In short
In La Spezia your ship usually berths a few minutes from the centre. From there, a train reaches the Cinque Terre villages in 10–25 minutes, and a bus or boat takes you to Portovenere. Pisa is about an hour by train; Florence is two hours or more each way. Italy is in the EU and Schengen.
The port at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where the ship berths | Usually at the Molo Garibaldi cruise pier, next to the centre. A port shuttle runs from the ship to the port exit in a few minutes. When several ships are in, a second one may use another quay, and occasionally a ship anchors and runs tenders — it depends on the day. |
| To the centre and station | About 10 minutes on foot to the waterfront and the centre. La Spezia Centrale station is 20–25 minutes on foot along flat streets, or a few minutes by taxi. |
| Typical call | Usually 8–10 hours, morning to evening. The exact times are in the ship’s daily programme. |
| Money | Euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including the ticket machines at the station. |
| Language | Italian. In the tourist spots you can usually get by in English. |
| Documents | Italy is in the EU and Schengen. EU citizens just need a passport or national ID card; for other passports Schengen rules apply (what to check). |
| Mobile data | Italy is in the EU’s roam-like-at-home zone: with a European SIM your plan usually works as it does at home. |
| All aboard | Usually 30–60 minutes before departure. Go by the time in the daily programme and on your cruise card. |
What to fit in
Almost every plan starts at the station or the waterfront. Trains to the Cinque Terre leave from La Spezia Centrale, boats from the piers along the Passeggiata Morin, and the bus to Portovenere from the centre.
One or two Cinque Terre villages
The train to Riomaggiore takes about 10 minutes, and Manarola is one stop further. Two villages, a coffee looking out to sea, and back with a good margin. These two are the closest, which is also why they are the busiest.
Train out, boat back
In the morning, take the train to Monterosso at the far end of the Cinque Terre, about 20–25 minutes. Vernazza after lunch, then back by boat if they are running that day: the villages look their best from the sea. Boats skip Corniglia, which sits high on a cliff.
Portovenere and Palmaria
A stone village on the headland at the mouth of the gulf: the church of San Pietro above the sea, the Doria castle and narrow lanes. About 30–40 minutes by bus from the centre, or roughly half an hour by boat from the waterfront. Short crossings run from here to the island of Palmaria.
La Spezia itself
The Passeggiata Morin and the public gardens along the water, the pedestrian Via del Prione with its shops, the Naval Technical Museum by the arsenal gate and the Castello San Giorgio above the centre. All 10–20 minutes on foot from the port, no trains needed.
The Cinque Terre: train, card and boats
Five cliffside villages — Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso — are listed by UNESCO together with Portovenere and the islands. The railway links them; there are hardly any roads for cars.
- The Cinque Terre Express. Regional trains run from La Spezia Centrale to Levanto and stop at all five villages. In summer there are several an hour, fewer out of season. Riomaggiore is about 10 minutes away, Monterosso about 20–25.
- The Cinque Terre Card. The one-day card (train version) covers travel between La Spezia and Levanto and entry to the national park’s paid trails. It is sold at station ticket offices and info points and online; in high season the ticket queues can be long, so buy it in advance. Without the card you need an ordinary ticket for each journey.
- The Via dell’Amore. The famous path between Riomaggiore and Manarola has reopened, but entry is by timed reservation and one way only. The other trails involve climbs over rough stone, so wear proper shoes.
- Boats. From spring to autumn, scheduled boats leave La Spezia’s waterfront for Portovenere and along the Cinque Terre. They run less often than the trains and are cancelled in rough seas — then the train is your fallback.
- Corniglia is different. The village sits on a cliff high above its station: you either climb a stairway of almost 400 steps or take a small shuttle bus.
Pisa and Florence: an honest look at the journey
Itineraries often label La Spezia as the stop “for Florence and Pisa”. In practice neither is close.
- Pisa. About an hour or a little more by regional train, plus 20–25 minutes on foot from the station to the Piazza dei Miracoli and the Leaning Tower. With a call of eight hours or more it is doable, as long as you keep moving.
- Florence. About two and a half hours each way by regional train, often with a change in Pisa; the fast trains take around 1 hour 45 minutes, but there are few of them. That is five hours of travel and three to four hours in the city at best. Go on your own only on a long call with a big margin; a ship’s excursion is the calmer option.
