Coach & Minibus Hire in Italy

Getting to Your Ship in Genoa

Genoa's two cruise terminals sit on the edge of the old harbour, a few minutes on foot from Piazza Principe station. The question most families and small groups face is not the port, but which airport to fly into.

Pick your airport with the drive in mind

Genoa's own airport, the Cristoforo Colombo, is the nearest by far, roughly 11 km from Piazza De Ferrari and about 20 minutes away. Plenty of travellers land further away. Milan Linate is about 150 km, around two hours and ten minutes; Pisa about 164 km, close to two and a half hours; Malpensa about 186 km, nearly two and three-quarter hours.

On those longer runs a minibus earns its keep. Everyone sits together, cases ride in the back and there are no train changes with luggage. A driver must take a 45-minute break after four and a half hours at the wheel, which these transfers stay within; leave room in the plan for traffic all the same.

White minibus parked at the curb
White minibus parked at the curb

Two terminals, one old harbour

The older of the pair, Ponte dei Mille, is the historic Stazione Marittima, with escalators and lifts between its three floors. Its neighbour is built on two levels with a pair of long berths. Ferries leave from different quays altogether (Calata Chiappella, Ponte Colombo, Ponte Caracciolo), so check that the driver has the cruise terminal on the booking rather than the ferry port.

By road, the nearest motorway exit is Genova Ovest, then the signs for Terminal Crociere - Terminal Traghetti and Porto passeggeri lead to the security gate. No coach set-down rules are published for the terminals, so the operator confirms the meeting spot.

Where the ships tie up

  • Ferries use separate terminals at Calata Chiappella, Ponte Caracciolo and Ponte Colombo
  • Ponte Andrea Doria: about 11,000 square metres on two levels, with two 300 m berths; it can take two large ships at once, with up to 8,000 passengers a day
  • Ponte dei Mille: the historic Stazione Marittima, about 16,000 square metres on three floors linked by escalators and lifts; it can take two large cruise ships at once, with up to 10,000 passengers a day

A day ashore

The Porto Antico and the Aquarium are close to the quays, and the medieval lanes of the centro storico are for walking only. Genoa charges no access ticket for buses entering the city. For Portofino and the Riviera di Levante, head east; for the Cinque Terre, the vehicle takes you as far as La Spezia, about 102 km away, and the villages follow by train or boat.

What travellers ask us

How far is the centre from the terminals?

Piazza De Ferrari is about 4 km by road, roughly 10 minutes, so a short city tour fits easily before boarding.

Could we come straight from Milan city?

Yes. Central Milan is about 140 km from the centre of Genoa, about two hours by road, a comfortable morning before an afternoon embarkation.

Do both terminals have lifts?

Ponte dei Mille connects its three floors with escalators and lifts. Mention anyone with reduced mobility when you book, so the set-down is planned around them.

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