If you are a cruise ship passenger, you have a choice of several popular La Spezia Cruise Port excursions and activities.
La Spezia has its own tourist attractions but is also well situated for Cinque Terre, Pisa, Florence, and Lucca. It’s one of the reasons we decided to make La Spezia our home.
Taking advantage of the port's proximity to numerous attractions in the region, you can choose how to spend your day.
In this blog post, I have shared some ideas to help you plan your port stop at La Spezia. You will find ideas for shore excursions from La Spezia as well as information on how to navigate around to do a self-guided day out in the area.
Don’t have time to read the full article? You can jump ahead to the section that is of most interest:
A Little About Us
Hi! We are Justin and Lu and we moved to Italy from Australia. This is more than an adventure, it’s our new way of life.
La Spezia Guide is our online blog, with ideas to help you plan your holiday to Cinque Terre, La Spezia, and the surrounding area.
Buon Viaggio!
1. La Spezia to Cinque Terre
Many passengers visit the nearby Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising five picturesque villages (Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore) along the Ligurian coast.
One of the most memorable things you can do around Cinque Terre is to hike the ancient trails connecting the villages. This is possible to do even within the constraints of a 1-day port stop.
Important Advice: The terrain in the Cinque Terre National Park is more suited to experienced hikers. The stairways are often uneven, and the paths are rocky and steep. There are dozens of trails, and you can hike between some of the villages in under 2 hours.
If you don’t want to do a full hike, I’d always recommend visitors spend 20-30 minutes to walk just a little way on the trails heading out of the villages. Within 15 minutes you can get out of the busy villages, away from the other tourists and soak in the panorama and take a few photos.
A self-guided walking tour is an affordable way to see the villages, and you can set your own pace.
Visit Cinque Terre with local insights.
We include a visit to 3 towns, suggestions for lunch, aperitivo & dinner. Also includes wine and cultural tour options, self-guided sightseeing routes, cultural and historic notes, and where to take iconic photos.
How to Get to Cinque Terre
La Spezia is a small, compact city that is easy to navigate, and it has excellent transport connections to Cinque Terre.
From the La Spezia Cruise Port you can walk to the train station or ferry dock. If you are short on time, then you could catch a taxi.
Ferries from La Spezia to Cinque Terre run from April to September and depart 4-6 times per day.
Cinque Terre Express Trains depart La Spezia Centrale every 3-4 times per hour and arrive at Cinque Terre within 10 minutes!
Further Reading:
If you plan to use the train and want to go to more than 2 Cinque Terre villages then you can save time and money using a Cinque Terre Card.
Cinque Terre Tours and Experiences
- Cinque Terre tour with a guide (traveling between the villages by train or ferry). The best guides will share their local knowledge of the history and culture to help create an authentic experience.
- Cinque Terre boat tour from La Spezia marina. These are private boat tours or small group tours that will transport you along the dramatic and picturesque coastline to the UNESCO area. Stepping off one boat and onto another might seem a bit odd, but the Cinque Terre boat tours give you a rare opportunity to experience the villages away from the tourist crowds.
- Food and Wine Tasting. There are several wineries and small “agriturismo” businesses in the towns and hills of Cinque Terre. They offer tours and tastings of the local wines and produce
- Pasta or pesto-making classes. The area is famous for pesto and it’s everywhere! The classes will show you the authentic way to prepare home-made pesto.
2. La Spezia to Florence Tour
Many cruise ship passengers docking at La Spezia will take the opportunity to visit Florence.
Florence is considered the ‘Cradle of the Renaissance’ and for art and history lovers it’s an opportunity to indulge your passion. Highlights include the Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, and the Accademia Gallery, which houses Michelangelo's David.
The first time I saw the Duomo expand into my viewpoint, it was mesmerizing. A “wow” moment that has been subconsciously fused into my memory cells.
For an up-close and personal experience of the Duomo, you can also get tickets to climb to the top and take in a different vantage point of the city.
