Caruggi Genoa
Caruggi Genoa
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
495 reviews
Excellent
208
Very good
165
Average
56
Poor
33
Terrible
33
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Bebe.1
Province of Genoa, Italy5,534 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
Wandering through the alleys is a special experience. At every corner you can discover shops, churches, activities of all kinds and a world made up of a mix of different cultures that coexist next to each other. Beautiful despite being perfectly aware that they should be looked after better. However, the mix of perfumes resulting from the mix of cultures mentioned above is only here and is unmistakable.
Written October 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrea R
12 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
The western part and closest to the port is in total disrepair. Dirty and smelly alleys. Become the ghetto of all immigrant ethnic groups. Not accessible in the evening and at night. Moving towards the north and east and along the main streets it partially improves but forget about any activity linked to the history of the places. Even just for tourist purposes, it would still be better.
Written February 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pirro2018
Brescia, Italy9 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
The streets are certainly rich in history, but one doesn't even notice it due to the amount of obscene graffiti (one every meter), half-collapsed walls, puddles of stinky urine and drug dealers throwing signals at each other along the way. The historic shops have almost disappeared: now there are the classic ambiguous shops run by non-EU citizens where anything is sold. Dangerous to go there at night (maybe even during the day?).
Written August 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AnnArborMHT
Genoa, Italy1,649 contributions
As an American living in Genova, I absolutely love wandering around the Caruggi District or Old City or as the many signs posted throughout the area," Centro Storico", which is the largest historic area in Europe. The best time to visit is when the shops/restaurants/business are open, roughly between 9-1 and 4-7. The only time NOT to visit is late at night when it can become dangerous. Many areas of the old city seem dark and foreboding, and while I have never had any problems wandering throughout, I would suggest you stick to areas which appear lively with open businesses and shops. There are three Tourist offices which offer excellent advice, good maps and a small booklet called" City Break Genova" in many languages that offers some good walking tours that keep you in the main areas. One Tourist Office is close to the Aquarium, a second on Via Garibaldi and the third by Teatro Carlos Felice at Piazza de Ferrari. If you are buying tickets to visit the museums on Via Garibaldi, check out the excellent book "Genoa guide with city map"...the map isn't very good but the walking tours are excellent and give you a fair amount of information about the sites. Within the Centro Storico are many amazing churches with some beautiful art and some very good museums. My favorite church and museum is San Lorenzo with it's magnificent and frequently overlooked Museo del Tesoro di San Lorenzo which houses pieces of religious artifacts, including their take on the Holy Grail. Just around the corner, parallel to San Lorenzo is another favorite museum the Museo Diocesano which has sacred hangings painted on blue fabric which is considered to be the original "blue jean" fabric. Walking into the completely dark rooms where light sensors suddenly turn on, give a vist here a very errie feeling. The museum also has great bathrooms! For shopping, eating and atmosphere, I like walking down from Piazza San Matteo to Piazza Soziglia and around this area to Via dei Maceli di Soziglia for great focaccia, pizza or expensive candies at Romanengo. Many of Genova's treasures are hidden and require some planning to enjoy. The city is a little rough around the edges, but I really love it and would be delighted to offer you more information, should you decide to visit.
Written August 30, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AnnArborMHT
Genoa, Italy1,649 contributions
Apr 2012 • Solo
It’s been 18 months since I last reviewed the Caruggi district and some changes have taken place. There are only two tourist offices now (the office by Carlo Felice Theatre is closed). The one on Via Garibaldi is on Genova’s most important street and tourist destination, is open, in the Caruggi area. Maps are still free, but they now charge a small fee for brochures. Two which are very helpful are: Genoa and the Rolli Palaces and City Break Genova. Across from the Garibaldi tourist office is the museum shop where you can purchase the book Genova Guide with city map, which has two very extensive walking tours of the Caruggi district; better if you plan to spend a few days in Genova. If you are in Genova Saturday or Sunday mornings, the tourist office offers a walking tour of the Caruggi district in English at 10am, with the meeting point at Porto Antico. No advance reservations are needed and you can pay at the black Tourist Office kiosk near the ticket booth for the Aquarium. The tour includes admission to the museums on Via Garibaldi and is a very good way to see the Caruggi and museums for an excellent price (12 euros).
