SUP in Genoa 2026: Where to Go, Prices and Routes from Priaruggia

There's one way to tell you about SUP in Genoa: listing schools and prices. And there's the way we tell it: starting from a beach, a person, and a story that began long before stand up paddle became fashionable.

Priaruggia and Riccardo: the story before the school

Between '96 and 2004 I worked behind the counter at Big Ben, the bar in Piazza Sturla that pretty much everyone in Genoa has come to know at some point. Riccardo was a customer. So were the guys who work with him today. I ran into him again a few days ago, after years, and it only took walking into Supzena — his SUP school in Priaruggia — for someone to greet me with a "hi Manu Big," the nickname many still call me.

I'm not telling you this out of nostalgia: I'm telling you because that's exactly where the trust behind our recommendation comes from. We talked for a long time, and you can see — you can feel — how much passion Riccardo puts into building experiences that stay with his guests, not just an hour of rental.

"Manu, what can I say — a friend for more than 30 years, with mutual respect: in short, whatever she asks me is never a favor, it's simply a pleasure." — Riccardo, Supzena

What Supzena is, and why we recommend it first

Supzena is based at Priaruggia beach, at via V Maggio 30, along the stretch of coast between Boccadasse and Nervi. "In the Bay of Pria you can learn SUP techniques thanks to calm, crystal-clear water, ideal for beginners" — Riccardo explained to us. And he adds a detail we love: "you choose the route based on the sea, and you paddle in the silence of the sea."

It's not just lessons and rentals: Riccardo also organizes themed outings, like the "Full Moon SUP," a paddle under the full moon that he repeats several times throughout the season — the latest one just these days, following the success of the first one in early July.

Indicative 2026 prices (annual membership card €22, prices subject to seasonal change):

• Rental: 1 hour €10, half day €30, full day €60.

• Private lesson: €35/hour; package of 5 lessons €150.

• Group lesson (minimum 4 people): €25 per person.

• SUP Yoga: €25 (40 minutes of yoga + 40 of SUP).

• How to get there by bus from Arena House Albaro: line 15, which runs all the way to Nervi, conveniently passing through Quarto/Priaruggia.

If you'd rather stay closer to Corso Italia

If you don't want to go all the way to Priaruggia, there are still two reliable options, both convenient from our Arena House Albaro:

• Kailani, at Bagni San Nazaro (Corso Italia 5): a school run by a qualified instructor, lessons from age 6. Rental €10/hour, €15/2 hours.

• Lido Surfing Club (Corso Italia 13): Genoa's first center dedicated to water sports, with private and group lessons for beginners and experts alike.

How to get there by bus: line 31 (Ospedale Gaslini – Corso Italia – Stazione Brignole).

The routes truly worth trying

The most beautiful stretch, the one we recommend first to anyone trying SUP for the first time in Genoa, runs from Sturla toward Boccadasse: you skirt the Capo Santa Chiara promontory and arrive in front of the colorful houses of the village, seen from an angle you never get from land. Those starting from Priaruggia can extend the route all the way to Boccadasse or, on calm sea days, push on toward Bogliasco.

For those looking for an easier, more scenic outing, the Nervi coast, with its cliffs and the Anita Garibaldi promenade, remains one of the clearest stretches of sea in the city.

A safety tip, from those who practice it

If it's your first time, always rely on a school: they provide all the equipment, including the leash (the cord connecting you to the board — essential, because with wind or current the board drifts away faster than you can swim) and the life jacket. Start on your knees close to shore, stand up only once you've gained confidence, and never go out alone.

Where to stay to have all this just steps away

We recommend Arena House Albaro to anyone who wants to experience Genoa's sea this way, at their own pace, without having to arrange every trip by car. From here, a bus takes you to Riccardo's place in Priaruggia, or a short walk is enough to reach Corso Italia and the Kailani and Lido schools. It's also the same area from which the most beautiful routes depart, toward Boccadasse and Sturla.

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Where can you practice SUP in Genoa?

Mainly along the eastern coast: Priaruggia (Supzena), Corso Italia (Kailani, Lido Surfing Club), Vernazzola and Nervi.

How much does it cost to rent a SUP in Genoa?

Roughly from €10 an hour, with half-day (around €30) and full-day (around €60) options. Prices subject to seasonal change.

What's the most beautiful SUP route in Genoa?

The stretch from Sturla to Boccadasse, which skirts Capo Santa Chiara and offers a view of the village you'll never get from land.

Do you need experience to try SUP?

No, but for your first time it's always best to rely on a school, which provides safety equipment and guides you through your first steps in the water.