Car Hire Genoa

Driving in Genoa is a real pleasure, and the fastest way to get around the city. Weaving through the streets like a local, you?ll find that all the major attractions are within easy reach. Parking in the city can be tricky, however, so it?s best to aim for car parks rather than try to park on the street. The old town or ?centro storico? is a ?ZTL? ? a Zona Traffico Limitato or limited traffic zone that is closed to non-resident traffic. If you?re staying in a hotel here, contact them in advance to arrange access for yourself, your passengers and your luggage.

You?ll find that all corners of Genoa are well connected - the E25 runs along to the west and then north, while the coastal SS1 runs both west and east and the A7 runs north from the port city to Milan. The city is also skirted by the E80, which often runs parallel to the SS1 as they plunge south.

The Royal Palace Museum, or Palazzo Reale, can be found just off the SS1. You?ll be able to explore the ever changing exhibitions, while taking in this place that was once home to families which governed the city. Head further along the SS1 and you?ll stumble upon the Lighthouse of Genoa. This structure has been the symbol of the city since the 14^th century.

Leave Genoa and the rest of northern Italy is just waiting to be explored. Major cities within Italy are connected by motorways called autostrada which have a speed limit of 130 km/h. Many are toll roads ? our local teams can advise you on which ones and how to pay. Jump on the A7 and in just under 150 km you?ll arrive in Milan, Italy?s fashion capital and one of the country?s most creative cities.

If you decide to stay on the coast then you can travel 100 km east and arrive in La Spezia, another beautiful port city. The E80 is a beautiful route to drive as you?ll also take in many other charming towns along the way, giving you a flavour of local life in the region.

Visiting Genoa isn?t about ticking sights off a list. It?s about living the life of the locals, parking up to stroll the streets of the old town in a leisurely fashion and taking in the incredible architecture of the city. The old port has been revived, and throughout Genoa there?s the hum of new possibilities as this city moves away from its glorious past into a bright future.

The heart of the city

Piazza De Ferrari is the city?s beating heart, home to an enormous fountain that sits in the centre of the city, surrounded by many iconic buildings, each with their own story to tell.

You can?t miss the remarkable Cathedral of San Lorenzo. This beautiful church dates back to 1098, although that long and illustrious history almost ended in 1941 when a British bomb crashed into it ? fortunately it didn?t explode. The holy relics within might not stand up to too much scrutiny, but they?re testament to the history that has played out within these walls over the hundreds of years.

Pesto pride

As the home of pesto, Genoa is well known for serving simple food with incredible ingredients. The seafood is served fresh from the ocean and the local specialty of baked focaccia with Ligurian oil is best enjoyed with wonderful conversation. In fact, the focaccia is so good that it?s enjoyed by the people of Genoa for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you?re craving pasta, opt for the local specialty of pansotti, which is filled with ricotta, Swiss chard and egg.

An Italian road trip

From Genoa, you?re perfectly placed to set off on an Italian adventure. Portofino is under one hour away on the E80 and is considered to be one of the most picturesque places in Italy. A favourite spot for the rich and famous, you?ll often find the harbour lined with incredible yachts.

Turin is less than 200km away on the E25 and E70, the centre of Piedmont. With remarkable baroque architecture, you could be mistaken for thinking this city lives firmly in the past. However, look closely at the fantastic mix of modern restaurants and compelling galleries and you?ll see that Turin is experiencing a new lease of life.

A ride to the Riviera

Here in the north-west of Italy, it?s also easy to pop across the border to France. Around a two-and-a-half-hour drive away from Genoa is the artistic city of Nice on the French Riviera. Take a walk along the Promenade des Anglais and enjoy the most incredible stretch of coastline before heading in to town to appreciate the art, fine French cuisine and air of gentility.

With car hire in Genoa, you can discover one of the Italy?s most exciting cities, and a region of Italy known for its food, art and passion for life.