AlexAlpha

Our family will arrive at 10.13 am to Brignole train station in Genoa and our check in time in apartments in Santa Margherita Ligure is 4 pm. Our host has a strict check in policy. So, how is better and safer to spend time?
1. Lock our luggage in Genoa and walk around enjoying good views ( we not going to attend any museum over there).
2. Lock our luggage in SML and walk around or visit Rapallo.
3. Go to another safe and nice location and spend 4-5 hours over there.
We are not sure about Genoa (heard it is not safe and clean??). Would anybody, please, suggest safe walk in Genoa with nice views and good , not expensive place for lunch?
We have set program for the next 4 days in SML/ C5, it is only free time left.
Thanks in advance

tonfromleiden

»heard it is not safe and clean«
It would be a pity to miss Genoa for some scaremongering hearsay.
Genoa isn't a sanitised Disneyland, but an old harbour city. It has alleys which hardly see any daylight and might not be to everybody's hygienic standards, but as long as you keep on the main streets your nose won't be offended. And as for safety, just keep a normal level of caution for pickpockets.

ekscrunchy

There are several threads here on Genoa as a day trip, and for a longer stay. I suggest you read those for more information.

gailscout

I would catch the bus to Portofino for lunch, view their enchanting harbor from the hills and just soak in the atmosphere. I've been to Genoa, but the views in Portofino will be etched in your minds forever, it is just that beautiful.

ekscrunchy

The OP will be spending the next few nights in SML, which is within a long walk of Portofino. So I would not visit from Genoa.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...h-visiting.cfm


http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-in-genoa.cfm

ticino

I think that all the graffiti and the large numbers of foreigners and prostitutes hanging around in the alleys in the old town may give the impression that Genova is not safe to some people. I was there for two weeks a while ago and it felt very safe. The locals I worked with also told us that it was safe.

I thought it was a wonderful city, much nicer than Florence for instance. If the alleys got gentrified it would be perfect, there are so many incredibly beautiful buildings and the sea is so blue. Via Roma towards the piazza is more upscale than the alleys, and via Garibaldi is also very interesting. I also enjoyed walking along corso Italia to Boccadasse.

AlexAlpha

Thanks everybody for help.
We did not stay in Genova this time, but we will , when we take a cruise from there. We just returned from Italy and I agree now that less popular Italian cities are nicer compare to Rome, Florence an Venice - too many people, more pricey, more frozen food, if do not know where to go to eat.