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

Should you visit Paphos or La Spezia?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Paphos 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.

Paphos

Paphos is a cultural, coastal, and overlooked town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.

La Spezia

La Spezia is a convenient, cultural, and lively town. It's also known for beaches, shopping, and nightlife.

Paphos and La Spezia: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Paphos or La Spezia?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Paphos. Although Paphos and La Spezia are popular destinations, Paphos has more sights and attractions for tourists. Paphos is famous for its historical sights, rich culture, and beautiful churches. It is also well known for Paphos Archaeological Park. La Spezia is famous for being the gateway to Cinque Terre.

How is Paphos different from La Spezia?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Paphos is very popular for its museums and history. However, La Spezia is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

The museums and tourist attractions in Paphos are world-renowned. The area is well known for its impressive archeological ruins, many of which are found at Paphos Archaeological Site. Other impressive sights include the Tombs of the Kings, the Chrysopolitissa Basilica & St. Paul's Pillar, Agia Paraskevi, and Paphos Fort.

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

Paphos 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 Paphos, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. Food is a huge part of the culture and family life in the area. The cuisine is influenced by the surrounding areas and you'll see similarities to Greek, Turkish, and Middle Eastern cuisines. Popular dishes include koupepia (vine leaves stuffed with a filling called gemista), souvlaki (a meat and salad filled pita), and makaronia tou fournou (a pasta dish made with halloumi and béchamel sauce).

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 Paphos or La Spezia Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Paphos or La Spezia has a better nightlife scene.

Paphos has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Most people think of history, culture, beaches, and wine, but the city also has its share of clubs and bars. It's not the party-hard beach destination that you'll find at some Mediterranean tourist areas, but there are still plenty of bars and clubs with atmosphere and style. Head to Agiou Antoniou Street for the most action.

If you're looking for night time activities La Spezia has a few options to choose from. 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 Paphos or La Spezia Better for Resorts?

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

Vacationers flock to Paphos for its luxury resorts. The area is filled with all types of resorts. There are many all-inclusive resorts that cater to families, honeymooners, or luxury vacationers. If you want to experience more of the local culture, there are also smaller boutique hotels or local apartments available.

La Spezia is not a resort destination.

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

Paphos 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 Paphos. There are many snorkeling and dive spots that aren't far away. You'll also find a number of scuba or snorkeling excursions that you can join. The water conditions for snorkeling and diving are best during the summer months.

La Spezia is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Paphos or La Spezia Better for Beaches?

Paphos is very popular for the beache. Also, La Spezia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for the beach.

Paphos offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. Many people head to the area specifically for the beaches. This region has the longest coastline of any region in Cyprus, but keep in mind that some of the best beaches are found outside of the main tourist areas. However, they most are usually accessible by city bus with many remote stretches found along the Akamas Peninsula. Within town the beaches are often rocky and pebbly.

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 Paphos or La Spezia Better for its Old Town?

Paphos and La Spezia both have nice historical old towns that attract visitors.

Many visitors go to Paphos to see the historical old town. The old town is a pleasant area to walk around with a number of interesting buildings.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in La Spezia. The old town runs between the streets of Corso Cavour and Via Prione and is best explored on foot.

Is the Shopping Better in Paphos or La Spezia?

Paphos 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.

Paphos is well-known for its shopping. There are outdoor markets, major shopping streets, and international fashion brands. You can pick up local souvenirs or beach gear that you may have forgotten.

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 Paphos or La Spezia Better for Families?

Paphos 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, Paphos is very family-friendly. There are plenty of outdoor activities that kids will enjoy. Head to the beach or take a walk along the coastline. Animal lovers will appreciate a visit to the zoo, bird park, or aquarium and young thrill seekers will enjoy a day at the Aqua-park of Aphrodite. And, of course, there's also the ruins that kids can have fun exploring.

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 Paphos or La Spezia Better for Couples?

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

Paphos is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. Honeymooners who enjoy history, nature, beaches, and culture will find it all in the area. There are stunning beaches where you can relax in the sun, world renowned archeological ruins where you can immerse yourself in a historical world, and beautiful views around every corner. There are also excellent restaurants and wine tasting opportunities that will make for a memorable trip.

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 Paphos or La Spezia Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Paphos and La Spezia are great places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Paphos. The area is generally accessible with a few good hostels and budget accommodation options sprinkled about. There are great beaches and restaurants as well as plenty of beautiful places to enjoy a walk.

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

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

Paphos 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.

Paphos has some very good public transit options. It's possible to get around by city bus to most places. Buses connect many touristy areas such as Kato Paphos, Tombs of the Kings, Chloraka, Kissonerga, Coral Bay and Paphos Center.

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 Paphos or La Spezia a more walkable city?

La Spezia is a great destination for its walkability. Also, Paphos is still popular, but not quite as popular for its high level of walkability.

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.

Paphos is a somewhat walkable place. The main tourist area is Kato Paphos which is small, compact and easy to walk around, but if you want to head to areas further away then you likely won't be able to travel on foot. It's important to understand where your hotel is located if you're planning to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Paphos Worth Visiting? and Is La Spezia Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in La Spezia or Paphos?

How long in Paphos or La Spezia?

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

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

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

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

One day in Paphos or La Spezia?

You'll find nightlife and food around the town of Paphos. 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.

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 Paphos or La Spezia?

You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the coastal destination of Paphos. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This town 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 Paphos or La Spezia?

You'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the cultural town of Paphos. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this town makes for a great vacation. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer.

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 Paphos or La Spezia?

Paphos 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.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the cultural 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Cyprus, The Best Tours for Seniors to Cyprus, 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 Paphos and La Spezia, we can see that La Spezia is more expensive. And not only is Paphos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Paphos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Paphos 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 Paphos.

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

Which is Bigger, Paphos or La Spezia?

La Spezia has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Paphos. When comparing the sizes of Paphos 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.