The focaccia, the pesto, the Aquarium, but also the Palazzi dei Rolli and the alleys of the old town are some of the reasons why it is really worth visiting Genoa. The Ligurian capital is perfect for a day visit, but also for a longer stay, perhaps interspersed with a few excursions outside the city. There are many day trips from Genoa that you can organize. We recommend 7 of them.
Genoa is about 100 km from La Spezia, which means that it takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to arrive.
You can reach the city by car or comfortably by train: the train station is just a few steps from the center and once you get off the train you will have no problem to move around independently.
The things to see in La Spezia are many ( the Naval Museum is one of the most interesting in Italy), but the real reason why tourists go so far are the nearby Cinque Terre.
The five small villages that follow one after the other in one of the most fascinating landscapes of Liguria are a real paradise where you can relax, take long walks in the middle of nature, enjoy the sea and taste the typical local products.
Buying the Cinque Terre Card you can move freely between one place and another by train or through the paths. The visit can be organized in one day, but we suggest you to stay in the Cinque Terre for at least 3 days so you can really enjoy their beauty.
For more information on how to go from Genoa to the Cinque Terre we suggest you to read our short guide.
Another day trip from Genoa is the one to Savona.
The Ligurian city is attracting more and more tourists thanks to its cruise port, but it is not yet fully exploited and for this reason it is the perfect place to enjoy the typical Ligurian atmosphere of a port city.
Savona is famous above all for the seaside resorts in the surroundings (Albisola and Bergeggi, for example), but also the city center is full of goodies to discover. Among these, for example, there are the Priamar Fortress, a huge military fortification built by the Genoese and the Sistine Chapel, a chapel adjacent to the Cathedral of the Assumption wanted by Pope Sixtus IV, the same who commissioned the much more famous Chapel in the Vatican.
A visit to the city can be a good opportunity to participate in our Food Tour of Savona, a unique chance to taste the delicacies of Ligurian cuisine.
Â
Staying in Liguria you can choose to go to Rapallo and then reach the nearby Portofino, a Ligurian resort loved by VIPs.
Rapallo can be reached from Genoa comfortably in about 20 minutes with an Intercity train. Once on site is a must a walk in the small but characteristic old town. Here you can decide to take part in our Ligurian Riviera Gastronomic Tour: you start from the fresh products of the market and reach some of the best restaurants in the city to discover the culinary tradition of Liguria.
From Rapallo, as we said, it will be easy to reach Portofino too: you can take the train to Santa Margherita Ligure and then a bus to the small and luxurious village.
If it’s summer we suggest you not to miss the chance to take a dip in the crystal clear waters of Paraggi.
Genoa and Milan are only an hour and a half away: you can reach the Lombard capital by train or car. In the latter case we recommend you to leave your car outside the center, in one of the many exchange parking lots (like Famagosta) and then move by subway: there are a lot of ZTL in the city center and the risk of getting a very high fine.
Milan is the capital of fashion and aperitifs and there is no visit to the city without a walk in Via Montenapoleone, a visit to the imposing Duomo and a stop for Happy Hour at the Navigli.
Â
Another of the great Italian cities that can be reached with a day trip from Genoa is Turin.
There are so many things to do in the Piedmontese capital: the city is full of museums and is often home to major international exhibitions.
Between the climb to the Mole Antonelliana, the symbol of the city, a visit to the famous Egyptian Museum and a walk in the Valentino Park, we suggest you to discover the most delicious part of the traditional gastronomy by participating in a tour of pastries. Are you ready to taste gianduiotti, marron glacé and cremini?
Â
For true food lovers, one of the best day trips from Genoa is to Parma, the true capital of Italian taste.
There are many things to see in the city: the Duomo, the National Gallery and the Farnese Theatre are some of the symbolic monuments of the Emilian city. A visit to Parma, however, is not complete without a stop at a trattoria: cold cuts, tortelli and wine are a must!
Â
Finally we recommend a trip to Pisa, the famous city of the Leaning Tower.
If Piazza dei Miracoli with the Tower, the Duomo and the Baptistery are not a sufficient reason to visit Pisa, then know that there are many more things to see: from the characteristic old town where there are some sublime trattorias, to the Lungarni that at sunset turn into the most romantic promenade in Pisa, to the beautiful mural by Keith Haring.
Graduated in Literature and Communication and Media Culture, she loves both writing and storytelling. She made her first trip when she was only two and a half months old and hasn't had a break since. Each of her trips is accompanied, of course, by more tastings of the local cuisine! Today she writes about this and more on her blog "Viaggi che Mangi" and in the meantime she also writes for other portals.
We have created amazing food tours and cooking experiences that will show you how and what local people enjoy eating. Typical dishes, served in different restaurants, will present you the local food culture!
Do Eat Better Srl
Via San Vincenzo 4/11
16121 Genova
VAT: 02334090996
Euro 17.279,77 Fully paid-in share capital
Travel Agency Licence n. 0161126
*100% refund up to 24 hours before the start of the activity with the “Smart Price”.
Non refundable with the “Base Price”