La Spezia to Florence is a 2½ hour journey by train or road, so a large part of the day will be taken up by travel.
However, this is still one of the most popular day trips from La Spezia, and is possible if you:
- Book a well-organized and reputable tour. Shore excursions from La Spezia to Florence usually have a guarantee to get you back in time for your cruise ‘all-aboard’ time.
- Or plan everything in advance and be sure to buy your entry tickets ahead of time (online) for the famous attractions (to avoid the queues).
How to Get to Florence from La Spezia
From the La Spezia Cruise Terminal, you can walk to the train station or catch a bus from Piazza Europa.
If you’re short on time, then you can also prebook a taxi to the train station.
Trains depart La Spezia Centrale throughout the day and the fast trains arrive in Florence within 2½ hours.
La Spezia to Florence Tours and Experiences – Ideas for a Day in Florence
- Florence Shore Excursion from La Spezia: There are several guided tours to Florence including private tours with bespoke itineraries or more casual hop-on-hop-off tours. In a one-day excursion, you can still squeeze in time for visiting Michelangelo’s David or a Duomo climb but only if you buy tickets in advance to skip the line. Tour operators will pick up and drop off at the La Spezia Cruise Terminal and many will offer a guarantee to get you back on your cruise on time!
- Guided Florence Walking Tour: We did one of these a few years ago and met our guide near the Duomo. It was an excellent way to see Florence, and our English-speaking guide really brought Florence to life. Our tour also included “skip the line” tickets to visit Michelangelo’s David!
- Florence & Pisa Combination Tour: These combination tours to Florence and Pisa are on a strict timeframe, and you’ll get to see several important architectural wonders, but there usually isn’t time to linger or visit inside any of the attractions. If you’re not staying in Italy before or after your cruise, then these tours are a highly efficient way to tick a couple of places off your list.
- Florence with Food & Wine Tour: These tours (from La Spezia) will take you through Tuscany to enjoy a lunch or wine tasting en route to Florence. They often include a 1-2 hour stop in Florence for you to enjoy the sights at your leisure, before heading back to La Spezia.
For foodies, this is sure to please. On our first trip to Florence back in 2019, we chose a cozy-looking local trattoria for our final meal. The service was excellent, and the flavors of the Florentine osso bucco were mouth-watering! We also did an excellent tour of an organic vineyard in the Chianti region.
We have many fond memories of Florence and (even though this is La Spezia Guide), I’ll make an effort to write a separate blog post and share some of our highlights when I get a chance.
3. La Spezia Day Trips: Pisa
Another popular excursion is to Pisa, home of the Piazza dei Miracoli, which includes the Leaning Tower, the Cathedral, the Baptistery, and the Camposanto Monumentale.
We’re often dropping our friends and family at Pisa Airport, and if they have a flight later in the day, then we’ll hang out in Piazza dei Miracoli.
Walking around Piazza dei Miracoli is popular amongst visitors, and you can marvel at the Romanesque architecture for well over an hour.
But if you really want to experience the attractions, then the walk up the 294 steps in the Leaning Tower is the order of the day. It’s both strenuous and exhilarating. Another strange experience is how the tilt makes you feel a little disorientated. Like when you first step onto a boat.
How to Get to Pisa from La Spezia
From the La Spezia Cruise Terminal, you can walk to the train station or catch a bus from Piazza Europa.
If you’re short on time, then you can also prebook a taxi to the train station or you can even arrange a taxi trip all the way to Pisa.
Trains depart La Spezia Centrale 2-3 times per hour and the fast trains arrive at Pisa Centrale within 45 minutes!
Pisa San Rossore is the closest station to Piazza Dei Miracoli where you will find the main attractions.
Savvy Travel Tips: We always book our train tickets online because the queues at the train stations can be long. Also, we like to choose our trains ourselves (choosing the high speed trains), rather than be given train tickets by the operator that may take longer and in often cases aren’t any cheaper!
Buy tickets through OMIO - Book easily & pay in your preferred currency!
