In this post I’m going to tell you the Genoa airport connections to town.
Please note that the following post was written before the Covid19 pandemic.
Some services may have been changed due to the decrease in flight movements between countries.
GPT team
We have a very small airport but who cares? It’s quite impressive for its position on the sea and both landing and departure are exciting experiences! Try them and let me know!
Once you land and collect your luggage you will ask yourself: “Oh well, where am I supposed to go now to reach the center town?”. I’m here to tell you so you won’t lose time.
Connections between Genoa airport and center town
Center town is located between our two main train stations: the western station is Genova Piazza Principe (old town) and the eastern station is Genova Brignole.
The airport is connected to the center town in three ways:
- Taxi
- Bus
- Train (bus+train)
Taxi
Firstly let’s talk about the easiest and comfortable way to reach center town: Taxi. Not only the most comfortable but also the most expensive.
One daytime ride to Genova Piazza Principe (7 Km) can cost approx. € 20, and to Genova Brignole (11 Km) approx. € 25 depending on traffic conditions.
Taxi station is just at the ground floor (exactly where you arrive after you collect your luggage) exit.
More details here, and you can estimate the price here.
Bus
Another good connection between the airport and the center town is Bus.
Bus to center town is called VOLABUS and it’s provided by AMT company. In 30 minutes (depending on traffic of course) you can be in the center town eating your first slice of focaccia, awesome!
It runs every day from 6 to midnight every 40 minutes.
One ride ticket costs € 6 and you can buy it directly onboard or at the ticket machine you can find in the airport ground floor (exactly where you arrive after collected your luggage), in front of the exit doors. You can buy it online instead for € 5 but be careful because you have to print it!
The bus stop is just at the ground floor exit, on the right.
Bus + train
At last the cheapest and quickest solution (but obviously not so easy) is the combination of Bus+Train.
First thing to know is that Cristoforo Colombo Airport is only 5 minutes driving to the train station Genova Sestri Ponente/Aeroporto where you can jump on one train and be at Genova Piazza Principe or Genova Brignole train station in just 16 and 26 minutes!
Instructions for bus+train
Ticket
First of all buy your ticket at the ticket machine in the airport ground floor (exactly where you arrive after you collected your luggage), in front of the exit doors.
Be sure you buy the REGULAR TICKET AMT/TRENITALIA for € 1,60.
It’s valid for the bus and train ride to Genova Piazza Principe or Genova Brignole too! (there is another option at € 1,50, don’t buy it as it’s just for bus rides).
Take the FLYBUS
After you have purchased the ticket you can take the bus transfer called FLYBUS that connects the airport to the train station Genova Sestri Ponente/Aeroporto with rides every 15 minutes from 6am to 10pm.
The bus stop is just at the ground floor exit, on the right.
Be careful because it looks like VOLABUS and the bus stop is the same. You have to check the FLYBUS sign at the front of the bus.
Please remember to validate your ticket (AMT side) on onboard of the FLYBUS.
Cross the gangway on the train station
FLYBUS will leave you in front of a blue structure (with “Stazione” sign), there is a lift, a staircase and one gangway. The train station is just on the other side of it. You have to go on platform 1 and take the train to Genova Piazza Principe or Genova Brignole (same route).
Reach platform 1
Entrance to the station is a bit tricky as there is no official sign, but through this gate you find yourself at platform 1, good news: it’s the right platform for central Genoa. All trains on platform 1 go to Genova Piazza Principe and Genova Brignole but let me suggest you to ask, you never know!
From this train station you can reach both the western coast (Savona, Imperia, Ventimiglia) and the eastern one (Cinque Terre, La Spezia).
Important note: Please remember to validate your ticket (on Trenitalia side) at the machine on the train platform!
Welcome to central Genoa
Genova Piazza Principe and Genova Brignole are the main train stations of Genoa.
I hope the information I gave you are still valid while you are reading this, you know how everything changes so fast!