Is La Spezia expensive to visit?
La Spezia is a popular town that draws numerous visitors, each showcasing different travel styles and spending habits. You'll find a wide array of accommodation options, such as luxury hotels, mid-range places, or budget-friendly hostels.
Although La Spezia can be quite pricey if you let it be, you can cut costs by eating at less expensive restaurants and taking public transit.
On average, budget travelers spend $117 (€103) per day, mid-range travelers spend $267 (€235) per day, and luxury travelers spend around $508 (€447) per day. These costs are calculated from the expenses of previous travelers to La Spezia.
Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, La Spezia is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Utrecht or Copenhagen.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is La Spezia Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to La Spezia?
The average La Spezia trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these La Spezia travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers. Also, you can see more details at How much does a trip to La Spezia cost?
Realistic Expectations for Your Travel Budget
Setting realistic expectations for your travel budget is important. Many people think they can visit La Spezia on a tight budget, but most travelers aren't comfortable with a low "shoestring" budget. Think about what you enjoy during your vacations and how you typically travel. Do you prefer resorts, vacation rentals, or hostels? Do you want to visit museums, sights, and participate in activities? Is dining out a priority? These factors will shape both your budget and your itinerary.
Who Exactly is a Budget Traveler?
While you might think you're a budget traveler, without giving up many of your usual comforts, you'll likely need to spend more than the $117 per day that backpackers often spend.
Backpackers often work within this tight budget by staying in hostel dorms, eating fast food or street food, using public transit, and mainly visiting free attractions.
Thankfully, La Spezia is filled with plenty of hostels, such as Grand Hostel Manin, Costello, and 5 Terre Backpackers City. Staying in these hostels means you can enjoy low-cost dorm accommodation and a fun social atmosphere, although amenities may be basic. Visitors to La Spezia often find food to be a highlight, but budget travelers may only indulge in street food or cook their own meals in hostels, missing some of the area's best culinary experiences.
Is Your Travel Style Average?
If you're a couple or a family on a fun getaway, you might want to choose a mid-range hotel, enjoy meals at well-liked restaurants, and visit the key museums and attractions that come with entry fees. Those traveling to La Spezia often aim to see the major attractions, museums, and noteworthy landmarks. Most activities are not free, after all. Therefore, it's realistic to plan on a daily budget of about $267 per person, per day.
There are plenty of hotels and vacation rentals available in La Spezia. If you're traveling with companions, sharing a hotel with a partner, friend, or kids can help lower costs. Families should seek out hotels and dining options that are suitable for children. Affittacamere Le Camere Nel Corso is a wonderful family-friendly hotel, and Affittacamere Villa Marcella is another excellent choice. For more family and couple-oriented hotels, visit our hotel cost guide for La Spezia here.
Want to Escape the Daily Grind in Style?
If you envision a trip that covers everything with high-end amenities and top-tier service, be ready for a daily expense near $508. Enjoying nicer hotels, dining at acclaimed restaurants, participating in extravagant activities, and using taxis or private drivers to navigate the town will require a premium budget. Also, higher-end tours are common with luxury travelers, such as Cinque Terre Sailing Day Trip from La Spezia - offered by Viator.
Accommodation Budget in La Spezia
Hotel prices in La Spezia can really fluctuate, especially between budget and luxury options. Expect higher costs during peak summer season, when rates climb from an off-season average of $113 up to around $211. From $80 for budget options to $351 for luxury hotels, there's something for everyone. Hostels, particularly dorms, are typically cheaper. Book early or travel in the low season for better prices.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid in La Spezia for two people for a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $248 (€219). For one person sharing a room, the average price paid for a hotel room is $124 (€109) per night. These costs are from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in La Spezia? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
The most affordable highest rated hotels in La Spezia include:
- Il Murice starting at $83
- 88 Miglia starting at $118
- Gli Ulivi Di Montalbano starting at $122
- Affittacamere Casa Dane starting at $64
- Monteverdi Resort starting at $80
La Spezia's great public transit offers the flexibility to stay farther from the town, but be mindful that your transportation costs may increase, and it could be a time drain.
Choosing to travel outside of summer and in the low or shoulder season will give you lower hotel prices and less tourist congestion.
Walking is a common way to explore La Spezia, so look for a place right in the heart of the action. This might, however, come at a higher price.
The town's historic old town attracts many visitors. Hotels in this area might be more expensive, but they often boast a unique character and are conveniently located near everything.
Transportation Budget in La Spezia
La Spezia has a solid public transit system that covers many major attractions. Buses, trains, and ferry boats offer the main forms of transportation in the area. If you're looking to save time and money, public transit is a great choice as long as it's close to your destination. Taxis and rideshares are also available throughout town.
Visitors who like to stroll and explore will truly enjoy their time here. The town is easy to walk around and you'll find a pedestrian-only area downhill from the train station.
Public Transit: 
(good)
Walkability: (great)
Calculated from travelers like you
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On average, past travelers have spent $47 (€41) per person, per day, on local transportation in La Spezia. The cost of a taxi ride or rideshare service (Uber/Lyft) in La Spezia is significantly more than public transportation.
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Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$47
€41
By plane, the nearest airport is Pisa International Airport (84 km away), followed by Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (111 km away).
You can also fly into Milan and pick up a train easily that travels to La Spezia.
By train, there is a route that goes from Milan through Genoa and on to La Spezia. The travel time by train from Milan is about three hours. There is also a train that goes between La Spezia and Levanto, passing through Cinque Terre along the way.
