A Travel Price Comparison for Italy Sorrento vs. Genoa for Food, Couples, Backpackers, and Families

Should you visit Sorrento or Genoa?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Sorrento and Genoa can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Sorrento

Sorrento is a accessible, laid back, and colorful small city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the shopping, nightlife, and food.

Genoa

Genoa is a colorful, energetic, and historic port city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Sorrento and Genoa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sorrento or Genoa?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Sorrento than Genoa, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Sorrento is better known for its food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Genoa is more popular for its museums and historical sights. Sorrento is well known for its lemon groves and limoncello, charming cafes, and access to the Amalfi coast. Also, Sorrento is famous for Marina Grande and Marina Piccola. Genoa is well known for its maritime history, its vibrant cultural scene, and being the birthplace of Christopher Columbus.

How is Sorrento different from Genoa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Genoa and Sorrento. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Sorrento or Genoa?

Genoa is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Sorrento does not have museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Genoa. The city has a long history and it is filled with monuments, palaces, and museums. Popular places to visit include the Via Garibaldi Palaces, the aquarium (one of the largest in Europe), the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, and Santi Ambrogio.

Sorrento does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Sorrento or Genoa? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Sorrento is terrific for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Genoa is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Sorrento is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The food is world class and you'll find most Italian classics here including pizza, fine cheeses, and fresh seafood. Many visitors enjoy taking a pasta or pizza making class while they're in town. You'll also find Limoncello everywhere, made from the locally grown lemons, which are impressive in both their size and flavor. Also make sure you allow for plenty of stops at gelato shops.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Genoa makes for a great culinary experience. The city's maritime roots have influenced its cuisine and you'll find seafood in many local dishes. Other classic Genoese flavors include pesto, anchovies, fried squid, and focaccia and cheese.

Is Sorrento or Genoa Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Sorrento or Genoa has a better nightlife scene.

Sorrento has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The city is known for its laid back atmosphere, but there are still a number of clubs where you can dance the night away. While the main city center has its share of bars and activities, some of the best known clubs are actually a bit outside of the city center. Many visitors dress to impress and don't show up until after midnight, which is when the party really starts.

If you're looking for night time activities Genoa has a few options to choose from. The city lights up at night and it's fun to experience the activity and energy. There's a nice evening atmosphere with many people out and about. You can grab drinks in Piazza Lavagna or see live music in Porto Antico. There are also many bars and clubs around town.

Is Sorrento or Genoa Better for Resorts?

Sorrento is great for its luxury resorts. However, Genoa is not a resort destination.

Sorrento is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. The city offers a wide selection of luxury and budget hotels, particularly in the Piazza Tasso area. Because of its accessibility, many people use it as a base for exploring the area, or stop off for a day or two in route to other towns.

Genoa is not a resort destination.

Is Sorrento or Genoa Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Sorrento is adequate for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Genoa is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are few places where you can go snorkeling in Sorrento. There are snorkeling excursions that you can book in the area, but this is often an overlooked activity for many visitors.

Genoa is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Sorrento or Genoa Better for Beaches?

Sorrento is a nice place to visit for the beach. However, Genoa is not a good destination for its beaches.

Sorrento has a beach worth visiting. The rugged coastline is filled with dramatic hills and rocky inlets that offer hidden beaches. Many of the most unique beaches can be challenging to access and the beaches closer to town get very crowded. Some of the best beaches in the area include Marina Piccola Beach, Regina Giovanna, and Puolo. Some beaches are public while others are private and come at a price.

Genoa is a good spot to see the beach. While many people head to other nearby towns to enjoy the beach, you will also find a beach just ten minutes from the old town by bus. Boccadasse is one of the closest beaches to town. It's also possible to do a day trip to other more famous beaches in the area, but you need to be prepared to travel a bit farther.

Is Sorrento or Genoa Better for its Old Town?

Genoa is a port city with good options for its historic old town. However, Sorrento does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Genoa to see the historical old town. The old town is large and complex, with many different time periods represented in the architecture and development style.

Sorrento does not have a historic old town.

Is Sorrento or Genoa Better for Hiking?

Sorrento is great for hiking. However, Genoa is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Sorrento for the hiking trails. The area has a number of walking trails that you can explore. Many follow historic donkey trails that once connected the villages and today offer a well-established route with stunning views and pristine landscapes. The trails navigate the region's steep hills and offer a breathtaking look at the rugged coastline.

Genoa is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sorrento or Genoa?

Sorrento is great for its shopping areas. Also, Genoa is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Sorrento. Head to the heart of the city around Piazza Tasso for the best shopping opportunities. You can simply enjoy window shopping or pop in one of the many local boutiques or larger European brand stores. Popular items to purchase include leather goods, Limoncello, and inlaid wood items.

Genoa is a great destination for shopping. You can pick up a number of different souvenirs around town including baskets, t-shirts, and local pesto. Popular shopping areas include Galleria Mazzini, Via Roma, and Via XX Settembr.

Is Sorrento or Genoa Better for Families?

Both Sorrento and Genoa are high quality to visit with kids.

Sorrento is a very family-friendly place to visit. It makes a good base or first stop for families who want to enjoy the area. It's well connected with transportation and has all the kid approved foods you could need. The whole family will also enjoy taking a pasta making class or going for a swim in the Mediterranean. And make sure you allow plenty of time for everyone to eat their fill of gelato.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Genoa is very family-friendly. The city is home to the second biggest aquarium in Europe as well as the Galata Maritime Museum and the Nazario Sauro Submarine. In the port there's also Vascello Nettuno, which was a pirate ship that was used in the filming of the movie 'Pirates' by Roman Polanski. Other fun kid-friendly attractions include La Biosfera, The Children's Museum, and the Bigo Lift.

