Hi! We are Justin and Lu and we moved to Italy from Australia. Since moving here we’ve been privileged to discover La Spezia, Cinque Terre, and The Gulf of Poets. There’s so much to see and do, but sadly the average tourist is missing out on so much!
Our travel tips and transport guides are your key to unlocking what’s beyond Cinque Terre.
Many tourists stay in La Spezia to enjoy the advantages of the city and choose to take day trips to Cinque Terre. Accommodation is also cheaper, and travelling from La Spezia to Cinque Terre is incredibly easy. The best options are either by boat or by train.
Ferries to Cinque Terre leave from the dock near the harbor promenade and marina. There are usually only four or five boats per day between La Spezia and Cinque Terre.
Cinque Terre trains go from La Spezia Central station and stop at Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso al Mare, and Levanto. During summer, there are 3 or 4 trains every hour throughout the day from early until late.
Once you arrive in Cinque Terre, you'll want to know how to get around Cinque Terre to explore all five villages. The train is the most popular option, but boats and hiking trails also connect the towns, giving you plenty of choices for your adventure.
The train ride is quick and convenient, but queuing for a ticket can be a buzzkill and chew into your precious holiday time. If you plan on using the train from La Spezia to Cinque Terre, then it’s easy to buy your tickets online and avoid the crazy queues.
There are many options to travel to Cinque Terre, including driving. We have a full post covering this topic in detail, so you can plan your trip.
If you're planning to hop between multiple Cinque Terre villages or hike the famous Blue Trail, you'll probably want a Cinque Terre Pass. This handy card gives you unlimited train travel between La Spezia and Levanto (including all five villages) plus access to certain hiking trails.
You can buy the pass online through Trenitalia with no booking fees, which saves you from standing in the long queues at the station. Trust us, especially during summer, those lines can eat up an hour or more of your precious travel time!
Not sure if you need one? If you're only visiting one or two towns, single train tickets might work out cheaper. The pass makes sense when you're doing three or more train trips in a day or planning to hike the coastal trails. Find out whether you actually need a Cinque Terre Pass to figure out which option suits your itinerary best!
It is not immediately obvious which steps to take to actually purchase the card online….so you can either read our step-by-step guide explaining everything, or give it a go by clicking on the blue banner below and following the two steps on the banner.
La Spezia is within easy reach of a dozen or so cities around Liguria, Tuscany, and Emilia Romagna, with the added benefit of being situated along the Ligurian coast, close to countless seaside towns and villages, including Cinque Terre (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare).
One of the reasons that La Spezia makes such an excellent base, is because of the great transport connections. You can reach La Spezia easily from several major airports (Pisa, Genoa, Florence, Parma) by train or by car.
If you are driving, there are a few major freeways close to La Spezia, including the E80 running between Genoa and Livorno and the E33 running between Parma and La Spezia.
If you're planning to drive to Cinque Terre, check out our detailed guide on driving and parking in Cinque Terre for important tips and restrictions.
If you're looking for day trips from La Spezia, then you will be spoilt for choice. You can head west towards Genoa and visit many beautiful towns along the coast, including Portofino. Or go south along the Gulf of Poets to Italian holiday towns like Portovenere, Lerici, Tellaro, and San Terenzo. There are many transport options for visiting these local towns.
Other popular day trips from La Spezia include visiting Pisa or Florence. The best option for traveling from La Spezia to Pisa or Florence is by train.
Many visitors use La Spezia purely as a base for exploring Cinque Terre, but the city itself has much to offer. If you're wondering whether to spend time here, read our guide on discovering La Spezia and whether it's worth visiting to see what the city has in store beyond being a gateway to the famous villages.
La Spezia Cruise Terminal has become one of THE cruise stops in Italy. It’s not hard to imagine that cruise tourists find the lure of Cinque Terre, Florence, Portofino, and Tuscany an appealing place to stop.
For passengers arriving by cruise ship to La Spezia, you will dock at the La Spezia Cruise Pier. Depending on your cruise, there are usually free buses between the Cruise Pier and the Cruise Terminal. From here you can walk into town under the shade of the giant palm trees that line the harbor promenade. Alternatively, if you’re planning a quick trip to Cinque Terre, you can organize a taxi to drop you at the La Spezia Central train station for around 15 Euros.
Our detailed guides for Cruise Passengers are designed to get you organized your port stop at La Spezia.
If you have several days to explore the region, consider following a structured itinerary. Our guide on 3 days in Cinque Terre exploring the 5 villages and Levanto provides a day-by-day plan to make the most of your visit. You can also check out our list of the top 10 must-see attractions in Cinque Terre to ensure you don't miss the highlights.
La Spezia Central train station is well connected to the major cities and airports around such as Genoa, Pisa, Parma, and Florence.
This is also a good starting point for a day's adventure. As well as regular trains to Cinque Terre, there are trains that will take you to towns such as Sarzana, Levanto, Sestri Levante, Chiavari, Santa Margarita, and Portofino.
