Which place is cheaper, La Spezia or Verona?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Verona or La Spezia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Verona 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.
Verona
Verona is a cultural, beautiful, and stunning city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.
La Spezia
La Spezia is a cultural, lively, and convenient town. Visitors also love the shopping, nightlife, and food.
Verona and La Spezia: Pros and Cons
Verona
Pros- Popular museums and historical sights
- Active nightlife
- Good for couples and romance
- Good for backpackers and budget travelers
- Good for students
- Impressive beauty
- Less family-friendly
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 Verona or La Spezia?
Both La Spezia and Verona have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. Verona is better known for its museums, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while La Spezia is more popular for its beaches. Verona is well known for its role as the setting of one of Shakespeare's most famous plays. La Spezia is well known for being the gateway to Cinque Terre.
How is Verona different from La Spezia?
Which is Better for a Holiday?
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between La Spezia and Verona. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Verona or La Spezia?
Verona
La Spezia
Verona 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 Verona. While most people know Verona as the setting of Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet", there are also many unrelated but still impressive sights around town. Of course you must check out the Casa di Giulietta (Juliet's House and Balcony), but also make sure you visit the fortress of Castelvecchio, Arena di Verona, and Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore.
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 Verona or La Spezia? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?
Verona
La Spezia
Dining out at restaurants in both Verona and La Spezia can be an enjoyable experience.
Verona has a huge number of terrific restaurants. Food is a source of pride for the locals in Verona, and you'll find excellent dishes in most eateries, even those catering specifically to tourists. There are many local recipes that are worth sampling while you're in the area including risotto with tastasal, potato gnocchi, and polenta.
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 Verona or La Spezia Better for Nightlife?
Verona
La Spezia
If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find notable options in both Verona and La Spezia.
If you're looking for night time activities Verona has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene caters to a mature crowd and there is a heavy focus on regional wine. There are many local bars and traditional osterie (inns) where you can sip local wine or hear live music.
There's a variety of activities in the evening in La Spezia. 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 Verona or La Spezia Better for Beaches?
Verona
La Spezia
La Spezia is a popular place for the beache. However, Verona 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.
Verona is not a beach destination.
Is Verona or La Spezia Better for its Old Town?
Verona
La Spezia
Verona 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 Verona. At the heart of the city is the old town, which is filled with medieval and Renaissance style architecture. It's easy to explore this beautiful area on foot.
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 Verona or La Spezia?
Verona
La Spezia
If you're looking to go shopping, Verona and La Spezia both offer plenty of notable spots.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Verona. The most well known shopping street is Corso Santa Anastasia, which has many antique shops as well as jewelry stores and high end boutiques.
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 Verona or La Spezia Better for Families?
Verona
La Spezia
La Spezia is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Verona is not known for its family-friendly activities.
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.
Verona is not the most family-friendly destination. You can head to the top of the the Lamberti Tower and, of course, check out the Romeo and Juliet balcony. Wandering the streets and grabbing gelato is also fun for the whole family.
Is Verona or La Spezia Better for Couples?
Verona
La Spezia
With fun activities for couples, both Verona and La Spezia make for a superb place to visit.
Verona is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. As the setting for Shakespeare's famed "Romeo and Juliet", this town is seeped in romantic history. In addition to checking out the classic balcony, couples can enjoy seeing an opera at Verona Arena or seeking out views of the beautiful city. Crossing the romantic Ponte Pietra is another must-do romantic activity in the area.
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.
Is Verona or La Spezia Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?
Verona
La Spezia
La Spezia is a great town for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Verona is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.
Many backpackers visit La Spezia. It's more affordable than the nearby towns in Cinque Terre, but they're still easily accessible from town.
Verona is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Backpackers rarely spend more than a day or two in town, but there are hostels in the area that offer cheap accommodation.
Is Verona or La Spezia Better for Students?
Verona
La Spezia
Verona is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, La Spezia is not popular with students.
Plenty of students visit Verona. The city offers a more authentic Italian experience than some of the more popular tourist and study abroad destinations in Italy.
La Spezia is not popular with students.
Is Verona or La Spezia Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?
Verona
La Spezia
Verona and La Spezia both offer notable public transit to get you around.
While Verona offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. ATV operates buses through the city.
La Spezia has a few public transit options. Buses, trains, and ferry boats offer the main forms of transportation in the area.
Is Verona or La Spezia a more walkable city?
Verona
La Spezia
Verona and La Spezia are superb when it comes to walkability.
Verona is a very walkable city. It's a compact city that's easy to explore on foot. Many locals get around by walking or biking.
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 Verona Worth Visiting? and Is La Spezia Worth Visiting?.
Should I spend more time in La Spezia or Verona?
How long in Verona or La Spezia?
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Verona and La Spezia. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Verona, and 2-3 days is enough time in La Spezia.
Families should spend more time in La Spezia than Verona. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in La Spezia, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Verona than La Spezia. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Verona that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in La Spezia than Verona 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 La Spezia.
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How many days in Verona or La Spezia? Ideal Length of StayVerona 1-3La Spezia 2-3
One day in Verona or La Spezia?
You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Verona. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Verona 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 Verona or La Spezia?
You'll find museums and nightlife around the stunning destination of Verona. 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 Verona or La Spezia?
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the beautiful city of Verona. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. 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 Verona or La Spezia?
