A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Zaragoza vs. Genoa for Attractions, Food, Old Town, and Families

Should you visit Zaragoza or Genoa?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Zaragoza 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.

Zaragoza

Zaragoza is a authentic, cultural, and historical city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Genoa

Genoa is a historic, vibrant, and colorful port city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Zaragoza and Genoa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Zaragoza or Genoa?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Genoa. Although Zaragoza and Genoa are popular destinations, Genoa has more sights and attractions for tourists. Genoa is very popular for its beaches, while Zaragoza attracts visitors for its historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Genoa is more touristy than Zaragoza and is popular 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. Zaragoza is famous for its grand landmarks, local cuisine, and rich cultural scene.

How is Zaragoza different from Genoa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Zaragoza or Genoa.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Zaragoza can be an interesting and educational experience. For such a small city, it really has a large number of cultural and historical attractions. The Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar is the most recognizable sight, but there's also the Museum of the Roman Forum of Caesaraugusta, the cathedral of Zaragoza, and the Aljafería Palace, among others.

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 Zaragoza or Genoa? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Dining out in Zaragoza is an experience not to be missed. There are authentic restaurants that cater to locals and tourists alike. You'll also find some interesting food tours around town. Tapas are popular, as is chocolate and fresh, traditional recipes.

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.

Is Zaragoza or Genoa Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are nice in both Zaragoza and Genoa.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Zaragoza. The nightlife is at its best on weekends, when students and young locals head out on the town. Many evenings start with tapas and wine, but there are nightclubs and dancing as well.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe 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 Zaragoza or Genoa Better for Beaches?

Genoa is a moderate port city for the beach. However, Zaragoza 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.

Zaragoza is not a beach destination.

Is Zaragoza or Genoa Better for its Old Town?

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

Many visitors go to Zaragoza to see the historical old town. The old town is small but filled with monumental buildings and an authentic atmosphere.

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 Zaragoza or Genoa?

Zaragoza 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 Zaragoza. The city has many local shops selling locally produced items and interesting souvenirs. There are also boutiques, markets, and vintage shops that are fun to browse though.

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 Zaragoza or Genoa Better for Families?

Genoa is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Zaragoza is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Genoa is known to be 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.

Zaragoza is a family-friendly city. When your kids get their fill of architecture and history, you can head to the Zaragoza Aquarium. Also worth a visit is the Emoz Museum, which is an origami museum. And if you need a break from sightseeing, take a kayak out on the Ebro River.

Is Zaragoza or Genoa Better for Couples?

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

Zaragoza is a very popular place to visit for couples. Filled with culture, beauty, and monumental buildings, this is a small and romantic city. It's particularly romantic at night when the streets are quiet and many of the buildings are lit up.

Genoa makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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 Zaragoza or Genoa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Genoa is notable for backpackers. Also, Zaragoza is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Genoa is a very popular port city for backpackers and budget travelers. 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.

Zaragoza is a good city to visit for backpackers. There are enough hostels around town to choose from, and while it's not the backpacker haven that some Spanish cities are, it still sees a good number of young travelers.

Is Zaragoza or Genoa Better for Students?

Genoa is notable for students. Also, Zaragoza is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

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.

Plenty of students visit Zaragoza. International students enjoy this small city because it has a local vibe where they can practice their Spanish and enjoy an authentic experience.

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

Both Zaragoza and Genoa offer superb public transit options.

The public transit in Zaragoza can get you to most places easily. There are buses and trams around the city.

Visitors to Genoa can move around easily with public transportation. 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 Zaragoza or Genoa a more walkable city?

Zaragoza and Genoa both are superb when exploring on foot.

Zaragoza is a very walkable destination. The city center is very walkable.

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 Zaragoza Worth Visiting? and Is Genoa Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Genoa or Zaragoza?

How long in Zaragoza or Genoa?

It's fun to spend time in either Zaragoza or Genoa. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Genoa due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Zaragoza, and 2-4 days is enough time in Genoa.

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

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

In Zaragoza, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this authentic destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This city 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 Zaragoza or Genoa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Zaragoza. 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 Zaragoza or Genoa?

Zaragoza is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Zaragoza. 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 Zaragoza or Genoa?

You'll find food and shopping around the authentic destination of Zaragoza. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. 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 2-Week Tours from Barcelona, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Spain, 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 Zaragoza and Genoa, we can see that Genoa is more expensive. And not only is Zaragoza much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zaragoza would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zaragoza 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 Zaragoza.

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

Which is Bigger, Zaragoza or Genoa?

Zaragoza has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Genoa. When comparing the sizes of Zaragoza 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 Zaragoza 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 Zaragoza or Genoa in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Zaragoza as well as Genoa. The summer months attract visitors to Zaragoza because of the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Genoa this time of year.

Zaragoza is around the same temperature as Genoa in the summer. The daily temperature in Zaragoza averages around 26°C (79°F) in July, and Genoa fluctuates around 25°C (76°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Genoa. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zaragoza this time of the year. In the summer, Zaragoza often gets more sunshine than Genoa. Zaragoza gets 344 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 295 hours of full sun.

Zaragoza usually gets more rain in July than Genoa. Zaragoza gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Zaragoza or Genoa in the Autumn?

Both Genoa and Zaragoza are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Zaragoza this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Genoa for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Zaragoza is around the same temperature as Genoa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zaragoza in October average around 17°C (63°F), and Genoa averages at about 19°C (66°F).

Zaragoza usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Genoa during autumn. Zaragoza gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 183 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Zaragoza usually receives less rain than Genoa. Zaragoza gets 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Zaragoza or Genoa in the Winter?

Both Genoa and Zaragoza during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Zaragoza for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Genoa in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Zaragoza is generally cooler than Genoa. Daily temperatures in Zaragoza average around 8°C (46°F), and Genoa fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In the winter, Zaragoza often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Genoa. Zaragoza gets 131 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 127 hours of full sun.

Zaragoza usually gets less rain in January than Genoa. Zaragoza gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Zaragoza or Genoa in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Zaragoza and Genoa. Many visitors come to Zaragoza in the spring for the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Genoa for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

Zaragoza is around the same temperature as Genoa in the spring. The daily temperature in Zaragoza averages around 15°C (58°F) in April, and Genoa fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

In Zaragoza, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zaragoza usually receives more sunshine than Genoa during spring. Zaragoza gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 198 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Zaragoza usually receives less rain than Genoa. Zaragoza gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Genoa and Zaragoza