Which place is cheaper, La Spezia or Naples?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Naples or La Spezia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Naples or La Spezia, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Naples
Naples is a authentic, gritty, and colorful city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.
La Spezia
La Spezia is a lively, convenient, and cultural town. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and nightlife.
Naples and La Spezia: Pros and Cons
Naples
Pros- Popular museums and historical sights
- Active nightlife
- Family-friendly
- Good for couples and romance
- Good for backpackers and budget travelers
- Good for students
- Big city activities
La Spezia
Pros- Active nightlife
- Popular beach
- Family-friendly
- Good for couples and romance
- Good for backpackers and budget travelers
- Less museums and historical sights
Is there more to do in Naples or La Spezia?
Travelers will usually find more to do in Naples than La Spezia, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Naples is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while La Spezia is known for its beaches. La Spezia is more touristy than Naples and is popular for being the gateway to Cinque Terre. Naples is popular for its colorful atmosphere, long running history, and influence on world cuisine as the birthplace of pizza. It is also home to Piazza del Plebiscito.
How is Naples different from La Spezia?
Which is Better for a Holiday?
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between La Spezia and Naples. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Naples or La Spezia?
Naples
La Spezia
Naples 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 Naples. Most of the sights are concentrated in the city's historic center. The Naples Harbor is a gateway to the Mediterranean. Also worth visiting are the National Archeological Museum, Capodimonte Royal Palace, Castel Nuovo, and the Catacombs of San Gennaro.
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 Naples or La Spezia? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?
Naples
La Spezia
Naples 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 Naples, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. As the birthplace of pizza, the city has a well known food reputation. Many local dishes, including an authentic Napoli pizza, use simple flavors such as olive oil, garlic, and tomatoes. The dishes are lighter than their northern counterparts and tomatoes are a very popular ingredient. In addition to the pizza, you should try Lasagna Al Forno Napoletana and Spaghetti Alla Vognole. Also check out a pizza making class.
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 Naples or La Spezia Better for Nightlife?
Naples
La Spezia
Naples 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.
Naples has a large number of nightlife venues. The nightlife scene includes small bars, wineries, and dance clubs, but much of the energy and activity is actually focused on being outdoors. There is plenty of live music and many nightclubs are actually "disco bars" that are found tucked away in the city's historic center.
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 Naples or La Spezia Better for Beaches?
Naples
La Spezia
La Spezia is a nice place to visit for the beach. However, Naples is not a beach destination.
La Spezia has a beach worth visiting. The beaches in the area tend to be rocky and pebbly. For the best beaches, head out of town to nearby areas.
Naples is not a beach destination.
Is Naples or La Spezia Better for its Old Town?
Naples
La Spezia
Naples 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 Naples. Most of the city's tourist attractions are found in the historic center, which includes beautiful fountains, grand churches, and an impressive network of catacombs and caves.
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 Naples or La Spezia?
Naples
La Spezia
Naples is a very popular place for its shopping opportunities. Also, La Spezia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.
Naples is well-known for its shopping. There are shopping streets and districts that have boutique clothing vendors, high end brands, and major chains. There's plenty of diversity in the shopping scene and some of the best shopping areas include Via Toledo, the Chiaia District, and Poggioreale Market.
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 Naples or La Spezia Better for Families?
Naples
La Spezia
Naples and La Spezia are both good destinations for the whole family.
You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Naples. Despite its rough-around-the-edges reputation, the city actually has some fun kid-friendly activities. As the birthplace of pizza, a childhood favorite, eating is a kid approved activity. You can even try your hand at pizza making classes. Other fun kid-friendly activities include exploring the underground city, going to The Science Centre of Citta della Scienza, and running around Parco di Capodimonte.
La Spezia offers lots of family activities. 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 Naples or La Spezia Better for Couples?
Naples
La Spezia
Naples and La Spezia are both great to visit as a couple.
Couples visit Naples frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Dining on pizza, wine tasting, or taking a cruise on the Gulf of Naples all make this city a great couples destination. There are also many romantic day trips in the area, so many couples use Naples as a base for exploring the region.
La Spezia is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. It makes a nice base for visiting nearby sights if the more popular Cinque Terre area is too overwhelming.
Is Naples or La Spezia Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?
Naples
La Spezia
Naples and La Spezia are great places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.
Naples is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. It's more affordable than most of northern Italy, and it has plenty of hostels to choose from. The city makes a great stop for backpackers who want to see a different part of Italy. While not completely off the backpacker trail, Naples is not inundated with tourists the way some other Italian cities are.
