What's on in Genoa (Genova), Italy through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in Italy, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Christmas in the caruggi (1 Dec – 6 Jan)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in February.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in March.

Peak crowds — Cruise season, Easter holidays in Italy

• Season

  Cruise season

  1 Apr – 31 OctCrowded

  This is a home port rather than a stop, so the ships turn round here on Saturdays and Sundays and the aquarium and the Porto Antico take the whole day's worth at once.

Busy — Cruise season, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Cruise season (1 Apr – 31 Oct)

Peak crowds — Cruise season, Summer holidays in Italy

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Cruise season (1 Apr – 31 Oct)

Peak crowds — Cruise season, Summer holidays in Italy

• Season

  Sea warm enough to swim

  1 Jul – 30 Sep · usually

  The Ligurian sea comes round late and drops away quickly. Boccadasse and the coves east towards Nervi are the city's own swimming; the good water is further down the coast.

Still on: Cruise season (1 Apr – 31 Oct)

Peak crowds — Cruise season, Ferragosto

• Holiday

  Ferragosto

  5–25 AugSchool holidaysClosuresCrowded

  Milan and Turin pour down the motorway to the Riviera and the coast road jams, while the city's own kitchens shut for a fortnight. Genoa itself is emptier than its beaches. Source ↗

Still on: Cruise season (1 Apr – 31 Oct), Sea warm enough to swim (1 Jul – 30 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — Cruise season, Salone Nautico

• Festival

  Salone Nautico

  15–28 Sep · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  The Mediterranean's biggest boat show runs for six days in the waterfront halls in the second half of September, and hotel prices across the city move with it. Source ↗

• Hazard

  Autumn flash floods

  15 Sep – 30 NovFlood seasonClosures

  Warm sea and steep hills behind a narrow city produce autumn storms that drop a month of rain in hours. Red alerts close schools, museums and the underpasses; they are announced a day ahead. Source ↗

Still on: Cruise season (1 Apr – 31 Oct), Sea warm enough to swim (1 Jul – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — Cruise season, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Opening

  Rolli Days

  16–18 OctMajor festivalBook early

  The private palaces of the Strade Nuove open their frescoed piani nobili for a weekend, free with a booked slot. There is a second edition in spring; slots go the day they release. Source ↗

Still on: Cruise season (1 Apr – 31 Oct), Autumn flash floods (15 Sep – 30 Nov)

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Autumn flash floods (15 Sep – 30 Nov)

Busy — Christmas holidays in Italy, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Christmas in the caruggi

  1 Dec – 6 JanChristmas & New Year

  Lights strung the length of via Garibaldi and the old confectioners in the alleys selling pandolce and candied fruit. Winter is when the caruggi are the city's own again. Source ↗