Once the world's richest city (it was a major trading power in medieval times), Genoa today is a fascinating place to visit in a prime location on Italy's spectacular north-western coastline. Rich in museums, art galleries and historic treasures, not to mention the largest Old Town in Europe, Genoa is a large port city and the ideal place visit for a short break of family holiday at any time of the year.
With its immense architectural grandeur, Genoa offers travellers a quintessentially authentic taste of the real Italy, with the added appeal of several first-rate tourist attractions in and around its charming historic centre. The first thing to do is enjoy a leisurely stroll around the labyrinthine streets that criss-cross the city's ancient Old Town, an area now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Its most famous son, explorer Christopher Colombus, was born in the city in 1451 and his restored house can now be toured and appreciated by the public. Genoa's old port is home to many of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, among them the expertly-renovated Galata Museo del Mare (which chronicles the city's centuries-old maritime history) and the aquarium (Acquario di Genova), one of the world's largest.
There's much to see and do with a car hire in Genoa, such as a visit to the incredibly picturesque town of Portofino, which can easily be reached by taking the coast road south-east of the city. Another popular day-trip option is Cinque Terre, a lovely place that comprises a collection of five different villages, each of them uniquely different. The Côte d'Azur is also accessible from Genoa by heading south-west across the very scenic Italian Riviera.
Auto Europe is a leading travel company with almost seventy years of experience at the very heart of the international car hire industry. We currently offer over 24,000 convenient pick-up and drop-off points in over 180 popular destinations (including Genoa), and that number is constantly rising. We are very proud to be able to offer our many customers around the world the most competitive rates and widest choice of vehicles available on the market.
You can book your cheap car rental in Genoa immediately online or by calling our award-winning rental specialists on +441233225114 and they will be happy to find you the best deal. For added peace of mind, take a look at the user ratings and comments posted by some of Auto Europe's previous customers in the city on our Genoa car hire reviews page.
For more information on renting a vehicle in Genoa, click on the car hire related topics listed below:
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By working with all the world's top car hire providers, Auto Europe is the one company that offer its many customers around the world the best choice of locations in and around Genoa nd the rest of northern Italy. You can pick up your vehicle in the heart of the city centre (including Genoa Train Station) or from the airport situated on the edge of town. Our site is designed to enable you to make the right choice with the help an interactive map that comes up with all the available locations for low-cost car rental in Genoa.
Named after the pioneering explorer, Christopher Columbus, who was born in the city in 1451, Genoa Airport is a major international air transportation facility that serves the Liguria region as well as last swathes of northern Italy. The airport receives several daily flights from major European cities as far and wide as Rome, London, Munich, Paris and Madrid. From the airport, it is easy to reach the city by car or local public transport, such as the popular bus service called Volabus which shuttles to and from the centre throughout the day. It's easy to pick up your car at Genoa Airport because all the main car rental providers are represented at the airport and their desks are located in the main arrivals hall.
Genoa Airport (GOA)
Website: airport.genova.it
Address: Via Pionieri e Aviatori d'Italia, 1, 16154 Genova GE, Italy
Telephone: +39 010 60151
Opened in 1860 in a central part of the city, Genoa Principe Train Station caters for around 25 million passengers every year, a large number of them tourists. The station building is a city landmark and architecturally interesting, plus travellers can take advantage of a wide range of on-site services and facilities. Several renowned car rental companies operate in close proximity to the station, including Hertz, Europcar and Maggiore. Please remember to have all your documents ready when you arrive to collect your vehicle, chiefly your driving licence, passport and coverage details.
Genoa Principe Train Station
Website: italiarail.com
Address: Piazza Acquaverde, 16126 Genova, Italy
Telephone: +39 010252864
Auto Europe is a leading international car hire company currently offering a vast selection of convenient pick-up and drop-off locations in 180 different destinations around the world. Thanks to our many years of experience dealing with all the global and local car rental companies, we can offer you the best standard of service and cheapest prices on the market.
Should you require additional information about the car hire companies we work with or their policies, for example out of office pick up or questions regarding age restrictions, our car rental specialists are just a phone call or e-mail away and happy to assist you.
This section features the most frequent questions asked by people booking a car hire in Genoa. Scroll down for important tips relating to a wide range of essential car hire topics, such as credit cards, coverage, tolls, traffic and much more. If you need any more information, please call our reservations team on +44 123 3225 114 and they will be happy to help you with your reservation and assist you with your travel itinerary.
Yes. To pick up a car rental in Genoa, the main driver will always require a valid credit card in their name because the local vehicle supplier will need to freeze an amount as a security bond for the duration of the rental period. Once the car has been returned undamaged, the money will be refunded to same credit card. Please be aware that in the case of luxury high-performance vehicles, two credit cards (both in the name of the main driver) must be provided at the time of rental due to the high value of such vehicles. To find out which cards will be accepted and how much the security will be, please click on the blue and white info icon (i) after making a quick search in the Auto Europe booking engine. Please read our dedicated blog post to learn about the six most important things to know about credit cards and deposits prior to booking your cheap car hire in Genoa. Follow the link for more information on why credit cards are so important for hiring a car
Whenever you rent a car in Genoa and elsewhere in Italy with Auto Europe, you will be automatically covered for the duration of your rental period because all our rates automatically include the minimum amount of legally-required Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), Theft Protection (TP), fire insurance and third-party liability. Nevertheless, you might want to spend a little bit more for total peace of mind on the roads of Genoa and its surroundings because the basic rate does not cover every part of the vehicle. For this you will need Auto Europe's excellent Full Damage & Theft Protection policy which can be purchased with a single click at check-out. You can easily find all the coverage-related details relating to your choice of vehicle simply by clicking on the blue and white info icon (i) after making a quick search in our booking engine. More information can be found on our car hire coverage page, as well as our dedicated blog post which offers an overview of the types of car hire coverage available on the market.
