When it rains, time never passes at home with the children. That is why we have put together a list of activities you can do with children in Genoa – and the surrounding area – on a rainy day, hoping to give some useful tips to those looking for suggestions.
List of things you can do with children in Genoa when it rains
Aquarium of Genoa
With its 70 tanks housing some 10,000 animals of 200 different species, the Aquarium of Genoa is the largest in Europe. It is the ideal place to spend a rainy afternoon. The visit will take you 2-3 hours.
If you want more information about the Aquarium of Genoa, click here.
Galata Sea Museum
The Galata Museo del Mare is the largest maritime museum dedicated to navigation, telling the story of the relationship between Genoa and the sea, from the Middle Ages to the contemporary age.
There are 12,000 square metres of exhibition space on four floors where you can view nautical charts, shipboard instruments, paintings and even go on boat reconstructions .
There is also a pavilion dedicated to the history of migrations, a permanent exhibition on the Andrea Doria, and finally a visit to the Nazario Sauro, a submarine-museum, the only one in Italy that can be visited at sea. READ MORE
The City of Children and Youths
La Città dei Bambini e dei Ragazzi is the first Experience Museum dedicated to the five senses. There are four rooms (taste and smell, touch, sight, hearing plus the construction room and the one dedicated to 2-4 year olds), where children and young people aged 0-12 can use their 5 senses to take a journey of discovery of themselves and the world around them through direct experience.
The visit has no time limit, however, keep a couple of hours to wander around.
The ticket price is 12 euros/adult, 7 euros/children aged 2-3 years, free/0-1 year.
Access is through the Aquarium building, the entrance is right in front of the Biosphere. READ MORE
Natural History Museum Giacomo Doria
The Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria is the oldest museum in the city (1867). The exhibition of various exhibits and specimens from all over the world (animals, fossils, plants and minerals) is divided into 23 rooms on two floors.
On Saturdays and Sundays, theMuseum Education Association organises interesting workshops for children. READ MORE
What to do with children in Genoa when it rains: Edmondo de Amicis Library, the Children’s Library
The Edmondo De Amicis Library is the largest space dedicated to children’s and young people’s literature in Genoa, with more than 70,000 book titles, 180 places for reading, ample space for meetings, in-depth activities and games.
In the library you will find a soft space for children 0-6 years old and, next door, a reading room for children 6-11 years old .
Access is free, you can pick up a book and read it sitting on the cushions or at the table; if you would like to read it at home, you will have to sign up for a card (free of charge).
The library rooms are spacious and bright and from the windows you have a beautiful view of the harbour and the city. Free wifi.
Address – Magazzini del Cotone, Module 1, 2nd floor – Porto Antico Area
16128 Genova
Opening hours – Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday closed.
Children’s bookshops in Genoa: La Feltrinelli
On the second floor of this large bookshop in Via Ceccardi is the section devoted to children’s literature.
Here the child can choose a book of his or her liking and sit at the reading table or, if he or she is small, sit in the Canadian tent with the mirrored floor.
The books are neatly arranged and separated by age (section 0-3 years, 3-6 years, 6-8 years, 8-10 years, 10-13 years), you can stay as long as you like and there is no obligation to pay.
In addition, the bathroom is always very clean and equipped with a changing table.
The first time we went with our daughter, we were worried that, as she was still small, she might crease a few pages, but the very kind young lady explained to us that they take into account that the child might spoil the book a little if she is small, which is why they have several sample books .
The important thing is not to take the label off the sound books and not to open the puzzles!
➠ Worth knowing: every Sunday morning, the bookshop organises workshops or book presentations for children.
For information, have a look at the ‘events’ section on La Feltrinelli‘s website.
Address – Via Ceccardi 18/24r Genova.
Opening hours – Monday to Saturday 9am-8pm, Sunday 10am-8pm.
Telephone – 010 573331
Mog
Inside the Mercato Orientale in Genoa there is a space where you can sit down and have something to eat or just have a chat or read a book (without necessarily eating) while your child takes part in the various activities offered free of charge upstairs.
The activities offered within the MOG are as follows:
workshops for children aged 3 to 10 on Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m;
reading corner for children aged 4 to 8 on Saturdays from 4 to 5 p.m;
one Sunday a month, children from 4 to 10 years old from 5.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. can always take part free of charge in the creation of a magical fairy tale together with the Genoese theatre improvisation company ‘Maniman Teatro
creative workshops with parents one Sunday a month from 3 to 5 p.m. (at a cost of EUR 15 per child-parent pair).
