Best Things to Do in La Spezia

The best things to see and do in La Spezia have a lot to do with the surroundings of this Italian town. The Cinque Terre National Park is right next to the city and other major Italian metropolises are less than 50 minutes away. This while this site is also a Ligurian wonder on its own merit, standing out for having buildings that are generally quite recent.

For these reasons I advise you to continue reading a compilation of plans that I have thought to see and do in La Spezia. Each and every one of them offers you the opportunity to experience the most entertaining things you can do in this place and its surroundings. This will make it easier for you to plan your trip no matter how short or long it will be.

One of the best things to do in La Spezia no matter what time of the year you decide to visit is to take a sea tour along the coast. This is one of the best parts of the Ligurian Sea, an end of the Mediterranean that stretches from this Italian region to the French town of Cap Ferret.

The conditions of the boat trip can be very different depending on the chosen service. However, the most usual is a full day trip that includes a light lunch with the accompaniment of some local wines. They are usually reserved for a small number of people and most commonly take place on a sailboat. Especially if it is a date when the wind is favorable for a fast sailing.

It should be noted that this part of the Italian Riviera is declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, so appreciating the coast from a boat on a sunny day and with pleasant weather is an opportunity that you should not miss on your visit to La Spezia.

Interesting details

• Duration: these types of boat tours can vary in length, but those advertised as an all-day tour usually last about seven to eight hours in total.
• Price: the boat trip along the Ligurian coast with lunch and a few glasses of wine usually costs about 160 per person. There may be cheaper alternatives, but it would be a much shorter trip.

The historic center and surroundings of this city can also be enjoyed through the mountains and roads found in this corner of Italy. Therefore, a bike tour is an excellent way to enjoy the beauty that characterizes La Spezia and is part of the best plans to do throughout the year.

The duration of this type of tours and the itinerary that changes depending on the weather. However, the most common is that they are developed on an electric bike that facilitates pedaling so that participants can reach in record time to Vernazza, one of the five villages of Cinque Terre.

The experience is ideal for the fact that it allows you to get to know closely the fields and forests that are outside the city as well as within this national park. This is quite interesting, as this is a region that was originally dedicated to agriculture, but nowadays it is totally oriented to fishing.

It is undoubtedly one of the best tours in La Spezia and the most interesting thing about it is that it is an activity for the whole family, as it is suitable for all children over 1,30 m tall. The price includes bottled water, safety equipment and the accompaniment of the guide who will take you directly to some of the most important corners of this natural region.

Details of interest

• Duration: this type of tour usually lasts about four or five hours in total including the breaks that are enjoyed to walk around the different sites that are on the route.
• Prices: this activity almost always costs about 90 euros per person, which is quite favorable considering that sometimes a small focaccia and wine tasting is included.

Northern Italian cuisine is just as important as that of the south of the country, and at the same time here you can appreciate the culinary traditions of La Spezia and Liguria. Another of the best things to see and do in this city is to participate in a cooking class with experts in its gastronomic history and the diversity of ingredients that characterize this agricultural region.

The classes as such are often an excellent entertainment before participating in one of the famous excursions that make La Spezia a major tourist destination within Liguria. They are also a good way to get to know the local gastronomy under the terms of its protagonists. They usually involve a four-course meal and the classes are usually designed for groups of no more than eight participants.

The experience also includes the accompanying wine that you will drink throughout the event and a printed recipe booklet that you can take home with you so that you can replicate the dishes you have learned step by step. In addition, there is the benefit that the classes are usually held in some of the professional kitchens in the center of the city and at the same time it is an activity available for the whole family regardless of age.

Details of interest

• Duration: this type of cooking classes usually last about four hours in total.
• Price: the price of a class like this per person is usually around 150 euros, but this includes the accompaniment of the professional chef who gives the class, as well as the payment of all the ingredients.

La Spezia you can get to know it from a totally different approach by taking a gastronomic tour of the city. This is a tourist experience that is highly recommended to familiarize yourself with the flavors that define this place and, above all, because it is an ideal activity for you to simultaneously visit some of the most iconic places of the town.

The cost of this service usually includes different food tastings, as well as bottled water. One thing that defines some of the best food tours in La Spezia is the chance to experience the Italian culture and lifestyle, as many of the guides really function as a local friend who takes you to see their favorite places in a genuine and supportive exchange of ideas.

Keep in mind that La Spezia is generally not a very large city, which means that with a good food tour you will get to see most of the culinary treasures of the town.

Details of interest

Duration: these types of gastronomic tours usually last about three hours at the most, which is enough time to visit several restaurants and taste different starters, main courses and desserts.Price: the price of such an experience is usually around 90 euros per person and, in a way, it is a convenient rate knowing that along the tour you will eat in about three or four different restaurants.

La Spezia is a city that, despite being small and relatively modern, has a good variety of museums that deserve to be known on a sightseeing tour. Some of them are dedicated to Italian art while others focus on the history of the Liguria region. The following two are some of the best things to see and do in this town.

