Which place is cheaper, La Spezia or Palermo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Palermo 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 Palermo 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.
Palermo
Palermo is a diverse, dynamic, and fun city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.
La Spezia
La Spezia is a lively, convenient, and cultural town. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and beaches.
Palermo and La Spezia: Pros and Cons
Palermo
Pros- Popular museums and historical sights
- Active nightlife
- Good scuba and snorkeling destination
- Popular beach
- Family-friendly
- Good for couples and romance
- Good for backpackers and budget travelers
- Good for students
La Spezia
Pros- Active nightlife
- Popular beach
- Scenic old town
- Family-friendly
- Good for couples and romance
- Good for backpackers and budget travelers
- Less museums and historical sights
Is there more to do in Palermo or La Spezia?
Travelers will usually find more to do in Palermo than La Spezia, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Palermo is more popular for its museums, nightlife, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while La Spezia is known for its historical sights. La Spezia is more touristy than Palermo and is popular for being the gateway to Cinque Terre. Palermo is popular for its mild climate, beautiful architecture, fun atmosphere, and fascinating culture. It is also home to The Cathedral.
How is Palermo different from La Spezia?
Which is Better for a Holiday?
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between La Spezia and Palermo. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Palermo or La Spezia?
Palermo
La Spezia
Palermo is a good destination for its museums and history. However, La Spezia is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.
Palermo offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are a number of grand buildings and impressive architectural buildings that you should visit. The cathedral, the Norman Palace, and Cappella Palatina are among the best.
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 Palermo or La Spezia? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?
Palermo
La Spezia
Both Palermo and La Spezia offer very good local cuisine and restaurants.
Dining out in Palermo is an experience not to be missed. The islands long history and occupation by a range of different groups means that the cuisine is heavily influenced by many different cultures. You'll see influences from Phonecians, Greeks, Arabs and Normans. Local dishes include Pasta alla Norma (pasta and vegetables), Arancine (rice balls), and Cannoli.
The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in La Spezia. 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 Palermo or La Spezia Better for Nightlife?
Palermo
La Spezia
Palermo 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.
Palermo has a large number of nightlife venues. The nightlife scene is surprisingly varied with everything from wine bars by the ocean to dance parties that flood into the street. Some of the most popular areas for nightlife include the old town, Politeama, and Mondello.
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 Palermo or La Spezia Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?
Palermo
La Spezia
Palermo 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 Palermo. The dive season lasts most of the year and there are many beautiful dive spots that are accessible from the city. The water is clear and there is a variety of flora and fauna to see.
La Spezia is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
Is Palermo or La Spezia Better for Beaches?
Palermo
La Spezia
Palermo 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 Palermo for it's beautiful beaches. The city has a number of beautiful beaches, some of which are accessible by public transit. Mondello is a popular option with beautiful views. Capo Gallo is a relaxing option on a nature reserve that is good for divers and nature lovers. Addaura is a lively beach with a number of clubs.
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 Palermo or La Spezia Better for its Old Town?
Palermo
La Spezia
La Spezia is a town with good options for its historic old town charm. However, Palermo does not have a historic old town.
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.
Palermo does not have a historic old town.
Is the Shopping Better in Palermo or La Spezia?
Palermo
La Spezia
Palermo 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.
Palermo is well-known for its shopping. The city offers a mix of high end shopping streets as well as colorful markets that have the feel of a traditional bazaar. Whether you're looking for European brands or local merchandise, this city has an eclectic mix with something for everyone.
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 Palermo or La Spezia Better for Families?
Palermo
La Spezia
Palermo is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, La Spezia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.
Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Palermo is very family-friendly. The city has beaches where everyone can cool off and play in the relaxing waves. There's also a botanical garden and the fascinating Catacombs of the Capuchins. Kids will also enjoy exploring the many diverse markets throughout the city.
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 Palermo or La Spezia Better for Couples?
Palermo
La Spezia
La Spezia is a well-known place for couples. Also, Palermo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for romance.
La Spezia is a very popular place to visit for couples. It makes a nice base for visiting nearby sights if the more popular Cinque Terre area is too overwhelming.
Palermo is a nice destination for couples. The city is filled with fun adventures, unique markets, and relaxing beaches. It makes a great city escape for couples who enjoy spending time outdoors but also having access to an urban setting.
Is Palermo or La Spezia Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?
Palermo
La Spezia
La Spezia is a well-known place for backpackers. Also, Palermo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.