Trains and buses also take passengers to nearby Florence (roughly an hour or two).
Ensure that your hotel has easy parking arrangements if you're planning to drive.
Some of the standard transportation options and hotel transfers include:
- Private Transfer from La Spezia hotels to La Spezia Port for $65 details
- La Spezia Cruise Port to La Spezia hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer for $131 details
- Private Transfer from La Spezia to Cinque Terre by car or van for $152 details
How much does it cost to go to La Spezia? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in La Spezia will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in La Spezia
The food in La Spezia is terrific, and you should make sure to take time to taste all of the local flavors. 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.
Calculated from travelers like you
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While restaurant and meal prices in La Spezia can vary significantly, the average cost of food in La Spezia is $109 (€96) per day, per person, based on the spending habits of previous travelers.
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Food2
Meals for one day
$109
€96
When dining out, the average daily cost for food in La Spezia is around $109 (€96) per person, with previous travelers spending from $48 to $202. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.
Typical meal prices in La Spezia are as follows:
- Breakfast: $11 to $33
- Lunch: $16 to $43
- Dinner: $33 to $76
- Coffee: $9
- Fast Food or Street Food: $16
The eats of Italy are often taken as very serious business. Food is a large part of every culture, a way to experience the flavors of a region beyond sights and sounds. La Spezia is a place that exemplifies Ligurian cuisine with items like focaccia of all varieties-stuffed with meat and cheese or topped with olive oil and herbs-as well as an endless range of homemade pastas and vegetable pies. Pies like these can be filled with any variety of veggies and greens including leeks, swiss chard, spinach, zucchini, artichokes, carrots, and onions amongst others. Being a city on the water, La Spezia also has restaurants with a great selection of fresh fish and seafood. Mussels are especially popular as are anchovies which can be marinated into filets, turned into sauce, or even stuffed. And then there is the native sauce of the region-pesto made from fresh ingredients including basil leaves, olive oil, grated parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and marjoram. To accompany any of these dishes, be sure to try the traditional white wine of the region, Vermentino.
Many hotels include breakfast in their price, while some add it on as an extra charge. The price and quality can vary depending on the hotel. Knowing ahead of time can help you decide if you need to spend even more money. Maybe it's worth your money for the delicious buffet at the hotel. Or, perhaps you should just go to a nearby bakery or cafe that's much cheaper.
Take a water bottle with you to save on drinks. It's also an environmentally friendly option.
If you're planning to take a tour, make sure you know which meals are included beforehand. You might be on the hook to pay for some of the food yourself which can add to your budget.
Taking a food tour or cooking class is a great way to experience the culture in La Spezia. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. A few of the best culinary activities here include:
- Taste Cinque Terre on a Food Tour by Do Eat Better for $104 details
- Morning or evening tour with aperitif, lunch or dinner and bathroom breaks for $175 details
- Cesarine: Dining & Cooking Demo at Local's Home in La Spezia for $116 details
Sightseeing and Activities Budget in La Spezia
Visitors find La Spezia irresistible, especially for its food, romance, budget-friendly accommodations, and nightlife.
Calculated from travelers like you
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Sightseeing activities, entertainment, and entrance tickets in La Spezia typically cost an average of $44 (€39) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$44
€39
While visitors use the city as a waypoint and do not necessarily come to La Spezia for its sights there are a handful of museums, churches, and other landmarks worth seeing. The Civic Museum Amedeo Lia, for example, has an impressive collection of works of all kinds-paintings, miniatures, bronze, copper, ivory and wooden statues, glassware, and pottery from periods dating classical, late antique, and medieval, up to the 18th century. The Ethnographic Museum is also interesting to see how people lived in the region's past, while others include a museum of modern and contemporary art, a naval museum, and a national transportation museum.
The Castle of San Giorgio is another great attraction with an archaeological museum of its own. It has been recently restored from the original watchtower castle which was originally built by Niccolò Fieschi in 1262. Situated on a hill, you can also get great views of the city from the castle, sweeping down past colorful villas to the sea with rolling mountains as a backdrop.
As far as churches go, the most popular is Santa Maria Assunta Church which dates back to the 13th century. Some of its treasures include a collection of important 14th century paintings as well as a 14th century crucifix made of wood.
As mentioned before, La Spezia is very walkable. The main sights are all within close vicinity with plenty of pedestrian paths to lead the way. Once you've explored the city, there are many other nearby towns and attractions that can be reached by boat or by train on an easy day trip. The medieval towns of Cinque Terre are the most sought out, though there are plenty of others worth a visit. Each has its own unique culture, flavors, and sights to be discovered.
Back to La Spezia, there are also some annual events that may be worthwhile. If you happen to be in the city around the 19th of March, you are likely to run into festivities celebrating the patron saint of La Spezia, San Giuseppe. Then there is also the Palio de Golfo, an annual boat race which occurs as a part of the Festa del Mare celebrated in August.
A nice way to explore destinations in La Spezia is with local tours that last just a few hours. This way you can see as much as possible in an efficient way with knowledgable guides. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- Cinque Terre Boat Tours Experience for $134 details
- Day Shared Experience - Gulf of the Poets, Portovenere & islands for $216 details
- Boat Tour La Spezia - Portovenere - Lerici - Tellaro - Islands for $116 details
La Spezia, Italy
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.