Verona 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 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 10-Day Tours in Italy, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Italy, The Best 2-Week Tours in Italy, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVerona €168La Spezia €198
The average daily cost (per person) in Verona is €168, 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 Verona and La Spezia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVerona €107La Spezia €113
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVerona €214La Spezia €226
Compare Hotels in Verona and La Spezia
Looking for a hotel in Verona 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: Verona Hotel Prices and La Spezia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Verona €6.88La Spezia €41
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Verona
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Verona:
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Bus From Airport€6.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Verona
Also for Verona, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- private transfer to/from Malpensa Airport: $620
- 1-Way private Transfer to Valerio Catullo Airport: $70
- 1-Way Private Transfer to/from Marco Polo Airport: $661
- Verona to Venice Airport VCE Departure Private Transfer: $96
- Verona to Milan Private Transfer: $110
- Verona Private Transfer - to/from any location: $57
- Verona Airport:1-Way Private Transfer to Venice+water taxi: $535
- Verona Airport(VRN): 1-Way Transfer to Venice, Piazzale Roma: $364
- Verona Airport(VRN) to Val Gardena/Alta Badia-Round-Trip Transfer: $207
- Verona Airport (VRN): One Way Transfer to Venice+WaterTaxi: $503
- Verona Airport (VRN) to Verona - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- Verona Airport (VRN) to Venice port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $170
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Spezia
Also for La Spezia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- La Spezia Cruise Port to Florence - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $260
- Private Transfer from La Spezia to Cinque Terre by car or van: $142
- Private Transfer from La Spezia Cruise Port to Pisa Airport (PSA): $92
- 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 La Spezia hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $44
- La Spezia Cruise Port to La Spezia hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Private Transfer from La Spezia Port to La Spezia Hotels: $22
Is it cheaper to fly into Verona or La Spezia?
Prices for flights to both La Spezia and Verona 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 dayVerona €54La Spezia €56
Typical Food Prices in Verona
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Verona:
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)€36
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Casual Lunch (for Two)€23
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Cappucino€1.75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Verona
For Verona, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Guided Food Tour with Wine Tasting: $63
- Tortellini Cooking Class and Lunch with Mamma Ivana: $64
- Eat Drink and Love wine and food tour: $82
- Dining Experience at a local's Home in Castelnuovo del Garda with Show Cooking: $93
- Dining Experience at a local's Home in Fumane with Show Cooking: $93
- Lunch or dinner and cooking demo at a local home in Soave: $93
- Verona Food Tour with Guide: $95
- Food Tour with Amarone Wine Tasting: $95
- Wine and Food Tour with Dinner and Tastings: $96
- Small-group Street food tour in Soave: $97
- Verona Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $101
- Valpolicella: Traditional cooking class with local products: $102
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.Verona €12La Spezia €37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Verona
For Verona, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Juliet's House Entry€4.00
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Verona Card€10
Tours and Activities in Verona
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Verona.
- Amarone wine experience in Verona countryside: $37
- "Let yourself be guided .. Let yourself be pampered" Private Tour: $218
- 3 Hour Shared Walking and Aperitivo Tour of Verona: $70
- 3 Hour Walking tour of Verona and Arena: $142
- 3 Hour Watercolor Private Experience in Verona: $65
- 4-Hour Guided E-bike Tour of the Two Wineries in Bardolino: $119
- A day in the life of Verona - Private tour with a local: $224
- A private tasting tour of Verona, between food and wine: $280
- Adventure in e-Bike among medieval villages and castles: $125
- Amarone 2005 Wine Experience: $33
- Amarone Della Valpolicella Wine Experience - Meet the Vogadori Family: $38
- Amarone Wine Experience at Montresor winery: $33
Tours and Activities in La Spezia
For La Spezia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4-Hour Guided Boat Tour with Aperitif at Sunset in Spezia: $137
- 6-Hour Guided Tour Portovenere and Cinque Terre with aperitif: $109
- Afternoon Boat Tour to Cinque Terre with brunch on board: $153
- Boat Tour of the 3 Islands & Portovenere: $66
- Boat Tours 5 Terre: $137
- Boat tour 5 terre & Portovenere Food - drink - music - swim : $163
- Boat tour Cinque Terre and Gulf of Poets from La Spezia: $186
- Caving adventure at the Caves of Equi Alpi Apuane: $142
- Cesarine: Market Tour & Dining at a Local's Home in La Spezia: $152
- Cinque Terre & Portovenere: Boat Tour: $142
- Cinque Terre Gems: UNESCO Sites & Secrets Tour: $619
- Cinque Terre SHARED boat tour, Amazing Experience : $164
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVerona €11La Spezia €35
Sample the Local Flavors in Verona
Also in Verona, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine tasting in Bardolino: $26
- Valpolicella Wine Tour and Tasting in Medieval Court: $33
- Amarone Wine Tour: $35
- Montresor Winery Visit with Wine Tasting and Snacks: $37
- Valdadige: Roeno Guided Tour and Wine tasting: $37
- Verona area: Wine Tasting Experience in Valpolicella: $38
- Food and Wine Tasting in Valpolicella: $38
- Unique Wine tasting in Verona, with Amarone docg: $41
- Lazise: Historical Center Wine Tasting Tour: $43
- Lake Garda: Wine Tour & Tasting Experience in Bardolino area: $44
- Wine Tasting near Juliet's Balcony in Verona: $45
- Wine Tasting in Underground Cellar in Verona City Center : $46
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 Verona and La Spezia, we can see that La Spezia is more expensive. And not only is Verona much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Verona would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Verona 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 Verona.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Verona Expensive? and Is La Spezia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Verona or La Spezia?
Verona has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of La Spezia. When comparing the sizes of Verona 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.