Genoa's cruise port is located in close proximity to the old town, offering ideal conditions for an active shore excursion with plenty of sightseeing. This 5 km route leads through narrow historic alleys, past famous landmarks, and up to the viewpoint at Castelletto Belvedere. The route is less suited for setting personal bests, but all the more for a diverse run or walk right through one of Italy's most beautiful old towns.
**Important note regarding the start:**
In Genoa, there are two cruise terminals (Ponte Andrea Doria and Ponte dei Mille). This route is suitable for both berths. The actual starting point is located after leaving the harbor area, at the bus station, once you have crossed the main road.
From Terminal Ponte dei Mille, you first cross the main road to the bus station. From Terminal Ponte Andrea Doria, about 200 to 300 meters are added. The route initially follows the larger road, but then quickly turns left into Via della Costa – this is where the path through the narrow alleys of the old town begins.
After about one kilometer, the route briefly leads to Palazzo San Giorgio. It then continues via Via San Lorenzo past Genoa Cathedral to the historic city gate Porta Soprana. From there, the route proceeds to Piazza De Ferrari with its famous fountain, before several more narrow old town alleys follow.
After Palazzo Gio Battista Spinola, a wider road is crossed. On the other side, a stairway path leads up to Castelletto Belvedere. The additional elevation gain is worth it for the impressive view over the rooftops of Genoa. Afterwards, stairs lead back down and along the well-known Via Balbi back towards the harbor – passing the monument to Christopher Columbus.
This route particularly well combines sport and sightseeing. The narrow alleys, historic squares, and viewpoints make it an ideal loop for anyone wishing to actively discover Genoa.
For peak athletic performance, the route is less suitable, as many tourists are present and the old town often has narrow paths. However, for a relaxed run or an active walk with added tourist value, it is highly recommended.
If you want to cover more than 5 kilometers, you can easily extend the route by incorporating additional alleys in the old town area. For tempo training, the route along the harbor towards the old harbor and the sea is more suitable.
Directly on the route is the Aquarium of Genoa – Europe's second-largest aquarium. Since you pass by it on this loop anyway, a visit can be perfectly integrated into your shore excursion and provides an ideal complement to the active part.
If you want to experience a lot of Genoa, start with this route through the old town, combine the run or walk with a visit to the aquarium, and then plan a culinary food tour through the old town. This creates a varied day between exercise, sights, and Italian indulgence.
If you prefer cycling instead of running or want to learn more about the sights, a guided e-bike tour is a very good alternative. Many city highlights are also reached – complemented by exciting insights from a local guide.
The route starts in close proximity to the cruise port, near the bus station. From Terminal Ponte dei Mille, this is directly across the street. From Terminal Ponte Andrea Doria, a few hundred additional meters are added.
You can follow the route either directly via the map on this page or import the GPX file into a navigation app like Komoot. We recommend navigating via the GPX file, as it is significantly more precise and provides clear guidance via GPS while you run. After saving the GPX file in your app, you can usually use the map offline. We recommend testing the navigation beforehand in airplane mode without active Wi-Fi to ensure it works without an internet connection.
Tip: For safety, it is still useful to have internet while on the go. If your mobile provider in Italy offers no or only expensive data roaming, a global data plan that works in many countries is suitable for cruises – for example, from eSIM.sm (advertisement).
The route partly follows busy roads, but on sidewalks. In the narrow old town alleys, there is hardly any traffic; here, the focus is on other pedestrians. Overall, the route can therefore be classified as safe.
Especially for runs in the afternoon, plan enough time buffer. If time is short, you should check if you can shorten the route or if the return journey on the same route is faster. In case of emergency, it is also advisable to save the ship's phone number, usually provided in the daily program, beforehand. Additionally, you should have apps like Uber or Bolt on your phone and be familiar with their use. In Genoa, Uber and Bolt have limited functionality, so classic taxis are often the more reliable option.
Public restrooms are located near the route at Palazzo San Giorgio and Castelletto Belvedere. Public drinking fountains are not known along the route, but there are plenty of opportunities to buy drinks along the way.
The route runs on asphalted and paved paths, so normal running shoes are perfectly sufficient. We also recommend bringing sun protection (ad), enough water, and a cell phone or running watch for navigation. Additionally, a payment method is useful, although in Genoa you can usually pay by card or smartphone.