If you're a cruise tourist arriving at La Spezia cruise port, in Italy, you’ll want to orientate yourself quickly to make the most of your port stop!
It’s not always easy to find your way around European cities. The language barrier, lack of good signage, and crowds can all add to the confusion.
Plus, as a cruise passenger, you only have a few hours to see the sights! Having traveled to almost 40 countries we know that holiday time is precious. Getting lost, picking the wrong tour, or missing out on the best attractions can be disappointing and annoying!
In this post, I’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions that will help you make some good decisions and see the best La Spezia attractions.
Have just one day in Cinque Terre?
Our premade itinerary will help you get the most out of your day.
Experience Cinque Terre like a local, even with limited time!
This itinerary includes insider tips, optimized timing to match cruise all-aboard schedules, and essential transport details from the La Spezia cruise terminal.
Getting Around
How do I get from the cruise ship to La Spezia city?
The port authorities provide a bus from the La Spezia cruise port to the passenger terminal. From the terminal, you can take a leisurely stroll into the historic town along the harbor front promenade and then head north through the public gardens. The old town is a short 10-minute walk.
Are there shuttle services from the cruise terminal to the La Spezia city center or other key destinations?
There are no free shuttle services to the tourist attractions. You will need to consider the following:
- Using public transport to various destinations (Cinque Terre, Pisa, Florence)
- Doing a self-guided walking tour of La Spezia
- Joining an organized tour to your chosen destination (most cruise ship passengers visit Florence, Cinque Terre, or Pisa)
- Booking a group or private boat tour around the beautiful UNESCO coast and Cinque Terre.
There is also a tourist ‘train’ that you can catch at La Spezia cruise terminal. The tour leaves every 30 minutes, and you can book your spot online. The ticket is all day hop-on hop-off so that you have some flexibility to also spend time lingering around the city’s old town streets and piazzas.
This tour is particularly useful if you have difficulty walking and it’s also a handy way to get to La Spezia Centrale train station. Where you can jump aboard an actual train to Cinque Terre, Sarzana, or Pisa.
If you plan on going to Florence by train I recommend catching a taxi directly to the train station so that have more time in Florence!
What's the best way to get around La Spezia and the surrounding areas?
There are steep hills surrounding La Spezia city, but most of the tourist activities are in the flat area between the cruise terminal, marina, and central train station.
You can easily walk around La Spezia old town. There are also shared bikes (sea bike) and electric scooters available for rent throughout the city.
La Spezia also has excellent public transport to nearby towns. You can catch a ferry, bus, or train to places like Cinque Terre, Sarzana, Portovenere, and Lerici.
How reliable is public transportation?
The public transport in La Spezia is usually very good. Sure, sometimes buses and trains get delayed. But for most of the locations of interest to tourists (Cinque Terre, Portovenere, Lerici, and Sarzana), the transport links are well established and run frequently, especially between April and September.
Important Advice: Remember ships won’t wait for late passengers. Your ‘all aboard’ time is not negotiable. If you’ve planned a DIY itinerary, then always factor in extra time in case of transport delays or other unexpected hiccups.
Attractions
What are the top tourist attractions in La Spezia?
Over the last few years, La Spezia has seen a surge in Mediterranean cruise tourists and visitors in general. Instead of being just a ‘pass-through’ town, it is now a worthy destination for tourists. The city has several museums, art galleries, interesting historic architecture, gardens, a marina and piazzas. There are some excellent restaurants, trendy cocktail bars, and shopping for every budget.
The main attractions are:
- The Civic Museums including the National Transport Museum, Naval Museum, Castle of St George, and Museum Amedeo Lia
- Daily Food Markets and other regular popup markets
- The Liberty-style architecture in Piazza Verdi and Piazza Sant' Agostino
- The Public Gardens and Constantino Morin Promenade
- Harbor Area and Porto Mirabello
- Via del Prione and Corso Cavour shopping area
You can use our map to familiarize yourself.
What are the top tourist attractions close to La Spezia?
The BIG attraction for most tourists coming to La Spezia is Cinque Terre. The staggeringly beautiful UNESCO national park and five towns are a must-see destination and within an easy 10-minute train ride of La Spezia!
Other attractions (that are within a couple of hours) include Pisa, Florence and Lucca. For these places, I recommend booking a reputable tour, so transport and logistics are taken care of! The Florence day tours are particularly popular with La Spezia cruise passengers.
Sure, you can go it alone, (the trains are easy to use). But do yourself a favor and:
- Book skip-the-line tickets for the main attractions.