Our daughter participated in the workshop involving painting trees using different techniques.
She loved it and asked – and got – if she could also stay for the reading workshop that started immediately afterwards, as she was not yet old enough to participate.
You have to go up to the first floor and look for the superb room where the tables are set up before the meeting. The bathroom next to the superb room has a changing table.
To book the desired activity and for all other information, have a look at the Mog website.
Address – via XX Settembre, 75r Genova
Openinghours – 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday.
Recommended age group – 3/10 years.
What to do with children in Genoa when it rains: Palazzo Ducale
Every Saturday, the Educational Section of the Fondazione Palazzo Ducale organises workshops for children in the 6-11 age group inside the Palazzo Ducale in Genoa.
The workshops cost 5/7 euros and last 1 or 2 hours. Some are for children only, others for children and parents. During the year they also organise some workshops for 2-4 year olds (with accompanying person).
For all information, have a look at the Doge’s Palace website.
Genova-Casella Railway
Genoa-Casella railway is a metre-gauge railway line connecting the centre of the city of Genoa with its hinterland, arriving in the village of Casella in about an hour.
The line is 24 km long and runs completely through the Bisagno, Polcevera and Scrivia valleys.
The line starts at an altitude of 93 metres above sea level at the Piazza Manin station in Genoa, then climbs to 370 metres at Trensasco, after only nine kilometres, and arrives at 410 metres above sea level at the terminus in Casella after crossing the highest point on the route(458 metres above sea level at Crocetta d’Orero).
There are several beautiful walks you can take with the children, getting off at the various stations of the train, so it is certainly worth a trip when it is sunny, but it can also be an idea for when it rains, perhaps combining the trip on the train with a visit to the Museum of the Genoa Casella Railway (you have to get off at Crocetta d’Orero station), which is open every Saturday from 14:15 to 16:00. For all the information you can have a look here.
Below are some beautiful walks that can be reached with the Genova-Casella train:
from Campi station it is possible to reach the Diamante, Fratello Minore, Puin, Sperone Forts with a ring trip of the forts;
from Sant’Olcese Station, continue on foot along the road to Ronco until you reach the Ciaè botanical path;
Casella Station, you can visit the Castello della Pietra.
Theatre performances for children
An excellent way to spend a couple of hours on a rainy day to entertain and stimulate the imagination of the little ones could be to go to the theatre.
There is a rich and diverse offer of theatre performances for all ages and tastes. It obviously depends on the child, but indicatively they can be suitable for children from 3 to 10 years of age.
On Saturdays you can go to the Teatro della Tosse, and on Sundays to the Teatro Nazionale in Genoa and the Teatro dell’Ortica.
We went to the Teatro Nazionale and we loved the fact that both at the box office and on the seats in the auditorium there are risers so that children can collect their tickets themselves and be more comfortable on the seat as well as having a better view of the stage.
Performances for children start at 4 p.m., while those aimed at teenagers (Teen section) are presented at 7.30 p.m.
Tourist bus to discover Genoa
A rainy day could be an opportunity to tour the city on a tourist bus. The ticket is valid for 24 hours, costs 20 euro per person (children aged 0-4 do not pay) and you can get on and off as many times as you like .
For all information and to buy the ticket, you can have a look here.
* We are a GetYourGuide partner, which means that if you buy your tickets through our site, you will not spend more and we will earn a small percentage that we will use to keep our blog active.
Playroom
Another idea for spending the afternoon with the kids when it rains is to take them to a playroom.
Trampolines and inflatables provide fun for children of all ages. There are several scattered around the city, some are open by reservation only, others are free admission and you pay by the time you decide to stay.
Suitable for children up to 9/10 years of age.
It is best to give a call before you go because some toy libraries do not accept other children for private parties.
L’ isola che c’è playroom in Via San Pio XX (Albaro);
Simpatiche Canaglie toy library in via Rino Mandoli (Marassi);
L’Eduteca in Corso Andrea Podestà (Carignano);
Le Birbe in Via del Lagaccio (Lagaccio).
What to do with children in Genoa when it rains: Gelateria Chicco in Nervi
Sometimes when it rains at the weekend and we don’t know what to do, we load the girls into the car and go for a snack at the Chicco ice cream parlour in Nervi. The ice cream is really good, you can choose from a wide variety of cups, served at the table, and there is also a children’s menu.
