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

Should you visit Nice 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 Nice 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.

Nice

Nice is a glamourous, beautiful, and opulent seaside destination. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Because of its quaint atmosphere, it draws plenty of visitors, too. Visitors also love the food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.

La Spezia

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

Nice and La Spezia: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Nice or La Spezia?

You'll generally find more things to do in Nice than La Spezia. Nice is bigger than La Spezia, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Nice is better known for its food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, shopping, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while La Spezia is more popular for its museums. Nice is more touristy than La Spezia and is popular for its beachfront setting in the French Riviera as well as its popularity with A-list celebrities. Also, Nice is famous for The Promenade des Anglais. La Spezia is well known for being the gateway to Cinque Terre.

How is Nice different from La Spezia?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

La Spezia is a moderate town for its sights and museums. However, Nice does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Nice does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Nice 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 Nice, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. The cuisine brings together fresh regional ingredients and mixes Provençal and Niçoise flavors. You'll find a lot of Italian influence as well. Fresh seafood is the thing to try while you're in town, but other local favorites include socca, Ratatouille, and Salade niçoise.

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 Nice or La Spezia Better for Nightlife?

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

Nice is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. The city has some of the best nightlife on the Cote d'Azur. You'll find a number of nightclubs along the seaside as well a bars and pubs in the Old Town. Some of the best clubs are along Promenade des Anglais.

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 Nice or La Spezia Better for Resorts?

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

Vacationers flock to Nice for its luxury resorts. The city has boutique hotels as well high end luxury resorts. Popular options include Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée, Hôtel Suisse, and AC Hotel by Marriott.

La Spezia is not a resort destination.

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

Nice is a good destination for its diving and snorkeling. However, La Spezia is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery in Nice. There are some places where you can arrange a snorkeling or dive trip to explore the underwater setting.

La Spezia is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Nice or La Spezia Better for Beaches?

Nice 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 Nice for it's beautiful beaches. The city has about 4 miles of beach along its coastline and there are both public and private beaches available. La Réserve is a public beach with a laid back and fun vibe. Plage Beau Rivage is a private beach with many amenities, making it a favorite for visitors. Blue Beach is another private beach that is very family-friendly.

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 Nice or La Spezia Better for its Old Town?

Nice 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 Nice. Wandering around the charming old town is a quintessential part of visiting this city. There are many historic churches and squares, as well as great restaurants and shops that you can pop in.

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 Nice or La Spezia?

Nice 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.

Nice is well-known for its shopping. The city has long been a favorite for the rich and famous, so you'll find plenty of shopping opportunities around town. The boutique shops are chic, trendy, and fashionable, but for those on a budget, you can sometimes find a unique local purchase in your budget.

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 Nice or La Spezia Better for Families?

Both Nice and La Spezia are notable to visit with kids.

Nice is a family-friendly place to visit. The town has many fun playgrounds, kid-friendly beaches, and unique cultural opportunities that kids can enjoy. It also makes a great base for exploring the French Riviera and everything that it has to offer.

La Spezia is a family-friendly seaside destination. 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 Nice or La Spezia Better for Couples?

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

Nice is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. The old town is filled with romance and charm. You can also take a walk along the Promenade Des Anglais or soak up the romantic countryside that surrounds the town.

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 Nice or La Spezia Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

La Spezia is a well-known place for backpackers. Also, Nice is not as famous, but is still a good seaside destination to visit 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.

Plenty of backpackers visit Nice. Because it's one of the most popular tourist destinations in France, many backpackers make their way here. Nice is known for its high end vibe, so it can be challenging to find affordable options, but if you know where to look, they are around.

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

Nice 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.

Nice has some very good public transit options. There are both buses and trams.

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 Nice or La Spezia a more walkable city?

Nice 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 Nice. You should definitely spend some time exploring the 7 kilometer long Promenade des Anglais.

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

Should I spend more time in La Spezia or Nice?

How long in Nice or La Spezia?

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

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

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

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

One day in Nice or La Spezia?

You'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the quaint seaside destination of Nice. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. 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.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of La Spezia. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Nice or La Spezia?

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the glamourous destination of Nice. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This seaside destination offers a variety of activities to choose from.

La Spezia is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Nice or La Spezia?

You'll find nightlife and food around the beautiful seaside destination of Nice. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this seaside destination makes for a great vacation. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this seaside destination has to offer.

You'll find food and shopping around the lively destination of La Spezia. This town offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Nice or La Spezia?

Nice 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.

The lively town of La Spezia offers shopping and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, 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 Nice and La Spezia, we can see that La Spezia is more expensive. And not only is Nice much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nice would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nice 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 Nice.

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

Which is Bigger, Nice or La Spezia?

Nice has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of La Spezia. When comparing the sizes of Nice 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.