A Travel Price Comparison for Italy Cefalu vs. La Spezia for Couples, Food, Beaches, and Old Town

Should you visit Cefalu or La Spezia?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Cefalu and La Spezia. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Cefalu

Cefalu is a coastal, historic, and touristy fishing village. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Visitors also love the beaches, hiking, and food.

La Spezia

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

Cefalu and La Spezia: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cefalu or La Spezia?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Cefalu than La Spezia, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Cefalu is better known for its resorts, beaches, historical sights, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while La Spezia is more popular for its nightlife and shopping. Cefalu is well known for its beautiful blue waters, relaxing atmosphere, and great local food. Also, Cefalu is famous for the beaches. La Spezia is well known for being the gateway to Cinque Terre.

How is Cefalu different from La Spezia?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Cefalu and La Spezia.

While most people don't head to Cefalu specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. Most visitors spend their time on the beach or getting lost in the town's charm, but if you're looking for specific sights and museums you can check out the Cathedral, Museo Mandralisca, or Tempio di Diana.

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 Cefalu or La Spezia? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Cefalu and La Spezia both to be excellent destinations.

Cefalu has a huge number of terrific restaurants. Despite being a popular tourist hot spot, there are still charming restaurants around town that serve up local dishes made with local ingredients. Many seaside restaurants have a charming atmosphere and a unique Sicilian flare.

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 Cefalu or La Spezia Better for Nightlife?

La Spezia is a good destination for nightlife and partying. However, Cefalu is lacking in good options for its evening party scene.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in La Spezia. 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.

Cefalu is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. The town is small and mellow without a huge party scene. There are some beach resorts with bars and clubs attached where you can enjoy a drink by the water.

Is Cefalu or La Spezia Better for Resorts?

Cefalu is a very popular place for its luxury resorts. However, La Spezia is not a resort destination.

There are plenty of resorts in Cefalu to choose from. There's a wide range of resorts to choose from including Club Med and even a nature hotel.

La Spezia is not a resort destination.

Is Cefalu or La Spezia Better for Beaches?

Cefalu 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 Cefalu for it's beautiful beaches. The town has nice beaches with good swimming and kayaking opportunities. Some of the beaches can get quite crowded but the water is blue and the views are nice. Some of the best beaches near town include Cefalu Beach, Kalura Beach, and Lido Angeli Del Mare.

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 Cefalu or La Spezia Better for its Old Town?

Cefalu 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 Cefalu. The town is charming and small, making it a nice place to explore.

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 Cefalu or La Spezia Better for Hiking?

Cefalu is a good destination for its hiking trails. However, La Spezia is not a hiking destination.

Cefalu offers some nice hiking trails. There are a few walking trails outside of town but the most popular is hiking to the top of La Rocca. It's at least an hours walk to the top but from there you can enjoy one of the best views of the harbor.

La Spezia is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Cefalu or La Spezia?

La Spezia is a good destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Cefalu is lacking in good options for its shopping areas.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting La Spezia. There's a morning market at Piazza del Mercato as well as many clothing and souvenir shops around town.

Cefalu has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. It's a small, touristy town, so shopping isn't the main attraction. There are some interesting shops that are fun to pop into though.

Is Cefalu or La Spezia Better for Families?

Both Cefalu and La Spezia are notable family-friendly destinations.

Cefalu is a family-friendly fishing village. Kids will enjoy beach time or wandering down the promenade, Lungomare. You can swim or simply relax by the water. Another fun activity is to climb the nearby mountain of La Rocca. The kids might even spot a local animal.

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 Cefalu or La Spezia Better for Couples?

Cefalu is very popular for its romantic activities. Also, La Spezia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Cefalu is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. It's natural beauty and Italian atmosphere make this a perfect couples destination. There are water activities for the adventurous as well as beautiful beaches and great restaurants.

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 Cefalu or La Spezia Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

La Spezia is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Cefalu is lacking in good options 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.

Cefalu is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There's not a big backpacker vibe to the town, and you won't find tons of hostels, but there are affordable places that budget travelers can stay.

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

La Spezia is a good destination for times when you don't have a car. However, Cefalu is lacking in good options for its public transit.

La Spezia has some public transit options. Buses, trains, and ferry boats offer the main forms of transportation in the area.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Cefalu. Public transit is limited but taxis are a good alternative for getting out of town and into the surrounding areas.

Is Cefalu or La Spezia a more walkable city?

Cefalu and La Spezia are excellent when it comes to walkability.

Cefalu is a very walkable fishing village. The town is small enough to explore on foot.

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 Cefalu Worth Visiting? and Is La Spezia Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in La Spezia or Cefalu?

How long in Cefalu or La Spezia?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in La Spezia than Cefalu 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 La Spezia.

One day in Cefalu or La Spezia?

Even though Cefalu is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Cefalu has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of La Spezia. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Cefalu or La Spezia?

Cefalu is a small town where visitors enjoy the food. 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 fishing village has to offer. This fishing village offers a variety of activities to choose from.

La Spezia is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Cefalu or La Spezia?

Cefalu is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in La Spezia. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Cefalu or La Spezia?

Cefalu is a popular choice for travelers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. 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.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the lively destination of La Spezia. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Italy, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Italy, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cefalu and La Spezia, we can see that La Spezia is more expensive. And not only is Cefalu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cefalu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cefalu 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 Cefalu.

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

Which is Bigger, Cefalu or La Spezia?

La Spezia has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Cefalu. When comparing the sizes of Cefalu 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.