Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Pass

Overview

One ticket covers two open-top bus routes through Genoa, valid for either 24 or 48 hours depending on the option booked. The Historical Route (red line) loops past the Aquarium, Via Garibaldi, Piazza De Ferrari, both main train stations and the lighthouse, while the Coastline Route (blue line) branches off to Piazza della Vittoria, the seafront at Boccadasse and the Cruise Terminal. Both lines stop at Portello, where a lift runs up to the Spianata Castelletto viewpoint. Riders can board and alight at any stop, ride the full loop, or mix bus and walking as they go.

The buses run daily from mid-morning, with a departure roughly every 20 to 30 minutes, and the last runs leave in the late afternoon. On board, an audio guide in eight languages narrates the sights, headphones are provided, and there is free Wi-Fi. A companion app tracks the buses in real time, shows waiting times at each stop, and includes a self-guided walking tour of the pedestrian alleys. A priority ticket option lets holders skip the queue with a wristband collected at the Cruise Terminal or the visitor centre near the Aquarium stop.

This format suits first-time visitors, anyone on a tight schedule, and travellers who want to reach Boccadasse and the eastern waterfront without working out local buses. Reviewers repeatedly call it an efficient overview of the city, and one recommends using it to visit Boccadasse in particular.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Start at any stopThere is no pickup. Board at any stop on either line; the meeting point may vary by option, so check the booking page for details.
2. Historical Route, red lineThe loop runs from the Aquarium past Garibaldi, De Ferrari, Brignole station, Via XX Settembre, Carignano, Corvetto, Portello, Principe station, the Lighthouse and Mei.
3. Coastline Route, blue lineThe second loop covers the Aquarium, Garibaldi, De Ferrari, Piazza della Vittoria, Boccadasse, the Levante Water Front on request, Via XX Settembre, Galleria Mazzini, Portello, Principe station and the Cruise Terminal.
4. Hop off along the wayAttraction entries are not included, so stops such as the Strada Nuova Museums, the San Lorenzo cathedral, Palazzo Ducale and the Aquarium are paid visits at your own cost.
5. Spianata Castelletto viewpointBoth lines serve Portello, where a lift takes riders up to the Spianata Castelletto panoramic point.
6. Continue or finishWith a 48-hour ticket you can board again the following day. Buses run until late afternoon, after which the evening is free.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points worth knowing before booking, drawn from the listing and from what travellers report.

• Bring headphones. Audio commentary in eight languages comes with headphones supplied on board. One reviewer notes that staying on the bus the whole way makes good photos hard to get, so hopping off at chosen stops helps.
• Use the app. The Sightseeing Experience app shows bus positions and waiting times in real time, plus the nearest stop to where you are standing. One reviewer found it useful to choose hop-off points in advance when time is short.
• Open-top weather. The upper deck gives the panoramic ride, so dress for the weather of the day.
• Crowds at busy stops. One reviewer mentions crowding and suggests better organisation of boarding. The priority ticket option grants boarding ahead of other passengers at any stop, for the duration of the ticket.
• Food and breaks. One reviewer describes hopping off for a coffee and a pastry, then rejoining the bus later, which is the pace this format is built for.
• Signage at stops. A reviewer found the stop signage could be better. The app's map and nearest-stop function is the practical way around this.

Common issues. One reviewer said better organisation of boarding would help. Another had a ticket that was not recognised at first, though staff resolved it with a phone call. Attraction entries are not included, so museum, cathedral and aquarium visits cost extra. The ticket covers buses only, with no pickup service.

Common Questions