Yes, Genoa is one of the easiest ports for a self-guided game. Ships dock at Ponte dei Mille or Ponte Andrea Doria, the cruise terminals of the Stazione Marittima, about 1 km from the old town. Walk about 15-20 minutes to the Basilica of San Siro, where the scavenger hunt starts. The hunt takes about 2 hours with 2.3 km on foot and ends at Christopher Columbus' House. Verdict: easy on a normal port day.
Scavenger huntGenoa Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided TourRiddles at every stopAbout 2 hours · start any time
5 € - 11 €
Outdoor escape gameGenoa Escape GameA puzzle at every stopAbout 2 hours · start any time
5 € - 11 €
Self-guided audio walking tourGenoa Self-Guided Walking Audio TourJust listen and walkAbout 3 hours · listen as you walk
4 € - 9 €
City guidesGenoa City Guides by World City TrailPlaces to eat, see and drink
Price range: 4.99 € through 19.99 €From the Stazione Marittima to the Basilica of San Siro
- Leave the terminal at Ponte dei Mille or Ponte Andrea Doria and head for Piazza Principe. Its railway station is about 400 m from the ship and a good landmark for the way back.
- From Piazza Principe, walk along Via Balbi or along the waterfront into the old town, where the lanes become narrow and shady.
- Follow the lanes up to Via San Luca: the Basilica of San Siro stands at its end, near Via Garibaldi. The whole walk is about 1 km and takes about 15-20 minutes.
- Prefer to ride? Taxis wait at the terminal and take about 10 minutes, but the old town lanes are largely pedestrian, so you will walk the last part anyway.
A Genoa port day, hour by hour
- 0:00Off the ship at the Stazione Marittima; walk past Piazza Principe towards the old town.
- 0:20Arrive at the Basilica of San Siro, open the app and start the scavenger hunt.
- 1:00Solve riddles in the old town, with stops such as Santa Maria delle Vigne and Palazzo San Giorgio, each followed by its stories and local legends.
- 2:20Finish at Christopher Columbus' House by Porta Soprana, after the Cattedrale di San Lorenzo and Piazza De Ferrari.
- 2:50Walk back to the terminals, which takes about 30 minutes.
- 3:20Back on board with at least 1 hour to spare before all-aboard time.
Tips for Genoa when time is short
- Remember Piazza Principe station, about 400 m from the terminals: once you see it, you are almost back at the ship.
- The old town's narrow lanes, the caruggi, stay shady even in summer, which helps on a hot port day.
- Streets climbing towards Via Garibaldi and beyond are steep, but the hunt stays mostly in the flatter lower town.
- The hunt ends at Christopher Columbus' House by Porta Soprana; allow about 30 minutes to walk back to the terminals.
- You can choose where to start in the app and change the order of the stops, so the route can fit around your all-aboard time.
Why a self-guided game works on a port day
- You start when you step off the ship, not at a fixed tour time, and nobody waits for a group.
- Everyone in your party can follow on their own phone with one booking reference.
- You can stop for lunch or a swim and carry on later, and end the game whenever you need to head back.
- Google Maps guides you from stop to stop, and the game needs no entry tickets.
Genoa cruise stop: questions
Can I walk from the Genoa cruise terminal to the old town?
Yes. The terminals at Ponte dei Mille and Ponte Andrea Doria are about 1 km from the centre and about 400 m from Piazza Principe station, so the old town is an easy walk. From the terminal to the Basilica of San Siro takes about 15-20 minutes on foot.
Which terminals do cruise ships use in Genoa?
Ponte dei Mille, the historic Stazione Marittima, and Ponte Andrea Doria, side by side. Each has two berths for large ocean ships.
How long does the Genoa scavenger hunt take on a cruise stop?
About 2 hours, with about 30 minutes and 2.3 km of walking. Add about 15-20 minutes to reach the start and about 30 minutes back from the finish.
Do I need tickets for the sights on the route?
No. The stops, from Piazza De Ferrari to Porta Soprana, are seen from outside or from public spaces, so no entry tickets are needed for the game.
Do I need to book a time slot?
No. You book online, receive your booking reference by email straight away and start whenever you are ashore. The ticket has no time limit, so it still works if your ship arrives late or your plans change.
What do we need on the day?
A charged smartphone with mobile data, the World City Trail app from the App Store or Google Play, and your booking reference. A power bank helps on a long port day.
Port and transport details checked in November 2026. Docking positions and timetables change, so always check your ship’s all-aboard time and your cruise line’s port information before you set off.