La Spezia is a very popular town for backpackers and budget travelers. It's more affordable than the nearby towns in Cinque Terre, but they're still easily accessible from town.
Plenty of backpackers visit Palermo. There are a decent number of affordable hostels around town as well as plenty of backpackers that keep the scene fun and social.
Is Palermo or La Spezia Better for Students?
Palermo
La Spezia
Palermo is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, La Spezia is not popular with students.
Plenty of students visit Palermo. It's an affordable student destination with a relaxing and laid back vibe. There's enough activity to keep it interesting without a high pressure setting.
La Spezia is not popular with students.
Is Palermo or La Spezia Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?
Palermo
La Spezia
La Spezia is a town with good options for its public transit. However, Palermo is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.
La Spezia has a few public transit options. Buses, trains, and ferry boats offer the main forms of transportation in the area.
Public transit is mostly limited in Palermo. If you stick to the main city center then you can get around by city bus, but if you're headed anywhere else, you'll likely want to take a taxi or Uber.
Is Palermo or La Spezia a more walkable city?
Palermo
La Spezia
Palermo and La Spezia both are very good when exploring on foot.
Palermo is a very walkable destination. The city is walkable with a number of streets closed to cars and pedestrian only.
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 Palermo Worth Visiting? and Is La Spezia Worth Visiting?.
Should I spend more time in La Spezia or Palermo?
How long in Palermo or La Spezia?
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Palermo and La Spezia. In our opinion, Palermo has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Palermo than La Spezia. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Palermo, and 2-3 days is enough time in La Spezia.
Families should spend more time in Palermo than La Spezia. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Palermo, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in La Spezia than Palermo. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in La Spezia that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
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How many days in Palermo or La Spezia? Ideal Length of StayPalermo 1-3La Spezia 2-3
One day in Palermo or La Spezia?
You'll find nightlife and food around the city of Palermo. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Palermo has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
In La Spezia, you'll find shopping and nightlife. This town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.
A weekend in Palermo or La Spezia?
You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the dynamic destination of Palermo. 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 city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.
In La Spezia, you'll find nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that La Spezia has to offer.
Five days in Palermo or La Spezia?
Travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the diverse city of Palermo. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a great beach destination, too. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
La Spezia is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.
A week in Palermo or La Spezia?
Palermo 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.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in La Spezia. Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting La Spezia. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy, and The Best Contiki Tours to Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPalermo €92La Spezia €198
The average daily cost (per person) in Palermo is €92, 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 Palermo and La Spezia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPalermo €56La Spezia €113
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPalermo €112La Spezia €226
Compare Hotels in Palermo and La Spezia
Looking for a hotel in Palermo 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: Palermo Hotel Prices and La Spezia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Palermo €5.64La Spezia €41
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Palermo
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Palermo:
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Bus to Monreale€3.00
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Bus From Airport€6.00
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90 Minute Bus Pass€1.30
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Short Taxi Ride€4.35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Palermo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Palermo:
- Transfers From / to Palermo Airport: $108
- Transfer from Palermo Airport to Verdura Resort: $213
- Transfer from Palermo Airport to Palermo: $131
- Quintocanto Hotel & Spa to Palermo Airport, Private Transfer: $37
- Private transfer from Palermo airport to ibis Styles hotel or vice versa: $37
- Private transfer from Palermo airport to Verdura Resort Sciacca or vice versa: $233
- Private transfer from Palermo airport to Palazzo Brunaccini or vice versa: $37
- Private transfer from Palermo airport to NH Palermo Hotel or vice versa: $42
- Private transfer from Palermo airport to Marsala port or vice versa: $109
- Private transfer from Palermo airport to Hotel Tonic or vice versa: $37
- Private transfer from Palermo airport to Hotel Politeama or vice versa: $44
- Private transfer from Palermo airport to Bio Hotel Palermo or vice versa: $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Spezia
Also for La Spezia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from La Spezia Hotels to La Spezia Cruise Port: $22
- Private Transfer from La Spezia Cruise Port to La Spezia hotels: $22
- Private Transfer from La Spezia Port to La Spezia Hotels: $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
- Arrival Private Transfer from La Spezia to Porto Venere or Lerici: $91
- La Spezia Cruise Port to Florence - Arrival Private Transfer: $130
- Private Transfer from La Spezia to Cinque Terre by car or van: $141
- Private Transfer La Spezia to Pisa by Business or Luxury Vehicle: $202
- Private Transfer from La Spezia to Florence : $242
- Arrival Private Transfer La Spezia to Genoa by Business or Luxury Vehicle: $253
- La Spezia Cruise Port to Florence - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $260
Is it cheaper to fly into Palermo or La Spezia?
