| Main train stations | Genova Piazza Principe, Genova Brignole |
| Train companies | Trenitalia, Frecciarossa, Frecciabianca |
| Airports | Genoa Airport |
| Public transport | Metro, trams and local buses |
| Cheap train tickets | Cheap train tickets in Italy |
Genoa (or Genova) is more than just a central hub for the Italian Riviera – the old port city’s UNESCO status is testament to its past splendour, with marvellous Renaissance-era palaces jostling for attention and sorbet-coloured buildings dotted along its rugged coastline. Trains to Genoa arrive at Genova Piazza Principe station, located in the old town and a short walk from the port. This is the ideal place to begin your adventure in this bustling seaport with centuries of maritime history. Read on for train times, popular journeys and travel tips, and book your train tickets with us.
Genoa train stations
Genoa's major train station is Genova Piazza Principe, which is located in Piazza Acquaverde, only 15 minutes away from the city centre and the old port. The station is well-connected to the main Italian cities, such as La Spezia (55m), Milan (1h 35m) and Turin (1h 41m), as well as the French cities of Marseille (5h 40m) and Nice (3h) thanks to a combination of SNCF and Trenitalia trains.
Genova Brignole is the second-largest train station in Genoa after Genova Piazza Principe and is only a short walk away from the city centre. This station is served by Trenitalia's regional and high-speed trains that go to Milan Central station, Torino Porta Nuova, La Spezia Centrale and Pisa Centrale.
Train tickets to Genoa
Which Trenitalia tickets can I buy?
Trenitalia is the main operator of rail services in Italy and provides both high-speed and regional services. Its high-speed trains are known as Le Frecce (Frecciarossa, Frecciargento and Frecciabianca). If you travel with Trenitalia Frecce to Genoa, you can buy one of the following tickets –
- Super Economy – it's the cheapest fare, but you can't change your ticket or get a refund
- Economy – still quite cheap, you can modify your booking only once
- Base – it's the standard full-price and most flexible ticket, it allows you to make changes as much as you want
If you travel with a regional train, instead, the only ticket available is Ordinaria, which has a fixed price based on the route.
Popular routes
Discover popular routes to Genoa, train types on those routes and journey times in the table below.
| Route | Fastest journey time | Train |
|---|---|---|
| Milan to Genoa | 1h 35m | Frecciarossa, Frecciabianca, Intercity & regional trains |
| La Spezia to Genoa | 55m | Frecciargento, Frecciabianca, Intercity & regional trains |
| Rome to Genoa | 4h 46m | Frecciargento, Frecciabianca, Intercity & regional trains |
| Ventimiglia to Genoa | 1h 54m | Intercity & regional trains |
| Florence to Genoa | 2h 58m | Frecciargento, Frecciabianca & regional trains |
Milan to Genoa on Trenitalia
The route from Milan to Genoa is served by two Trenitalia's high-speed trains – Frecciarossa and Frecciabianca. Reaching speeds of up to 300 km/h, Frecciarossa trains will whisk you from Milan to the Italian Riviera in less than two hours.
Frecciarossa trains have 4 classes you can choose from – Standard, Premium, Business and Executive. The Standard and Premium Classes correspond to a normal Standard Class, the only difference being that in Premium there are leather seats, while in Standard there are cloth seats. If you want to travel in style, choose the Executive Class and you'll enjoy plenty of space, gourmet meal service at your seat and free access to FrecciaClub and FrecciaLounge.
Frecciabianca trains are slightly slower than their Frecciarossa cousins, travelling at the speeds of 200 km/h.There are also just two classes on Frecciabianca - First Class and Second Class. Both First and Second Class provide power sockets, reclining tables and plenty of legroom and luggage space. However, if you travel in First Class, you’ll get the added bonus of a welcome service with snacks and drinks.
How to get from Genoa Airport to Genoa
There are no direct trains from Genoa Airport to the city centre, but you can easily get to Genova Piazza Principe and Genova Brignole stations on Volabus. You'll reach the city centre in about 30 minutes. Services run every 30 minutes from 05:15 to 22:10.
Genoa public transport
Genoa has an efficient public transport network that includes one metro line and one water-bus line called Navebus, as well as cable cars and buses. All public transport services are provided by Azienda e Mobilità Trasporti Milanese (AMT). You can buy one-way, return and daily tickets from authorised retailers and newsstands, just remember that one-way tickets are valid for 100 minutes after validating them. The Navebus line connects Pegli to the old port of Genoa in less than 30 minutes.
What to see in Genoa
Given its history as a historic Mediterranean maritime power, it should come as no surprise that Genoa is home to an abundance of UNESCO World Heritage sites. You can join guided tours to the Strade Nuove (‘New Streets’), a group of 14th and 15th-century streets located in the Old Town, and Palazzi dei Rolli, 42 magnificent 16th and 17th-century palaces. The Old Town is approximately a 15- minute walk away from Genoa Piazza Principe train station.
Head towards the old port and visit the Aquarium of Genoa – it has the most extensive range of biodiversity in Europe and boasts over 12,000 sea creatures and vegetal specimens across 27,000 square metres.
Don't miss your chance to go to the Romanesque Basilica di Santa Maria di Castello – it's more than a church as it also includes a gallery which houses artworks commissioned over the centuries by the Genoese nobility. Key works are the Stories of David frescoes and a collection of Renaissance-era brightly coloured tin-glazed pottery majolicas.
Step back in time in the old fishermen's neighbourhood of Boccadasse. Legend has it that the neighbourhood's name stems from the Genoese dialectal phrase bócca d'âze, or donkey's mouth, owing to the shape of the bay around which Boccadesse lies. Boccadesse has a quaint, relaxed feel – perfect for a leisurely stroll with a gelato while admiring the clusters of houses in shades of apricot, peach, and lemon. The small rocky beach boasts clear, inviting waters where you can take a dip on hot summer days.
If you want to taste the typical dishes of the Genoese tradition, go to Il Cadraio restaurant – we recommend you try their trofie al pesto, they're delicious!
Planning to stay in Genoa for a couple of days? Read our travel guides about the best day trips from Genoa and day trip from Genoa to Cinque Terre and, hopefully, we'll inspire you to explore Italy!