Genoa is a very old city, so expect many of the streets (especially in and around the city centre) to be narrow and cobbled. The morning and evening rush hours are to be avoided if at all possible, which means that it is always best to start your sightseeing itinerary from 10am onwards, if possible. If you choose to pick up your car hire in Genoa at the airport instead of in the centre, then you'll find that it is quickly and easily accessible along the A10. Driving in Italy is on the right-hand side of the road and you must pay careful attention to the speed limits on all roads, which range from 80mph on motorways (autostradas, which are usually toll roads, 68mph on dual-carriageways, 56mph on local roads and 30mph in built-up areas. For more driving-related info, please visit our Italy driving guide for lots of useful information on getting around Genoa and the rest of the country by car.
Visitors are advised to park in one of the city's numerous public car parks located in and around the inner city. Because of Genoa's restricted traffic zone (Zona a Traffico Limitato - ZTL), it's always best to leave your car in one of the car parks outside the historic centre. Nowadays, visitors find it a little difficult to find a free parking near the city centre in Genoa, but there are many car parks where you have to pay a fee, including a large one in front of the city's famous aquarium (one o the largest in Europe). The car parks that are cheaper and nearer to the city centre are Parcheggio Mercanzia, Marina Park, Parcheggio Porto Antico, Parcheggio di Carignano and Ponte Monumentale. Outside the ZTL, parking is regulated by the Blu Area system wherein the available parking spaces are designated by blue pavement markings which serve to ensure maximum availability of parking for residents, with parking non-residents operated on a time-limit basis. However, there are plenty of car parks situated just outside the restricted zone with no limits on how long you can park there.
Yes, but only with prior authorisation. A large part of Genoa's city centre is now a designated ZTL (restricted traffic area - Zona a Traffico Limitato) and is only accessible to pedestrians and closed to regular traffic with the exception of residents, taxis and buses. According to the latest travel info, the main ZTL in Genova operates 24/7 except for the ZTL Castelleto which operates daily from 9pm-6am. If you are entering the city centre by car and have booked a hotel or B&B that has designated parking spaces, then you must sned your number plate to the accommodation concerned so that your vehicle can be included on the authority's 'white list' (ie you'll be permitted to enter the zone during your stay). If you do plan to enter Genoa's ZTL, be sure to confer with your car rental supplier prior to collecting your vehicle at the time of pick-up.
Italy's sixth-largest city, Genoa is a magnificent place to visit at any time of the year, with a plethora of monuments and attractions to see, particularly in its UNESCO-classified Old Town. A centre for art, music, fashion and fine cuisine, Genoa is famous for being the birthplace of Columbus, the world's most intrepid explorer, whose house can now be visited. Other highlights include a world-class aquarium, National Museum of Italian Emigration and cathedral which features the remains of John the Baptist.
With its prime coastal location in the heart of the enchanting Liguria region, Genoa offers more day-trip opportunities than many other large Italian cities. A visit to the nearby seaside town of Portofino is a must for lovers of the Italian Riviera, as well as Cinque Terre where five beautiful villages have been grouped into one. If you enjoy the taste of fine sparkling wine, then a good place to visit is Asti which these days is equally famous for its traditional Italian cuisine. With Auto Europe you can go even further with one of our one-way car hire offers, as well as share the driving with a friend or family member by taking advantage of our regular Free Additional Driver offers.
Portofino
One of the most beautiful places to visit on the Italian Riviera is Portofino less than an hour's drive from the centre of Genoa. This picture-postcard Mediterranean seaside town is famous for its semi-circle of pastel-coloured buildings set around a peaceful harbour. The swimming in the local area is world-class and the sea beautifully clean, so don't forget your swimming costume, or your camera.
Cinque Terre
Few places in northern Italy are quite as memorable as Cinque Terre, a rare collection of five different villages grouped together as a truly unique tourist attraction. Visitors can roam the streets of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso, each with its own before characteristics, before heading off into the surrounding national park. To maximise the experience, take a walk along the Sentiero Azzurro, a cliff-side hiking trail that links the villages and offers sweeping sea vistas.
Asti
A 90-minute drive is all it takes to reach one of Italy's most delightful wine regions. The city of Asti is well known for its exceptional food, washed down with world-famous sparkling wines, including Asti Spumante and Moscato d'Asti. The city is also worth visiting for the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which was built in the 13th century in the Romanesque-Gothic style on the site of a previous cathedral.
Pisa
A manageable 2-hour motorway drive from Genoa gets you to Pisa, a city famous for its iconic leaning tower. Built in 1173, La Torre Pendente (as it is known locally) stands right next door to the city's 11th-century cathedral, a magnificent 5-aisled Romanesque basilica of white marble designed by Pisan architect Buscheto. Don't miss the city's wonderful Museum of Ancient Ships where a fine collection of old vessels date right back to the 2nd century BC.
Camogli
Less than 30 kilometres from Genoa lies Camogli, a quaint little seaside village notable for its fine beach and several good-value eateries serving some of the freshest fish and seafood dishes in Italy. Located on the west side of the Portofino Peninsula, the village is the heart of an interesting tourist regions with many important sights, including the Abbey of San Fruttuoso di Capodimonte founded in the 10th century.
As one of Europe's most historic cities, you'll find that the time you spend in Genoa will never be enough. There are several attractions you simply cannot miss, such as the House of Christopher Columbus and the Old Town where many palaces and elegant mansions can be seen and entered. Genoa Cathedral's treasury (now a museum) holds many rare and historic features, most notably the chalice used by Jesus Christ during the Last Supper. Designed for families, the city's amazing aquarium (one of Europe's largest) is another key component that should always be added to your sightseeing itinerary.