In addition to ice cream, you can enjoy crepes, yoghurt, shakes, herbal teas, aperitifs… And if it stops raining in the meantime, you can take a walk to work off the calories from the snack on the promenade or in the parks of Nervi.
Address – Via Guglielmo Oberdan 120r, Genoa
Openinghours – 09:00-00:00 Saturday, 09:00-23:00 Sunday.
Fiumara Amusement Centre
The Fiumara Amusement Centre is located in Genoa Sampiardarena: inside you will find an amusement arcade with bowling and billiard tables, a multiplex where you can watch a film, three coin-operated rides for the youngest children and several restaurants.
At the Wiener Haus restaurant, located on the ground floor of the Amusement Centre, you can eat Viennese-style schnitzels and children are given a placemat with markers and a chocolate egg.
Amusement Centre hours 12:00-2:00.
Opposite the Amusement Centre is the entrance to the shopping centre where on the ground floor there are three more coin-operated merry-go-rounds and on the first floor there is a free play area for children aged 3 to 12.
We found it very nice, although we imagine it will be very popular at the weekend. Shopping centre hours 9am-9pm.
On the other hand, there is a nice children’s playground outside the shopping centre, coming out on the right (outdoors so for when it’s not raining).
How to get there
by car – You have to take the Genova-Ovest exit and follow the signs for Sampierdarena – Fiumara. Both the Shopping Centre and the Amusement Centre have several free parking spaces.
by train – From platform 8 of the Genoa-Sampierdarena station, a flight of steps leads directly to the Shopping Centre.
Escape Room
It is a game where you lock yourself and a small group of people inside a room and in a maximum of 60 minutes you have to solve puzzles, riddles and brain teasers to find your way out.
We have never tried it, it sounds interesting but definitely for families with slightly older children (at least 10/12 years old).
Address – Via Volturno 19r 16129 Genova.
Telephone: 39 329 24 43 797
Openinghours – Every day from 12 noon to midnight.
What to do with children in Genoa when it rains: Eataly
Eataly organises interesting cookery courses for children from 6 to 10 years of age. These are courses lasting a couple of hours (generally 9.30-11.30 am at a cost of 20 euro) that explain, for example, how to knead with a rolling pin and flour to create fresh pasta, or cooking workshops that can be booked together with a parent on Mother’s and Father’s Day, for example.
Other things you can do with children around Genoa when it rains
The Mele Paper Museum
A visit to the Paper Museum in Mele was a real discovery for us! The master papermaker illustrates the various stages of paper production inside a real paper mill of the time that operated until 1985 and since 2015 it has been in operation again.
The Mele Paper Museum is in fact the first and only paper production workshop – entirely by hand – in Liguria! During the visit you can also ‘make’ a sheet of paper with your own hands.
The visit to the Museum lasts only half an hour, but it can be combined with an interesting 2-hour workshop or with a lunch in a tasty local trattoria, in order to spend a few hours indoors in case of a rainy day. READ MORE
Caves of Borgio Verezzi
The Borgio Verezzi Caves are characterised by crystal-clear lakes and stalactites and stalagmites of different shapes and colours.
The route inside is 800 metres long and the visit takes about an hour, so it can be combined with a visit to the Finale Archaeological Museum, which is a few kilometres from the caves (keep the ticket because there are discounts) to spend a half-day with the family when it rains. READ MORE
Toirano Caves
The Toirano Caves are a complex of four main caves(Grotta della Bàsura, Grotta del Colombo, Grotta Santa Lucia Inferiore and Grotta Superiore).
They are about an hour and a quarter from Genoa, so a visit can be planned perhaps when it rains, going and returning in a day.
Usefulinformation
The visit is guided and lasts 70 minutes.
The route runs 1300 metres at a temperature of 16°C.
Caves are not accessible with a pushchair because of the many stairs. Better equip yourself with a baby carrier or backpack.
Recommended age group: from about 8 years. However, they can also be of interest to children of three to four years of age, who should have no particular problems with the stairs inside. Best to be equipped with non-slip shoes.
If arriving by car, take the Borghetto Santo Spirito exit off the A10 Genoa-Ventimiglia motorway and take the provincial road to Toirano. There is ample free parking in front of the ticket office.
Opening hours – 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. / 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., closed on Tuesdays.
Ticket – 12 euro/adult, 6 euro/child (5 to 14 years old).
Always check the times on the official website.
▶ You might also be interested in Postojna Cave and the Wind Cave.
Did you like the article? If you think of other ideas on what to do in Genoa with children when it rains, write them in the comments below!
