La SpeziaCruise Port Guide
A shuttle takes you from the ship to the terminal, and the first Cinque Terre village is about 10 minutes from town by train. Timed plans, real prices on independent tours, and what's within a walk.
Welcome to La Spezia
Pro Picks
Cinque Terre day · 8 hrsCinque Terre by train, small group, with limoncino
Your guide meets you at the cruise terminal and walks you about 20 minutes to the station, then takes the train between the Cinque Terre villages with free time in each and a taste of limoncino (lemon liqueur). The Cinque Terre Card for the trains is included; bring comfortable shoes and swimwear.
From $80.79/ person
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Boat day · 7.5 hrsCinque Terre day on a wooden boat
A traditional Ligurian wooden boat sails from Porto Mirabello, about half a mile from the terminal, along the Cinque Terre coast with swim stops and local food on board. It leaves at 10:00 and runs 7.5 hours, so it suits a long port day; pickup is included.
From $128.87/ person
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Cooking class · 2–3 hrsPasta and tiramisu class in a local home
A home cook from the Cesarine network teaches a small group two fresh pastas and tiramisu, then you sit down to eat what you made. Classes usually start at 10:00 or 17:00, and the address comes after booking.
From $100/ person
Book Now →Your time ashore
Count from leaving the ship to being back aboard.
La Spezia in 3 hours
Boat tour
Portovenere and the three islands by speedboat
A speedboat runs along the Gulf of Poets past the fishing hamlets to Portovenere and around the Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto islands. It leaves from the HopHop Boat platform on Passeggiata Morin, a few minutes from the terminal; there's no restroom on board.
From$77.55
Time required1.5 - 2.5 hours
Cooking class
Pesto and pasta class with an aperitivo
Make pesto the traditional way with a mortar and pestle and roll fresh pasta in a home in La Spezia, then sit down to eat it. The host confirms which of two addresses in town to go to.
From$123.59
Time required2.5 hours
La Spezia in 5 hours
Boat tour
Portovenere lunch cruise with local food
A skipper takes up to 12 people around the islands to Portovenere, with lunch, wine and snorkel gear on board. It meets by the boat fuel station in La Spezia's harbour; check the pin on the listing.
From$95.38
Time required3 - 4 hours
Cooking class
Pasta and tiramisu class in a local home
Learn two fresh pastas and tiramisu from a home cook, then eat them. Classes usually start at 10:00 or 17:00; allow time to get to the host's address, sent after booking.
From$100
Time required2 - 3 hours
La Spezia in 8 hours
Private Cinque Terre tour
Private Cinque Terre tour from the terminal
A private guide meets you in front of the white cruise terminal building at 09:30 and takes you through the villages by train. The train ticket isn't included, and the price depends on your group's size.
Time required7 hours
Catamaran cruise
Gulf of Poets catamaran day with lunch
Six hours on a sailing catamaran around the Gulf of Poets, with swim stops in sheltered coves and a packed lunch. Bring your ticket on your phone or on paper.
From$112.36
Time required6 hours
Pisa and Lucca coach trip
Pisa and Lucca by coach from the terminal
A coach with a tour leader takes you to Pisa's Leaning Tower and the walled town of Lucca, with free time in each and a guaranteed return to the ship. Staff in green meet you just outside the terminal.
From$49.55
Time required8 hours
Within a stroll of the boat
This walk starts at the La Spezia cruise terminal on Largo Michele Fiorillo, where the free shuttle from the ship drops you. There's no beach within a walk of the La Spezia cruise port: the nearest are at Portovenere and Lerici, by bus or ferry.
Promenade · 0.2 mi · ~6 min
Passeggiata Morin
The harbour promenade beside the terminal, where the islands boat trip boards.
Plaza · 0.2 mi · ~5 min
Piazza Verdi
A big square at the edge of the centre and the easy way into the old town.
Park · 0.3 mi · ~9 min
Giardini Pubblici
The town's public gardens, just behind the waterfront promenade.
Ferry · 0.3 mi · ~9 min
Navigazione Golfo dei Poeti ferry jetty
Where the seasonal ferries leave for Portovenere, Lerici and the Cinque Terre villages, roughly April to September.
Shopping · 0.5 mi · ~12 min
Via del Prione
The pedestrian old-town street lined with shops, one of the town's oldest.
Museum · 0.6 mi · ~13 min
Museo Tecnico Navale
The Italian Navy's naval museum, at the far end of the gardens from the terminal.
Handy Helpers
Small things that make a port day easier.
Private Driver, Waiting at the Dock
A pre-booked driver meets you at the dock for a fixed price. No haggling, no waiting for a taxi to fill.
Bike rental
Cover more ground than on foot. Book ahead and return it well before all-aboard.
Travel eSIM
Install it on ship WiFi and your maps and ride apps work the moment you land in La Spezia.
Quick answers
Facts last checked .
How we checked these answers
Every answer is built from facts we checked against the sources below and cross-checked with recent port guides. Where sources disagreed, the answer says so instead of guessing a number.
