Car hire in Genoa
1 office in Genoa · airport pick-up · Italy
Genoa is Liguria's great historic port: an old town of narrow alleys (the caruggi), Renaissance palaces along Via Garibaldi and an aquarium presiding over the old harbour redesigned by Renzo Piano. The city is wedged between sea and mountain, and the moment you leave it, the landscape becomes a succession of coastal villages clinging to the cliffs.
It is precisely because of that geography that it pays to collect your car at Genoa airport, in Sestri Ponente, around 15 minutes from the centre. The train covers the coastal line well, but to combine Portofino, the inland valleys and the Riviera di Ponente in a single trip, the flexibility of a car makes all the difference.
Search cars in GenoaWhy hire a car in Genoa
- Collecting at Genoa airport spares you entering the city with luggage: you head straight onto the A10 motorway towards the Riviera or the A7 towards Milan.
- The villages of the Riviera di Levante, such as Camogli and Santa Margherita Ligure, are best enjoyed at your own pace, pausing at the viewpoints along the coast road.
- The Ligurian interior (the Trebbia and Aveto valleys, villages like Torriglia) has barely any public transport: without a car, you simply won't get there.
Day trips near Genoa
- Portofino and Santa Margherita — The most elegant stretch of the Riviera, with a postcard-perfect harbour and villas among the pines, around 45 minutes away via motorway and coast road.
- Camogli — A fishing village of tall painted facades facing a shingle beach, ideal for fresh seafood, around 35 minutes from the airport.
- Cinque Terre (Levanto) — Leave the car in Levanto and take the train to the five villages perched above the sea; the base is around 1 hour away via the A12.
- Riviera di Ponente — Heading west, Varazze, Noli and Finalborgo combine broad beaches with medieval old towns, between 30 and 50 minutes away via the A10.
Where to pick up your car
- Aeropuerto de Génova
Final prices in euros · book without paying · free cancellation up to 72 h before.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth driving within Genoa?
Not really: much of the old town is pedestrianised and there are camera-monitored restricted traffic zones (ZTL). The practical option is to park in one of the old harbour car parks, or use the car only to leave the city.
Which road should I choose to see the coast?
The A10/A12 motorway is fast but runs through tunnels for much of the way. If you want views, take the Via Aurelia (SS1), slower and more winding, which hugs the coast from village to village.
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