Genoa is one of the busiest cruise home ports in the Mediterranean and a key embarkation port for MSC Cruises. Ships berth at the historic Stazioni Marittime, right next to the old town and Piazza Principe station, so the proud maritime capital of Liguria — with its UNESCO-listed palaces, medieval alleys and famous pesto and focaccia — is well worth a day before or after your cruise.
What to Do in a Day in Genoa
Arrive a day early or stay on after disembarkation to explore one of Europe's largest medieval old towns, a maze of narrow alleys called caruggi. Walk along Via Garibaldi, lined with the Renaissance Palazzi dei Rolli (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), visit the striped San Lorenzo Cathedral and Piazza De Ferrari, then head down to Porto Antico for the Aquarium of Genoa, one of the largest in Europe. Try focaccia and trofie al pesto, and end the day in the colourful fishing village of Boccadasse. With more time, Portofino, Camogli and the Cinque Terre are easy day trips along the coast.
The tours below are not organized by the cruise lines. Bookings are made directly with GetYourGuide and you are responsible for getting back to the ship on time. If you prefer the cruise line's guarantee, contact our travel advisors after booking.
Cruise Port Address
Genoa Airport (GOA)
Genoa's Cristoforo Colombo Airport is about 7 km west of the cruise terminal. The Volabus runs between the airport and Genova Piazza Principe station in about 20–30 minutes, and the terminal is a short walk from there. A taxi takes about 15–20 minutes either way. Milan Malpensa (MXP), Linate (LIN) and Bergamo (BGY) are 2–2.5 hours away by car or train.
Old Town (Porto Antico & Piazza De Ferrari)
Porto Antico, the old harbour with the Aquarium, is about 1.5 km from Ponte dei Mille — around 20 minutes on foot along the waterfront in either direction. The metro links Principe station with De Ferrari, in the heart of the old town, in under 10 minutes. Via Garibaldi and the alleys of the historic centre start just a few minutes beyond Principe.
Genova Piazza Principe Station
Piazza Principe, Genoa's closest station to the cruise port, is about 5–10 minutes on foot from the Stazioni Marittime via a covered walkway. Trains run between Principe and Milan in about 1.5–2 hours, and regional trains connect it with Santa Margherita Ligure (for Portofino) and the Cinque Terre along the Riviera.
Genoa Weather by Month
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. High °C | 12° | 13° | 15° | 18° | 21° | 25° | 28° | 28° | 25° | 21° | 16° | 13° |
| Rainfall mm | 🌧️ 105 mm | 🌦️ 86 mm | 🌧️ 103 mm | 🌦️ 89 mm | 🌦️ 70 mm | 🌤️ 47 mm | ☀️ 19 mm | 🌦️ 69 mm | 🌧️ 117 mm | ⛈️ 157 mm | ⛈️ 166 mm | 🌦️ 99 mm |
Available cruises
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Frequently Asked Questions
Genoa is one of MSC Cruises' main home ports in the Mediterranean, with departures to the western Mediterranean all year round. Costa Cruises is headquartered in Genoa but its ships mostly depart from nearby Savona, while other cruise lines call at Genoa as a stop on some itineraries.
Yes. Stazioni Marittime, the terminal operator, runs official cruise parking right at the terminals, bookable online in advance, and several private garages nearby offer covered parking or key drop-off with a shuttle to the ship. Prices depend on the length of your cruise and spaces fill up in summer, so book ahead. By car, the Genova Ovest motorway exit takes you almost directly to the port.
Many travellers fly to one of the Milan airports, which usually have more flights than Genoa. Trains run between Milano Centrale and Genova Piazza Principe in about 1.5–2 hours, and the cruise terminal is a short walk from Principe station. By car or transfer, Milan to Genoa takes about 2 hours.