Things to do in Genoa
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Genoa: Food Tour with Pesto, Focaccia & Full MealYou walk through Genoa's old streets with a local food expert, stopping at four carefully chosen spots to taste pesto, focaccia di Recco, fresh seafood, and regional specialties. The guide explains the history and technique behind each dish while you eat your way through an entire meal. One drink is included, groups stay small, and you finish with either artisanal gelato or a pastry-shop dessert depending on which tour you choose.Is it for me?Book this if you want to eat like a local in Genoa without researching restaurants, timing yourself, or navigating the language barrier — the small-group format and local guide handle all three, which is what makes four separate stops feel like one coherent meal instead of a scattered afternoon.
Genoa: Pesto & Fresh Pasta Class with Rooftop WineYou arrive at a fifth-floor apartment in Genoa's historic center, learn to crush pesto and roll fresh pasta from a local chef, then sit down to a full meal you've made yourself—antipasto, your handmade Picagge, dessert, and regional wine included. The class is small and intimate, and the terrace overlooks the city and port.Is it for me?Book this if you want to learn a real Ligurian recipe in the place it comes from and eat what you've made the same afternoon—the small group and home setting are what make it feel like cooking with someone who knows, not taking a class.
Genoa: Food & Wine Tasting Walking Tour with Local DishesYou’ll wander Genoa’s historic center tasting focaccia, farinata, and real pesto with a local guide who knows every shortcut and story. Sip two Ligurian wines as you explore palaces and cathedrals, pausing for laughter or quiet moments among locals. Dietary needs? They handle it easily — it’s all about sharing good food and feeling part of Genoa for an afternoon.
Genoa: Private Historical Tour by Rikshaw & Old Town AlleysYou’ll wind through Genoa’s oldest alleys by private rikshaw, guided by a local who knows every shortcut. Expect sudden bursts of color in Maddalena, stories behind ancient churches, and glimpses of daily life between grand piazzas and hidden corners. It’s quick but leaves you wanting more—a taste of both history and everyday chaos.
Genoa: Pasta & Pesto Cooking Class with Terrace LunchYou’ll knead fresh pasta dough inside a historic Genoese palace, learn to make traditional pesto by hand with a local guide, then relax over lunch on a sunlit terrace with wine. Expect honest flavors, hands-on moments, and glimpses of daily life in Genoa that linger long after you leave.
Portofino & Santa Margherita: Boat Tour, Pesto Class & LunchYou’ll board a ferry from Santa Margherita to Portofino with a local guide, taste fresh focaccia, learn how to make pesto in a hands-on class, and enjoy trofie al pesto for lunch overlooking the harbor. With round-trip ferry tickets included and time to explore at your own pace, you’ll feel part of daily life on the Italian Riviera.
Genoa: Rickshaw City Tour & Hidden Alleys with Local StoriesYou’ll wind through Genoa’s tangled alleys by private rickshaw, stopping for stories only locals know—like why the cathedral’s steps matter or how to spot hidden churches. Expect laughter with your guide, close-up glimpses of daily life, and a sense of being let in on secrets most visitors miss.
Segway tour Genoa caruggi: medieval alleys on two wheelsA 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.Is it for me?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.
Portofino and San Fruttuoso Boat Tour with SnorkelingA small group boat tour along the Ligurian Riviera departs from Portofino and visits Santa Margherita Ligure, Paraggi, and San Fruttuoso, with an hour ashore in Portofino village and snorkeling access to the Christ of the Abyss. The tour includes a qualified skipper, snorkeling equipment, fresh water, and music on board; inflatables are deployed for swimming and sunbathing at protected bays.Is it for me?Your skipper navigates the Ligurian coast while you relax—stopping at Portofino and San Fruttuoso to snorkel at the Christ of the Abyss with gear provided.
Portofino boat tour: San Fruttuoso Abbey & coastal villagesA private boat tour from Portofino along the Ligurian coast, with stops at San Fruttuoso Abbey, Santa Margherita and smaller villages for walking, swimming and snorkeling. The boat holds up to seven people, includes snorkel equipment and bottled water, and runs between three and seven hours depending on which stops and how long you linger at each one. A live guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian or French, and timing at each village is flexible—you decide how long to stay.Is it for me?Pick the half-day if you want the main villages and a swim in one morning; the full-day if you'd rather explore multiple coves and linger at each; or the sunset tour if golden-hour light and a smaller shared group matter most to you.
Genoa: Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class in Local HomeYou’ll step into a real Genoa home for an afternoon rolling fresh pasta, sipping prosecco over nibbles, learning family tricks for two classic pastas, and assembling creamy tiramisu from scratch. With your host guiding each step—and plenty of laughter around the table—you’ll taste everything you make together. It’s relaxed, personal, and honestly feels like being welcomed into someone’s family kitchen.
Genoa: Walking Food Tour with Focaccia, Pesto & PalacesYou’ll walk Genoa’s winding streets with a local guide, taste fresh focaccia and homemade pesto trofie, explore grand palaces and hidden squares, then pause over wine with locals in old bars. Expect laughter, stories you won’t find in guidebooks, and moments that linger long after you’ve left.
