Segway tour Genoa caruggi: Medieval alleys on two wheels

Glide through Europe's largest medieval center without walking its steep stone passages

A guided Segway tour of Genoa's caruggi (medieval quarter) and Renaissance streets, lasting around 2.5 hours, with helmet, training and a live guide in English, Italian or French. The tour starts at Porto Antico near the sea, where you learn to ride on flat pedestrian ground, then moves through the old town's intricate alleys, past the Doge's Palace and Genoa Cathedral, and along Via Garibaldi's sixteenth-century buildings. Children under 16 cannot operate the Segway. Moderate fitness is required.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Genoa's historic center by Segway

• Learn Segway in Porto Antico area
• See Palazzo S. Giorgio
• Enter medieval old town square
• Pass through pedestrianized historic center
• Cross Via Garibaldi street
• Visit nineteenth-century iron gallery
• Arrive at Piazza de Ferrari
• Admire Palazzo Ducale
• Visit birthplace of Genoese navigator
• Pass medieval gate to Via di Ravecca
• See ancient church and cloister
• Visit lively square with restaurants and pubs
• View Genoa Cathedral
• Walk along Porto Antico seafront

The experience

You start at Porto Antico, the waterfront district a stone's throw from the sea, where the guide teaches you to handle the Segway on completely flat, pedestrian ground. This is where you get comfortable with the machine before moving into the narrow medieval streets. The training happens in the safest part of the route, so by the time you enter the caruggi (the thousand-year-old labyrinth of alleys that make up Europe's largest pedestrianized historical center) you're already steady on the platform.

From there, the route threads through the heart of Genoa's UNESCO World Heritage old town, passing Palazzo San Giorgio (the first bank in Europe) and moving deeper into the intricate network of medieval passages. You cross Via Garibaldi, one of Europe's most important roads, where sixteenth-century palaces and suspended gardens create an atmosphere that hasn't changed in centuries. The guide points out the hidden corners, the characteristic places, and the stories woven into the stone. You'll see the Doge's Palace, where the Genoese lords once ruled, and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo with its precious marbles and distinctive architecture. The route also takes you through Piazza de Ferrari, the heart of the historic center, ringed by the Carlo Felice Theater and elegant nineteenth-century buildings.

The tour ends back at Porto Antico, where you can see the whole port from the waterfront and spot the Galeone Neptune, the replica pirate ship that's been a movie star. The entire experience (training, riding, stops and all) fits into a morning or afternoon without eating your whole day. You'll wear a helmet and waterproof gear if rain comes. The guide handles the route and the timing, so you just follow and ride.

What’s included

• Guided tour led by a live guide speaking English, Italian or French.
• Segway rental and helmet.
• waterproof apparel if needed.
• training session at Porto Antico before entering the old town.
• access to all stops and viewpoints along the route through the medieval caruggi, Via Garibaldi, Piazza de Ferrari and the waterfront.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 12:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Under 16: can't be booked

GroupUp to 9

Live guideEnglish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Le Bighe del Bigo - Genova Segway

Is this one for you?The 2.5-hour window means you can fit this into a morning or afternoon without blocking your whole day, leaving room for a meal or museum nearby. Book this if you want to cover the medieval center and Renaissance streets without the steep climbs and narrow passages that make walking the caruggi exhausting.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and Italian.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I ride a Segway if I've never been on one before?

Yes. The tour includes a driving school at Porto Antico before you enter the old town, where you learn on flat, safe ground near the sea. By the time you move into the medieval alleys, you're comfortable with the machine.

What is Via Garibaldi and why does the tour spend time there?

Via Garibaldi is one of the most important roads in Europe and a symbol of Genoa, lined with elegant sixteenth-century palaces and suspended gardens that create a unique atmosphere you can't experience on foot in the same way.

How long is the tour and will it leave time for other things that day?

The tour runs around 2.5 hours, so it fits into a morning or afternoon without consuming your whole day. You can combine it with lunch, shopping or other stops in Genoa before or after.

Is the Doge's Palace included in the tour, or do I just see it from outside?

The tour passes by the Doge's Palace in Piazza Matteotti and you see its grand, sumptuous exterior as part of the route through the historic center. The guide explains its history as the seat of the city's power.

Who can't ride on this tour?

Children under 16 cannot operate the Segway. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health. Moderate physical fitness is required.