How to Visit La Spezia, Italy in a Short Time

Where is La Spezia?

La Spezia is the capital city of the province of La Spezia and the second biggest city of Liguria after Genoa. It’s located in the northwest of Italy, between the cities of Genoa and Pisa.

La Spezia is a coastal city, on the Ligurian Sea. It’s one of the main harbors of Italy and a major Italian Navy base. It’s also a big railway station, with trains to Pisa, Manarola, or Riomaggiore for example.

If you want to visit the Cinque Terre National Park without paying too much for your hotel, La Spezia is the best place to stay only a few minutes away by train.

Is La Spezia Worth Visiting?

La Spezia is a hidden gem (still) safe from mass tourism compared to the rest of the area, which is certainly worth visiting! But for me, no need to spend more than a day there.

Just a few kilometers from Tuscany, La Spezia is first and foremost a stopover for travelers on their way to Cinque Terre, Portovenere, or the Gulf of Poets. But it’s a lovely place to visit, with colorful buildings typical of the region, pretty squares, a picturesque harbor, and a handful of monuments and churches.

If you have a stopover in La Spezia, don’t just stay at the station and take a stroll around, because it’s well worth it, even if you only have an hour.

If, on the other hand, you’re not stopping off there and have only a weekend or less, then skip it as it’s not the most striking city to see in this region full of incredible sites.

Exploring La Spezia in 1 Hour

Right when we arrived in La Spezia, we had beautiful light. Without even stepping out of the train station, I was already loving the city.

More than only the light, the very little of the city that we could see from the platform looked amazing. Old buildings, with warm colors. I couldn’t wait to actually explore the city!

We got out of the train station, and honestly we had no idea where to go. We headed to what seemed to be the center of the city, the area with the most buildings. Outside of the station, all of the buildings are very colorful.

As we went deeper into the city, the warm sunlight fell on the buildings, giving them a warm glow.

Because it was early in the morning, there was no one in the streets (or almost no one). This is also why I’m such a big fan of sunrises: you get locations all to yourself!

After a while, a few people started to come out in the streets. A mix of drunks coming home from parties, homeless people, people walking their dogs, runners, and elderly people going for a morning stroll. From the very limited time I’ve been in the city, I loved the vibe. It felt very laid back, I wonder what it looks like during the day.

All around the city, there are a lot of hills. You can see them directly from the center of the city; sometimes we would walk past a street, I would look down the street on the side, and I would see a big hill at the end of the street. It seems that part of the village is located on the hills.

What I enjoyed most from the time I spent walking around La Spezia was looking at the beautiful architecture of the buildings. Some of them have absolutely amazing details, and overall it’s exactly how you picture a typical European old town.

So there you have it, 1 hour to explore the pretty coastal town of La Spezia, Italy.

I hope these photos inspire you to explore it yourself. Don’t just stay inside the train station during your layover in La Spezia, on your way to Pisa or the Cinque Terre, but go out and explore!

If you have more time, keep reading to discover the best things to do and see in La Spezia.

Best Things to Do in La Spezia

We didn’t have the time to discover more than the city center, but I’ve gathered here the best sights and attractions to discover in La Spezia, for those who are lucky to have more time:

1. Wander around Porto Mirabello: This is the city’s old port, a lively area with many bars, restaurants, and shops. It’s a very pleasant place to stroll around, especially at the end of the day.
2. Have a drink on Piazza Cavour: It’s the heart of the town, bustling with activity and spacious outdoor seating areas where you can unwind and have a cup of coffee.
3. Step into the Santa Maria Assunta Basilica: Situated in the city center, this basilica captivates with its beautiful architecture, adorned frescoes, adorned interior, and stunning rose window.
4. Climb to Castello di San Giorgio: The castle sits high above La Spezia, offering views of the entire coastline. You can see the whole city, the port, and the Golfo dei Poeti from here. Inside the castle, there’s an archaeological museum.
5. Technical Naval Museum of Spezia: If you’re interested in maritime history, don’t miss this museum. It houses a wide collection of maritime artifacts, ship models, and interactive exhibits on the region’s maritime history.

How to Get to La Spezia

To get to La Spezia, the best choice is to fly to either Genoa, Florence, or Pisa.

Which city to fly to depends on where you can get the cheapest flight! Personally, I found a very cheap flight to Pisa (30€ round trip from Paris) so I flew to Pisa.

Once you’re in Italy, simply take the train to reach the village. The train system in Italy is very developed, and tickets are cheap!

A one-way train ticket from Pisa to La Spezia costs between 8€ and 10€ in 2024. Of course, like everywhere else, the earlier you book the cheaper! The whole journey takes about 45 minutes to 1,15 hours depending on the train you choose.

Going to Cinque Terre from Florence will take you through La Spezia, the perfect opportunity to explore the city before exploring the coastal villages.

Book your train tickets here: Trenitalia

Tips for Visiting La Spezia

To help you make the most out of your trip, you can find below a few tips:

• Don’t stay at the train station! Go visit, even if you have only 1 hour
• If you have time, visit the churches in the village, they are beautiful inside, especially the Chiesa di Nostra Signora della Neve and the Basilica Santa Maria Assunta.
• There is more to see than just the city center; La Spezia has a gorgeous waterfront where you can board a ship for a Cinque Terre boat tour

Where to Stay in La Spezia

La Spezia is really close to the villages of the Cinque Terre; it’s only a 10-minute train ride. For this reason, it’s a smart place to stay during your trip to Cinque Terre.

It won’t be as convenient as staying directly in one of the 5 villages, but it will be much cheaper!

Here are the best accommodations in La Spezia according to your travel style:

✅ Best Hotel – Affittacamere I Gatti delle 5 Terre: Located on La Spezia’s main street, you can’t be more central! The hotel is elegant and convenient with good facilities and a delicious breakfast served daily.

💰 Budget Pick – Lia Rooms 3: This guesthouse located near the train station provides simple but comfy rooms. Everything here is basic but you won’t lack anything. And the price is unbeatable!

⭐️ Luxury Pick – La Spezia by The First: These modern apartments located in the old town are huge and well-equipped with high-quality furniture and big comfy beds all in a stylish decor. For a luxurious stay, look no further!

Prefer staying in the Cinque Terre? Check this full guide of the best hotels in the Cinque Terre (budget options are available!).

🔍 Read more:

If you’re in La Spezia, chances are that it’s only a layover and that you have already planned the rest of your trip.

If you’re still in the planning phase of your trip, you’ll find below things to see around:

• Amalfi or Cinque Terre? Choose the Right Destination!
• Complete Guide to Visit the Cinque Terre
• Best Time to Visit Cinque Terre
• Best Village to Stay in Cinque Terre

I hope you enjoy your time in La Spezia! If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below, I always reply.