Transportation
Getting around Genoa is easy since most of the attractions are within walking distance. If you want to discover some distant sights, however, it is advisable to use bus or funicular. The same ticket applies to both of them. The tickets can be purchased at the news-stalls or at the local tobacco stores. They are valid for 90 minutes ride. Renting a car for exploring the city is not advisable since the streets are very narrow and that is why most of the locals prefer to travel by motorbikes.
Plane
If you decide to travel to Genoa by plane, you will arrive at the Cristoforo Colombo Airport. It is situated to the west of the city. The airport is well connected to the main European cities including Rome, Paris, and Munich etc. The other nearest international airports are based in Milan and Rome. The Cristoforo Colombo Airport is connected to the centre of the city with a shuttle bus, which runs to the central Piazza de Ferrari as well as to Stazione Principe. The name of the shuttle bus is VOLABUS.
Train
Genoa is serviced by two train stations. The main station is Piazza Principe, which is also spelled as Genova P.P. It has very good connections with the north and the west of Italy. The other one is called Brignole Station and is the more central one of the two. Opposite the train station of Piazza Principe is situated a bus stop for downtown Genoa. The trip to the city centre takes approximately 10 minutes.
The train station of Genova Brignole is relatively centrally located. A bus ride from the station to Piazza de Ferrari takes approximately 3 minutes. There is a large selection of hotels situated around the station. People arriving from the west and the south of the country are advised to get off here, although the trains continue to the Principe Station, in order to save time.
Bus
You can get to Genoa by bus from Milan Bus Station of Malpensa. Buses leave every day from the first terminal. The buses go to Piazza delle Vittoria in Genoa. Buses are also available from this station to the central railway station in Milan, where you can take a train to Genoa. The buses run every ten minutes, and the trip is approximately an hour, unless there are traffic jams.
There is another bus station in the city called Milano Linate. It has pretty much the same schedule regarding the bus connections to Genoa. Another option is getting a blue bus to the Railway Station and catching a train from there. Buses leave for the train station every half an hour and take around 30 minutes to get there, unless there are traffic jams. If you do not want to risk a traffic jam, take bus 92 to San Babila and then switch to the underground to reach Milano Railway Station.
Car
If you are arriving to Genoa by car, note that that are four major motorways crossing the city. If you are arriving from the west or the north via the motorways A7, A10 or A26, follow the exit "Genova Ovest". If you are arriving from the south or the east of the country via the motorway A12, follow the exit Genova Nervi. After you take the exit, follow the direction signs.When getting to the city centre, note that parking in downtown Genoa is very difficult if sometimes completely impossible. There are no free parking spaces and the few underground lots are in most of the cases full. Therefore, it is advisable to proceed directly to your hotel and leave the car there. Still if you would like to try your luck, there is a large paid parking at Porto Antico.
Boat
Genoa is a major maritime city with one of the busiest cargo shipping ports in Europe. It is not only a large Mediterranean port centre, but also an important transatlantic trade, cargo and passenger maritime hub. The port services ships from Europe, the Far East and all the continents, including America and Africa. There are regular links to a number of Mediterranean and national destinations, including car ferries to Sardinia and Corsica. Frequent lines are available to La Spezia, Savona and Imperia. During the last years, cruises and shipboard vacations are once again coming into light. Many new, contemporary equipped ships have been introduced, which boosted the number of travellers who cruise from and to Genoa.
