contained apartments on Via Mira in the Foce district, east of Brignole.
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Bed and breakfast on a stepped salita in the Castelletto hillside, a few minutes from the centre.
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Bed and breakfast on Via Gropallo, a few minutes' walk from Genova Brignole station.
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Bed and breakfast on Piazza San Giorgio at the edge of the Old Port and the Sottoripa arcades.
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Bed and breakfast on Via San Lorenzo, a few steps from the cathedral and the Porto Antico.
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Bed and breakfast in Vico del Piombo in the historic centre, between Via Garibaldi and Via Cairoli.
Check rates on Booking.comMid-range
Hotel Continental Genova
Four-star hotel with 44 rooms, about a minute's walk from Piazza Principe station and close to the cruise terminal.
Check rates on Booking.comBest Western Hotel Metropoli
Hotel on Piazza Fontane Marose among 16th-century palaces, within walking distance of Palazzo Ducale, Palazzo Reale, Teatro Carlo Felice and the Aquarium.
Check rates on Booking.comBest Western Plus City Hotel
Four-star hotel a short walk from Piazza De Ferrari, Teatro Carlo Felice and Palazzo Ducale, with a 24-hour fitness area.
Check rates on Booking.comBest Western Hotel Moderno Verdi
Four-star hotel on Piazza Verdi directly beside Genova Brignole station, with a short walk to Via XX Settembre.
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Four-star chain hotel on Via Martin Piaggio in central Genoa, a short walk from Brignole station.
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Hotel in Palazzo Lomellini, a 16th-century Palazzo dei Rolli on Via Cairoli, about 100 m from the Porto Antico.
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Hotel in a narrow alley (caruggio) of the historic centre, with a rooftop terrace. Guest scores average 8.7/10 on Booking.com and 4.6/5 on Google.
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Three-star hotel in the medieval centre near Palazzo Ducale, the cathedral and the Old Port.
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Hotel with 36 rooms on two floors of Palazzo Zuccarino-Cerruti, a neo-Baroque building by Gino Coppede restored in 2016. Breakfast costs EUR 13 per person.
Check rates on Booking.comComfort Hotel Europa
Three-star hotel in a side alley next to Via Balbi, a few minutes from Piazza Principe station.
Check rates on Booking.comHoliday Inn Genoa City
IHG four-star hotel on Via Milano, about 1 km west of Piazza Principe, with meeting facilities.
Check rates on Booking.comTower Genova Airport Hotel & Conference Center
Four-star airport hotel in Sestri Ponente near Genova Cristoforo Colombo Airport, with a conference centre.
Check rates on Booking.comBest Western Premier CHC Airport
Best Western Premier hotel in Sestri Ponente, close to the Cristoforo Colombo Airport terminal.
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Three-star hotel in an old castle on the Pegli seafront with direct access to a public beach. The Navebus boat takes under 30 minutes to the Porto Antico.
Check rates on Booking.comGrand Hotel Mediterranee
Seafront hotel in Pegli with about 90 rooms, roughly 200 m from Pegli railway station.
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Modern four-star hotel on Corso Europa between Quarto and Nervi. One booking listing showed about USD 109-129 per night in low season.
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Three-star hotel in a residential part of Albaro, within walking distance of Boccadasse, Vernazzola and Sturla.
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Hotel Bristol Palace
Historic Liberty-style hotel on Via XX Settembre, Genoa's main shopping street, with an elliptical marble staircase and a restaurant with a terrace. About 400 m from Piazza De Ferrari.
Check rates on Booking.comGrand Hotel Savoia Genova, Curio Collection by Hilton
Five-star grand hotel beside Piazza Principe station, a short walk from the cruise terminal, Via Balbi's palaces and the Old Port.
Check rates on Booking.comMelia Genova
Five-star hotel on Via Corsica between Piazza della Vittoria and the Foce district, with a spa. Brignole station is about 1 km away.
Check rates on Booking.comStarhotels President
Four-star business hotel with 188 rooms and suites in the Corte Lambruschini complex opposite Genova Brignole station.
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Four-star hotel with 140 rooms on the Ponte Calvi pier, most with harbour views. The Aquarium and the Porto Antico are a short walk away.
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Boutique accommodation in a 16th-century palace on Piazza San Lorenzo, facing the cathedral. Breakfast is not included and there is no parking.
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Four-star hotel with 25 rooms in a historic palace on Piazza delle Vigne, in the medieval centre near Via Garibaldi and the Aquarium.
