Genoa isn’t just culture, sea, breathtaking landscapes, hidden views and a history stretching back centuries. It’s also about fun and events for people of all ages.

It’s one of the cities that have witnessed the rise of the ritual of the aperitivo. While Turin and Milan have transformed it into the trendy “Happy Hour”, in Genoa it has retained its flavour as a slow-paced chance to meet up, perhaps in one of the old town’s many distinctive piazze (squares) or vicoli (alleys) or alternatively along the seafront, to take it easy after a long day at work or to enjoy a good glass of wine in the summer months, in surroundings where time has stood still.

Many of the city’s areas and districts take on a new aspect as night falls and the bars and locales are abuzz with tourists but mainly crowds of locals.

The historic centre is certainly the pulsing heart of the city’s nightlife, and is dotted with piazze and piazzette dotted amongst its picturesque vicoli. Some of the most popular include Piazza Lavagna and especially Piazza delle Erbe, a favourite haunt not just at aperitif time; overflowing with bars and restaurants, it’s easy to enjoy a drink accompanied by frisceu, traditional fritters, and lots of other kinds of appetizers such as focaccia, olives, sandwiches, farinata, grilled vegetables and pizza slices, before perhaps moving directly on to dinner, sitting in this slightly sloping piazza with the characteristic rugged aspect of the Genoese caruggi or alleyways. On weekend evenings the whole area around Piazza delle Erbe teems with life and occasions.

Remaining in the city centre, the area around Piazza De Ferrari and the bars and locales set against the historical backdrop of Palazzo Ducale also boast plenty of nightlife options in addition to trattorias and traditional restaurants tucked away in lesser known corners offering flavoursome menus.

Visitors wishing to enjoy the true star of Genoa’s show, the sea, during the summer season can take a stroll along Corso Italia, as far as Boccadasse or Nervi, where there is no shortage of locales with spectacular views and excellent culinary offerings.

For young people the city offers a variety of discos, pubs and clubs with evenings dedicated to live music.

More than a dozen disco clubs liven up Genoa’s nightlife at weekends: those located in the city centre all year round, while during the summer season the Old Port and the promenade of Corso Italia are home to DJ sets and dance nights against an aquatic backdrop that provides a unique atmosphere. In addition, Palazzo Ducale hosts the always eagerly anticipated Silent Disco several times a year.

Genoa caters for all musical tastes, and not just the latest music trends and remixes. From clubs which put on Caribbean, Latin American or swing nights – genres that have come back into fashion in recent years – to concerts for jazz, rock, classical or avant-garde music and cover bands, as well as new musical and singer-songwriting talents for whom the city has always provided fertile ground for them to carve out success on the national and international music scene.