Car Rental - Genoa

Explore Genoa with a Hertz car rental, in the historic heart of the Mediterranean. Today, it serves as a gateway to the Riviera, and one of the best places in Europe to soak up the grandeur and opulence of the 12th and 13th centuries. Discover the past through architecture, museums and winding Carruggi (streets).

Perched perfectly on the Ligurian coast, the birthplace of Christopher Columbus has a rich cultural heritage. From medieval palaces and churches to a beautiful romantic coastline, the former city-state has plenty to offer visitors, while its restaurants provide the perfect fuel for your Italian adventures.

Renting a car in Genoa is the best way to see what the city has to offer, and we have pick-up points across the city, including at the airport. Choose from our wide range of cars to suit every need – from compact models to larger family vehicles and sportier options.

Whether you're traveling to Genoa on holiday or business, we aim to get you in your car rental and on your way as quickly and conveniently as possible. So you can head off and start exploring the best of what this coastal haven has to offer.  

Genoa makes a huge impression on first-time visitors. Hop in a rental car and discover the marine port – both gritty and glamorous in equal measure. It also provides easy access to the Cinque Terre and Portofino.

The sixth-largest city in Italy is a fascinating place to visit. It is one of the most culturally significant areas in Italian history, acting as the gateway to the Mediterranean. La Superba (the ‘superb one’) is the city that gave the world Christopher Columbus, Italy’s first soccer team (Genoa C.F.C.), and the world-famous pesto recipe.

The city center is home to a stunning aquarium, a refurbished port stylishly reimagined by Italian architect Renzo Piano, and one of the largest medieval quarters in Europe. It’s a remarkably diverse urban landscape, with the souk-style ‘Carruggi’ contrasting with its opulent banking and merchant center. Renting a holiday car rental makes it easier to traverse the Genoa landscape, whether on a solo trip or with your family.

Genoa’s topography, situated between mountains and the Ligurian Sea, means the city is blessed with temperate weather all year round. This makes it the perfect trip for drivers looking for history, culture and mouthwatering cuisine in equal measure.

A Culture Trip

After a large-scale refurbishment project in the 1990s, the Porto Antico became the social hub of the city. Re-designed by super-architect Renzo Piano, the old port is now a buzzing waterfront full of restaurants and bars, complete with a tropical rainforest biosphere and Italy’s largest aquarium. Park up your rental car and indulge in Genoa’s history.

Porto Antico feeds into the narrow, winding streets, a bewildering maze brimming with centuries of secrets. From here, discover the city’s most impressive attractions, such as the Palazzo di San Giorgio, one of Europe’s first-ever banks, and the former prison of Venetian explorer Marco Polo.

Genoa is exceptionally compact and you’re never more than a short distance from its most beautiful street, the UNESCO-protected Via Garibaldi or “Street of Kings,” a glorious 250-meter-long 16th-century palazzo. Here, you can visit the Rolli Palaces, which were built in the 16th century when Genoa was one of Italy's leading maritime republics. Renting a car also means you can carry your things around more easily when exploring Genoa, with ample boot space in our larger vehicles.

Via Garibaldi is also home to two of Genoa’s most famous palaces - Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Bianco - which have evolved into art galleries housing magnificent works by Van Dyck, Caravaggio and Veronese. Take the glass lift to Palazzo Bianco’s roof and enjoy some breathtaking views of the city’s harbor.

Day Trips from Genoa

No trip to Genoa is complete without a trip to the seaside villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola, Corniglia, and Riomaggiore, known as the Cinque Terre – the five villages. The UNESCO-protected site famously inspired English romantic poets Lord Byron and Percy Shelley. Renting a car in Genoa is one of the fastest ways you can get to Cinque Terre and its glamorous neighbor, Portofino.

With its pastel-hued homes and opulent yachts in the harbor, Portofino is a luxurious retreat for travelers on vacation. Here in Genoa, you can combine a city break in an Italian maritime republic with a trip south along the beautiful Ligurian coast. What are you waiting for? Hop in a business or holiday car rental and explore Genoa with Hertz.

If you’re arriving via Genoa Airport (or Cristoforo Colombo Airport), the city is easily accessible along A10 with your rental car. Once you’ve picked up your keys, you’ll only be a 20-minute drive from Genoa city center in your car rental.

You’re also only a quick drive away from Cinque Terre. The seaport is only 63 miles from La Spezia, along the A12 and E80 freeways. And, when you arrive at your destination, you can either park your rental car before walking along the ‘Azure Trail’, or drive into the Genoa mountains.

Driving in Genoa is relatively straightforward, thanks to the laidback nature of the city. A compact city with a jumbled network of medieval streets known as ‘Carruggi’, the city is genuinely fun to negotiate and find your way around.

Downtown Genoa has restricted parking for non-residents, so you won’t be able to park your rental car in the city center. However, there are plenty of parking lots situated just outside the restricted zone, with no time limits on how long you can stay there.

Driving offers a great way to explore the Italian Riviera, especially in the summer months when the long stretches of coastline provide a winding route brimming with amazing views out over the sea. Here, you’ll find some of the most picturesque driving routes in all of Europe. Renting a car in Genoa frees you from the restrictions of public transport schedules, so you can take control of your vacation.

Pay careful attention to the speed limits on all roads, which range from 80 mph on freeways – autostrada (which are usually toll roads) – to 68 mph on non-major freeways, 56 mph on local roads and 30 mph in built-up areas.