Prices for flights to both La Spezia and Palermo 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 dayPalermo €29La Spezia €56
Typical Food Prices in Palermo
Some typical examples of dining costs in Palermo are as follows:
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)€32
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Fast Food Lunch€5.32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Palermo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Palermo.
- Street Food Tour: $42
- Street Food Tour in CruiserCar: $64
- Street Food Tour: $65
- Explore Palermo's with a Food Tour & Pizza Making Class: $67
- Small Group Night Street Food Tour: $68
- Pizza and Gelato Cooking Class with Dinner and Wine: $74
- Palermo Traditional Food Tour: $74
- Night Street Food Tour of Palermo : $75
- Palermo's Delight: Unleash the Secrets of Pizza and Gelato Making: $75
- Secret Food Tours Palermo: $84
- Street Food Tour in Ballarò and Vucciria Markets: $85
- Walking Street Food Tour with the Chef: $91
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
- Portovenere: Sunset Cruise with Aperitif and Dinner: $96
- Tour of Apericena at Sunset and Dinner on Boat: $96
- La Spezia Cinque Terre Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $97
- Small-group Street food tour in La Spezia: $97
- Cesarine: Dining & Cooking Demo at Local's Home in La Spezia: $114
- Porto Venere & Islands Sunset Boat Tour w/ Dinner: $137
- Market Tour & Lunch/Dinner at a Cesarina's Home: $148
- 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Palermo €17La Spezia €37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Palermo
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Palermo are as follows:
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Capuchin Catacombs (for 2)€6.00
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Castello della Zisa Entrance (for Two)€12
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Theater Tickets (for Two)€49
Tours and Activities in Palermo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Palermo are as follows:
- 4 Hours Private Architectural Tour in Palermo: $165
- Agrigento - Private Tour to the Valley of the Temples from Palermo: $295
- Agrigento Valley of the Temples and Villa Romana del Casale Tour from Palermo: $133
- Ballaro 'street food market tour & Santa Rosalia Sanctuary: $208
- Cappella Palatina and Palazzo dei Normanni Tour: $91
- Captivating Agrigento Sunset Tour of Valle dei Templi: $43
- Capuchin Catacombs and Monreale Cathedral Private Tour: $192
- Cesarine: Market Tour & Dining at a Local's Home in Palermo: $152
- Discover the Charm of A 3-Hour UNESCO Sites Walking Tour: $38
- Eating Street Food & Market Tour: $116
- English or Spanish tour to immersive museum + lunch: $37
- Entrance ticket to the Radici Piccolo Museo Della Natura: $11
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: $18
- La Spezia Walking Tour: $39
- From Round-Trip to Pisa Cruise Shore Excursion: $42
- A Sightseeing Tour with Italian-Inspired Music: $43
- From La Spezia to Pisa with optional Leaning Tower Ticket: $49
- The Sunset Tour: $54
- 4-Hour E-Bike Guided Tour of the Tellaro and Montemarcello Villages: $55
- Pisa Tour by bus: $55
- From Florence & Pisa Cruise Shore Excursion: $58
- Portovenere & the 3 Islands: Sunset Boat Tour from La Spezia: $58
- Boat Tour of the 3 Islands & Portovenere: $65
- Cinque Terre Tour by Boat: $68
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPalermo €11La Spezia €35
Typical Alcohol Prices in Palermo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Palermo:
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Beer€2.56
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Bottle of Quality Wine€11
Sample the Local Flavors in Palermo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Palermo:
- Pub Crawl Palermo: $16
- Wine Tasting with Snacks at Bottega Monteleone: $40
- Natural Local Wine Tasting & Sicilian Tapas: $49
- Natural Wine Tasting with snacks at Bottega Monteleone: $53
- From Sicily with Love: Palermo food & Wine Tour: $81
- 2-Hour Sicilian Cheese and Wine Tasting Tour: $128
- From Erice and Marsala Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $180
- Wine Tasting for Small Groups in the Palermo Countryside: $196
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: $213
- Lucca city tour and Pisa tower + wine tasting from La Spezia Port: $217
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Palermo and La Spezia, we can see that La Spezia is more expensive. And not only is Palermo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Palermo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Palermo 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 Palermo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Palermo Expensive? and Is La Spezia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Palermo or La Spezia?
Palermo has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of La Spezia. When comparing the sizes of Palermo 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.