For those who want the full picture
Day 1: Arrive in Genoa — Porto Antico, Vascello Neptune, dinner at Voglia di Genova
Day 2: Genoa deep dive — Via Garibaldi, San Lorenzo, Caruggi, Sà Pesta, Galata Museo, Boccadasse
Day 3: Camogli + San Fruttuoso by ferry — full cove day, abbey, Cristo degli Abissi
Day 4: Portofino Peninsula — Santa Margherita, Portofino, Castello Brown, Faro, Parco Regionale
Day 5: La Spezia + Manarola — Cinque Terre villages, Pizzeria Acquarone, park viewpoint
Day 6: Slow day — Castelletto at sunrise, Il Salumalo lunch, Terrazza Punta Caieca, Bau Bau Beach
Day 7: Final morning in Genoa — Trattoria da Maria, last walk through the Caruggi, Piazza De Ferrari send-off
If you have a full week, this is how I'd spend it. No rushing, no skipping the good parts, no regrets. Liguria is one of those regions that rewards you the more time you give it — every day peels back another layer, and by the end of the week you'll understand why people come here once and start planning their return before they've even left.
Day 1 — Arrive & Breathe
Land in Genoa, drop your bags, and head straight to Porto Antico. Walk along the harbor, take in the Vascello Neptune, let the city introduce itself at its own pace. Dinner at Ristorante la Voglia di Genova - A Coae de Zena — your first proper taste of Ligurian food, right by the water. Early night. Tomorrow is a big day.
Day 2 — Genoa, Properly
This is the day you fall in love with Genoa. Start with farinata at Sà Pesta, then lose yourself in the Caruggi — the medieval alleys that make up the old town. Walk Via Garibaldi slowly, go inside at least one palace. Spend the afternoon at Galata Museo del Mare and don't skip the submarine. Late afternoon, take the funicular up to Castelletto for the view over the rooftops. End the day walking to Boccadasse — gelato on the seafront wall, feet tired, heart full.
Day 3 — The Hidden Cove
Early ferry from Porto Antico to Camogli — arrive before anyone else and have the village almost to yourself. Coffee on the waterfront, a slow walk through the painted streets, then board the small ferry to Abbazia di San Fruttuoso. Spend the whole morning here. Swim, explore the abbey, snorkel above the Cristo degli Abissi if the water is clear. Have lunch at the little restaurant on the beach. Miss your planned ferry back on purpose. This place deserves it.
Day 4 — The Portofino Peninsula
Ferry along the coast to Santa Margherita Ligure — walk the marina, have lunch at Il Porticciolo. Then continue to Portofino. Climb to Chiesa di San Giorgio first, then higher to Castello Brown for the full panoramic view. Late afternoon, take the trail through Parco Regionale di Portofino to the Faro di Portofino — time it for sunset if you can. Pro tip: this route works even better if you mix it up — drive part of the way and explore the rest on foot. The coastal roads alone are worth it.
Day 5 — Cinque Terre & Manarola
Train to La Spezia, coffee at Caffè Centrale, then straight into the villages. Start at Manarola — climb to Park Manarola loc. Pasella for the view that ends up on everyone's camera roll for a reason. Walk down into the village, swim off the rocks, lunch at Pizzeria Acquarone. Afternoon train to Vernazza or Riomaggiore. Come back to La Spezia for dinner, then train back to Genoa tired, sunburned, and happy.
Day 6 — The Slow Day
Every good trip needs one of these. Morning coffee at DAV Mare Bar watching the harbor wake up. No agenda, no rushing. Head to Bau Bau Beach for a few hours in the water, then make your way to Terrazza Punta Caieca in the afternoon — one of the most beautiful viewpoints on the coast and one of the least visited. Lunch at Il Salumalo — local cheeses, charcuterie, a glass of Vermentino. Evening aperitivo at Piazza Raffaele De Ferrari, watching the city light up as the sun goes down.
Day 7 — The Goodbye Day
The last day always hits differently. Start with breakfast at Cavour modo21 | Trattoria Genovese (hits just as hard on day one as it does on day seven, so don't save it just for the end)— the best way to eat in this city is the same on day seven as it was on day one. One last walk through the Caruggi, one last stop at Cattedrale di San Lorenzo, one last coffee somewhere on Via Garibaldi. Then back to Piazza De Ferrari to sit by the fountain for a few minutes before you go. Genoa will feel familiar by now. That's the whole point.