Genoa walking tour: medieval streets and stories with a guideA guided walking tour of Genoa's historic center led by a professional guide in English or Italian, moving through the medieval Carmine district, past the Embriaci tower, and along the Barbarossa walls. The guide uses stories and music to reveal the city's past—a three-hour route designed around details that matter, not the obvious stops. Not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or significant cardiovascular concerns.Is it for me?Book this if you want to move through Genoa's oldest streets with someone who knows them—the guide's stories and the small-group pace mean you'll see details and hear history that a solo walk or a larger tour bus would miss. The three-hour walk and stairs make it better suited to travelers comfortable on foot; if you prefer a shorter route or need mobility support, look for an alternative.
Genoa Private Walking Tour With Local Guide: Customized ItineraryA private walking tour of Genoa with a local guide who contacts you beforehand to learn your interests, then builds a personalized itinerary around the neighborhoods, monuments, and stories that matter to you. The guide meets you at your accommodation and can arrange museum entry in advance if you request it. Tours run from 2 to 8 hours depending on how much ground you want to cover.Is it for me?Book a longer tour (4 to 8 hours) if you want to move across multiple neighborhoods and really understand how the city is laid out; a 2-hour tour works if you're short on time or want to focus on a single area before exploring on your own.
Private Boat Tour Portofino: Golfo Paradiso & TigullioA private boat tour along the coast near Portofino takes you to San Fruttuoso Abbey, Camogli, and secluded bays where you can swim and snorkel. The boat holds your group alone, your captain narrates the coast's history and fishing traditions, and the day includes snorkeling equipment, local wine, water and snacks. You choose between a half-day (4 hours) or a full day (7 hours) on the water.Is it for me?Book the half-day tour if you want the main sights — Portofino, San Fruttuoso and Camogli — without a full commitment to the water. The full-day version suits anyone who wants to linger in the bays, swim longer and reach the quieter villages that take extra time to reach by boat.
Sunset Boat Tour with Aperitif in Portofino: swim in crystal clear watersA 90-minute boat tour departing from Portofino takes you past Santa Margherita Ligure and into Paraggi bay, where you can swim in clear water before anchoring near Portofino's harbor for an aperitif of local wine and appetizers as the sun sets. The captain navigates hidden coves and chooses the anchorage away from boat traffic so the moment stays quiet. A live guide in English or Italian is on board; safety equipment, music, and a sunbathing solarium are included.Is it for me?Book this tour if you have a free afternoon or evening and want to sit still on the water instead of rushing between landmarks—the 90 minutes is short enough to squeeze into a packed day, but long enough that you're not watching the clock. Small groups work best here; the boat holds space for friends to stay together without feeling crowded, and the quiet anchorage near Portofino is built for conversation and the moment itself, not for narration.
Portofino snorkeling: private sunset boat tour with aperitifA private boat tour of the Portofino Marine Reserve that departs from Portofino, Paraggi or nearby towns and takes you to three stops — Paraggi, Portofino village and the bay of San Fruttuoso — where you swim and snorkel as the sun sets. The tour runs two hours, includes snorkeling gear and towels, and ends with an Italian aperitivo platter and champagne or cocktails served onboard. A skipper fluent in English and Italian guides the route.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want the Portofino coastline without a crowd — the boat is private, so the pace and the stops are yours, and the aperitivo timing means you're on the water as the light changes instead of watching it from a restaurant table on shore.
Portofino boat tour from Genoa: swim and snorkel the coastA private speedboat tour departing from Genoa's old port takes you to Portofino, Camogli and San Fruttuoso in the Portofino Natural Park, where you swim at secluded beaches, snorkel at Punta Chiappa, and visit a historic monastery facing the sea. The skipper navigates; you choose the start time after booking. Snorkeling gear and an inflatable tow board are included; lunch is on your own.Is it for me?Book this if you have a free afternoon or morning in Genoa and want to see the coast without renting a car or arranging your own transportation—the boat reaches beaches and the monastery that are unreachable by road, and the skipper handles all the navigation while you swim and snorkel.
Genoa Airport Transfer: Private Car & Flight TrackingYou get picked up at Genoa Airport or port with a driver who's already tracking your flight. Private car, fixed price, and the driver waits if you're delayed. No need to arrange your own transport or haggle over fares — just walk out and find your name on a sign.Is it for me?Book this if you land in Genoa and want to skip the taxi queue and app-based negotiation — the driver waits at arrivals and the price is agreed before you arrive, which is what turns a long transfer into a straightforward ride.
Genoa Airport to Genoa, Savona & Portofino: Private Mercedes TransferYou're picked up by name at baggage claim and driven in a private Mercedes to Genoa, Savona or Portofino. The driver speaks English, your flight is tracked so delays don't strand you, and the price is locked in before you land. Bottled water and 60 minutes of airport waiting time are included, so you can move at your own pace through arrivals.Is it for me?Book this if you want to skip the taxi queue and arrive at your hotel or port without arranging transport, managing currency or waiting for a shuttle — the driver tracks your flight and meets you by name, so the transfer becomes invisible instead of stressful.