La Spezia is very popular with the backpacker crowd. It's more affordable than the nearby towns in Cinque Terre, but they're still easily accessible from town.
Is Naples or La Spezia Better for Students?
Naples
La Spezia
Naples is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, La Spezia is not popular with students.
Plenty of students visit Naples. It's a large city with a lot to see and do. Students also appreciate the many day trips that are available in the area.
La Spezia is not popular with students.
Is Naples or La Spezia Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?
Naples
La Spezia
Naples 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.
Naples has some very good public transit options. There's a metro with two metro lines as well as four suburban train lines. There are also funiculars, regional trains, and ferries to the surrounding 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 Naples or La Spezia a more walkable city?
Naples
La Spezia
Naples and La Spezia both are great when exploring on foot.
Naples is a very walkable destination. The historic center is flat and easy to explore on foot.
La Spezia is very walkable. 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 Naples Worth Visiting? and Is La Spezia Worth Visiting?.
Should I spend more time in La Spezia or Naples?
How long in Naples or La Spezia?
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Naples and La Spezia. In our opinion, Naples has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Naples than La Spezia. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Naples, and 2-3 days is enough time in La Spezia.
Families should spend more time in Naples than La Spezia. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Naples, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Naples than La Spezia. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Naples that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Naples 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 Naples.
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How many days in Naples or La Spezia? Ideal Length of StayNaples 1-3La Spezia 2-3
One day in Naples or La Spezia?
People visit Naples because there is so much to do. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Naples 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 Naples or La Spezia?
People visit Naples because there is so much to do. 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 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 Naples or La Spezia?
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the gritty city of Naples. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Most people head to the area for the food. 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 Naples or La Spezia?
Naples is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNaples €129La Spezia €198
The average daily cost (per person) in Naples is €129, while the average daily cost in La Spezia is €198. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Naples and La Spezia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNaples €66La Spezia €113
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNaples €132La Spezia €226
Compare Hotels in Naples and La Spezia
Looking for a hotel in Naples or La Spezia? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Naples Hotel Prices and La Spezia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Naples €21La Spezia €41
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Naples
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Naples:
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Subway Ticket€1.20
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Alibus From Airport€3.00
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Short Taxi Ride€7.34
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Train to Pompeii€3.20
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Taxi€15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Naples
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Naples:
- transfer from napoli to positano or back: $107
- transfer by luxury car from the airport, station, etc., to the city of Naples: $98
- private transfer from Naples to Sorrento: $251
- private transfer from Naples to Peastum or Peastum to Naples: $109
- private transfer from NAPLES to MATERA: $273
- private transfer Naples to Sorrento: $121
- Vesuvius easy Transfer: $25
- Vesuvio Tour_Transfer+Entrance ticket: $40
- Venice Airport : One Way Transfer to Canazei: $567
- Van Transfer from Naples Apt to Sorrento/Amalfi/Positano: $321
- Trekking The Path of the Gods and Round Trip Transfer: $273
- Transfers from the Beverello pier (Naples) to Fiumicino Aereoprto: $276
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Spezia
Also for La Spezia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Private Transfer from La Spezia to Porto Venere or Lerici: $91
- La Spezia Cruise Port to Florence - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $260
- La Spezia Cruise Port to La Spezia hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- La Spezia Cruise Port to La Spezia hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $44
- Private Transfer Porto Venere or Lerici to La Spezia by car / van: $91
- Private Transfer from La Spezia Cruise Port to Pisa Airport (PSA): $92
- Private Transfer from La Spezia Port to La Spezia Hotels: $22
- Private Transfer from La Spezia to Cinque Terre by car or van: $142
Is it cheaper to fly into Naples or La Spezia?
Prices for flights to both La Spezia and Naples change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayNaples €40La Spezia €56
Typical Food Prices in Naples
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Naples:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)€28
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Three Course Dinner (for Two)€49
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Napoli Pizza€7.24
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Dinner€25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Naples
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Naples.
