Welcome to the first installment of the day to day itineraries of my 2026 Europe trip! For this chapter, we are based in Genoa, but exploring the northwest of Italy.
Why Genoa? Why not? It’s a large city (Italy’s sixth largest), but not so big as to have too much to try to see in a month like Rome. It is on the Mediterranean, so winter weather will be mild, similar to here in Los Angeles. It has some cool history from its days as the Genoese Republic, a regional power. And pesto was invented here. So yeah, I think that seems like a solid starting point.
I also can’t say enough about just how much I love Italy. Sure the country has its issues; all countries do. But the speed of life is one I like, the culture is one I find pleasant, and the history is off the charts. And once you get used to Italians, it’s nothing but positive. Also, pasta!
Other than a night in Milan as a gateway, everything I’ll see and do during this portion of the trip will be new, unless I decide to return from Genoa to the Cinque Terre. But with so many other lovely looking seaside towns closer in, I don’t consider that likely.
The basic day to day itinerary is below for those who like to follow along. (For safety reasons I don’t give exact dates for when the trip begins, but you’ll have the basic idea at least.) I will try my best to stick to most of it, but things happen. Weather, illness, random other assorted travel circumstances… all of these have the potential to cause some change.
Day One – Los Angeles to Milan
I guess it’s two days since it’s an overnight flight with a connection, but it was easier to fly into Milan than the tiny Genoa airport. We will head to our hotel, find a bowl of pasta or risotto (it is Milan after all, so risotto is the thing), and crash.
Day Two – Milan to Genoa
Since one can’t check into an Airbnb until afternoon and the train is only a couple hours, we have a free morning in Milan! Depending on weather, the thought was to spend it at the Monumental Cemetery (I love cemeteries) since it’s near our hotel, but we will see. Then we hop the train down to our home for the month in Genoa, and probably the first round of pesto pasta for dinner after checking into our flat.
Days Three through Thirteen – Genoa
This first round of time in Genoa will probably cover the basics of the city. The old city is filled with UNESCO World Heritage palaces, some of which are now art museums. So yeah, that seems awesome. We will learn about the Genoese Republic, and wander the alleys of the Centro Storico. And maybe if there’s a beautiful day, we will head to Santa Margherita Ligure, the larger and less fancy neighbor to Portofino.
There will be pesto and focaccia. There will be morning cappuccinos. There will be afternoon aperitivo (limoncello spritz for me, thank you). And we will enjoy the slow pace of a beautiful city.
Day Fourteen – Genoa to Turin
We are off on a little side trip, visiting Turin, Italy’s fourth largest city and the capital of Piedmont. There is likely to be snow, so that’s both exciting and cold.
Day Fifteen – Turin
There’s a lot to see in this northern city, but the focus for us will be the Savoy family. The Piedmontese royal family were the muscle behind Italian unification in the 19th century, and became the Italian monarchs before the monarchy ended after World War Two. So we will visit their palace, and a museum to the events.
In addition, the royal chapel holds the Shroud of Turin, one of the most important Christian artifacts. I’m not sure one can actually see it, but that’s sort of interesting anyway.
Day Sixteen – Turin to Genoa
I hope to get one more museum visit in with the morning before heading back “home” to Genoa. Turin has one of the largest Egyptian museums, so maybe that? Or something else.
Days Seventeen through Twenty-Eight – Genoa
Another long stint in Genoa. What does this one hold? For one, my first ever European football game, so that’s exciting! For another, a delve into one of my least favorite historical humans, Christopher Columbus, who hailed from here. (As terrible of a person as he was, he is relevant to history, so worth writing about.) Other day trips also await. Savona looks nice!
But more importantly, it is immersion into Italian life that I crave. With a city like Genoa, I could probably see everything on my list in a week or so. Having a month means moving slowly, immersing, finding my favorite spots, and meeting locals. And hopefully friends from Rome are coming to join us for a few days. (Hint hint to them if they read this to book the visit already. Italians tend to be very last minute about plans.)
Day Twenty-Nine – Genoa to Nice
Two trains since the French and Italian ones don’t play nicely together, and it’s off to chapter two!
So yeah, that’s the basic trip. Articles will begin in February sometime, but for more up to the minute thoughts and photos, follow me on Bluesky!
For those of you who are map-oriented, below is a map of the Italy with the locations mentioned. Genoa is on the bottom along the water, with Milan north and slightly east, and Turin to the northwest.
