The Best Time to Visit Genoa 2024: the Ultimate Guide
Genoa is a lovely place to visit, and there really is no bad time of year to head to this part of Italy. If you intend to avoid the crowded seasons when costs are higher, you might need to plan for some rain during your stay, but overall, the average temperature in this city during most seasons is quite pleasant. You will find that visiting Genoa in the early summer is the most popular time to do so, but this does not mean that you have to head to Genoa in June like everyone else.
No matter what season you choose for your visit to Genoa, you will need to have a plan for storing your luggage while you are enjoying the city. Make sure to place your luggage in secure storage in Genoa so that you can have fun during your trip and be free from worry over your items being stolen. Once your bags are safe and secure, you will feel much better equipped to relax and have fun, no matter what the weather is during your stay.
There are so many exciting and fun things to do in Genoa that you might have planned your time in the city around certain events. If you are in the city for a music festival or concert, you probably already have much of your time spoken for, but there are museums, delicious places to eat, and lovely historical sites to see here as well. Make sure that you plan to take advantage of at least some of the cultural and historical things that this city has to offer during your visit.
Summer in Genoa: June - August
June is one of the most popular times to visit Genoa because the weather is mild and sunny, and there are lots of cultural events going on. The focaccia festival takes place during this season, and there are also numerous religious festivals that you might want to experience at this time of the season. Because Genoa is on the ocean, the mild summer months are ideal since the cooler breezes off the coast are a blessing rather than a detraction. This is a great time of year for sitting outside and sipping some wine or wandering around the city to see the sights and to enjoy local farmers' markets and other small festivals.
This is also a time of year when the sun and average humidity can get the best of people, so you might want to have some plans for indoor activities to help get a break from the warmth outside. The aquarium is a great choice for this time of year if you want to get out of the sun for a bit, or you might want to visit the Royal Palace Museum to get some shade. There are many indoor activities in this city that can be a lot of fun, and you might want to have a list of these ideas for days where the humidity and sun get to you a bit.
The average temperature at this time of the year in Genoa is 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees C), and the low is around 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees C). This makes for a pleasant experience throughout the day, and the average humidity is low at this time of the year as well. You will almost always want to bring a light jacket with you to Genoa since it is located on the coast, but you probably won't need it much during the summer.
This is the beginning of the high season, so you might miss some of the peak hotel costs that happen later in the summer months, but your costs will depend on local events that are going on during your trip. The more research you do into the time that you are planning to visit, the more likely you will be to get good hotel prices, even during the high season.
Fall in Genoa: September - November
This season is still relatively mild in Genoa, but temperatures will be lower, and rain will be more frequent. There is a historic boating festival that happens in September that you might want to be in town to see, or you could focus your sightseeing on indoor adventures like the aquarium, the museums, or the various historical palaces and other lovely old buildings in the city. Between museums and art galleries and shopping, you can easily find things to do with your time that are not outdoorsy if you wish.
The high temperatures during this period of the year are 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees C), and the lows hover around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees C). The relative humidity is higher during this season due to the rain that can sweep in from time to time, so you will need to plan on that slightly oceany clammy feeling from time to time. This can also make the average temperatures feel hotter during certain periods.
Visiting parts of the city like the Via XX Settembre can actually be a lot more enjoyable during this time of the year because there will be fewer people to contend with as you shop and take in the sights. You might get rained on a little as you cross back and forth from place to place, but you will not find this rain to be miserable at all. The overall warmth of the days during this season makes up for the higher average humidity and the damp.
If you don't mind a little bit of wet, you will be able to walk around the city unimpeded at this time of year since it is not one of the peak seasons for tourism. You will be able to get your accommodations for a better price overall as well, which can be nice. While the average weather is mild overall at this time of the year, the rain can be a big detraction to some visitors.
Winter in Genoa: December - February
Winter is fairly mild in Genoa, but frost and snowfalls can happen. You will have to bring hats, gloves, and warm clothes with you if you are going to be in Genoa during this time of the year. You might have chosen to brave the colder winter months to get to be in town for the really exciting New Year festivities, and this can be a great excuse to brave a bit of cold weather in this area. The Ligurian Sea might play a little havoc with the weather, but the events of the New Year are never impeded by this.
The low temperature at this time of year can be as chilly as 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees C), and the high will be around 56 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees C). Rainy winters are common, so make sure that you are prepared to be this chilly. You will save money on your trip for sure, but you might miss all the pleasant weather that you could enjoy during other seasons. The skies tend to be quite grey at this time of the year in Genoa as well, which many people report finding to be quite a disappointment.
There are some other enjoyable things that go on in Genoa during the coldest months, and you can enjoy the San Nicola Market as well as the Book Fair in the Mazzini Gallery. This is also a great part of Italy to visit for yummy coffee and pastries, so maybe you will plan on spending the coldest days when the average temperatures dip the lowest in the warm embrace of a coffee shop or your hotel room.
Spring in Genoa: March - May
This is the rainiest time to visit Genoa, Italy, but there are many lovely local events that take place in this lovely city in the Italian riviera during this season. You will experience average temperatures of about 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees C) as a high, and the lows can be around 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees C). This is a great time to explore Genoa like a local and to take part in festivities to welcome in the coming warmer season. You will be able to shop at local markets, and you will also have fairly unimpeded access to historical sites and popular museums.
While the relative humidity can be high during this time of year, you will not be as likely to be bothered by spikes in truly cold weather. This is the low season still, so you will be spared expensive fees and costs that might plague more favorable periods of the year for good weather. This is also a nice time to brave some low average temperature readings because of the many local events that you will be invited to take part in. This part of Italy is used to more bad weather than other portions of the country, so locals do not slow down during this season due to a few sprinkles.
Make sure to plan time to visit the Regional Market in Piazza Matteotti and Euroflora and to see local sites of note like the Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno. This is also a great time of year to shop in the area of Genoa’s Botteghe Storiche because you will be out of the weather and get to enjoy one of the most historical shopping districts in this part of Italy. All the charming little boutiques and stores will welcome you with open arms, and you will love the charm of this experience, no matter what the weather is like. Being able to access these local events and places of interest without waiting in lines can make the experience much more enjoyable and can make the low average temperature well worth soldiering through.
Conclusion: When is the best time to visit Genoa for you?
There is so much to do when you visit Genoa, no matter what season you select for your trip. You might head to Northern Italy during the heat of the summer so that you can enjoy Genoa along with other beautiful seaside villages during their most favorable weather periods. You could also elect to head to Genoa in the low season to save some money and to experience local culture on the Ligurian coast. Events like New Years are very exciting and fun and might make it well worth braving some cold and frost during your stay.
Most of the sites of mote that are offered to tourists and enthusiasts of history are open all year round in Genoa, so you will not be likely to miss out on visiting places like the Piazza de Ferrari even on rainy days. If you want to avoid the most humid month in the city or the wettest month, you will just need to plan to spend a bit more for accommodations, food, and event tickets.
No matter what season you head to Genoa, you will need to have both light clothes and warmer clothes in your bags because the weather can be quite variable, even in the summer. This part of Italy is heavily influenced by the ocean, so you will need to consider this area to be coastal and not think of it like warmer parts of the Italian coast. Consider air conditioning a must during warmer times of the year since the average humidity can be quite high in this city, and you might want to avoid staying in a stuffy hotel that makes it hard to sleep.
No matter what season you head to Genoa, be sure to have a plan for your luggage. Storing your luggage securely is important for your peace of mind, and you will have a much better time during your trip if you are not worried about your bags being in your way. Once your bags are securely stored, you can head out to see all the lovely things that Genoa has to offer you without a care in the world!
