Genoa for a month?
 

How would Genoa be for one month?

Next year 2024 my wife and I are thinking about 2 months in Italy and some hiking in Switzerland. As part of that trip we are thinking of parking ourselves for one month somewhere to get some of the “living there” experience. Some quieter, simpler days than typical vacation days. Taking a long morning walk, stopping at the local bakery, watching the town in its everyday routine, sitting in the plaza, etc. Combined with a number of day trips by train, maybe a few 1 or 2 night extra excursions.

Anyone stay in Genoa for an extended time. Is it an interesting enough town for one month?

I only based there for three nights. It is interesting, and full of flavor. But it is a city of narrow lanes peppered by open plazas set on undulating hills. While that is in some ways dynamic, it also feels claustrophobic - - a city piled up upon itself. "Quieter simpler" doesn't necessarily jump to mind, especially when you compare it to easy breezy cities like Turin and Trieste.

I'd not appreciate it for a long time, very much like some north African hillside towns, the old town is interesting but the alleys are busy with tourists and I would find that boring after a while. Turin would be nicer or maybe all the way over in Lucca.

All depends on the season and on the places you want to visit.
In winter, Genoa has a milder climate than the Valpadana towns (Turin - Novara - Milan - Brescai - Verona.... ) which are often under thick fog.
Genoa is a transport hub for day trips to the whole Riviera, Asti, Turin, Pavia, Milan......
But for that you must be close to one of the 2 main railway stations: Piazza Principe in the hilly old city or Brignole in the rather flat new city center..
But don't imagine to stay in a small city. Genoa has about 600'000 inhabitants and very different areas: old, hilly and somewhat scenic; modern and noisy; high above in the hills with views to the sea, but far away from the transport hubs; in side valleys; close to the harbour and mainly inhabited by legal and illigal North African immigrants.......

I’d second Lucca. We spent a month there one February and loved it.

Thanks for the recommendation. Did you have a car in Lucca? I was hoping to be in a walkable city with a convenient train station for some day trips and avoiding a car.

We had a car for a week to do some further afield trips. Could easily have done without it. Lucca is really walkable (flat!!) and the train station is right in town. Easy trips to Florence, Pisa, CT area and I'm sure others. Also good local bus transportation.

Thanks so much. That is useful to know. I’ll look into Lucca. Just like you maybe a car for part time is useful, good to know it’s not needed for the month.

Driving in Lucca itself is difficult. A UK TV programme "Top Gear" gave three presenters a bicycle, a Ferrari and a pair of shoes to find out which was faster in getting from the centre to outside the wall. The Ferrari lost. But once outside the walls it is easy.

dfourh used the word "claustrophobic." I've struggled to describe my impression of Genoa, but I think I'd agree. It has some beautiful street scenes and nice piazze, but the narrow, dark, tunnel-like lanes in the historic center are what I remember more. A few days to a week would be great, but a month would be too long for me.

For the sort of low-key, casual stay that you describe, I'd rather be in a smaller, somewhat quieter city/town. You don't mention what month and/or where in Italy you have already or will be visiting... that would make a difference for me. Having a car affects the choice of town and lodging because of ZTLs and parking.

FWIW, impressions of Lucca among Fodorites are mixed. It has its avid fans, but many of us aren't in that group.

I took several pics in Genoa like this one...

https://c8.alamy.com/comp/RYNEEK/gen...ity-RYNEEK.jpg

Thanks for your info. Noted on Genoa. It would probably be May or June and most likely north of Rome. I’ve spent time in the northern lakes area which I loved but don’t want to repeat. I’d like to be in a walkable town of 80,000 - 120,000 population and with a convenient train station for several (maybe weekly) day trips during the month. I’d rather not have a car but the dichotomy of car or no car is not necessarily accurate, but rather I’d like to not need a car for every day of the month but would be willing to rent a car for several days once or twice during the month to get to interesting places not easily served by rail.

FWIW I live in Los Angeles so most any place except the largest tourist magnet cities seem at least somewhat quieter to me.

Genoa is much bigger. You are seeking a town, not a city?

Thanks for your info. Noted on Genoa. It would probably be May or June and most likely north of Rome. I’ve spent time in the northern lakes area which I loved but don’t want to repeat. I’d like to be in a walkable town of 80,000 - 120,000 population and with a convenient train station for several (maybe weekly) day trips during the month. I’d rather not have a car but the dichotomy of car or no car is not necessarily accurate, but rather I’d like to not need a car for every day of the month but would be willing to rent a car for several days once or twice during the month to get to interesting places not easily served by rail.

FWIW I live in Los Angeles so most any place except the largest tourist magnet cities seem at least somewhat quieter to me.

Here are my three days in Genoa, with train jaunts west to Finale Ligure and south to Camogli, Sestri Levante, and a fleeting dip into chock-a-block-packed Cinque Terre (stayed for max 20 minutes in each Ventimiglia and Riomaggiore):

I suggest that you consider some smaller cities, for instance, Piacenza, or Ferrara. Both have good train connections, and both are pleasant small cities.