- Napoli: Traditional Tiramisu Cooking Class with Limoncello: $36
- Small Group Naples Pizza Making Class with Drink Included: $46
- Street Food Tour of Naples with Top-Rated Local Guide & Fun Facts: $46
- Naples Street Food Tour With Local Expert: $46
- Authentic Italian Pizza-Making Workshop with Drinks: $46
- Authentic Pizza Class with Drinks Included in the Center of Naples: $47
- Authentic Italian Pizza Making Class with local pizzaiolo: $53
- Food Tour with Davide: $53
- Virtual Cooking Class: become a Pizza PRO!: $55
- Food Tour of Naples with Davide: $55
- Napoli Street Food Tour in Pignasecca: $58
- Make Neapolitan Pizza With A View Of Naples Like No Other: $59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Spezia
For La Spezia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- La Spezia Cinque Terre Food Tour: $91
- Small-Group Street Food Tour: $95
- Tour of Apericena at Sunset and Dinner on Boat: $96
- Portovenere: Sunset Cruise with Aperitif and Dinner: $96
- La Spezia Cinque Terre Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $97
- Cesarine: Dining & Cooking Demo at Local's Home in La Spezia: $115
- Porto Venere & Islands Sunset Boat Tour w/ Dinner: $138
- Market Tour & Lunch/Dinner at a Cesarina's Home: $149
- Private Cooking Class in an Italian Home: $155
- Market Visit and Seafood Cooking Class with Lunch: $156
- Cesarine: Home Cooking Class & Meal with a Local in La Spezia: $158
- Private Pizza & Tiramisu Class at a Cesarina's home with tasting in La Spezia: $158
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Naples €30La Spezia €37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Naples
Here are a few typical costs in Naples for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Museo Archeologico Nazionale Entrance€9.00
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Castelnuovo Museum Entrance€5.00
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Entrance to Pompeii€11
Tours and Activities in Naples
Here are a few actual costs in Naples for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- From Naples : Discovery Capri with Chairlift Experience : $158
- Guided Tour to Ruins of Pompeii and Vesuvius From Naples: $141
- Herculaneum Private Walking Tour: $164
- Naples City Walking Tour Exploring Naples with a native guide : $87
- Napoli Sight Eating Walk: Food and Sight Tour: $45
- Pompeii private tour: $109
- Positano & Sorrento Private Day Tour: $273
- Private Tour a Pompeii e Sorrento from Napoli: $218
- Royal Palace of Caserta Private Tour for cruise ship : $164
- Walking Tour of Herculaneum with Local Guide: $60
- (Ercolano) Herculaneum , Half Day Private Tour: $136
- 2 Hours Naples Metro Tour with 24 Hour Metro Ticket included: $38
Tours and Activities in La Spezia
For La Spezia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Hop-On Hop-Off Open-Top Bus City Tour Ticket: $27
- From Round-Trip to Pisa Cruise Shore Excursion: $42
- Guided Walking Tour with Italian-Inspired Music: $43
- From La Spezia to Pisa with optional Leaning Tower Ticket: $49
- The Sunset Tour: $54
- Portovenere & the 3 Islands: Sunset Boat Tour from La Spezia: $58
- From Florence & Pisa Cruise Shore Excursion: $58
- Boat Tour of the 3 Islands & Portovenere: $66
- Cinque Terre Tour by Boat: $68
- Sunset Boat Tour with drinks and Snacks: $75
- Sunset Boat Tour with Aperitivo and Snacks: $75
- Kayak Tour Levanto Exploration and Nature: $81
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNaples €21La Spezia €35
Typical Alcohol Prices in Naples
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Naples:
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Beer€4.10
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Beer€4.00
Sample the Local Flavors in Naples
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Naples:
- Guided Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $16
- Mount Vesuvius: Vineyard Tour with Wine Tasting and Lunch: $51
- Regional food and wine tasting: $53
- Guided, FUN Wine Tasting in Napoli: $63
- Guided, FUN Wine Tasting in Naples City Center: $64
- Full-Day Bike Guided Tour in Napoli with Wine Tasting: $64
- Vesuvius Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch Included: $75
- Mount Vesuvius 4-Hour Volcano Tour with Wine Tasting: $79
- Naples Wine Tasting Experience with a Sommelier: $86
- Naples Wine Tasting Experience with a Sommelier: $90
- Vesuvius Half-Day Trip with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $95
- From Wine Tasting Tour on Vesuvius Slopes with Lunch: $97
Sample the Local Flavors in La Spezia
Also in La Spezia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- boat tour with seafood and wine tasting: $214
- Lucca city tour and Pisa tower + wine tasting from La Spezia Port: $217
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Naples and La Spezia, we can see that La Spezia is more expensive. And not only is Naples much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Naples would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Naples 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 Naples.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Naples Expensive? and Is La Spezia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Naples or La Spezia?
Naples has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of La Spezia. When comparing the sizes of Naples 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.