On your own or on a ship’s excursion
The Cinque Terre, Portovenere and La Spezia itself all work well on your own: trains are frequent, boats run to a timetable and it is hard to get lost. The key is to head back in good time and never count on the last train.
A ship’s excursion makes more sense for Florence and Pisa (and Lucca): the journey is long, and the ship will usually wait for its own excursions if they run late — it will not wait for independent passengers. An excursion also helps if you would rather skip ticket queues and packed summer trains, as groups travel by coach or a private boat.
How to be back on board in time
- Summer trains are packed. In the middle of the day the platforms in Riomaggiore and Monterosso fill up and you may not fit on the first train. Add an extra half hour for the way back.
- Boats depend on the sea. If you plan to return by water, keep the train in mind: in a swell, sailings are cancelled at short notice.
- The station is not by the pier. From La Spezia Centrale to the port is 20–25 minutes on foot, plus the shuttle to the ship. Be back at La Spezia station at least an hour and a half before all-aboard time.
- Pisa and Florence with a double margin. Aim to be back in La Spezia at least two hours before all-aboard: train delays in Italy are not unusual.
- Take with you. Your cruise card, the document your cruise line asked for, comfortable shoes, water and a phone with the ship’s emergency number.
Where cruises calling here start
La Spezia is a regular call on Western Mediterranean itineraries, between Genoa, Marseille, Barcelona and the ports near Rome. If you would like a cruise that calls here, look at these departure ports:
- Cruises from Genoa — the nearest big port, where many week-long Mediterranean itineraries begin.
- Cruises from Civitavecchia — Rome’s port, one night’s sailing from La Spezia.
- Cruises from Barcelona — Western Mediterranean itineraries taking in Italy and France.
- Mediterranean cruises — seasons and routes in full.
Common questions
Does my ship dock in La Spezia or use tenders?
Usually it docks. The Molo Garibaldi cruise pier is next to the centre, and a port shuttle runs from the ship to the port exit. When several ships are in, a second one may use another quay, and occasionally a ship anchors and runs tenders. The ship will tell you the day before which applies to your call.
How do I get from the ship to the Cinque Terre?
Walk or take a taxi to La Spezia Centrale station — 20 to 25 minutes on foot — and board a regional train towards Levanto. Riomaggiore is about 10 minutes away, Monterosso about 20 to 25. From spring to autumn boats also leave from the waterfront, but less often and only in good weather.
Do I need the Cinque Terre Card?
Not necessarily, but it is handy if you plan several train rides in a day and want to walk the park’s paid trails: the one-day train card covers both. If you are visiting one or two villages, ordinary tickets are enough. In high season the ticket queues are long, so buy in advance.
Can I get to Florence on my own?
Only on a long call with a good margin. The train takes about two and a half hours each way, often with a change in Pisa; the fast trains take around 1 hour 45 minutes, but there are few of them. That leaves three to four hours in the city. For Florence, a ship’s excursion is the more sensible choice.
How do I get to Portovenere?
By bus from the centre of La Spezia, about 30 to 40 minutes along the gulf, or by boat from the waterfront, roughly half an hour, if boats are running that day. Allow two to three hours for Portovenere itself, with the church of San Pietro and the castle.
Do I need documents to go ashore in La Spezia?
Italy is in the EU and Schengen. EU citizens just need a passport or national ID card; for other passports Schengen rules apply. Take ashore your cruise card and whichever document your cruise line asks for.
How the club fits in
Cruises calling at La Spezia that are available in the club work on the same terms as any other route. You choose one way to pay per booking: the member price (INsider Pricing), roughly 17% below the listed price, or your Reward Points, which can cover up to half of the cruise price. They do not add up. To pay up to 100% with points, you need to have accumulated enough points and book 270 days or more before departure.
Not every cruise line can be booked through the club: check the specific sailing in the club’s search, or ask us and we will tell you which itineraries calling at La Spezia are available in the month you have in mind.
How booking with points works →
Practical port information is summarised from public sources as of October 2026: berths, call times, train and boat timetables, entry rules and visiting arrangements may change. Before you travel, check the ship’s daily programme and the requirements for your passport. Percentages describe the club’s rules and are indicative. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.