The Naval Technical Museum

Getting tickets to the Naval Technical Museum of La Spezia is something recommended for all kinds of tourists due to the fact that this museum is one of the best in all of Europe for a permanent exhibition of weapons and ships of a national navy.

Inside you will find antique weapons that were part of different armies belonging to the kingdoms that made up what is now republican Italy. You will also see more recent models that were used in both World War I and World War II.

• Hours: open every day of the week from 8:30 am to 7:30 pm.
• Prices: tickets cost about 3 euros per person approximately.

San Giorgio Castle

The San Giorgio Castle for many is the greatest historical and architectural treasure of La Spezia and this site currently functions as a museum. As such it has permanent exhibits of sculptures and other pieces that have been used by its occupants since the building's construction in the 14th century.

• Hours: the castle is closed on Mondays and from Wednesday to Sunday it is usually open from 10:00 am to 12:30 noon and then welcomes visitors again from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
• Prices: the entrance fee is approximately 5 euros per person. There are no age distinctions in the price.

In the south western end of the Gulf of La Spezia is located another of the best attractions of this city. This is the island of Palmaria where you can enjoy a tour of its natural spaces full of peculiar fauna and flora.

The island is characterized by the same cliffs that you will find throughout the Cinque Terre, but it also has marble caves ideal for exploration. In fact, it is also the perfect place to enjoy a short boat ride or simply to enjoy a day at the beach in a less touristy place.

In the village opposite the island, Portovenere, you will also have the opportunity to visit the famous fortification on its southwestern shore. Hiking is another must-do activity on the island and a lunch or dinner with the catch of the day in Portovenere is perfect when you decide to return to what the locals consider the mainland.

Right in the urban heart of La Spezia is located the Giardini Pubblici, a public park very close to the naval technical museum and the promenade that stretches along the local marina.

It is characterized by the opportunity it offers tourists to walk through one of the few spaces that exist in the city for the entertainment of all residents, as well as for the beauty that distinguishes the landscaping of this site.

It really is a plan that you can not miss when visiting La Spezia, especially for its proximity to most of the restaurants and commercial establishments in the city. This means that walking for an hour or two along its length and then going shopping or simply sitting down to eat a nice meal is a must for all tourists who come to this town.

The proximity of La Spezia to other major tourist sites in northern Italy make excursions from this town are part of the best things to do regardless of the time of year or the number of people who are accompanying you. Therefore, a walk to the Parco Nazionale dell'Appennino Tosco-Emiliano is something you should not miss. Especially since it is located about 40 minutes at most driving to the northeast of the city.

Monte Prado, Monte Cusna and Alpe di Succiso are some of the most visited mountains in the area. However, the large meadows and hidden lakes that stretch throughout the national park are also a great place to get away from it all and enjoy the natural beauty that defines this mountainous region.

The truth is that the national park is too large to be able to walk the entire length of it. However, if you go to some of the Tuscan villages that lie between the borders of this region and Liguria, you will still be able to enjoy the beauty that characterizes this mountainous area.

Finally, another of the best things you can see or do on a visit to La Spezia is to take advantage of the free time that this city leaves you to make a one or two day trip to Genoa or Pisa. And part of the importance of La Spezia in Italy is its strategic location within the coastal region that greatly influenced the prosperity of European trade through these two important locations.

The train ride you would have from this city to both Pisa and Genoa takes about the same, an hour and a half, so it is completely indifferent which of the two locations you decide to visit. However, you should know that visiting Genoa is an experience much more oriented to learning about the importance of its port for Italian trade. While Pisa offers great wonders of Italian architecture including its famous leaning tower.

The real reason why La Spezia is an important tourist destination within Italy is because of its proximity to the Cinque Terre National Park, a centuries-old mountainous strip along the Ligurian coastline with five coastal towns that stand out for their historical importance and architectural beauty. In fact, the region has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This activity can be considered one of the best one-day excursions from La Spezia, because despite being so close to La Spezia, it is still an area outside the city. It is also a must on your trip if you are interested in getting to know one of the great Italian attractions. The whole area is characterized by the colors of its old houses that contrast in a very peculiar way with the rocky cliffs that break directly with the coast of the Ligurian Sea.

You can visit this site on your own if you wish. However, one recommendation I can't fail to make is to take part in a private tour, as it will guarantee you the possibility to visit all the villages in record time without missing any of the main attractions. The cost of the service also includes the return trip by train from the port of La Spezia.

Interesting details

• Duration: this type of excursions along the Cinque Terre usually last about six or seven hours in total. Although it is possible that they may take a little longer depending on the number of tourists in each of the villages.
• Price: adults usually pay a rate of about 350 euros per person, which is logical because it is a private and exclusive experience. However, children between 4 and 11 years old only pay approximately 60 euros.