Why Visit Portovenere
The captivating town of Portovenere is steeped in history since Roman times. Its picturesque, closely-knit houses are presided over by Doria Castle, a historical fortress left over from medieval times. This authentic Ligurian town is where history meets stunning scenery in a truly unforgettable way.
Some highlights of Portovenere include:
- Free beach, swimming coves (and paid bagnos)
- Historic center with medieval architecture and historical remnants
- Picturesque harbor and marina
- Famous Church of Saint Peter (Chiesa di San Pietro)
- Respectable choice of great local restaurants
- Nearby islands of Palmaria, Tino, and Tinetto
- Surrounded by unique natural beauty that can be explored on foot or by bike
You may also be interested in some of our other Portovenere-related content:
One Day in Portovenere Itinerary: A Walking Tour
Where is Portovenere
Portovenere is close to La Spezia on the Gulf of Poets. It’s also part of the Cinque Terre UNESCO World Heritage site and the Portovenere Regional Natural Park.
This entire area is located in what is commonly known as the Ligurian Riviera.
How to Get to Portovenere From La Spezia
Porto Venere is located on the far eastern side of the Ligurian Riviera, just a few kilometers from La Spezia. It’s on the western side of the Gulf of Poets and it is easily accessible from La Spezia.
For a quick run down, watch our YouTube video explaining how to get to Portovenere.
By Car: Taking the SP530 from La Spezia to Porto Venere; you will arrive to Porto Venere in under 25 minutes.
Parking can be difficult in Porto Venere. See the section below for more information.
An alternative is a taxi (Radio Taxi – La Spezia) costing around 30 euros.
By Bus: From various places in La Spezia, including Viale Giuseppe Garibaldi, Via Chiodo (at the Public Gardens), Piazza Europa, or Piazza Verdi, you can catch bus line 11 or P. Tickets (extraurbano 1 corso) can be bought from the Tabacchi shops or Newsstands in La Spezia and are valid for a single trip.
You can find more bus information on our website.
By Ferry: Both La Spezia and Porto Venere have a harbor for the local ferries to dock. Ferries between the two places operate around 10 times per day during summer.
You can catch either ferry Linea 01 or Linea 02, and it’s an easy 45-minute trip with beautiful views of the coast.
Where to Park in Porto Venere
Most Convenient for All Attractions
Like with many old towns in Italy, parking in Porto Venere can be like spotting a unicorn. But we’ve been enough times to know that if we’re patient (and do some manifestation) then we often get lucky.
We ALWAYS find parking along the SP530 or Via Olivo (P1 and P2). This on-street parking is closest to the town and the marina/beach area, but it’s expensive (2.50 to 3 Euros per hour).
There are also some parking spaces (P3) along SP530; some of which are further away from the town or beach and a little cheaper (2 Euros per hour).
Image Credit: Consorzio Turistico Portovenere
Easiest & Cheapest Parking
As you approach Portovenere on the SP530, before heading down the hill into town, there is a car park (Parcheggio il Golfo) for cars, campervans, and tourist coaches.
Parking in Il Golfo costs 2 Euros per hour for cars. Other vehicles (campervans and buses) have a different rate.
Il Golfo parking is a 20-minute walk to Portovenere and is serviced by a shuttle bus (Girobus del Cavo).
Unfortunately, the cost of parking at Il Golfo doesn’t include the shuttle bus. Return tickets for the shuttle bus cost 2 Euros per person. If there are more than 2 of you in a car, it starts to make this ‘cheaper’ parking option a little expensive!
Il Golfo parking also has shaded spots and access to water and a wastewater drain, making it a great option for campervans.
Other Options for Parking
If you really don’t fancy your chances with parking in Porto Venere, then you can park in La Spezia, Le Grazie, or Fezzano.
From La Spezia, you can get either a bus (P/11) or a ferry to Porto Venere, and from Le Grazie or Fezzano, you can get the P/11 bus.
Free Parking in Porto Venere
If you’re staying in Porto Venere, then you may get free parking with your accommodation. Otherwise, there is NO FREE PARKING in Porto Venere between mid-March and mid-October.
During mid-October to mid-March, you can find free parking along SP530 in the spots marked as P3.
How to Get to Cinque Terre From Porto Venere
Since Portovenere isn’t on a train line, the best way to get to Cinque Terre from Porto Venere is via boat. The local ferry runs between La Spezia and Cinque Terre and stops at Porto Venere en route.
The ferries run 4-6 times per day during late spring to early autumn and stop operating during the off-season months.
You can buy tickets at the Porto Venere ferry dock kiosk (on the harbor below the Porto Venere Grand Hotel).
Driving to Cinque Terre is also possible, but parking spots are limited. Another alternative is to get a taxi (Taxi Portovenere). It takes around 35 minutes to reach Riomaggiore and should cost around 40 Euros.
How to Get to Portovenere From Cinque Terre
The best way to get from Cinque Terre to Portovenere is to use the local ferry that connects Cinque Terre and La Spezia. As described above, there are several stops along the route including the stop at Porto Venere.
You can buy ferry tickets at each of the Cinque Terre docks (Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola, and Riomaggiore).
Otherwise, you can catch a train from Cinque Terre to La Spezia (Cinque Terre Express train) and then walk to the bus stop on the corner of Viale Giuseppe Garibaldi and Corso Cavour to catch bus line 11 or P to Portovenere. Go to our La Spezia and Cinque Terre transport page to learn about bus travel and tickets.
Wrap Up
Portovenere is a fabulous tourist experience and isn’t as busy as Cinque Terre. It’s location makes it slightly harder to get to, but it’s well worth the extra effort.
FAQ
How to get around Portovenere?
The best way to get around Porto Venere is on foot. The old town, San Pietro Church, Doria Castle, and the port area can be covered in under an hour if you are in a rush. Or you can easily spend half a day browsing the shops, sampling the foods, taking in the sights, and soaking up the atmosphere.
A walk to the beach will take you around 20 minutes from the old town. Or you can catch the P/11 bus. Tickets for the bus are sold in the old town at the Pro Loco (near the entrance/archway to the old town).
Where do you catch the boat to Portovenere?
From La Spezia, you can catch all the local ferries from the dock near Thaon di Revel bridge at the harbor front.
Tickets for the ferries can be bought at the kiosk before boarding the boat.
A ferry timetable is available online.