Pisa Tours and Experiences – Ideas for a Day in Pisa
- La Spezia to Pisa Tour: There are several guided tours to Pisa (with a pickup by car or minibus from La Spezia Cruise Terminal). These tours usually include a guide who will escort you for the day and share historical information to add more insight and texture to your experience.
- Guided Pisa Walking Tour: The walking tours (in Pisa) usually explore the city's major attractions and visit sites that are off the beaten track.
- Pisan Food & Wine Tours: These tours will introduce you to traditional Tuscan and Pisan culinary foods. Most tours include some kind of tasting or lunch with an explanation of the food and wine.
- Pisa Self-Guided Adventures: Pisa is a small, flat city that has dedicated footpaths and cycle paths. Perfect for a day of self-guided adventure by bike or electric scooter. One popular ½ day excursion is a cycle ride along the Trammino cycle path from the city to the seaside town of Marina di Pisa.
- Pisa & Lucca Combination Tour: If you haven’t heard of Lucca, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the small medieval city that is well-preserved and offers food, shopping, and sightseeing for tourists. One thing we always recommend is to do a bike ride along the city walls.
These combination (Pisa and Lucca) day tours include enough time at each destination so you can do short walking tours, sightseeing and take photos.
4. La Spezia Day Trips: Porto Venere
The charming town of Portovenere is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes Cinque Terre. It has beaches, beautiful scenery, a picturesque harbor, and historic sites like the Church of St. Peter and a medieval old town.
This is one of our favorite places near La Spezia and one that we go to see with all our visitors. You can easily spend a day in Portovenere, especially if you’re here in summer and fancy a dip in the sea.
How to Get to Porto Venere from La Spezia
From the La Spezia Cruise Terminal, you can walk to Piazza Europa to catch a bus, or walk to the marina and go by ferry.
Ferries from La Spezia to Porto Venere run from April to September and depart 4-6 times per day.
Take Bus P or 11 from the bus stop on the north side of Piazza Europa. Buses depart every 30 minutes (during peak times) and take around 35 minutes to get to Porto Venere. You will need to buy a bus ticket from a Tabacchi or newsstand.
Porto Venere Tours and Experiences – Ideas for a Day in Porto Venere
- Porto Venere Boat Tour: In the warmer months, there are several boat tours leaving La Spezia every day to explore the Gulf of Poets including Porto Venere, Lerici, and the coves and grottos around the bay. Some include swimming stops, a lunch, and excursions in the towns.
- Swimming at Porto Venere: There are a few locations where you can swim and sunbathe. One of these is at Byron’s Grotto (near the Church of St. Peter). If you’re a confident swimmer then it’s an exciting spot for a swim and sunbathe!
- Porto Venere Hiking: Explore the hiking trails that can be accessed directly from Piazza Giacomo Bastreri in the old town of Porto Venere. These trails take a steep upward ascent along the coast for breathtaking views back towards Porto Venere and the Church of St. Peter.
Detailed Info: One of our favorite hiking paths is a 2-hour circular route using the SV5T and 519 that traces around the hills behind Porto Venere. It’s a trail for experienced hikers, but those who endure this path can find authentic and simple local food and spectacular views at the Rifugio Muzzerone.
Despite its beauty and significance, Portovenere remains somewhat off the beaten path and overlooked by many who flock to Cinque Terre.
For the more attentive traveler, the culture, history, atmosphere, and scenery will exceed your expectations.
5. La Spezia Port – Things To Do
For those staying in La Spezia, the city offers its own attractions, including the Technical Naval Museum, the Castle of San Giorgio, the old town, and the public gardens.
The waterfront promenade (“lungomare”), local markets, and countless restaurants and cafes also provide a pleasant way to spend time here.
La Spezia is a busy little city, but it never gets the same kind of crowds that you experience in famous cities. So, if you want to enjoy a more civil day, away from the mass of tourists, then you can find that here.