If you want to visit further afield then there are daily trains going all over Italy. Pisa and Florence are popular day trip destinations.
You can purchase train tickets online or at the train stations. In peak tourist season you can expect to queue for the tickets. Some trains may also be fully booked, so planning ahead and booking a ticket is advisable if you have to be at a destination at a specific time.
You can find train times, routes, and make bookings using Trenitalia or Omio.
You may also like our guide on how to travel by train in Italy for beginners.
The ATC bus service has routes to the local towns of interest. The buses are regular and convenient.
However, buying bus tickets and understanding the routes can be a challenge for tourists. You’ll find some key information on this page, and you can watch our YouTube video specifically on this topic. You can check routes and the bus timetable on the ATC website.
There are a few routes that are useful to visitors. The buses go out and back along the same (or very similar route depending on one-way roads).
Line L: Fossitermi – La Spezia (Via Chiodo) – Lerici
Line S: Fossitermi – La Spezia (Via Chiodo) – Lerici – Sarzana
Line SA: La Spezia FS (central train station) – Sarzana
Line 11: Porto Venere – La Spezia (Via Chiodo) – Sarciara
Line P: Porto Venere – La Spezia (Via Chiodo) – Sarzana – Casano
The main bus stops that tourists find useful are:
You can buy tickets from local vendors such as tobacconists (Tabacchi) and the newsstands in town or from the central bus office located near Piazza Chiodo.
You need to ask for the right type of ticket. There are three main types of tickets used by tourists in La Spezia:
60-minute ticket (biglietto 60 minuti): Valid for 1 hour on any bus within the La Spezia Municipality (the zone covering the city of La Spezia only). This ticket costs €1.50
Single trip ticket (biglietto corsa semplice): A type of ticket for a km distance or range. Each ticket has a code according to a set distance. This is the ticket you need to go to areas outside of the city. For example:
Other codes exist for other distances. The km range table is available online at the ATC site. If you’re unsure about the km range or which code to use, then buy a extraurbano 1 corso that costs 3.00 Euro.
All day ticket (biglietto Intra Rete): Valid for all routes, all day and the cost is €7.50
Ticket Booklets: The 60-minute and single-trip ticket types above can be bought as singles or as a booklet of 10 tickets (carnet). When you buy the booklet of 10 tickets, you pay the equivalent of 9 trips and get 1 extra included. You can share a booklet of tickets between a group of people if you’re traveling together.
Onboard the bus there is a ticket validation machine that will stamp a date and time on the ticket. You must validate the ticket when you start your journey!
Driving in Italy is not for the faint-hearted! We know lots of expats who have moved here and given up driving. Having said that, it’s also a convenient way to get around, so if you want to drive, then here are some things you should know:
Driving in Italy is something you should plan for to make your trip more enjoyable. We have a blog post about driving in Italy, where to park in La Spezia, using the EasyPark app, and how to avoid getting fines!
Outside of the major cities, taxis are less commonly used in Italy. I’ve only caught a taxi a handful of times from the train station and didn’t have any problems. But I’m told that if you have late-night or early-morning travel plans, then book ahead.
There is only one taxi company that I am aware of called Radio Taxi La Spezia. They operate 24/7 365 days a year (Tel: +39 0187523523).
Taxi fares seem a little more expensive than in other countries and travelling by taxi isn’t an economical option for multiple trips. But the taxis do have meters and standard rates are available on their website.
As a guide, here are some typical taxi rates:
Since La Spezia is by the sea, you have the option to travel around by water. The cheapest and most convenient is to use the public ferries (operated by Navigazione Golfo Dei Poeti) that go around the Gulf of La Spezia, Cinque Terre, Viareggio, and the UNESCO islands close to Porto Venere.
A private tour around the harbor and coastline is also quite special but can be expensive. Or look for a group tour like the popular La Spezia Hop Hop Boat Tour which includes sites of the area and a chance to cool off with a swim in one of the Gulf's hidden coves.
Most boats leave from the harbor front promenade (lungomare) or from Porto Mirabello marina.
Levanto has plenty to offer, including a long sandy beach, a cute historic town, shops, and restaurants serving traditional cuisine.
This itinerary covers a lot of ground. The one-day adventure starts with an (optional) hike from Monterosso, lunch in Levanto, and sightseeing around the historic town.
By mid-afternoon, you’ll have already experienced panoramic lookouts, cultural and historic landmarks, and charming old town streets.
In the late afternoon, there’s an option to enjoy time on the beach before walking the Via dell’Amore (Path of Love) – back in Riomaggiore.
And of course, you’ll have the opportunity to taste Ligurian cuisine at locally selected eateries and enjoy an aperitivo with a view out over the sea.
The itinerary is well-structured so that you know where you need to be and when. And (because everyone is a little different), we’ve included options so that you can customize it to make your own adventure.
Start Time: 9 am
Duration: Full day (12 hours of exploration with a little time for relaxation)
Activity Level: Good walking ability (optional hike requires good fitness)
Portovenere is not to be missed!
