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

Should you visit Pamplona or La Spezia?

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

Should I visit Pamplona or La Spezia? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Pamplona

Pamplona is a historic, elegant, and laid-back city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, hiking, and shopping.

La Spezia

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

Pamplona and La Spezia: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Pamplona or La Spezia?

You'll generally find more things to do in Pamplona than La Spezia. Pamplona is bigger than La Spezia, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Pamplona is better known for its museums, nightlife, hiking, and big city activities, while La Spezia is more popular for its beaches. Pamplona is well known for being the home of the Running of the Bulls Festival. Also, Pamplona is famous for The Running of the Bulls Festival. La Spezia is well known for being the gateway to Cinque Terre.

How is Pamplona different from La Spezia?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Pamplona is a good destination for its museums and history. However, La Spezia is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

Pamplona offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Although most people visit in July for the Running of the Bulls, throughout the year there are some interesting museums and sights around town. You can check out the Cathedral of Pamplona, the Museo de Navarra, and the main plaza in town, Plaza del Castillo.

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

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Pamplona and La Spezia.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Pamplona. Local cuisine includes lots of fresh vegetables like mushrooms, artichokes, asparagus, and onion. You'll find many unique dishes in the area, and you shouldn't leave without trying the txistorra (sausage), revuelto de setas (eggs and mushrooms), and ajoarriero (cod).

La Spezia has a number of nationally recognized food spots and 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.

Is Pamplona or La Spezia Better for Nightlife?

Pamplona 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.

Pamplona has a large number of nightlife venues. There's a good sized university population that keeps the nightlife active around town. The Old Quarter is likely where you'll find the most going on, particularly around Calle San Nicolás and Calle Estafeta. Earlier in the evening the crowd is pretty young, but as the evening passes you'll find the crowd matures a bit.

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 Pamplona or La Spezia Better for Beaches?

La Spezia is a popular place for the beache. However, Pamplona is not a beach destination.

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.

Pamplona is not a beach destination.

Is Pamplona or La Spezia Better for its Old Town?

It's fun to wander around the notable old towns in both Pamplona and La Spezia.

Many people head to Pamplona to see the old town. You'll find elegant buildings and grand plazas around the Old Quarter.

La Spezia has an old town worth visiting. The old town runs between the streets of Corso Cavour and Via Prione and is best explored on foot.

Is Pamplona or La Spezia Better for Hiking?

Pamplona is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, La Spezia is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Pamplona. It's a stop off on the famed Camino de Santiago, so if you want to walk part of the route, this is a nice place to explore.

La Spezia is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Pamplona or La Spezia?

Both Pamplona and La Spezia are notable shopping destinations.

Pamplona offers some nice shopping areas. You'll find some good markets around town. It's also fun to shop for local handicrafts or souvenirs to remember your trip by.

La Spezia has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There's a morning market at Piazza del Mercato as well as many clothing and souvenir shops around town.

Is Pamplona or La Spezia Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Pamplona or La Spezia.

Pamplona is a family-friendly place to visit. The city is very green, with many parks and gardens where kids can stretch their legs. There's also the Pamplona Planetarium and several museums that relate to environmental education.

La Spezia is a family-friendly city. 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 Pamplona or La Spezia Better for Couples?

La Spezia is a well-known place for its romantic activities. Also, Pamplona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

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.

Pamplona is a good city for couples to visit. Although it's most known for the Running of the Bulls in July, the city also has some interesting sights at other times of the year. Couples can walk around the city walls, or explore the many parks in town. There are also some interesting museums.

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

Both Pamplona and La Spezia are superb destinations for backpackers.

Pamplona is a great city to visit for backpackers. Backpackers are drawn to this city during July for the Running of the Bulls festival. It's also a stop along the Camino de Santiago, which brings in a young, budget-oriented crowd.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit La Spezia. It's more affordable than the nearby towns in Cinque Terre, but they're still easily accessible from town.

Is Pamplona or La Spezia Better for Students?

Pamplona is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, La Spezia is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Pamplona. This is a quiet city, which appeals to some students. The laid back atmosphere makes it a nice place to relax and learn.

La Spezia is not popular with students.

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

Both Pamplona and La Spezia offer notable public transit options.

Pamplona has a few public transit options. There's a comprehensive bus system around town.

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

Is Pamplona or La Spezia a more walkable city?

Pamplona and La Spezia both are superb when exploring on foot.

Pamplona is a very walkable city. It's a stop off on the Camino de Santiago, so many people arrive on foot. It's also an easy city to explore 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 Pamplona Worth Visiting? and Is La Spezia Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in La Spezia or Pamplona?

How long in Pamplona or La Spezia?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Pamplona and La Spezia. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in La Spezia than in Pamplona. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Pamplona, and 2-3 days is enough time in La Spezia.

Couples should spend more time in La Spezia than Pamplona. 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.

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

One day in Pamplona or La Spezia?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Pamplona. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Pamplona has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

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.

A weekend in Pamplona or La Spezia?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic destination of Pamplona. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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 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.

Five days in Pamplona or La Spezia?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the laid-back city of Pamplona. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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.

A week in Pamplona or La Spezia?

Pamplona is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, 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 Pamplona and La Spezia, we can see that La Spezia is more expensive. And not only is Pamplona much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pamplona would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pamplona 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 Pamplona.

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

Which is Bigger, Pamplona or La Spezia?

Pamplona has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of La Spezia. When comparing the sizes of Pamplona 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.