Business Class Flights to Genoa, Italy

Home to one of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean Sea and the busiest port in Italy, Genoa is located on the Ligurian Sea coast. The city itself is home to about 560,000 people, but Genoa’s greater metro area has a population of more than 1.5 million in the surrounding area. The city has long been a center for maritime trade, which is how it became one of the busiest ports in the region, dating back to the 11th century. Since the 19th century, Genoa has also been an important port for shipbuilding. 

Flights to Genoa, Italy, arrive at Genoa Christopher Columbus International Airport (GOA). The airport serves the entire Genoa metro area, handling about 1.5 million passengers each year. To save space, the airport was constructed on an artificial peninsula in the Gulf of Genoa about 5 miles west of the city center. Direct flights to Genoa are available from a handful of large cities in Europe including Amsterdam, Rome, Munich, London, Paris, and Naples. Some flights to Genoa are available only on a seasonal basis, during the summer tourist season. These include flights from Dublin, Ireland, and Barcelona, Spain. Low-cost carriers such as Ryanair offer cheap flights to Genoa on a regular basis.

In addition to shipping, banking, agriculture, and companies in the high-tech industry also make up Genoa’s modern economy. Tourism is also one of the city’s largest economic contributors. Both business travelers and tourists fly to Genoa on a regular basis. Because of its location, Genoa is also a popular port for cruise ships during the summer months, which is partly why it sees such a boon in tourism.

The offices of many of the companies based in Genoa are located in the city’s San Benigno business district. These include Costa Cruise Lines; Banca Carige; Piaggio Aerospace; and the sportswear manufacturer, SLAM.

Tourists who fly to Genoa often make time to experience some of the city’s cultural attractions. Among these are several museums, castles, and churches that are home to extensive collections of fine art. Work by many of Europe’s greatest painters can be found in the city, including paintings by Dutch master Albrecht Durer; Italian Baroque realist painter Michelangelo Caravaggio; Flemish Baroque artist Anthony van Dyck; and neoclassical sculptor Antonio Canova.

Along with being home to many significant works of fine art, Genoa has also long been a center for classical music.  Well-regarded classical composers Niccolo Paganini and Cesar Pugni were born in the city along with many famous musicians, conductors, and opera stars. Genoa’s main opera house, Teatro Carlo Felice, was built in the early 19th century. It continues to stage performances of opera, ballet, and orchestral music today, and for fans of these performances, this is a tourist destination must-see.

The city’s cuisine is also popular among tourists who fly to Genoa. It is the birthplace of pesto, a popular sauce for pasta made from ground basil and nuts. Ligurian olive oil, various types of seafood, and salami are also sought after by visitors. These delicacies alone are often worth the trip, offering palate-pleasing flavors like nowhere else. 

Still, compared to cities like Venice, Florence, and Rome, Genoa is often considered underrated. For those who fly to Genoa, museums and other attractions are often less crowded, making it easier to explore and submerge in the culture. 

Notable people from Genoa include 17th-century explorer Christopher Columbus; astrophysicist Riccardo Giacconi, winner of the 2002 Nobel Prize in Physics; film director and actor Vittorio Gassman; classical composer Michele Novaro; writer Eugenio Montale, winner of the 1975 Nobel Prize in Literature; and four Roman Catholic Popes.