" /> Genoa Gay Travel Guide 2010 - Bars, Clubs, Saunas, Hotels

Genoa Gay Travel Guide

About Genoa

Genoa (Genova in Italian) has been shaped in many ways by its location 30 km along the Ligurian coast of the Mediterranean Sea and the Apennine Mountains. Its natural harbor had facilitated trade since ancient Greek and Roman times.
In the Middle Ages, maritime trade made Genoa an important economic and financial power in Europe. In the 20th century, the port in Genoa became the largest port in Italy and Genoa became a center of heavy industry.

The development of several natural parks in the back-country and the extensive restoration and restructuring of the inner city in the 1980s and 1990s led to a cultural and touristic revival of Genoa. In 2006, the UNESCO added the center of the Old Town of Genoa with its Baroque and Renaissance palaces to its list of World Heritage Sites. Another landmark is the Old Harbor (Porto Antico) from Genoa's ancient times, restored and redeveloped in the 1990s, now hosting a yacht harbour, the biggest aquarium in Europe (Acquario di Genova) and the Museum of the Sea. Other sights in Genoa include the cemetery of Staglieno and the Museo d'Arte Orientale.

In case you wonder about the ›r‹ in many street numbers: Street addresses in Genoa have a double numbering system with red and black numbers. The ›r‹ stands for ›rosso‹ (red).

Gay Bars

  • Aqua Bar
  • Thu-Sun 22:00 – 03:00. Closed in summer.
  • [ Aqua Bar - Map ] Salita Salvatore Viale 15/r [Bus: Via 20 Settembre / Monumentale]
  • Cruising bar.

    (A membership card is required for all cruising bars in Italy, usually the Arcigay UNO CLUB card. If you don’t have one yet, you can usually acquire it at the entrance.)
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  • La Cage
  • Wed-Sat 22:00 – 03:00
  • [ La Cage - Map ] Via San Pier d’Arena 167/r (Genova-Sampierdarena)
    [Bus 003: Sampierdarena 2/Comune]
  • +39 010-6454555
  • American Snack & Video Bar.
Double-click below the marker icon to zoom in [close map]

Gay Clubs & Parties

  • Hot Vibes
  • Wednesday 22:00 – 01:00
  • [ Hot Vibes - Map ] Salita Pollaiuoli 24/r
  • +39 348-3713115 (Mobile)
  • Gay night on Wednesdays.
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  • Virgo
  • Saturday 24:00 – 04:30 (June – early September summer break)
  • [ Virgo - Map ] Via Alfredo Carzino 13/r (Genova-Sampierdarena)
  • Infoline +39 347-8151451 (Mobile); Website
  • The disco for gays and lesbians in Genoa and Liguria.
  • Video: Shows at Virgo party October 2009 [open video][close video]

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Gay Saunas

  • Aquaclub Sauna
  • open Wed-Mon; Tue closed
  • [ Aquaclub Sauna - Map ] Salita Salvatore Viale 15/r [Bus: Via 20 Settembre / Monumentale]
  • At the same address there is also the cruising bar Aqua.
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Gay-friendly Hotels

  • Hotel Galata
  • Hotel, gay-friendly. ***, 65–100 €
  • [ Hotel Galata - Map ] [ Street View: Hotel Galata ] Via Andrea Doria 4a [Metro: Principe]
  • Details, Photos & Reservation
  • Small hotel with unique décor. Close to the railway station and to the port.
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  • Hotel Helvetia
  • Hotel, gay-friendly. ***, 65–95 €
  • [ Hotel Helvetia - Map ] Piazza della Nunziata 1 [Metro: Darsena]
  • Details, Photos & Reservation
  • Centrally situated in the medieval part of Genoa.
Double-click below the marker icon to zoom in [close map]