Further Reading:
La Spezia Tours and Experiences – Ideas for a Day in La Spezia
- La Spezia Boat Tours: If you fancy getting back out on the water, there are dozens of boat tours exploring the Gulf of La Spezia. These boat tours offer different types of experiences including onboard pesto classes and tours of the local mussel farms.
- Guided La Spezia Walking Tour: The walking tours usually explore the city's marina, and old town and take in the vista at the castle. The tour guides will offer insightful local tales and historical accounts to bring texture to your experience.
- Food & Wine Tours: Indulge in the local culinary specialties with a cooking class or market experience and learn to make pesto or pasta and dine on home-made foods.
6. La Spezia Day Trips: Around and About La Spezia
For those of you who want something completely different, then let me inspire you with a few lesser-known shore excursions:
Visit Forte dei Marmi
Visit the opulent and elegant town where you can experience classic luxury. This beachside town is a relaxing day out where you can experience a taste of how the other half lives!
For photographers, the town abounds with opportunities to capture its timeless charm. For beachgoers, you have an entire stretch of “Bagnos” for a touch of beach luxury. And for shoppers, you might need to glue your wallet shut to prevent splurging at the numerous designer boutiques.
You can visit Forte dei Marmi by train, leaving from La Spezia Centrale. It takes around 40 minutes, and there are dozens of regional trains making this journey every day.
Tour of the Carrara Marble Mines
These mines are visible from La Spezia and extend for miles through the Apuan Alps. The tours usually include a 4-wheel driving tour of the mountain or walking tour inside of the caves.
Most tours will collect guests from La Spezia and provide a road transfer to and from the mines, but some will require you to get a train from La Spezia Centrale to Carrara- Aveza station.
Detailed Info: The Carrara mines have been supplying marble for centuries and it was marble from these quarries that was used by Michelangelo to form David. A huge marble slab was extracted in 1464, but David was only completed some years later in 1504.
Vespa Experience
If you think of a classic Italian experience, this couldn’t be more authentic!
Vespas can be rented with or without a tour guide so you can explore the roads around La Spezia and Cinque Terre. The winding stretch of road that connects the villages is only 20 minutes from the La Spezia Cruise Terminal and opens out onto spectacular views along the coast.
There are multiple places to pull over along the road for views and photos and you can also stop at the Cinque Terre villages if you want to do some sightseeing.
Wrap Up
For cruise ship passengers disembarking at La Spezia, there are several popular and noteworthy activities and day excursions to choose from.
In this blog post, I’ve shared my thoughts and ideas for La Spezia day trips and shore excursions to experience the area.
La Spezia is an excellent starting point for visiting Cinque Terre, Florence, Pisa, Lucca, and Porto Venere as well as lesser-known destinations such as the Carrara mines and Forte dei Marmi.
Or stay in La Spezia for the day and explore this lively naval town and the gulf area.
FAQs
What is the distance from La Spezia to Pisa?
The distance between La Spezia and Pisa is approximately 76 km (46 miles) by road.
How long does it take to get from La Spezia to Pisa?
To drive between La Spezia and Pisa using the quickest route along the E80 takes around 1 hour.
To go by train between La Spezia and Pisa takes between 40 minutes and 1 hour 20 minutes depending on the train type and route.
How far is La Spezia train station from the cruise port?
If you arrive by cruise ship you will be transferred by free shuttle bus from the cruise port to the cruise terminal. This is a short ride of only 1.2 km (0.8 miles).
The distance between the cruise terminal and La Spezia Centrale train station is 2 km (1.2 miles) using the shortest pedestrian route.
Is La Spezia hilly?
The main tourist areas between the train station, the marina and cruise terminal are all flat and mostly pedestrianized. So, it is very easy for tourists to walk around.
However, parts of the city (to the west, north, and east of the train station) and around Castello di San Giorgio are very hilly and steep. Locals use the historic stairways to navigate the city and there are also two elevators taking tourists to Castello di San Giorgio.