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Choose your base based on your interests and travel style.
Centro Storico (Caruggi) and Via Garibaldi
The UNESCO-listed historic centre around Piazza San Lorenzo, Via Garibaldi (Strada Nuova), Via Cairoli and Piazza delle Vigne, a maze of narrow alleys (caruggi) with Rolli palaces
Best for: First-time visitors who want to walk to the cathedral, Palazzo Ducale, museums and restaurants
Porto Antico (Old Port)
The Renzo Piano-redesigned harbour with the Aquarium, Bigo lift and Museo del Mare, plus the Ponte Calvi pier
Best for: Families, Aquarium visitors and short stays
Principe Station and Via Balbi
The area around Genova Piazza Principe, the cruise terminal and Via Balbi's palaces and university faculties, with the greatest concentration of budget hotels and hostels
Best for: Rail travellers, cruise passengers and budget stays
De Ferrari and Via XX Settembre
The heart of modern Genoa around Piazza De Ferrari, Teatro Carlo Felice and Via XX Settembre's shops and Liberty-style buildings
Best for: Shoppers, business travellers and anyone wanting a central base
Brignole, Foce and Fiera
Hotels around Genova Brignole station, Corte Lambruschini and Via Corsica, near the Foce seafront and the Fiera di Genova exhibition centre
Best for: Fair visitors, rail travellers to the Levante coast and longer stays
Albaro, Boccadasse and Sturla
A quiet east-side residential quarter close to the fishing hamlet of Boccadasse and the small beaches of Vernazzola and Sturla
Best for: Travellers wanting local atmosphere and sea access away from the centre
Nervi
A former resort town at Genoa's eastern end with the Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi cliff walk and the Parchi di Nervi
Best for: Walkers, couples and visitors who want villas and parks
Pegli
A western seafront district with a long promenade and public beaches, reached by train or the Navebus boat to the Porto Antico
Best for: Beach stays and quieter evenings
Sestri Ponente and the Airport
Hotels near Genova Cristoforo Colombo Airport
Best for: Early flights and late arrivals
Sampierdarena
West of Principe, with old Rolli-era villas and several budget hotels
Best for: Budget stays away from the tourist centre
Our top picks
Handpicked recommendations for every type of traveler.
Hotel Bristol Palace
Historic Liberty-style hotel on Via XX Settembre, Genoa's main shopping street, with an elliptical marble staircase and a restaurant with a terrace. About 400 m from Piazza De Ferrari.
Check rates on Booking.comGrand Hotel Savoia Genova, Curio Collection by Hilton
Five-star grand hotel beside Piazza Principe station, a short walk from the cruise terminal, Via Balbi's palaces and the Old Port.
Check rates on Booking.comMelia Genova
Five-star hotel on Via Corsica between Piazza della Vittoria and the Foce district, with a spa. Brignole station is about 1 km away.
Check rates on Booking.comStarhotels President
Four-star business hotel with 188 rooms and suites in the Corte Lambruschini complex opposite Genova Brignole station.
Check rates on Booking.comNH Collection Genova Marina
Four-star hotel with 140 rooms on the Ponte Calvi pier, most with harbour views. The Aquarium and the Porto Antico are a short walk away.
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Boutique accommodation in a 16th-century palace on Piazza San Lorenzo, facing the cathedral. Breakfast is not included and there is no parking.
Check rates on Booking.comBooking tips
Get the best deals and avoid common mistakes.
Genoa fills up around the Salone Nautico (September-October), trade fairs at the Fiera di Genova and cruise turn-around days, so book several weeks ahead for those dates
Hotels near Principe and Brignole stations are the most convenient for day trips to Cinque Terre and Portofino, since both stations have regional train links
Most hotels collect the city tourist tax (imposta di soggiorno) per person per night at check-in, and it is often not included in the quoted price
The old centre is largely pedestrian: confirm luggage routes, lift access and the nearest garage with the hotel, since many centro storico buildings have steep stairs
Narrow-alley hotels can be noisy on weekend nights; request an upper-floor or courtyard room
Prices shown are typical approximate ranges from booking-site listings and vary by season and event dates
Alternative accommodations
Beyond traditional hotels, consider these options.
Guesthouses
Family-run guesthouses offer authentic local experiences and often include home-cooked meals. Great for cultural immersion.
Serviced apartments
Ideal for longer stays or families. Kitchen facilities help save money and provide flexibility.
Hostels
Budget-friendly option for solo travelers. Dorms and private rooms available with social common areas.