A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Versailles vs. Genoa for Attractions, Food, and Couples

Should you visit Versailles or Genoa?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Versailles or Genoa, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Versailles

Versailles is a beautiful, grand, and ornate palace. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the museums.

Genoa

Genoa is a energetic, historic, and vibrant port city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Versailles and Genoa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Versailles or Genoa?

You'll generally find more things to do in Genoa than Versailles. Genoa is bigger than Versailles, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Genoa is better known for its food, nightlife, beaches, historical sights, and shopping, while Versailles is more popular for its museums and impressive beauty. Versailles is more touristy than Genoa and is known for its long running history and its grand architecture. Genoa is well known for its maritime history, its vibrant cultural scene, and being the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. Also, Genoa is famous for The Via Garibaldi Palaces.

How is Versailles different from Genoa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Versailles is terrific for its historical sights. Also, Genoa is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its sights and museums.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Versailles has many famous sights for visitors. The palace is filled with history and impressive items relating to the royal family. Within and near the palace you should make sure you see the Gardens of Versailles, Grand Trianon, the Hall of Mirrors, and the Royal Opera of Versailles.

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.

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

Genoa is a great port city for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Versailles is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Genoa. 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.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Versailles. There are a couple of restaurants and cafes on the grounds.

Is Versailles or Genoa Better for Nightlife?

Genoa is a nice place to visit for nightlife. However, Versailles is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

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.

Versailles is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Versailles or Genoa Better for Beaches?

Genoa is adequate for its beaches. However, Versailles is not a beach destination.

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.

Versailles is not a beach destination.

Is Versailles or Genoa Better for its Old Town?

Genoa is a nice place to visit for its historic old town. However, Versailles does not have a historic old town.

Genoa is a good destination for visiting its old town. The old town is large and complex, with many different time periods represented in the architecture and development style.

Versailles does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Versailles or Genoa?

Genoa is a nice place to visit for shopping. However, Versailles is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Genoa. 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.

Versailles is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Versailles or Genoa Better for Families?

Genoa is a great port city for its kid-friendly activities. However, Versailles is not known for its family-friendly activities.

Genoa is a very family-friendly destination. 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.

Versailles does not offer many kid-friendly activities. While there are those unicorn children who fall in love with the grand setting, for most kids, a visit to Versailles can make for make for a long and draining day.

Is Versailles or Genoa Better for Couples?

Versailles and Genoa are both superb to visit as a couple.

Versailles is a great palace if you're traveling as a couple. It's opulence, grandeur, and history make this a wonderful place to explore as a couple. There are gardens and other unique settings that make Versailles very romantic.

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 Versailles or Genoa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Genoa is a great port city for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Versailles is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Genoa is very popular with the backpacker crowd. 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.

Versailles is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Versailles or Genoa Better for Students?

Genoa is a great port city for its student-friendly activities. However, Versailles is not popular with students.

Genoa is a great port city to visit as a student. 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.

Versailles is not popular with students.

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

Versailles and Genoa both offer superb public transit to get you around.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Versailles. There are SNCF trains that travel from Gare Montparnasse to Versailles Chantiers train station and additional trains that travel between Gare Saint Lazare and Versailles Rive Droite.

Public transit in Genoa can get you to some places easily. 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 Versailles or Genoa a more walkable city?

Versailles and Genoa are superb when it comes to walkability.

Versailles is very walkable. It's approximately a 20 minute walk from the Versailles Chantiers train station to the entrance to the palace. Versailles Rive Droite is slightly closer.

Genoa is a very walkable palace. 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 Versailles Worth Visiting? and Is Genoa Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Genoa or Versailles?

How long in Versailles or Genoa?

It's fun to spend time in either Versailles 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 Versailles, and 2-4 days is enough time in Genoa.

Families should spend more time in Genoa than Versailles. 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 Versailles. 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 Versailles 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 Versailles or Genoa?

In Versailles, many people enjoy the museums that this ornate destination offers. Lots of people come for the museums. This palace offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

With museums and nightlife around the vibrant port city of Genoa, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Versailles or Genoa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Versailles. 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.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Genoa, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this port city.

Five days in Versailles or Genoa?

Versailles is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums when visiting the destination of Versailles. Lots of people come for the museums. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Genoa, a popular port city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Versailles or Genoa?

You'll find museums around the opulent destination of Versailles. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the museums. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Genoa is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

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

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Versailles and Genoa, we can see that Versailles is more expensive. And not only is Genoa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Genoa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Genoa 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 Versailles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Versailles than you might in Genoa.

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

Which is Bigger, Versailles or Genoa?

Genoa has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Versailles. When comparing the sizes of Versailles 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 Versailles 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 Versailles or Genoa in the Summer?

Both Genoa and Versailles are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Genoa this time of year.

In July, Versailles is generally cooler than Genoa. Daily temperatures in Versailles average around 20°C (68°F), and Genoa fluctuates around 25°C (76°F).

It's quite sunny in Genoa. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Versailles. Versailles usually receives less sunshine than Genoa during summer. Versailles gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 295 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Versailles usually receives more rain than Genoa. Versailles gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Versailles or Genoa in the Autumn?

Both Genoa and Versailles during the autumn are popular places to visit. The natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Versailles this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Genoa for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Versailles is cooler than Genoa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Versailles averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Genoa fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

In the autumn, Versailles often gets less sunshine than Genoa. Versailles gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 183 hours of full sun.

Versailles usually gets less rain in October than Genoa. Versailles gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Versailles or Genoa in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Versailles and Genoa. Many travelers come to Versailles for the museums and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Genoa in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Versailles. In the winter, Versailles is much colder than Genoa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Versailles in January average around 5°C (40°F), and Genoa averages at about 11°C (51°F).

Versailles usually receives less sunshine than Genoa during winter. Versailles gets 56 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 127 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Versailles usually receives less rain than Genoa. Versailles gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Versailles or Genoa in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Versailles as well as Genoa. Many visitors come to Versailles in the spring for the natural beauty. Additionally, most visitors come to Genoa for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Versailles is generally cooler than Genoa. Daily temperatures in Versailles average around 11°C (52°F), and Genoa fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

In the spring, Versailles often gets less sunshine than Genoa. Versailles gets 173 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 198 hours of full sun.

Versailles usually gets less rain in April than Genoa. Versailles gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Genoa and Versailles