Walk through time: 5 revealing strolls in Genoa

Genoa, a city which spreads vertically as well as horizontally, thanks to its narrow crêuze – typical Ligurian paths which climb up the hills – is brimming with beauty and history. The best way is to discover it on two feet. Here are five of its best, and most revealing, walks…

A walk around Porto Antico is one of the best ways to understand Genoa’s long and intimate relationship with the sea. Once a busy working port, in 1992 – the year of the Expo celebrating the 500^th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery – this area was transformed into a lively, architecturally striking waterfront that still buzzes with maritime energy. Begin near the Magazzini del Cotone, a complex of former industrial warehouses repurposed by architect Renzo Piano into shops, cafés and exhibition spaces, and continue along the water’s edge where the city opens out. You’ll pass the Acquario di Genova, whose curving form mirrors the movement of the sea, and Piano’s delicate Biosfera, a glass sphere housing tropical plants. The path leads onwards to La Lanterna, the old lighthouse, and throughout the walk you’ll see superyachts gleaming beside fishing boats, cruise ships looming behind medieval towers, and the Centro Storico rising theatrically in a tangle of stone and terracotta.

This is Genoa at its most leisurely and sun-kissed. Corso Italia runs along the eastern coastline in a broad, elegant sweep, flanked by beach clubs, swimming platforms and a steady procession of cafés and restaurants. It’s a place where the city comes to breathe – joggers glide past at dawn, families stroll in the afternoon, and friends gather for aperitivi as the light fades.

The walk is largely flat, making it ideal for an unhurried passeggiata. Along the way, you’ll catch constant glimpses of the Ligurian Sea, its colour shifting from pale silver to deep blue, where locals swim year-round. At the far end lies Boccadasse, an ancient fishing village that feels delightfully retro. Narrow lanes tumble down towards a small crescent of beach, framed by brightly painted houses and anchored by bobbing fishing boats. It’s a wonderful place to end your walk: order a gelato, sit on the pebbles, and watch the waves lap the shore.

This walk reveals Genoa’s dramatic verticality: a city stacked between mountains and sea. Starting from the Centro Storico, sections of the road trace a route that feels unexpectedly open and airy, offering glimpses of the city unfolding below. Traffic fades into the background as the view takes over, revealing rooftops, church domes and the port stretching into the distance. The route takes in Spianata Castelletto, one of the city’s most celebrated panoramas. This broad terrace sits where a fortress once stood, and today it offers a commanding view across Genoa’s dense medieval heart and the working harbour beyond. Make your way onwards up to Castello Bruzzo, a striking castle designed in the early 1900s by renowned architect Gino Coppedè, featuring crenellated walls and a panoramic tower. This is an ideal walk for photographers and anyone wanting to understand Genoa’s unique geography.

Step into the Old Town’s atmospheric medieval maze via the Via XX Settembre, then quickly peel off into the narrow caruggi: alleyways so tight and narrow that they seem to fold the city in on itself. Head westwards to the Piazza De Ferrari, Genoa’s grand civic heart, dominated by its monumental fountain and flanked by elegant 19th-century buildings. Then make your way towards Palazzo Ducale, which once housed the Doges who ruled the Republic and today hosts major exhibitions and cultural events. Nearby is the Cattedrale di San Lorenzo, with its striking black-and-white striped façade, then continue on through small, shaded lanes scented with focaccia and espresso drifting from some of the city’s typical historic shops until you reach Piazza San Matteo, a beautifully preserved enclave of medieval palazzi tied to the powerful Doria family. Finish at the revitalised waterfront near Porto Antico, where the historic centre opens onto the sea.

Few walks capture Genoa’s romance quite like the Anita Garibaldi Promenade. This two-kilometre long path clings to the cliffs of Nervi, suspended above the Ligurian Sea and edged by an iconic pale blue balustrade. Below, waves crash against the rocks; above, Mediterranean greenery spills down from historic villas and gardens. The walk is largely level and wonderfully immersive. Fishermen line the rocks, casting their lines into the surf, while swimmers sun themselves on natural platforms carved into the stone. The air smells faintly of salt and pine, and the rhythm of the waves provides a constant soundtrack. At either end of the promenade, cafés and gelaterias offer perfect stopping points, while the nearby Nervi parks invite further exploration among palms, rose bushes and shaded lawns. Sunset is the magical hour here, when the sea turns molten and the promenade feels suspended between water and sky.