Notte Bianca (White Night) transforms Genoa into an all-night cultural playground. Museums, galleries, churches, and historic palaces stay open from dusk until dawn — all free. Streets fill with live music, performance art, and pop-up installations from the Porto Antico to the medieval caruggi.

What’s Open

The full list of participating venues is released about two weeks before the event, but these are always included:

Palazzo Ducale — major exhibitions open all night with guided tours every hour
Acquario di Genova — the aquarium runs special night-viewing sessions (book ahead)
Palazzi dei Rolli — several Rolli palaces open their doors for free
Museo di Palazzo Reale — the royal palace with candlelit tours
Teatro Carlo Felice — free concerts and open rehearsals in the foyer
Villetta di Negro — the park and Oriental Art Museum stay open with lantern-lit paths

Survival Tips

The metro runs all night (until 05:00) — use it. Parking is impossible.
Start at the Porto Antico and work your way uphill through the caruggi toward Piazza De Ferrari.
Eat late: most focaccerie and trattorias in the historic centre stay open past midnight.
Wear comfortable shoes — you’ll walk 15,000+ steps without noticing.
Pick 3-4 venues you really want to see and don’t try to do everything.

Notte Bianca is easily one of Genoa’s best nights of the year. Combine it with a weekend stay and a day trip the following morning.