La Spezia, Italy
The doorway to the Cinque Terre, Pisa and Florence, and a likable Ligurian port in its own right. Here’s how to choose your day.
Three days in one port
La Spezia sits at the head of the Gulf of Poets on the Ligurian coast, and it gives you three very different days. The Cinque Terre, five pastel villages stacked above the sea, is right on the doorstep. Pisa and Lucca are about an hour away. Florence is a longer day, roughly two hours each way by road, much like a Florence day from Livorno.
Don’t overlook the town itself. La Spezia is a real Italian city rather than a tourist stop, with a palm-lined seafront, a pedestrian old town full of cafés and some of the best pizza and farinata on the coast. We think it’s one of the Mediterranean’s sleeper hits. Guests often ask us whether to choose the Cinque Terre or Florence. Our honest answer: if you’ve never seen the villages, start there, and save Florence for a Livorno call or a longer stay. Below are the excursions we’d book and the details that make the day easy.
Which pier you’ll dock at
Your berth depends on your ship and the day, so confirm it on your itinerary a few days before you arrive.
Molo Garibaldi & Largo Fiorillo
Most ships tie up at Molo Garibaldi, inside the working port. You can’t walk out through the port, so a free shuttle takes you to the cruise terminal at Largo Fiorillo. From there, the seafront promenade and the old town are a short walk away. Ship-sold and pre-booked tours usually meet you at or near the terminal.
Used by: Azamara, Celebrity, Explora Journeys, MSC, Oceania, Princess, Regent and Seabourn.
Tender to Molo Italia
A new cruise pier is being built, and while that work goes on, some of the largest ships anchor in the gulf and tender guests ashore. Most tenders land at Molo Italia, right on the waterfront beside the old town. Allow extra time for the tender line on the way back, especially in the late afternoon.
Used by: some of Royal Caribbean’s largest ships. Check your itinerary for your pier.
Excursions we’d book
Hand-picked shore excursions from local operators, bookable through our partner Project Expedition. Every tour here carries Project Expedition’s Back to Ship Guarantee. Prices are per person and can change; check the live price when you book.
Private: Florence & Pisa Tour from La Spezia
Your own driver and guide from the La Spezia cruise port: Florence’s Renaissance center, then the Leaning Tower in Pisa. About eight hours, so check that it fits your all-aboard time.
View on Project ExpeditionFrom La Spezia: Pisa And Jewel Of The Cinque Terre Transfer Only
A coach from the cruise terminal to Pisa, then on to Manarola, one of the Cinque Terre’s prettiest villages, with free time to explore both on your own.
View on Project ExpeditionFrom La Spezia: Florence, Pisa, Leaning Tower & Accademia Gallery
A guided coach day with entry to the Leaning Tower and the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s David. Names on museum tickets must match your ID, so enter every guest’s full name when you book.
View on Project ExpeditionFrom La Spezia: Shore Excursion to Pisa Transfer Only
Round-trip transfer to Pisa with free time on the Field of Miracles. About five hours, which leaves time for lunch in La Spezia afterward.
View on Project ExpeditionFrom La Spezia: Florence & Pisa Shore Excursion
A shuttle day to Florence and Pisa with a tour leader and free time in both cities. It meets at the cruise terminal and runs about nine hours.
View on Project ExpeditionFrom La Spezia: Florence and Pisa Transfer Only
Transfer-only coach to Florence and Pisa with free time to explore at your own pace, and an on-time return to the port.
View on Project ExpeditionThe Back to Ship Guarantee and refunds if your ship skips La Spezia are covered by Project Expedition’s shore excursion terms. Your advisor can walk you through them.
Cruise line favorites
Book these in your cruise planner. Ship-sold tours cost a bit more, but the ship waits for you if the tour runs late.
- Cinque Terre villages. A guided day linking two or three of the villages, often Riomaggiore, Manarola and Vernazza or Monterosso, with time for a seafood lunch.
- Portovenere & the Gulf of Poets. The colorful harbor town at the tip of the gulf, with the striking Church of San Pietro on the rocks. A shorter, gentler day.
- Pisa & Lucca. The Leaning Tower and the Field of Miracles, paired with a walk or bike ride on Lucca’s Renaissance walls.
- Florence highlights. The Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio, often with timed entry to the Accademia. A long day, but the classic.
Exploring without a tour
Prefer to explore at your own pace? These are the highlights to know, wherever your day takes you. Keep an eye on the clock.
Pizza & farinata
La Spezia does pizza its own way, often topped with a slice of farinata, the crisp chickpea flatbread of Liguria. La Pia Centenaria has been baking both since 1887, and trofie with fresh pesto is the other must-try.
The old town
Via del Prione runs through the heart of town, lined with cafés and small shops, with the Amedeo Lia Museum’s Renaissance paintings just off it and Castello San Giorgio above.
The seafront & naval history
The palm-lined Passeggiata Morin runs along the harbor, close to the cruise terminal. Nearby, the Naval Museum tells the story of Italy’s biggest navy town.
Before you go ashore
- All-aboard is firm. If you book independently, plan to be back an hour before all-aboard, and allow more if your ship is tendering.
- Go early and pick fewer villages. The Cinque Terre gets very busy by late morning in summer. Guests who enjoy it most see two or three villages well rather than racing through all five.
- Book lunch ahead. The best-loved trattorias in the villages are small, fill up fast and some close one day a week. Your advisor can check before you go.
- Weather can change the plan. Boats along the coast depend on sea conditions, and some services are limited in winter. A good tour has a plan B.
- Traveling with mobility needs? The Cinque Terre villages are steep, with plenty of stairs and uneven lanes. If you or someone in your party has mobility needs, tell your advisor when you book. Our accessibility specialist can help arrange the right support.
Sailing to La Spezia
Many Western Mediterranean itineraries call here, typically sailing round trip from Barcelona or Rome (Civitavecchia), along with longer voyages between Barcelona and Athens or Venice.Find a cruisePlan with Harr Travel
Ready for a day in La Spezia?
We’ll match you with the right Mediterranean sailing and help you plan the day ashore. There are never any booking or consultation fees.
