We’ve never heard all that much about it. And yet Genoa has quietly become a destination for cultural travel and holidays. Not only for Italians, who now favour its surrounding areas over the increasingly expensive Gulf of Tigullio, but also for international visitors drawn to a city that feels refreshingly offbeat. Tourism has risen by 7% in a year, a figure likely to grow thanks to recent coverage in Condé Nast Traveller UK and The New York Times, which included it among its “52 Places to Visit in 2026”, as well as Lonely Planet’s “Best in Travel” recognition. New high-end hotels and a renewed local pride in the city’s understated beauty are also helping, alongside the promise of a high-speed train from Milan in under an hour.
In summer 2023, Palazzo Durazzo opened as the city’s first five-star luxury hotel, housed in one of the Rolli palaces, a system of noble residences established in 1576 by the Senate of the Republic of Genoa to host visiting dignitaries. Many of these UNESCO-listed buildings now open their frescoed halls and gardens to the public during the Rolli Days. Palazzo Durazzo, restored by architect Emanuela Cattaneo, offers colourful, contemporary suites overlooking the harbour, near the futuristic Waterfront di Levante by Renzo Piano. Its entrance lies on Via del Campo, once immortalised by Fabrizio De André, close to a museum celebrating him and fellow Genoese musicians such as Luigi Tenco, Gino Paoli and Ivano Fossati.
Beyond exhibitions at Palazzo Ducale, including an upcoming show on Anthony van Dyck, the city offers rich, lesser-known stories. At the Museo Diocesano, fourteen blue linen cloths depicting the Passion of Christ hint at a possible origin of “blue jeans”, derived from the French bleu de Gênes.
Genoa unwinds through its maze-like carrugi, where discoveries range from fresh focaccia at Panificio Mario to the vast archives of Sant’Ignazio, home to documents such as the first insurance contract from 1189. Meanwhile, nearby Nervi is enjoying a revival, helped by the 2024 opening of Capitolo Riviera, a five-star hotel evoking Belle Époque elegance and offering a more authentic Riviera experience.
