A Travel Price Comparison for Italy La Spezia vs. Bellagio for Food, Couples, Backpackers, and Nightlife

Should you visit La Spezia or Bellagio?

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 La Spezia and Bellagio. 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.

La Spezia

La Spezia is a cultural, lively, and convenient town. And you can't forget about the beaches, shopping, and nightlife.

Bellagio

Bellagio is a opulent, beautiful, and impressive town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the food and shopping.

La Spezia and Bellagio: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in La Spezia or Bellagio?

Visitors will usually find more to do in La Spezia than Bellagio, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. La Spezia is better known for its nightlife, beaches, and historical sights, while Bellagio is more popular for its small town charm and impressive beauty. Bellagio is more touristy than La Spezia and is popular for its luxurious villas, stunning views, and charming boutique lined streets. La Spezia is well known for being the gateway to Cinque Terre. Also, La Spezia is famous for The Maritime Museum.

How is La Spezia different from Bellagio?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

While most people don't head to La Spezia specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. 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.

Bellagio offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. The town's atmosphere and views are what attract the tourists, but if you're looking for historical sights, check out the Basilica of San Giacomo.

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

Both La Spezia and Bellagio offer very good local cuisine and restaurants.

La Spezia has a huge number of terrific restaurants. 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.

Dining out in Bellagio is an experience not to be missed. You'll find many fine dining restaurants that offer a luxurious atmosphere and well crafted dishes. There are also Michelin starred restaurants in town which offer a unique, world-class experience.

Is La Spezia or Bellagio Better for Nightlife?

La Spezia is a town with good options for nightlife and partying. However, Bellagio is a town with minimal options for its evening party scene.

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.

Bellagio doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. The town is filled with opulence and luxury, and the nightlife is no exception. Sip cocktails and fine wine while you listen to music or take in the atmosphere.

Is La Spezia or Bellagio Better for Beaches?

La Spezia is a town with good options for the beache. However, Bellagio is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in La Spezia. The beaches in the area tend to be rocky and pebbly. For the best beaches, head out of town to nearby areas.

Bellagio is not a beach destination.

Is La Spezia or Bellagio Better for its Old Town?

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

Many people head to La Spezia to see the old town. The old town runs between the streets of Corso Cavour and Via Prione and is best explored on foot.

Bellagio does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in La Spezia or Bellagio?

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

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.

Many visitors go to Bellagio to go shopping. You'll find traditional shops mixed in with modern stores. There are high end brands and more local specialty markets that are fun to peruse.

Is La Spezia or Bellagio Better for Families?

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

La Spezia is a family-friendly town. 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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Bellagio. The town has a playground, a small train, and a Museum of Navigational Instruments that kids may enjoy. There's also a beach where everyone can take a swim.

Is La Spezia or Bellagio Better for Couples?

La Spezia and Bellagio both very good destinations for a couple.

La Spezia makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It makes a nice base for visiting nearby sights if the more popular Cinque Terre area is too overwhelming.

Couples visit Bellagio frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The town is a favorite on Lake Como, and couples will appreciate its charming atmosphere and beautiful lake front setting. In a few hours you can soak up the character and magic or this beautiful area.

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

La Spezia is a great destination for backpackers. However, Bellagio is a town with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Bellagio is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Many people visit the town as a day trip, as it can easily be explored in a few hours. Backpackers who don't want to pay the high hotel prices can still enjoy the setting without staying the night.

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

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

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

You'll find some public transit in Bellagio, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses and ferries to town, or you can take a taxi.

Is La Spezia or Bellagio a more walkable city?

Bellagio is very popular for its high level of walkability. Also, La Spezia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Bellagio. The town is small and compact with many pedestrian streets that are best explored 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 La Spezia Worth Visiting? and Is Bellagio Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bellagio or La Spezia?

How long in La Spezia or Bellagio?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in La Spezia or Bellagio to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in La Spezia than Bellagio because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for La Spezia, and 1-2 days is enough time in Bellagio.

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

Couples should spend more time in La Spezia than Bellagio. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in La Spezia 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 Bellagio 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 La Spezia or Bellagio?

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.

Even though Bellagio is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bellagio has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in La Spezia or Bellagio?

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.

Bellagio is a small town where visitors enjoy the shopping and food. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in La Spezia or Bellagio?

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.

Bellagio 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. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in La Spezia or Bellagio?

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.

Bellagio is a popular choice for travelers. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Italy, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy, The Best Historical Tours in Italy, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between La Spezia and Bellagio, we can see that Bellagio is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, La Spezia or Bellagio?

La Spezia has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Bellagio. When comparing the sizes of La Spezia and Bellagio, 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.