10 Best Things to Do After Dinner in Genoa

The Old Town of Genoa is one of the largest historic districts in Europe, spread over the heart of the city from the port to the San Lorenzo Cathedral. It’s a picturesque area to explore in the evenings, with the cathedral grandly illuminated and its narrow streets and alleys lined with ornately decorated heritage buildings.

The Old Town’s Strade Nuove is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and to wander along Via Garibaldi and other grand boulevards is to step back in time to the days of Genoa’s peak period as a major port city. Its majestic Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo style palaces dating back to the 16th and 18th centuries are all beautifully lit up at night.

The Galleria Giuseppe Mazzini is a 19th-century shopping arcade built with an exquisite glass roof design that adds a touch of grandeur to the shopping experience. The structure looks just as impressive when it’s majestically lit up at night, and it’s easy to extend your evening stroll to the nearby Via Roma shopping street.

While walking through the Galleria Giuseppe Mazzini, be sure to look down to catch sight of the 4 gorgeous bronze and marble floor mosaics. These features were installed in 2001, based on the works of Italian artist Francesco Somaini. The arcade is often abuzz with events and exhibitions held throughout the year, as well as an annual book fair at Christmas time.

Piazza Lavagna is a square that offers a cosy setting to gather and grab a drink in the evening with its outdoor tables surrounded by tall heritage buildings. Found in the Old Town area of Genoa (just a short stroll from Via Garibaldi and Via Luccoli), it was named after a noble Genoese family who became known for their typography skills back in the 1400s.

Reached via narrow alleyways, Piazza Lavagna has a hidden-away feel, though it’s still a popular place to gather and relax on summer evenings especially. Many find their way here for an after-work aperitivo (evening drink) and linger on to dine and sip cocktails in the piazza’s restaurants and bars.

Palazzo Ducale sits majestically in the centre of Genoa and is a major destination for visitors at all hours of the day. Also commonly known as Doge's Palace, it was built in the 16th century as a palace for the noble Doges family. Today, this splendid building and square serve as a centre for art exhibitions and events like its annual ‘Silent Disco’ night.

For those arriving later in the evening, it might be too late for a guided tour or to see the art exhibition space, but it's still worth a visit just to marvel at the palace’s exquisite façade and tower, beautifully lit up at night-time. Palazzo Ducale also hosts free concerts and outdoor exhibitions through the summer months, so be sure to check its schedule of events before you visit.

The Carlo Felice Theatre (Teatro Carlo Felice) is a majestic opera house that’s hosted some of the most renowned classical performances since it first opened in the early 19th century. Its elegant architectural features are an impressive sight any time of day, but it looks especially magical at night when its façade is illuminated by hundreds of lights.

Teatro Carlo Felice is in the Old Town area, next to the Piazza de Ferrari. Opera performances take place throughout the year, but visit in summer to enjoy its annual Genoa Opera Festival. For those not going to see the opera, it’s worth stopping by in the evening just to see the building – visits to the theatre are included in many walking tours of the Old Town.

UCI Cinemas Fiumara is a multiplex movie theatre found about a 30-minute bus ride away from Genoa’s city centre. Movie fans have a choice of Italian, Hollywood, and international films screened on giant wall-to-wall screens with a digital sound system. The cinema is modern with plush seating for comfy viewing.

The cinema is part of the Fiumara Shopping Centre, which has a variety of brand-name shops and restaurants. You can also check out many onsite entertainment options, including a bowling alley, slot machines, and a children’s play area.

Teatro della Tosse is a performance centre with 3 stages and a gathering place for theatrical artists and companies, so there’s always something fresh and exciting to see here. A range of shows staged throughout the year, including plays, music concerts, magic shows, modern dance, children’s theatre, and comedy.

The theatre is in Genoa’s Old Town area, just a short walk from Piazza Ferrari. It’s an interesting contrast to find a place staging such inventive and forward-thinking performances surrounded by Genoa’s historical buildings and streets.

Porto Antico is a lively spot to visit in the evenings with its shops, bars, and outdoor live music area. One could easily wile away an evening just wandering around the harbour to take in the glittering view of lights reflecting off the water and marina yachts, as well as the Biosphere glass sphere that sits in the harbour area.

From the port, you could walk along the Corso Italia promenade along Genoa’s seafront, which stretches for miles on the way to Boccadasse village. A pleasant place for a walk or jog any time, the promenade livens up at night during the summer when outdoor clubs are set up and DJ dance parties kick off.

Piazza delle Erbe is a small square and enjoyable evening gathering spot with a long history, found in the heart of Genoa's Old Town area. A vibrant collection of pubs, cafes, shops, and bars now sit around the square that, as its name “Plaza of Herbs” suggests, was long ago home to a vegetable market.

Locals and visitors alike come to Piazza delle Erbe to unwind with an aperitivo (evening drink) before dinner. Try to snag some seats at an outdoor table to mingle and relax with dinner and wine. Bars in the square like the Caffè letterario delle Erbe serve cocktails and often have live music throughout the evening.

Genoa is a lively city after dark and those in search of some top-notch live music will find it in the jazz bars and pubs of its Old Town area. Most venues are within walking distance of each other, so it’s easy to just roam around the streets of Old Town until you stumble upon a bar that looks and sounds inviting.

For a mellow vibe, locals are likely to point you to some of Genoa’s well-established live jazz bars such as Louisiana Jazz Club or Count Basie Jazz Club. Those craving more of a rock ’n roll night out could check out such live music hotspots as Crazy Bull Genova and the Blue Angel Club.