Is Sorrento or Genoa Better for Couples?

Sorrento is terrific for couples. Also, Genoa is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for romance.

Sorrento has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. This beautiful romantic destination is one of the world's top honeymoon areas. It's a small city that offers access to the many nearby destinations, so it makes a good base or gateway city for visiting places like Capri and the Blue Grotto as well as the Amalfi Coast. You can enjoy romantic hikes full of stunning views, explore by kayak, dine at romantic restaurants, or experience a one-of-a-kind farm tour. If you base yourself in Sorrento, you'll likely be doing a lot of day trips.

Genoa is a very popular place to visit for couples. It's a beautiful port city with charming neighborhoods and some great restaurants. Couples will enjoy exploring this beautiful city and visiting its palaces and cathedrals.

Is Sorrento or Genoa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Sorrento is terrific for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Genoa is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for backpackers.

A large number of backpackers visit Sorrento, as it is a very popular small city for budget travelers. Because its a small city with accessible transportation, you'll find a decent number of hostels that make it an affordable base for exploring the area. You can hit many nearby sights as day trips or use this as a first stop off point as you make your way along the coast.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Genoa. There are a number of affordable hostels in the area, and while this isn't the top backpacker destination in Italy, it is a nice place to spend some time.

Is Sorrento or Genoa Better for Students?

Genoa is a great destination for students. However, Sorrento is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Genoa. It's a popular study abroad destination so you'll find a number of international students in the area. The city is also well connected for exploring the region.

Sorrento is not popular with students.

Is Sorrento or Genoa Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Sorrento and Genoa.

Public transit in Sorrento is fairly effecient and thorough. Buses travel around town and you can also visit nearby areas using the Circumvesuviana train line, EAV and Sita buses, Cooperativa Tasso minibuses, or one of the many ferry companies.

Genoa has some very good public transit options. There's a wide range of different public transit options that are all operated by AMT. The system includes buses, an underground (one line), funiculars (two), lifts (ten), a boat, cogwheel and narrow gauge railways.

Is Sorrento or Genoa a more walkable city?

Sorrento and Genoa both are high quality when exploring on foot.

Sorrento is very walkable. The old town is fun to walk around and window shop, but bring good walking shoes as the area has a lot of hills.

Genoa is a very walkable small city. The old town, where most tourists spend the majority of their time, is easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Sorrento Worth Visiting? and Is Genoa Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Genoa or Sorrento?

How long in Sorrento or Genoa?

It's fun to spend time in either Sorrento or Genoa. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Sorrento due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Sorrento, and 2-4 days is enough time in Genoa.

Families should spend more time in Sorrento than Genoa. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Sorrento, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Sorrento than Genoa. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Sorrento that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Sorrento than Genoa if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Sorrento.

One day in Sorrento or Genoa?

In Sorrento, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this relaxing destination offers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Lots of people come for the food. This small city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

The port city of Genoa offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Sorrento or Genoa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sorrento. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Genoa is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this port city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Genoa, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Sorrento or Genoa?

Sorrento is a fun place to experience. In Sorrento, many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife that this destination offers. Lots of people come for the food. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Genoa is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Sorrento or Genoa?

In Sorrento, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this relaxing destination offers. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the food. One week is often enough time to do most activities.

Genoa is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This port city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Italy, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Italy, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Sorrento and Genoa, we can see that Genoa is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sorrento Expensive? and Is Genoa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Sorrento or Genoa?

Genoa has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Sorrento. When comparing the sizes of Sorrento and Genoa, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Sorrento or Genoa?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Sorrento or Genoa in the Summer?

Both Genoa and Sorrento during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Sorrento for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Genoa because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Sorrento is generally around the same temperature as Genoa. Daily temperatures in Sorrento average around 23°C (74°F), and Genoa fluctuates around 25°C (76°F).

In Genoa, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Sorrento. In the summer, Sorrento often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Genoa. Sorrento gets 313 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 295 hours of full sun.

Sorrento usually gets more rain in July than Genoa. Sorrento gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sorrento or Genoa in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sorrento and Genoa. The autumn months attract visitors to Sorrento because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Genoa this time of year.

Sorrento is cooler than Genoa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sorrento averages around 17°C (63°F) in October, and Genoa fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

Sorrento usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Genoa during autumn. Sorrento gets 189 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 183 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Sorrento gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Sorrento usually receives more rain than Genoa. Sorrento gets 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Sorrento or Genoa in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Sorrento as well as Genoa. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Sorrento this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Genoa for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Sorrento is cooler than Genoa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sorrento in January average around 8°C (47°F), and Genoa averages at about 11°C (51°F).

In the winter, Sorrento often gets less sunshine than Genoa. Sorrento gets 115 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 127 hours of full sun.

Sorrento receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sorrento usually gets more rain in January than Genoa. Sorrento gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sorrento or Genoa in the Spring?

Both Genoa and Sorrento are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Sorrento for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Genoa in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Sorrento is generally cooler than Genoa. Daily temperatures in Sorrento average around 13°C (55°F), and Genoa fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

Sorrento usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Genoa during spring. Sorrento gets 189 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 198 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Sorrento usually receives more rain than Genoa. Sorrento gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Genoa and Sorrento