The Caruggi district is still a bit rough around the edges and requires a real traveler to discover its treasures, but even a superficial look, can be very satisfying. The historical center is entirely pedestrianised, so don’t bother with the hop on/off bus or little “train” that tours the outskirts of the Caruggi district, which is divided by Via San Lorenzo from Piazza Matteotti to PortoAnitco. Most tourists will find the Rive Droite or right side of Via San Lorenzo the best place to start exploring the Caruggi district with several streets not to be missed: Via Garibaldi, Via Luccoli, Via S Luca and Via Soziglia. UNESCO Palaces line Via Garibaldi, Via Balbi, and Salita S. Caterina with several more, (difficult to recognize) along Via S Luca. Along the way, if a church is open, visit it! You will be surprised at the interiors!
As stated before, the area is safe during the day, although I would stick to the lively streets and don’t flaunt your money. Just below Via Garbaldi is Via Maddalena where ladies of the evening tend to congregate during the day/night, but the area is OK to travel through. Night life has greatly improved, and there are many good restaurants throughout the Caruggi district, but take main pedestrian areas to and from restaurants and stay away from narrow, dark alleys. There has been influx of gypsies especially in the port area, so watch your valuables in close quarters, like public transportation; pick pockets are on the rise. Lastly, Genova like so many other cities is in a financial crunch, so don’t use the public transportation without buying a ticket and validating it!!! The fines are hefty for riding the elevators, buses, trains and funiculars without a validated ticket. Do chance it! Genova especially the Caruggi district is a great city to visit, if you have any questions I’m happy to help. Enjoy your visit!
The Caruggi district is still a bit rough around the edges and requires a real traveler to discover its treasures, but even a superficial look, can be very satisfying. The historical center is entirely pedestrianised, so don’t bother with the hop on/off bus or little “train” that tours the outskirts of the Caruggi district, which is divided by Via San Lorenzo from Piazza Matteotti to PortoAnitco. Most tourists will find the Rive Droite or right side of Via San Lorenzo the best place to start exploring the Caruggi district with several streets not to be missed: Via Garibaldi, Via Luccoli, Via S Luca and Via Soziglia. UNESCO Palaces line Via Garibaldi, Via Balbi, and Salita S. Caterina with several more, (difficult to recognize) along Via S Luca. Along the way, if a church is open, visit it! You will be surprised at the interiors!
As stated before, the area is safe during the day, although I would stick to the lively streets and don’t flaunt your money. Just below Via Garbaldi is Via Maddalena where ladies of the evening tend to congregate during the day/night, but the area is OK to travel through. Night life has greatly improved, and there are many good restaurants throughout the Caruggi district, but take main pedestrian areas to and from restaurants and stay away from narrow, dark alleys. There has been influx of gypsies especially in the port area, so watch your valuables in close quarters, like public transportation; pick pockets are on the rise. Lastly, Genova like so many other cities is in a financial crunch, so don’t use the public transportation without buying a ticket and validating it!!! The fines are hefty for riding the elevators, buses, trains and funiculars without a validated ticket. Do chance it! Genova especially the Caruggi district is a great city to visit, if you have any questions I’m happy to help. Enjoy your visit!
Written April 25, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike G
Bonita, CA115 contributions
Oct 2017 • Solo
You want a nice, scrubbed Potemkin piazza full of American franchises and ATM's? How about another ESPN or Disney theme park? Or, perhaps an aquatic park full of screaming kids and torrents of water runs more to your tastes. If so, forget about Genoa's caruggi.
