Genoa has always had a close relationship with its sea. Salty air can be breathed everywhere, in the squares of the alleys of the old town, in the villages overlooking the sea and even on the hills that dominate the city.

 

There are many places to visit and things to do by the sea: such as a visit to the Aquarium, in the Porto Antico area, a square on the sea with restaurants, bars, shops, the Galata – Museo del Mare e della Navigazione and one of Eataly's stores. In compliance with the anti-contagion safety regulations, in the evening the Porto Antico enlivens with events ranging from cabaret shows to jazz and symphonic music.

 

Furthermore, in Genoa you can also find villages by the sea where time seems to have stopped, such as Boccadasse, with its colorful small houses and the fishermen’s boats. There you can enjoy an aperitivo or a fish dinner a stone's throw from the sea; Nervi, with its long sea promenade overlooking the cliffs and the green of its Parks, where ancient dwellings are now museums. From the small port, you can go out kayaking and canoeing, sliding on the sea along the typical Mediterranean landscape. 

 

Corso Italia recalls the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. Visitors can also decide to catch a boat from the Porto Antico or to enjoy a boat tour of the port, reaching Pegli with its seafront and where you can’t miss a visit to the park in Villa Pallavicini, one of the Italian historic gardens.

 

Departing from Genoa you can discover authentic jewels of the coast. Among the others, Camogli, once a fishing village, the "glamorous capitals" Santa Margherita and Portofino and San Fruttuoso with its Medieval Abbey and the Christ of the Abyss. Still in the eastern Riviera, there is the Golfo del Tigullio, from Rapallo to Sestri Levante, with its Bay of Silence and the Fairy Tales Bay. Among the countries of the Golfo Paradiso, Recco is the homeland of the cheese focaccia. In Bogliasco, on windy days, you can windsurf. On the west coast, Arenzano and Cogoleto offer the opportunity of a ride on the bike path by the sea. In Genoa, as well as in the eastern and westen coasts, there are also sandy and pebble beaches, in the region that this year boasts the highest number of blue flags in Italy.

 

For security reasons, it is recommended to ask about how to access the free beaches in the different locations and, in the case of private seaside establishments, to book in advance.