- MSC Cruises: La Spezia (Cinque Terre) port page
- Celebrity Cruises: La Spezia port guide
- Norwegian Cruise Line: cruises to La Spezia
- Royal Caribbean: Florence / Pisa (La Spezia) shore excursions
- Marina Militare: museums
- Trenitalia: Cinque Terre Treno MS Card
- European Commission: the euro as legal tender
- Your Europe (European Union): travel documents for non-EU nationals
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: travel documents
- US State Department: Italy travel advisory
- European Commission: summer-time arrangements (Directive 2000/84/EC)
Getting ashore
Where does the cruise ship dock in La Spezia?
Cruise ships in La Spezia dock at the cruise terminal on Molo Garibaldi, inside the city's commercial port, so there's no tendering. Because it's a working cargo port you can't walk out through it: a free shuttle bus takes you from the ship to the terminal building on Largo Michele Fiorillo, by the waterfront promenade. MSC, Celebrity, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean all list La Spezia as a port of call, and the port can take two large ships at once.
Is La Spezia worth visiting from a cruise ship?
Yes: La Spezia's centre is a 10-minute walk from the cruise terminal, and it's the closest base for the Cinque Terre, whose first village is about 10 minutes away by train. In town you can walk the shopping street Via del Prione and visit the Navy's naval museum or the hilltop Castello San Giorgio, and in season ferries leave from the marina for Portovenere and the Cinque Terre.
Is La Spezia walkable from the cruise port?
Yes. After the free shuttle drops you at the La Spezia cruise terminal, Piazza Verdi is about 0.2 mi away and Via del Prione, the main old-town shopping street, about 0.5 mi, all on flat ground: allow about 10 minutes to reach the centre. The stroll map shows what's within a walk.
How far is the train station from the La Spezia cruise port?
La Spezia Centrale, the station for the Cinque Terre trains, is about 1 mile from the cruise terminal: a 20–30 minute walk through town. Taxis wait at the terminal and get you there in under 10 minutes; agree the fare when you get in.
Beaches
Is there a beach near the La Spezia cruise port?
No, there's no swimming beach within a walk of the La Spezia cruise port: the nearest beaches are at Portovenere, Lerici and San Terenzo across the gulf. Buses P or 11 run to Portovenere and S or L to Lerici from Piazza Europa, a couple of minutes from the terminal, and seasonal ferries from the marina also go to Portovenere and Lerici.
Cinque Terre from La Spezia
How far is Cinque Terre from the La Spezia cruise port?
The Cinque Terre start just up the coast from La Spezia: Riomaggiore, the nearest village, is about 10 minutes by regional train from La Spezia Centrale, and Monterosso, the farthest, about 20–25. Trains run at least three times an hour in summer. The station is a 20–30 minute walk from the cruise terminal, and from about April to September ferries also go to the villages from the marina.
Do I need the Cinque Terre Card to ride the train?
No, but it's the simplest way: Trenitalia's Cinque Terre Treno MS Card gives a day of unlimited second-class travel on regional trains between La Spezia and Levanto, plus the national park's services. It's in your name, so carry ID, and you can buy it at the station, from ticket machines or in the Trenitalia app. Prices change with the season and how busy the day is.
What excursions are available from the La Spezia cruise port?
Shore excursions from La Spezia mostly head to the Cinque Terre or Portovenere: a small-group Cinque Terre day by train that meets at the cruise terminal (8 hours, from $80.79), a speedboat trip to Portovenere and the islands (1.5–2.5 hours, from $77.55), and a full day on a traditional wooden boat (7.5 hours, from $128.87). A Pisa and Lucca coach trip leaves from the terminal too. See the full-day plans.
Pisa and Florence
How do I get from La Spezia cruise port to Florence?
Florence is a long trip from La Spezia: regional trains from La Spezia Centrale take about 2½ hours each way to Florence Santa Maria Novella, and the station is a 20–30 minute walk from the cruise terminal. That leaves little time in the city on a typical port day, so check your all-aboard time before you go.
How far is Pisa from La Spezia port?
Pisa is about 1 hour 10–25 minutes from La Spezia by regional train to Pisa Centrale. If you'd rather not manage trains, a full-day Pisa and Lucca coach trip leaves from just outside the cruise terminal (8 hours, from $49.55) and guarantees the return to the ship.
Money, documents and safety
Do I need euros in La Spezia?
Yes, La Spezia uses the euro, like the rest of Italy. Restaurants may add a 10–15% service charge, cafés and bars usually get small change left on the counter, and for taxis it's common to round up to the next euro.
Do I need a passport for a cruise stop in La Spezia?
Bring your passport: Italy is in the Schengen area, and the EU says a non-EU visitor's passport should be valid for at least 3 months after you leave and issued within the last 10 years. If you ever have to fly home from Italy, US Customs requires a passport book or another accepted air-travel document to re-enter the US.
Is La Spezia safe for cruise passengers?
The US State Department rates all of Italy, including La Spezia, Level 2, 'exercise increased caution', because of terrorism. It says petty crime such as pickpocketing is common in tourist areas and on public transport, so keep your wallet and phone close on the Cinque Terre trains.
What time zone is La Spezia in?
La Spezia is on Central European Time, UTC+1, with summer time (UTC+2) under EU rules; in 2026 the clocks go back on Sunday 25 October. If your ship keeps a different time, go by the all-aboard time in the daily program.