- Book your train tickets in advance. We use Omio because we can pay in our preferred currency and the Italian train station names are in English!
- Make sure you have a backup plan in case of train delays or transport strikes.
Buy tickets through OMIO - Book easily & pay in your preferred currency!
How far is the Cinque Terre from La Spezia, and what's the best way to get there?
Cinque Terre is a few minutes by train from La Spezia. Or you can walk to the marina and catch a ferry or take a boat tour. Each option has its pros and cons:
- By Train: The trains can get crowded in summer. You also don’t get to see or experience the beautiful Gulf of Poets. However, going by train is fast and convenient! You can walk from the cruise terminal to the train station in around 25 minutes. Or book a taxi! Or take the tourist ‘train’ mentioned above.
- By Ferry: The ferries are slow, but you’re also treated to a scenic tour of the Gulf of Poets. You can buy an all-day hop-on hop-off ticket and make a stop at the incredibly beautiful town of Portovenere. Important note: Ferries don’t run in winter.
- By Boat Tour: There are dozens of boat tours leaving La Spezia marina for Cinque Terre. Even in winter! The tours include a cruise around the Gulf, views of Cinque Terre, and often a stop in one or two of the 5 towns for lunch and sightseeing.
Food and Drink
What is the must-try local dishes in Liguria?
Liguria is famous for being the home of pesto and focaccia. There is also an abundance of seafood dishes. In La Spezia, many restaurants specialize in mussels, oysters, and anchovies. These are locally farmed or fished and are prepared with particular recipes.
Must try dishes include:
- stuffed mussels (muscoli ripieni)
- chickpea bread (farinata)
- rustic bean soup (mesciùa)
- stuffed fried bread (sgabei)
- stuffed anchovies (acciughe ripiene)
- mussel pasta (spaghetti alle cozze)
The local wine that accompanies the seafood dishes is a snappy white called Vermentino.
What and where are the popular restaurants or cafes in La Spezia?
There are many good restaurants. Some of the best are hidden in the side streets. Some of the more dubious (tourist traps) are in plain sight! We have a separate post on our favorite local restaurants and the best pizza and pasta restaurants.
You can also find a selection of many good eateries around Piazza Sant' Agostino and Piazza Bastione. Locations are marked on the map below.
For a five-star experience with sea views, I highly recommend treating yourself to one of the swanky restaurants in Portovenere. The two that immediately spring to mind (Torre di Venere and Casamare) can be found at the end of the promontory. But there are others also! Discover our shortlist of the 10 best restaurants in Portovenere.
Are there any food or wine tours available in the area?
Local Italians are very proud of their culinary and viticulture history, and you’ll find many tours to sample locally farmed produce.
If you are going to Cinque Terre then try this is indulgent experience offered by Cinque Terre Sensi, that includes wine tasting, pesto making, limoncello, and focaccia! It’s located close to Vernazza train station and will take only 1.5 hours out of your day. Leaving you plenty of time to sightsee and travel to and from your cruise ship.
If you plan on spending your time in La Spezia, then this wine degustation (at the Arrigoni wine cellars) is just a short taxi ride from the cruise terminal.
Shopping
Where are the best places to shop in La Spezia?
Head to Via del Prione and Corso Cavour. Both have dozens of shops selling clothes, shoes, jewelry and gifts. You can find our handy map below.
Are there any local markets or specialty shops I should visit?
La Spezia has some fantastic markets selling food, antiques, and hand-crafted goods. There is a market somewhere in the city almost every day of the year!
The markets move around the city, but the common locations are Corso Cavour, Piazza Europa, the porticos at Via Chiodo, the public gardens, and Piazza Garibaldi. There is also a permanent undercover food market at Piazza Cavour.
Another interesting shopping experience is the Historic Shops of La Spezia. These shops have been trading in the city for over 50 years and are typically artisanal. Just look out for the special sign ‘Bottega Storica Della Spezia’ that identifies these shops.
Culture and History
Are there any museums or historical sites in or around La Spezia that I should visit?
For art lovers, I recommend the Museo Amedeo Lia on Via del Prione which has regular exhibitions with art loaned from around Italy.
If you enjoy naval history, then the maritime museum is the oldest in the world. It’s stuffed full of artifacts, but most of the information is in Italian. So, it’s great if you already have a strong interest in and understanding of maritime history.
The civic museums also include Castello di San Giorgio, which you can reach by walking the stairs or using the two elevators located off Via del Prione. Details in our handy map below.
What cultural events or festivals are happening during my port stop?
