Genoa: Pelagos Sanctuary Whale Watching Cruise
Board a 3-hour cruise out of Genoa and into the Pelagos Sanctuary, where whales and dolphins feed in the protected Ligurian Sea.
from $42 Price is per person.
Check Price & Availability →The live booking page sets final prices, dates and group sizes, and takes payment there too.
This cruise leaves from Calata Mandraccio in Genoa's Porto Antico, right by the Bigo and the Coast Guard patrol boats. After boarding, the boat heads out to open sea for about half an hour, reaching waters roughly 1000 to 1500 metres deep. That depth is where the chance of sighting cetaceans rises, and from that point the crew switches into research mode, scanning the surface alongside everyone on board.
A biologist guides every departure, and an English or German speaking guide can be requested as well. The whole outing lasts about 3 hours.
It suits travellers who are happy to wait for wild animals on their own terms. There is no fixed point or schedule where the animals appear; the work is patient monitoring of the surface, which reviewers often describe as rewarded, sometimes richly. Calm, windless days give the best odds, and if nothing at all shows up, the operator offers a free second trip within a year, arranged directly with them.
A few practical points shape how this trip goes, from seating to patience to sun protection.
Common issues. Commentary audibility comes up repeatedly; the sound system is described as poor, and one reviewer said the guide spoke mainly Italian with less English. Sightings are never promised, since these are wild animals with no schedule. If nothing appears at all, a free repeat trip within a year can be arranged with the provider, though rebooking is not automatic.
A guide and the boat cruise are included. The biologist who leads every departure is part of the excursion, and an English or German speaking guide can be requested. No food, drinks or transfers are listed as included.
No. Pickup is not included. The meeting point is Calata Mandraccio in the Porto Antico, near the Bigo and close to the Genoa Coast Guard patrol boats.
About 3 hours, departing at 13.00 from the Porto Antico. Around the first 30 minutes is navigation out to deep water before the search begins.
One reviewer reported the trip worked well with children and for a family member with a disability. Another saw children growing bored during the quiet stretches between sightings, so it depends on the child's tolerance for waiting.
If there is no sighting of any kind, you can return for a second excursion free of charge within a year of the first trip. You need to contact the activity provider directly to arrange the additional booking.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Bring SPF 50 sunscreen as reviewers suggest, along with patience; calm windless days give the best chance of sightings.
Live dates, times and prices are on the booking page.
Check Price & Availability →
Guided Segway ride through the caruggi, 2.5 hours
Two and a half hours gliding through Genoa's caruggi by Segway, from the tight medieval lanes to the grand palaces and churches of the historic centre.
from $69Price is per person. Check availability →
3-hour storyteller walk up Genoa's creuze footpaths, with panoramic views
The creuze are Genoa's old stone footpaths, narrow lanes that climb from the port toward the hills behind the city. On this 3-hour walk a storyteller leads the way up, sharing local legend as the rooftops drop away below. The pace is gentle, made for anyone steady on steps.
from $50Price varies by group size. Check availability →
Segway past Genoa's Rolli palaces, rides 1 to 2.5 hours
Glide a Segway down Genoa's Strade Nuove, past Rolli palaces listed by UNESCO.
from $34Price is per person. Check availability →