Port info - La Spezia
Interesting facts and ideas for your own excursion in Northern Italy and to the Cinque Terre
La Spezia excursion offers and tickets
- Regular berth: Molo Garibaldi
- Port shuttle: free shuttle bus
- Taxis: usually available at the quay or shuttle stop
- Buses: well developed bus line network to the nearer surroundings
- Rental car*: Europcar, Viale San Bartolomeo, 515
- Rental car*: Hertz, Viale San Bartolomeo, 389
- Rental car*: Avis, Via Fratelli Rosselli, 74-76
- Post Office: Piazza Verdi, 12
- Tourist Information: Viale Italia 5
- Banks and ATMs: to be found sporadically in the centre of La Spezia
- Shuttle bus and Tourist Information
You are not allowed to leave the port on foot. A free shuttle bus is available for this purpose. The bus usually takes 5-10 minutes to the Cruise Terminal of La Spezia, near Piazza Europa in front of the Cattedrale di Cristo Rei. There is a tourist information office with a public WC. Local operators advertise their tours in the surrounding area (e.g. to Florence and Pisa). The Cinque Terre tickets are usually also offered. City maps are free of charge and the small, typical tourist trains also start here. The pedestrian zone in Via del Prione is about 750 meters away and can be reached in a comfortable 15 minutes. The landing stage of the excursion boats to the Cinque Terre is located at the back end of the boardwalk and can be reached on foot in a comfortable 15 minutes.
- Public Transport
La Spezia has an extensive bus line network which is operated by ATC. The lines extend into the surrounding area.
- Operator ATC
- Taxis
The official taxis in La Spezia have a white paint scheme with the inscription "Radio Taxi", and offer transfers to the surrounding sights especially for cruise guests. There are fixed prices for these services.
- Taxi rates
The somewhat unusual construction of the Cattedrale di Cristo Rei located at the Piazza Europa is already impressive. The modern and imposing round building was built from 1950-1970 and today functions as a bishop's see.
- Castello San Giorgio
The former fortress of Castello San Giorgio on Via XXVII Marzo now houses the archaeological collection of the Ubaldo Formentini Museum. The castle is located on a small hill and dates back to the early Middle Ages. Extensive restoration work was completed at the end of the 1990s. It is open daily, except Tuesdays, from 09:30-12:30. In summer it is open in the afternoon from 17:00-20:00, and from 14:00-17:00 in winter. Monday afternoons and Tuesday are closed all day. Regular admission costs 5.50 euros.
- Museo del Castello
- Cinque Terre
The national park around the five villages of the UNESCO World Heritage Cinque Terre is easily accessible by train or boat. Beautifully situated hiking trails connect the picturesque coastal villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. By train you can reach the respective destinations quite fast and also back to La Spezia. The boat connection is recommended in good weather. The landscape is very impressive from the water. But you need much more time and the places are limited. This can be problematic if there are several cruise ships in the port of La Spezia. The tickets for the excursion boats can be bought directly at the pier or in the cruise terminal. A day ticket costs 23 euros per person.
- Cinque Terre Card and Treno MS Card
To explore the area on land, you can purchase a Cinque Terre Card. This is available in two variations. The "Trekking Card" grants access to the park area, use of the buses in the villages of the Cinque Terre, free use of the toilets, which are otherwise subject to a fee, and reduced entrance fees to the public museums in La Spezia. The one-day ticket costs 7.50 euros for adults and 4.50 euros for children. With the "Treno MS Card" you can additionally and as often as you like use the IC/ICN/FB trains on the route La Spezia - Levanto in second class. The price for the one-day card is 16 Euro per person. Children pay 10 Euro. A family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children costs 42 Euro. The tickets are available at the Cruise Terminal and at the railway station. The Cinque Terre Card must also be validated at the green machines before the first trip.
- Centre and shopping
La Spezia has an extensive pedestrian area in the centre with many shops, mainly along Via del Prione and Corso Cavour. Many other shops are located in the large shopping centre Le Terrazze at Via Fontevivo 17. It is open daily from 09:00-23:00.
- La Spezia railway station
La Spezia Centrale station is a good 30 minutes walk from the bus stop, covering a distance of 1800 metres. The station can also be reached by the L, S and 3 bus lines. The bus stop is in front of the Cathedral di Cristo Rei. The destination stop at the station is located below, in front of a massive slope fortification.
- By train to Pisa
From La Spezia Centrale station, you can easily reach Pisa and the Cinque Terre by train. The ticket machines in the station buildings can usually be operated in German. Trains to Pisa and back leave almost every hour. The tickets bought at the station have to be validated before the journey at the green vending machines located on the platforms. A one-way ticket to Pisa currently costs 7.20 euros per adult. From Pisa S. Rossore station it is only about 10 minutes walk to the Leaning Tower. If you continue to Pisa Centrale station, you can stroll through the city, but you should allow about 30 minutes to reach the tower.
Excursion offers with "Back to ship on time Guarantee" from
- Cinque Terre Trains
From La Spezia Centrale station to the villages of the Cinque Terre, it takes only a few minutes by train. Depending on the connection and the train it takes 20-35 minutes to Monterosso. But one should plan a small time buffer, as the trains are almost always unpunctual and often so full that one prefers to wait for the next train.
- Seal Museum
A small but interesting Seal Museum shows about 1500 different seals from the Bronze Age to the Art Nouveau period. The premises of the Museo del Sigillo are located in Via Prione 236.
- Museum of Art
The art museum Museo Civico Amedeo Lia is located in the middle of the pedestrian area in Via del Prione 234 and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00-18:00. Closed on Mondays. Entrance fee for an adult is 7 euros. Children from 6 to 13 years pay half.
- Museo Civico Amedeo Lia
- Naval Museum
Most of the military city is now open to visitors. For example, the Naval Museum Museo Tecnico Navale is located on the premises at Via Giovanni Amendola 1 / Piazza Chiodo. It is open daily from 08:30-19:30 for interested visitors and offers great insights into the military history of La Spezia and the entire history of the Italian navy. The main entrance to the Naval Arsenal is an imposing gate.
Through the tour and excursion providers GetYourGuide*, Meine Landausflüge*, rent-a-guide* and Viator*, you can book various excursions, activities, tours, tickets and admission tickets, which are often offered at much lower prices than comparable excursions offered by the shipping companies. Thus, a large number of excursions can be realized on your own.
for, in and around La Spezia,
- Cruises and special offers
If you have not yet booked a cruise, but would like to get to know La Spezia personally and go on excursions on your own, you will find great offers from the major cruise operators in the German-speaking world. Aida*, Costa* and Tui Cruises* offer attractive routes with their modern cruise ships, together with other interesting destinations. Book your next dream holiday directly with your favourite shipping company at fair conditions.
- Opening hours of the post office: Monday to Friday from 08:30-13:30. Saturday from 08:30-12:00.
- Opening hours of the shops: Monday to Saturday from 09:00-13:00 and from 15:30-19:00
- Police: Tel. 113
- Emergency doctor: Tel. 118
- Fire department: Tel. 115
- Vaccination recommendation: Tropical Institute Italy
- Bus timetables: La Spezia bus timetables
- Bus timetables: La Spezia bus schedules
- Climate table: La Spezia Climate
- Port occupancy: Cruise ships in La Spezia
Shore excursions La Spezia ..... continue to the 2nd page