A Travel Price Comparison for Italy Cagliari vs. La Spezia for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Beaches

Should you visit Cagliari or La Spezia?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Cagliari and La Spezia can help you decide which place is right for you.

Cagliari

Cagliari is a relaxed, historic, and under-rated city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and shopping.

La Spezia

La Spezia is a cultural, lively, and convenient town. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and shopping.

Cagliari and La Spezia: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cagliari or La Spezia?

You'll generally find more things to do in Cagliari than La Spezia. Cagliari is bigger than La Spezia, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. La Spezia is more touristy than Cagliari and is known for being the gateway to Cinque Terre. Cagliari is well known for its medieval quarter, beautiful hilltop setting, and impressive beaches. Also, Cagliari is famous for Castello.

How is Cagliari different from La Spezia?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between La Spezia and Cagliari. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Cagliari or La Spezia?

Cagliari is a very popular place for its museums and history. However, La Spezia is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Cagliari. The Castello district is filled with ancient buildings including Bastione San Remy and the Duomo. Also make sure you check out the Archeology Museum.

La Spezia offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. The highlight of the area is the surrounding natural beauty, but in town you can visit the Maritime Museum, The castle of San Giorgio, and The Amedeo Lia Art Museum.

Is the Food Better in Cagliari or La Spezia? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Cagliari and La Spezia can be difficult as they are each high quality in their own way.

Cagliari has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The cuisine mixes the island's sea and mountain settings. You'll find many local pastas, breads, seafood dishes, and cheeses. There's a wealth of diversity in the food and you should definitely step away from the more traditional Italian flavors and try something uniquely Sardinian.

Dining out in La Spezia is an experience not to be missed. The town has many local flavors that incorporate seafood and other local ingredients. Focaccia is popular, as is Farinata, which is a chickpea flour pancake. Anchovies and mussels are also common ingredients.

Is Cagliari or La Spezia Better for Nightlife?

Cagliari is a very popular place for nightlife and partying. Also, La Spezia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Cagliari has a large number of nightlife venues. There's a thriving nightlife scene that is mostly centered around tourists. You'll find a number of the best bars in the Castello district and the atmosphere is usually relaxed and laid back, like the town itself.

La Spezia has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find more bars and clubs around town than you do in the smaller nearby towns. Some people head into La Spezia for the evening to grab a drink and socialize.

Is Cagliari or La Spezia Better for Beaches?

Cagliari is a very popular place for the beache. Also, La Spezia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for the beach.

Many people visit Cagliari for it's beautiful beaches. While you'll find some nice beaches in town, if you're willing to head to the surrounding areas just outside of town, you'll be rewarded with amazing beaches. The beaches are enjoyable any time of the year.

La Spezia is a good option for a beach vacation. The beaches in the area tend to be rocky and pebbly. For the best beaches, head out of town to nearby areas.

Is Cagliari or La Spezia Better for its Old Town?

Cagliari is a very popular place for its old town. Also, La Spezia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its historic old town charm.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Cagliari. The Castello district is the city's old town. It's filled with narrow alleys, historic castles, and a truly unique atmosphere.

La Spezia offers a nice historic old town area. The old town runs between the streets of Corso Cavour and Via Prione and is best explored on foot.

Is the Shopping Better in Cagliari or La Spezia?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Cagliari and La Spezia.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Cagliari. Head to the Marina district for some of the city's best shopping opportunities. There are a number of shopping malls to choose from. For souvenirs and other handicrafts, the port area has a few shops.

Many visitors go to La Spezia to go shopping. There's a morning market at Piazza del Mercato as well as many clothing and souvenir shops around town.

Is Cagliari or La Spezia Better for Families?

Cagliari is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, La Spezia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Cagliari is very family-friendly. There are a number of activities for kids to enjoy in the areas surrounding the city. If you're willing to get about an hour out of town, you can check out the Water Park of Pula. In town, there's a little train that young kids will enjoy. And, of course, there are the beaches!

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in La Spezia. Visitors often use La Spezia as a base for visiting nearby Cinque Terre. The surrounding region has many kid-friendly activities like hiking, swimming, and beaches.

Is Cagliari or La Spezia Better for Couples?

Both Cagliari and La Spezia are high quality destinations to visit as a couple.

Cagliari makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The waterfront setting and nice beaches make this a great place for couples. There's also the Castello district, which is fun to wander through, and many parks and outdoor walking areas.

Couples visit La Spezia frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. It makes a nice base for visiting nearby sights if the more popular Cinque Terre area is too overwhelming.

Is Cagliari or La Spezia Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

La Spezia is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Cagliari is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit La Spezia. It's more affordable than the nearby towns in Cinque Terre, but they're still easily accessible from town.

It's common for backpackers to visit Cagliari. There's a hostel or two in the area that offer accommodation that backpackers will appreciate.

Is Cagliari or La Spezia Better for Students?

Cagliari is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, La Spezia is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Cagliari. There are some study abroad opportunities in town, and with the nearby beaches and wonderful weather, many international students enjoy their time here.

La Spezia is not popular with students.

Is Cagliari or La Spezia Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find notable public transit in both Cagliari and La Spezia.

Cagliari has some public transit options. There are buses that travel around town relatively efficiently.

You'll find some public transit in La Spezia, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Buses, trains, and ferry boats offer the main forms of transportation in the area.

Is Cagliari or La Spezia a more walkable city?

Cagliari and La Spezia are high quality when it comes to walkability.

Cagliari is a very walkable city. While the city is very walkable, it is built on a large hill so come prepared for some steep climbs.

La Spezia is a very walkable destination. The town is easy to walk around and you'll find a pedestrian-only area downhill from the train station.

For even more information, also check out Is Cagliari Worth Visiting? and Is La Spezia Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in La Spezia or Cagliari?

How long in Cagliari or La Spezia?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Cagliari and La Spezia. In our opinion, Cagliari has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Cagliari than La Spezia. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Cagliari, and 2-3 days is enough time in La Spezia.

Families should spend more time in Cagliari than La Spezia. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Cagliari, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Cagliari than La Spezia. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Cagliari that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Cagliari than La Spezia if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Cagliari.

One day in Cagliari or La Spezia?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Cagliari. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Cagliari has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The town of La Spezia offers nightlife and food. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Cagliari or La Spezia?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the relaxed destination of Cagliari. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

La Spezia is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in La Spezia, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Cagliari or La Spezia?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the historic city of Cagliari. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a great beach destination, too. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

La Spezia is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Cagliari or La Spezia?

Cagliari is a popular choice for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

La Spezia is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Italy, The Best 2-Week Tours in Italy, The Best Bicycle Tours in Italy, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cagliari and La Spezia, we can see that La Spezia is more expensive. And not only is Cagliari much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cagliari would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cagliari and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in La Spezia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Spezia than you might in Cagliari.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cagliari Expensive? and Is La Spezia Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cagliari or La Spezia?

Cagliari has a larger population, and is about 80% larger than the population of La Spezia. When comparing the sizes of Cagliari and La Spezia, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.