What you get here is about the closest thing to a medieval European city as you'll find today. Not in Rome, Milan, Paris, Athens, or anywhere else, but here in La Superba, as Genoa was known in those days. Yes, you may well see some rats, and definitely some prostitutes and assorted straccioni, but you will also see the largest surviving medieval quarter in Europe. Houses so close to each other that even Vespas have trouble negotiating the passageways; I hesitate to call them all "streets." A hodge-podge of businesses, both legitimate and otherwise, where only Lord knows what commodities are in trade. Some rough souls, sure, but also some decent, interesting people like the artisans and professionals who work side by side with them.
Depending on your "security quotient," you may well want to come here only during daylight hours, though I've traversed i caruggi well into the night. But, do see it and appreciate it for what it is, which is much like all European cities once were before the XX century cleaned them up, however "nicely."
What you get here is about the closest thing to a medieval European city as you'll find today. Not in Rome, Milan, Paris, Athens, or anywhere else, but here in La Superba, as Genoa was known in those days. Yes, you may well see some rats, and definitely some prostitutes and assorted straccioni, but you will also see the largest surviving medieval quarter in Europe. Houses so close to each other that even Vespas have trouble negotiating the passageways; I hesitate to call them all "streets." A hodge-podge of businesses, both legitimate and otherwise, where only Lord knows what commodities are in trade. Some rough souls, sure, but also some decent, interesting people like the artisans and professionals who work side by side with them.
Depending on your "security quotient," you may well want to come here only during daylight hours, though I've traversed i caruggi well into the night. But, do see it and appreciate it for what it is, which is much like all European cities once were before the XX century cleaned them up, however "nicely."
Written September 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tina E
9 contributions
Feb 2021
Caruggi is right at the heart of ancient Genoa. Modern Genovese have no respect for this place as right next to it, widespread illegal activities are taking place. Do not visit this place.
Written February 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DoglawyerATX
Austin, TX171 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
We were shocked and disappointed at this supposed "sight". We always enjoy wandering around the old of town of towns. But this area wreaked of urine, was filled with boarded up buildings and covered with graffiti. Not even interesting graffiti. Absolutely nothing to say about this place other than avoid.
Written June 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
toddd530
Atlanta, GA73 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
Most 'old towns' you visit in other cities are full of charm, nostalgia, and intrigue. This 'old town' in Genova is not a place you want to be after dark. It feels very much ignored, and desperately in need of an influx of funding to make it what it could (and SHOULD) be. This could be a remarkable area to visit historic churches, cafes, and boutiques, and yet the area is full of shuttered businesses and people loitering around in back alleys for no apparent reason. It's incredibly sad and disheartening to see, for this area could be SO much more. We visited in the daytime during peak summer tourism, and it still felt dangerous. And yes, as other reviews have pointed out, you'll see a number of ladies selling themselves, and you'll probably be confronted for money or other requests more than once. No way I'd come here in the evening.
Written July 4, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Abu_Uwais_
Muscat, Oman109 contributions
Aug 2019
My family and I visited this 'old town' during mid-day in Genova and we noticed that people loitering around in back alleys. Smell of piss as others mentioned here before. It was are very sad and disheartening to see, for this area could be so much more if it was preserved properly.
Google map mark this place a Columbus house...etc..DON'T waste your time. There is nothing to see really
Google map mark this place a Columbus house...etc..DON'T waste your time. There is nothing to see really
Written August 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many are, but in the area around San Lorenzo Cathedral and Piazza della Erbe a wide variety of shops and places to eat are open. Best to check their websites first, which you can by browsing Google maps, clicking on places that strike your fancy, and then seeing what their hours are. Near the aquarium and maritime museum, and opposite both, most places are open on Sundays, and you can easily reenter the caruggi from either of them. How easily you'll be able to find your way out depends on you. ;o)
Written October 12, 2018
Robbie13
Miramar, Florida
How far is the Caruggi District from the Cruise port ? Is there transportation available? Thank you
Written September 24, 2015
It's almost directly opposite, about a ten minute walk east of the cruise port/Stazione Maritima.
Written January 26, 2019
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