Genoa, Italy Shore Excursions & Tours - Portofino, Cinque Terre & the Ligurian Coast

Cruise ships dock at the Port of Genoa, one of Italy's busiest cruise terminals, directly adjacent to the city center. There are multiple cruise terminals within the port - your private guide and vehicle will meet you at the correct terminal with a name sign as you disembark. The historic centro storico is within walking distance of the port gates. Portofino is approximately 35 kilometers southeast of the Genoa cruise terminal - about 45 minutes by private vehicle. The Cinque Terre villages are approximately 80 to 100 kilometers southeast - about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes.

The Genoa and Tigullio Coast tour is the strongest full-day choice for first-time visitors - it combines the medieval centro storico with Portofino in 8 to 9 hours and gives you two completely different Ligurian experiences. For guests with a particular interest in the Cinque Terre, the Cinque Terre tour is the most spectacular coastal day trip available from Genoa. For guests who want to focus on the city of Genoa itself, the Best of Genoa walking tour covers the UNESCO historic center in depth in 7 hours. For guests with a short port call, the Highlights of Genoa half-day tour covers the main viewpoints and old town in 4 hours.

Genoa's centro storico - historic center - is the largest preserved medieval urban area in Europe, covering approximately 1.1 square kilometers of narrow lanes called caruggi that have changed little since the 12th century. The UNESCO World Heritage designation covers the Palazzi dei Rolli - 42 Renaissance and Baroque palaces along Via Garibaldi and Via Balbi that were used as state residences for visiting royalty and dignitaries from the 16th to 18th centuries. Via Garibaldi is now considered one of the finest streets of Renaissance architecture in the world. The Cathedral of San Lorenzo, with its distinctive black and white marble striped facade, anchors the medieval quarter.

The Cinque Terre shore excursion from Genoa travels by private vehicle to the southern end of the Cinque Terre National Park, then uses the local boat ferry to travel between selected villages - seeing the clifftop coastline from the water between stops. The five villages are Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, strung along approximately 12 kilometers of coastline. The tour covers two to three villages in depth depending on the day's ferry schedule and your group's pace. The coastal path between villages is available for guests who prefer to hike between stops.

Our back-to-ship guarantee means that if an unforeseen delay during your private Genoa shore excursion prevents you from returning to the Genoa cruise terminal before your ship departs, we will arrange and cover the cost of transportation to your next port of call. This guarantee applies to all Genoa Italy tours and Genoa excursions booked through us. Your tour must be scheduled to return 1.5 hours before the ship departs.