The city often has festivals and events that seem to pop up unannounced! Throughout the year there are markets, food festivals, music events, theatrical performances, and a variety of shows.
Unfortunately, there isn’t one central location where everything is advertised. Anything that we think is of interest to our readers gets posted to our What’s On in La Spezia page.
We also have blog posts that you might find useful:
Nature and Scenery
What are some nearby natural attractions or scenic spots I should visit?
If you prefer to get out of the city then you can walk the Parco della Mura. The path loops around the city following the old city walls. The views are pleasant, and the track is well-maintained. Parts of the trail are quite steep, so you should have a medium level of fitness.
You can do the walk in around 1.5 hours or do a shorter version that passes by the castle. You can begin the walk just behind the Church of Jesus Christ (the large circular cathedral), across from the cruise terminal.
Watch our YouTube video for more information.
Alternatively, there is a circular loop walk from the main piazza in Portovenere that shares magnificent coastal views. But take me seriously when I say that this is not a trail for the faint-hearted!
Are there any beaches close to La Spezia that are accessible for a day visit?
The best beaches that are close to La Spezia (for a day trip) are at Lerici, San Terenzo, and Portovenere. All these beaches are accessible by bus and ferry and can be reached within 30 minutes from La Spezia.
Another option is to take the train to Monterosso or Levanto where both have big, sandy, free and paid beaches.
Practicalities
I cover several useful topics in my post: A Practical Guide for Cruise Ship Passengers, including:
- Local customs and etiquette
- Staying safe
- Getting back to your cruise ship on time
What currency is used in Italy, and where can I exchange money?
The currency used in Italy is the EURO. There are money exchanges on Corso Cavour and around the train station.
But most people pay by card. If you’re unsure what a vendor accepts, you can always ask about payment methods before you decide to make a purchase.
Is English widely spoken in La Spezia?
Most tourist businesses will speak a little English. But La Spezia is culturally very Italian and English won’t be spoken as readily as in other touristy places like Rome or Florence for example.
If there is a complete communication failure, then a bit of hand waving and signals can be surprisingly effective. Italian’s use hand gestures to supplement their language, so this won’t be too weird!
Are there any specific areas of the city I should avoid?
The main tourist zone stretches from the cruise terminal down to the marina (Porto Mirabello) and north to the train station. These areas are safe and easy to navigate. There is also plenty of signage around the historic center to help you find your way around.
Outside of this zone, the city is still fairly safe, but these are the residential and industrial zones that are of little interest to tourists.
Where is the nearest hospital or pharmacy in case of emergencies?
Pharmacies are littered around the city. They’re easy to locate by their large flashing green cross signage.
For other emergencies, you can keep our downloadable information available on your phone. Just click the download arrow below.
Connectivity
Are there places with free Wi-Fi access in La Spezia?
La Spezia municipality provides free Wi-Fi access in the central city zone.
Can I buy a local SIM card or mobile data package?
You can buy a SIM at any of the mobile shops around town. There are several on Via del Prione. A one-month 100GB SIM package including activation is typically around 30 Euros. There are many reputable network providers including Wind Tre, Fastweb, Airalo, Iliad, Vodafone, and TIM.
Alternatively, you can purchase an eSIM online and activate everything remotely without the need to visit a store. The best thing about this is that your normal mobile number and eSIM number are active at the same time.
Just remember to turn off data and roaming on your normal SIM to avoid international charges!
Some additional tips:
- If your cruise is stopping in other EU countries, then you should look for a data package that includes the EU not just Italy!
- Whilst you’re still in the shop, check that the SIM is working and you’re connecting to the local network. Occasionally there are settings that need to be updated. The mobile vendor can often help you with this.
Climate and Clothing
What's the weather like in La Spezia?
The weather on the Ligurian Riviera changes with every season. Spring and autumn can be windy and rainy. Summer is hot and dry. Winter is usually cold.
Your clothing should match the season:
- In spring and autumn, I recommend trousers, long sleeves, a light jacket and an umbrella
- In summer the sun and heat are intense, so bring a hat, and light comfortable clothing.
- In winter you’ll appreciate a warm coat, a woolly hat, and gloves. An umbrella can also be useful!
Handy Map of La Spezia for Tourists
How to use our interactive Google My-Map
Click to view all points of interest and further information.
Share our map to your email, socials, and more for later use.
View full-size map and all points of interest information.
Wrap Up
In this post, I’ve shared the common issues and concerns we get asked by tourists stopping at La Spezia cruise port. Maybe you have other questions? Or want to know more about attractions in La Spezia. Feel free to leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you.
