A Travel Price Comparison for Italy Volterra vs. Genoa for Food, Old Town, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Volterra or Genoa?

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

Should I visit Volterra or Genoa? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Volterra

Volterra is a cultural, historic, and charming town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping.

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.

Volterra and Genoa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Volterra or Genoa?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Genoa than Volterra, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Genoa is better known for its nightlife and beaches, while Volterra is more popular for its food, historical sights, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Genoa is more touristy than Volterra and is popular for its maritime history, its vibrant cultural scene, and being the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. Also, Genoa is famous for The Via Garibaldi Palaces. Volterra is well known for its medieval history, its hilltop setting and its alabaster.

How is Volterra different from Genoa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Both Volterra and Genoa have very good landmarks and museums for visitors.

Volterra offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. For such a large town there are a huge number of historic sights packed into a small area. Check out the Roman Theater, the Etruscan Museum, and the Duomo.

Many visitors head to Genoa specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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 Volterra or Genoa? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Volterra 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, Volterra is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The town is surrounded by the region of truffles, so you'll find this item included in all kinds of recipes. Pumpkin sauce is also a specialty of the area and there are also many local cheeses. Many restaurants also have bruschetta as an appetizer.

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 Volterra or Genoa Better for Nightlife?

Genoa is a popular place for nightlife. However, Volterra is not particularly known for nightlife and partying.

Genoa has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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.

Volterra doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There are cozy bars and cafes where you can sip wine and soak up the atmosphere, but the town isn't known as a nightlife destination.

Is Volterra or Genoa Better for Beaches?

Genoa is a port city with a few options for its beaches. However, Volterra 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.

Volterra is not a beach destination.

Is Volterra or Genoa Better for its Old Town?

Volterra is terrific for its historic old town charm. Also, Genoa is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its historic old town.

Volterra has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. The walled town is perched on a hilltop and dates back to the 8th century BC. Visitors come specifically to explore its winding streets and stunning 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 Volterra or Genoa?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Genoa and Volterra.

Volterra is a great destination for shopping. Some of the streets are lined with boutique shops and one of the most popular things to buy in town is Alabaster. You'll also find plenty of Italian wine from the nearby vineyards.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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.

Is Volterra or Genoa Better for Families?

Genoa is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Volterra is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Genoa is a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Volterra offers lots of family activities. If you have a Twilight fan, this town is home to the Volturi, who are the royal family of vampires. For everyone else, its a charming town with medieval walls and wandering alleys that kids will enjoy exploring.

Is Volterra or Genoa Better for Couples?

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

Volterra has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. It's unique atmosphere, amazing food, and medieval style make for a unique and world class couples destination. While many people visit as a day trip, you can spend the night and soak up the evening atmosphere as well.

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 Volterra or Genoa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Genoa is well known for backpackers. Also, Volterra is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

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.

Volterra is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There's only one or two hostels in town, so if you're looking for a more social backpacker setting, then this may not be your spot. It does make for a great day trip though and if you're more interested in culture than meeting other backpackers, then definitely stop by.

Is Volterra or Genoa Better for Students?

Genoa is well known for students. However, Volterra is not popular with students.

Genoa is a very popular port city for students and younger travelers. 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.

Volterra is not popular with students.

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

Genoa is well known for its public transit. However, Volterra is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation 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 mostly limited in Volterra. Public transit isn't necessary as the city is best explored on foot.

Is Volterra or Genoa a more walkable city?

Volterra is terrific for its ease of walking around. Also, Genoa is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its walkability.

Volterra is a very easy town to get around on foot. Most people explore the town on foot.

Genoa is very walkable. 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 Volterra Worth Visiting? and Is Genoa Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Genoa or Volterra?

How long in Volterra or Genoa?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Genoa than Volterra 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 Volterra or Genoa?

Even though Volterra is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Lots of people come for the food. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

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 Volterra or Genoa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Volterra. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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 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 Volterra or Genoa?

Volterra is a fun place to experience. Volterra is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Lots of people come for the food. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

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 Volterra or Genoa?

Volterra is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the food. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, The Best Walking Tours in Italy, The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Volterra and Genoa, we can see that Genoa is more expensive. And not only is Volterra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Volterra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Volterra 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 Volterra.

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

Which is Bigger, Volterra or Genoa?

Genoa has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Volterra. When comparing the sizes of Volterra 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 Volterra 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 Volterra or Genoa in the Summer?

Both Genoa and Volterra during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Volterra for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Genoa in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Volterra is generally around the same temperature as Genoa. Daily temperatures in Volterra 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 Volterra. In the summer, Volterra often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Genoa. Volterra gets 316 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 295 hours of full sun.

Volterra usually gets more rain in July than Genoa. Volterra gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Volterra or Genoa in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Volterra and Genoa. Many visitors come to Volterra in the autumn for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Genoa for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Volterra is cooler than Genoa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Volterra averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Genoa fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

Volterra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Genoa during autumn. Volterra gets 177 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 183 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Volterra gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Volterra usually receives more rain than Genoa. Volterra gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Volterra or Genoa in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Volterra as well as Genoa. Most visitors come to Volterra for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Genoa because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Volterra is cooler than Genoa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Volterra in January average around 7°C (45°F), and Genoa averages at about 11°C (51°F).

In the winter, Volterra often gets less sunshine than Genoa. Volterra gets 105 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 127 hours of full sun.

Volterra usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Genoa. Volterra gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Volterra or Genoa in the Spring?

Both Genoa and Volterra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Volterra because of the small town charm and the natural beauty. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Genoa this time of year.

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

Volterra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Genoa during spring. Volterra gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 198 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Volterra usually receives more rain than Genoa. Volterra gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Genoa and Volterra