A Travel Price Comparison for Italy Urbino vs. Genoa for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Urbino 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 Urbino 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.

Urbino

Urbino is a historic, undiscovered, and authentic town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Genoa

Genoa is a energetic, historic, and vibrant port city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Urbino and Genoa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Urbino or Genoa?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Genoa. Although Urbino and Genoa are popular destinations, Genoa has more sights and attractions for tourists. Genoa is very popular for its museums and beaches, while Urbino attracts visitors for its impressive beauty. Genoa is more touristy than Urbino and is known for its maritime history, its vibrant cultural scene, and being the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. It is also well known for The Via Garibaldi Palaces. Urbino is famous for its Renaissance walls, historic center, and authentic atmosphere.

How is Urbino different from Genoa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Genoa is great for its historical sights. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

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.

Urbino is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. At the heart of the city are its historical sights. The cathedral is worth a visit, as is The Ducal Palace, but for most visitors, simply soaking up the town's atmosphere is the best experience.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Urbino and Genoa can be difficult as they are each high quality in their own way.

Urbino has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The city's history has influenced its cuisine. Traditional foods include cornbread, truffles, and meat sausage. While these options aren't as common today, you can still find them if you seek them out.

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 Urbino or Genoa Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is nice in both Urbino and Genoa.

If you're looking for night time activities Urbino has a few options to choose from. Because of the large student population, there are usually some fun activities going on at night. You'll find some good bars around town that are fun to hang out at.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Genoa. 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 Urbino or Genoa Better for Beaches?

Genoa is adequate for the beach. However, Urbino is not a beach destination.

The beach in Genoa is worth checking out. 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.

Urbino is not a beach destination.

Is Urbino or Genoa Better for its Old Town?

Both Urbino and Genoa have nice historic old towns worth visiting.

Urbino has an old town worth visiting. The historic center feels a bit undiscovered by Italian standards. There are stone houses and the town is built on a steep hill, giving it a beautiful setting.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Urbino or Genoa?

If you're looking to go shopping, Urbino and Genoa both offer plenty of nice spots.

Urbino has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find galleries, book shops, and jewelry stores around town that are fun to pop into.

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 Urbino or Genoa Better for Families?

Genoa is great for its kid-friendly activities. However, Urbino is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Genoa. 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.

Urbino is not the most family-friendly destination. The city is filled with history and architecture, which may be lost on the kids. There are the classic Italian restaurants which is a favorite among kids and adults alike.

Is Urbino or Genoa Better for Couples?

Both Urbino and Genoa are high quality destinations for a couple's getaway.

Urbino is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. This walled city is fun to explore and can make for a great romantic stop. The city is walled and has many historical buildings which couples will enjoy learning about together.

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 Urbino or Genoa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Genoa is great for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Urbino is not a good destination for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers 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.

Urbino is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not well known by backpackers and there are a very limited number of hostels in the area.

Is Urbino or Genoa Better for Students?

For students, both Urbino and Genoa are high quality places to visit.

Students come from all over to stay in Urbino. The student population is a large part of this small city. University students are usually happy and enjoy many activities and outings into the surrounding area.

Many students visit 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.

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

Genoa is great for times when you don't have a car. However, Urbino is not a good destination for its public transit.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Genoa. 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.

Public transit is generally limited in Urbino. The town is accessible by bus but not by train.

Is Urbino or Genoa a more walkable city?

Genoa is great for its ease of walking around. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its walkability.

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

Urbino is somewhat walkable. Many parts of the city are easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Genoa or Urbino?

How long in Urbino or Genoa?

It's fun to spend time in either Urbino or Genoa. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Genoa due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Urbino, and 2-4 days is enough time in Genoa.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Genoa than Urbino 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 Genoa.

One day in Urbino or Genoa?

In Urbino, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this laid back destination offers. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Genoa. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Urbino or Genoa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Urbino. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Genoa is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Urbino or Genoa?

Urbino is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Urbino. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Genoa. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Urbino or Genoa?

You'll find food and shopping around the undiscovered destination of Urbino. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the colorful destination of Genoa. This port city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Italy, The Best Bicycle Tours in Italy, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Italy, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Urbino and Genoa, we can see that Genoa is more expensive. And not only is Urbino much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Urbino would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Urbino and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Genoa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Genoa than you might in Urbino.

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

Which is Bigger, Urbino or Genoa?

Genoa has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Urbino. When comparing the sizes of Urbino 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 Urbino or Genoa?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Urbino or Genoa in the Summer?

Both Genoa and Urbino are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Urbino for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Genoa because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

Urbino is around the same temperature as Genoa in the summer. The daily temperature in Urbino averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Genoa fluctuates around 25°C (76°F).

In July, Urbino usually receives more rain than Genoa. Urbino gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Urbino or Genoa in the Autumn?

Both Genoa and Urbino during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Urbino because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Genoa this time of year.

In the autumn, Urbino is cooler than Genoa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Urbino in October average around 15°C (59°F), and Genoa averages at about 19°C (66°F).

Urbino usually gets less rain in October than Genoa. Urbino gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Urbino or Genoa in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Urbino and Genoa. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Urbino this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Genoa for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Urbino in the winter. In January, Urbino is generally much colder than Genoa. Daily temperatures in Urbino average around 3°C (37°F), and Genoa fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In January, Urbino usually receives less rain than Genoa. Urbino gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Urbino or Genoa in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Urbino as well as Genoa. Many travelers come to Urbino for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Genoa in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

Urbino is cooler than Genoa in the spring. The daily temperature in Urbino averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Genoa fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

Urbino usually gets less rain in April than Genoa. Urbino gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Genoa and Urbino