A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kos vs. La Spezia for Attractions, Food, Beaches, and Nightlife

Should you visit Kos or La Spezia?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kos and La Spezia can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Kos

Kos is a cultural, party-hard, and vibrant island. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Visitors also love the nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.

La Spezia

La Spezia is a convenient, cultural, and lively town. Other reasons to visit include food, beaches, and shopping.

Kos and La Spezia: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kos or La Spezia?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Kos. Although Kos and La Spezia are popular destinations, Kos has more sights and attractions for tourists. Kos is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while La Spezia attracts visitors for its historical sights. La Spezia is more touristy than Kos and is known for being the gateway to Cinque Terre. Kos is famous for its sandy beaches and crystal clear blue water. It is also well known for Asklepieion Archeological Site.

How is Kos different from La Spezia?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

The museums and tourist attractions in Kos are world-renowned. The small island is packed with archaeological sites and interesting history. Famous places worth visiting include the ruins of Asklepion, the ancient Agora, Roman Odeon, Neratzia Castle, and so many more!

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

Kos is very popular for its restaurants. Also, La Spezia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Eat your way through Kos, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. The cuisine relies heavily on locally harvested ingredients with many dishes featuring cheese, seafood, vegetables, olive oil, and potatoes. The dishes are influenced by Italian and Turkish cuisines and common dishes include moussaka, souvlaki and tzatziki. Popular seafood options are prawns, squid, lobster and octopus. A great way to enjoy a sampling of local dishes is to visit an ouzeri, which is a Greek taverna that serves mezza style meals with small dishes that you can share.

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 Kos or La Spezia Better for Nightlife?

Kos 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.

Kos has a large number of nightlife venues. For such a small island you'll find a huge party scene during the peak summer months. There are almost nightly parties, beach raves, and late night clubs throughout the summer months. The bars and clubs are mostly concentrated around a couple of streets in the center of Kos Town, but Kardamena is also a lively party area. It's popular with British tourists who head here for the all-night clubs.

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 Kos or La Spezia Better for Resorts?

Kos is a good destination for its luxury resorts. However, La Spezia is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, Kos makes a nice vacation spot. It's a smaller island and there aren't as many resorts here as there are on some of the larger Greek islands. Some of the best resort areas include Lamp and Psalidi to the northwest, Tigaki on the west coast (a good option for families), as well as Mastihari and Marmari which both have relaxed atmospheres. The younger crowd often hangs out around Kardemena on the east coast.

La Spezia is not a resort destination.

Is Kos or La Spezia Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Kos is very popular for its diving and snorkeling. However, La Spezia is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

People travel from around the world to go scuba diving and snorkeling in Kos. There are countless snorkeling sports around the island where you can immerse yourself in the undersea world. Popular snorkeling areas include Camel Beach and Limnionas Beach. Make sure you understand the water conditions before heading into the water.

La Spezia is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Kos or La Spezia Better for Beaches?

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

Kos offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The island is famous for its beautiful beaches, many of which are sandy with various shades of color. There are touristy beaches with plenty of amenities as well as less frequented beaches that offer a quieter and more remote atmosphere. Some of the most visited beaches on the island include Agios Stefanos, Kardamena, Kefalos and Lambi while some of the more peaceful areas are Cavo Paradiso and Helona Beach.

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 Kos or La Spezia Better for its Old Town?

La Spezia is a town with good options for its historic old town. However, Kos does not have a historic old town.

La Spezia is a good destination for visiting its old town. The old town runs between the streets of Corso Cavour and Via Prione and is best explored on foot.

Kos does not have a historic old town.

Is Kos or La Spezia Better for Hiking?

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

Kos offers some nice hiking trails. This is a great walking island with a number of easy walks or hikes that take you along the coastline or through interesting landscapes.

La Spezia is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Kos or La Spezia?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Kos and La Spezia.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Kos. There are a number of traditional items that you can pick up while you're in town. Fun souvenirs include jewelry, leather items, and perfumes.

La Spezia offers some nice shopping areas. There's a morning market at Piazza del Mercato as well as many clothing and souvenir shops around town.

Is Kos or La Spezia Better for Families?

Both Kos and La Spezia are nice to visit with kids.

Kos is a family-friendly island. It's comparable to other Greek islands when it comes to kids' activities. Kos Town can get a bit lively at night so if you want to avoid the party crowds, then those areas are easily avoided. Popular activities include exploring ancient ruins, going to the Kos Archaeological Museum, visiting The Castle of the Knights, and of course, hanging out at the beach. One of the best family-friendly resort areas is Tigaki along the west coast.

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 Kos or La Spezia Better for Couples?

Both Kos and La Spezia are very good destinations for a couple's getaway.

Kos makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. This small island offers beautiful beaches and plenty of ancient ruins to explore. Kos Town is where you'll find the liveliest atmosphere but for some of the best resorts you'll want to stay in one of the resort suburbs like Lampi or Psalidi.

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 Kos or La Spezia Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Kos and La Spezia are both very good destinations for backpackers.

Kos is very popular with the backpacker crowd. It's a small island but has a few hostels and a variety of apartments available for rent. Despite its small size, there are areas where you'll want to have a car if you wish to explore, but if you stay in town you'll find getting around fairly easy. The island attracts its share of young travelers and you'll find plenty of people to hang out with.

La Spezia is a great island to visit for backpackers. It's more affordable than the nearby towns in Cinque Terre, but they're still easily accessible from town.

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

Kos is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, La Spezia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Kos has some very good public transit options. Buses connect many of the tourist destinations including beaches, cultural sights, are resort areas.

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 Kos or La Spezia a more walkable city?

Kos and La Spezia are very good when it comes to walkability.

Kos is very walkable. It's small size means it's possible to explore parts of the island on foot or bicycle. There are some beautiful walks on the island, but some areas will require a car or bus.

La Spezia is a very walkable island. 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 Kos Worth Visiting? and Is La Spezia Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in La Spezia or Kos?

How long in Kos or La Spezia?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Kos and La Spezia. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Kos than in La Spezia. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Kos, and 2-3 days is enough time in La Spezia.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Kos 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 Kos.

One day in Kos or La Spezia?

You'll find nightlife and food around the island of Kos. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

With food and shopping around the cultural destination of La Spezia, there's plenty to do. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A weekend in Kos or La Spezia?

You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the ancient destination of Kos. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this island has to offer. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Many people visit La Spezia for a weekend. With shopping and nightlife around the convenient town of La Spezia, there's plenty to do. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Kos or La Spezia?

You'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the cultural island of Kos. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this island makes for a great vacation. It's also a great beach destination, too. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this island has to offer.

The destination of La Spezia offers nightlife and food. It offers something for everyone. 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.

A week in Kos or La Spezia?

Kos 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, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Athens, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Greece, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Italy, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Kos or La Spezia?

La Spezia has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Kos. When comparing the sizes of Kos 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.