This one-day adventure starts with a ferry ride (from either Cinque Terre or La Spezia) and includes panoramic lookouts, historic landmarks, cultural sights, charming old town streets, beaches, and a picturesque harbor.
The day continues with sightseeing, historic landmarks and views, or an optional loop hike from Portovenere, and a stop for lunch with spectacular sea views.
In the afternoon, you can enjoy time on the beach before walking the Via dell’Amore (Path of Love) back in Riomaggiore.
And of course, you’ll have the opportunity to taste Ligurian cuisine at locally selected eateries and enjoy an aperitivo with a view out over the sea.
The itinerary is structured with timings, location information, transport guidance and cultural and historical notes. But we’ve given you options, so you can customize it to make your own adventure. We’ve also included notes on a trip over to Palmaria Island, or an optional, organized boat tour of the Gulf of of Poets.
We’ve crafted a three day self-guided tour of all five Cinque Terre towns (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso), plus Portovenere.
This multi-day adventure includes a little bit of everything (panoramic lookouts, historic landmarks, cultural and historical sights, charming old town streets, beaches, and picturesque harbors) and two optional hikes.
You will have the opportunity to taste Ligurian cuisine at locally selected eateries and enjoy an aperitivo with a view out over the sea.
The itinerary is carefully planned out so that you have enough time at each location to enjoy the best bits and get a feel for each town. Most of the activities are free, but (if you’re looking for something extra special) we’ve selected an optional winery tour, sunset cruise, or pesto-making class that can be slotted into the itinerary!
Start Time: Just after 9 am
Duration: 3 full days (3 x 12 hours of exploration with a little time for relaxation)
Activity Level: Good walking ability (optional hike requires good fitness)
This is a complete self-guided tour of all five Cinque Terre towns (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso) and Levanto.
This three-day adventure includes a little bit of everything (panoramic lookouts, historic landmarks, cultural and historical sights, charming old town streets, beaches, and picturesque harbors) plus two optional hikes.
You will have the opportunity to taste seafood and Ligurian cuisine at local spots, and we’ve included our favorite places to enjoy an aperitivo with a view.
The itinerary sets a nice pace with free activities, but you can choose an optional winery tour, sunset cruise, pesto-making class, or bike tour if you’re looking for something extra special.
Start Time: Just after 9 am
Duration: 3 full days (3 x 12 hours of exploration with a little time for relaxation)
Activity Level: Good walking ability (optional hike requires good fitness)
This is a complete self-guided adventure of all five Cinque Terre towns: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso.
This two-day adventure includes a little bit of everything (panoramic lookouts, historic landmarks, cultural and historical sights, charming old town streets, and picturesque harbors) plus an optional hike.
The itinerary includes options to enjoy local food and aperitivo with a view.
The itinerary sets a nice pace with free activities, but you can choose to slot in an optional winery tour, sunset cruise or pesto making class to make it extra special.
Start Time: Just after 9 am
Duration: 2 full days (2 x 12 hours of exploration with a little time for relaxation)
Activity Level: Good walking ability (optional hike requires good fitness)
This is a seamless self-guided adventure through four of Cinque Terre’s most breathtaking villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, and Monterosso.
This full-day journey maintains a good pace and covers four stunning villages. The itinerary gives you a little bit of everything, so you’ll discover panoramic lookouts, historic landmarks, charming old town streets, and picturesque harbors.
There’s also enough time to enjoy a traditional Ligurian lunch, a scenic aperitivo, and a delightful dinner with a view.
The itinerary is jam-packed, but you can also choose to pump the breaks and opt for a winery tour or sunset cruise.
Start Time: Just after 9 am
Duration: 12 hours of exploration with a little time for relaxation
Activity Level: Reasonable walking ability and good stamina are a must!
Make the most of your limited time in Cinque Terre with this specially designed itinerary tailored for cruise passengers and day trippers!
This is a seamless self-guided adventure through three of Cinque Terre’s most breathtaking villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, and Vernazza.
You can expect to experience stunning panoramic viewpoints, historic sites, and charming old town streets. With this easy-to-use plan, you’ll also have enough time to enjoy a traditional Ligurian lunch and an aperitivo with a view.
For an even easier day, you may wish to opt for a short winery tour or boat tour from Riomaggiore!
Start Time: Just before 9 am (adjustable to suit your cruise schedule)
Duration: 8 hours of exploration and time for relaxation
Activity Level: Suitable for anyone with reasonable walking ability
This 3 town itinerary covers the must-see sights in Riomaggiore, Vernazza, and Monterosso. Including a walking tour with panoramic lookouts, historic places of interest, and old town shops and restaurants.
A complete full day, that covers good ground but leaves sufficient time for a traditional lunch, aperitivo, and dinner with a view.
For a more immersive experience, we’ve included recommendations for an optional winery tour and sunset cruise.
Start Time: Just after 9 am
Duration: 12 hours of exploration and time for relaxation
Activity Level: Suitable for anyone with reasonable walking ability
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