Car & Van Hire - Genoa

Like many Italian cities, Genoa is known for its history and architecture. The historic centre is very walkable, and as you wander through its streets, you'll see impressive buildings and monuments in every direction. A good starting point is Via Garibaldi, home to the Palazzi dei Rolli. These palaces were once home to the Genoese aristocracy and have all the dramatic pomp and splendour of the Renaissance era. Some are still private residences, while others contain museums. It's worth taking a look inside the Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco or Palazzo Tursi, where you'll be dazzled by the art on display.

Genoa has a wealth of historical buildings. As well as the palaces, you can visit the Porta Soprana, the 10th-century stone entranceway into the city, the 13th-century Doge's Palace and the 12th-century cathedral, with its magnificent stone lions. If you go inside the cathedral, look out for the WWII-era grenade that is preserved there. It fell inside the building during the war but remained intact, leaving the cathedral untouched, in what some call a miracle. A final historical location to explore is Christopher Columbus' house, but be aware that this is not the original building. It was rebuilt in the 18th century, long after the explorer's death.

As you explore Genoa, you'll find touches of ultra-modernity mingling with these old buildings. The Old Port was completely revamped to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Columbus' voyage to America and is now one of the most modern and vibrant parts of the city. Attractions here offer great fun for the whole family and include the Genoa Aquarium, the Museum of the Sea and the Bigo panoramic lift for views across the city. Best of all is the Biosphere, an enormous round structure made of glass and steel. Inside is a fully-formed tropical forest, home to an array of colourful birds, reptiles and butterflies.

With a car rental in Genoa, you can explore the surrounding area and discover the magic of Liguria. It will take you 90 minutes to reach La Spezia, the gateway to the Cinque Terre. These five small villages are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are the best way of seeing the enduring way of life in rural Italy. As well as the great views and charming little buildings, don't miss the food. Some of the local specialities include focaccia, honey gelato and, of course, pesto – which seems to taste even better when eaten on a hilltop terrace overlooking the sea.Be sure to try the local cuisine, which also highlights Alghero's blend of cultural influences. Seafood is the main speciality, and one of the most famous dishes is lobster "alla Catalana", served with tomatoes and onions. You may need to book this special meal in advance. If you have a sweet tooth, you'll also want to try the local dessert of "menjar blanc", a smooth, creamy dish similar to blancmange, crema Catalana or crème brûlée. Of course, you'll find plenty of other typical Italian dishes, too, with thin, crispy pizza being particularly popular.

Car rental in Alghero allows you to explore the part of Sardinia known as the Coral Coast. To understand the importance of coral, head first to the Museo del Corallo. Inside, you can admire incredible works of art that local artisans have made from coral and even pick up small sculptures or pieces of jewellery as souvenirs.

There are many great beaches for you to discover with a car or van rental in Alghero. Le Bombarde and Il Lazzaretto are two tiny coves with picture-perfect white sand and crystal-clear water. Be warned, though: the water can be freezing! Larger beaches can be found at Mugoni, Lido San Giovanni or Maria Pia. The most famous beach in the area is La Pelosa, with a tropical-style beach that belongs in the Caribbean. If you're visiting between June and September, you will need to book your trip in advance to avoid overcrowding.

Capo Caccia is a great place for a day trip, with trails along the coast and some of Sardinia's most spectacular sunsets. Here you can also visit Gotta di Nettuno, a stunning cave network with breathtaking displays of stalactites and stalagmites. A guided tour of the grotto lasts about an hour. The grotto is only accessible by boat and cannot be visited if the sea is particularly rough.

Visitors to Italy should always watch out for signs indicating ZTL, which are limited traffic zones. These signs are circular, with a red ring around a white centre. Some of them include the initials ZTL, while others don't. Only vehicles with a permit can enter a ZTL. Without a permit, you can face a fine. Genoa has seven ZTLs. The most important is the historic centre, which is limited to traffic at all times.

Other ZTLs in Genoa are the Boccadasse area, the Bolzaneto area, Molo, Nervi, Rivarolo and Vernazzola. Some of these allow vehicles to enter at certain times of day for loading and unloading vehicles or for access to schools. This means you'll need to watch out: some drivers might see other vehicles entering a street and follow them. There is also a night LTZ, Genova Castelleto, which is active from 21:00-06:00, seven days a week.

The ZTLs in Genoa are all walkable, so it is easy to park your car and explore on foot. On-street parking is marked with either blue or white lines. White lines indicate free parking spaces, while blue spaces are pay and display. You will usually see a parking meter on the street where you can pay. If you don't, go into the nearest bar, tobacco shop, cafe or convenience store and ask about tickets.

Genoa does not have major traffic, but you may want to avoid rush hour, which peaks at 08:00 and again at 18:00. You are more likely to experience traffic if travelling in winter. Snow in Genoa is rare but not unheard of and can cause some disruptions on the roads.

Car or van rental in Genoa is a great way to explore Italy, but you should plan your routes before setting out. When driving between cities, be aware that you may need to pay a toll on highways. In particular, there are toll booths on the A7 between Milan and Genoa, on the A10 from Genoa to Ventimiglia and on the A12 heading from Genoa towards Rome. It is possible to avoid toll roads by taking "strade statali", which are marked by blue road signs with "SS" written in white. The toll roads are often much faster, so it's worth checking your route in advance before deciding whether you would rather save time or money.