Explora Journeys in La Spezia

La Spezia is a Ligurian port city at the head of the Gulf of Poets, best known as the mainland gateway to the Cinque Terre and Portovenere. The town itself is underrated, with a long pedestrian spine of shops, a naval museum, and a palm-lined harbor, but most travelers use the day to reach the coastal villages by train or ferry. Knowing which way to go, train or boat, is the whole decision.

What to do on a day in La Spezia

• Cinque Terre via the Cinque Terre Express train from La Spezia Centrale, roughly 30 minutes to the first villages, best limited to two or three done properly
• Portovenere by ferry from the marina, a quieter colorful harbor town with the seafront Church of San Pietro and a medieval old town
• Via del Prione, the pedestrian spine through the old town leading toward the station, with Corso Cavour for shops and cafes
• Piazza Verdi, with its mirrored arches and Liberty-style architecture
• The Naval Technical Museum and the Castello di San Giorgio above the town

Getting ashore

Ships berth at Molo Garibaldi and a free shuttle runs the few minutes to the cruise terminal. From there it is about a 25-minute flat walk through the old town via Via del Prione to La Spezia Centrale station, or about a 10-minute walk along the harbor promenade to the ferry kiosks. One day is enough for the villages if you pick two or three rather than chasing all five.

When to book the ship's excursion vs your own →

Weather and when to visit

• May to October (the cruise window). Mediterranean and generally warm. Typical highs near 19 C in May rising to about 26 C in July and August, with September still comfortable. Rain becomes more frequent from October onward as Atlantic systems move in, and ferry service to the villages can be cancelled in rough weather while the train keeps running.