La Spezia

1. Cinque Terre

    1.1 Riomaggiore

    1.2 Manarola

    1.3 Corniglia

    1.4 Vernazza

    1.5 Monterosso

2. The Boattrip

3. Informations about the port of La Spezia

4. More Sights for La Spezia

5. Book shore excursions

    5.1 Meine Landausflüge

    5.2 GetYourGuide

La Spezia is an ideal port for cruise travelers looking to explore the Italian Riviera. The city offers a charming blend of history, culture, and stunning natural scenery. Visitors can explore impressive fortifications, museums, and the picturesque harbor. La Spezia also serves as a perfect starting point for excursions to the renowned Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its colorful villages and spectacular coastal hikes. The city itself invites visitors to enjoy historic buildings, lively markets, and Italian cuisine. With its central location and good infrastructure, La Spezia is a popular port of call for cruise ships to discover the beauty of Liguria.

The Cinque Terre consist of five unique jewels on the Ligurian coast. Monterosso al Mare, the largest village, attracts visitors with its wide sandy beaches and lemon groves. Picturesque Vernazza, with its natural harbor and seaside piazza, is often considered the most beautiful of the villages. Corniglia is the only one perched high on a cliff; it is accessible only via a long staircase or by bus, which gives it a peaceful atmosphere. Manarola is world-famous for its colorful houses clinging dramatically to the cliffs—a favorite motif for postcards. Finally, there is vibrant Riomaggiore, known for its steep alleys and romantic harbor views. Together, they form a UNESCO World Heritage site of incomparable beauty.

Riomaggiore is the southernmost village of the Cinque Terre and impresses with its steep, colorful tower houses that cling closely to the rocks. The small harbor, where fishing boats bob in the water, is particularly photogenic. The village is also the starting point of the famous 'Via dell’Amore' (Lover’s Lane), which connects Riomaggiore with Manarola.

Manarola is considered one of the most photogenic villages in the world. Famous for its colorful houses clinging boldly to the steep cliffs, it offers a magical sight, especially at sunset. The village is well-known for its sweet Sciacchetrà wine and the peaceful marina, where visitors can swim in the deep blue water.

Corniglia is the quiet gem of the Cinque Terre. As the only one of the five villages not located directly by the sea, it is perched on a high rocky plateau surrounded by wine terraces. Visitors can reach the village via the impressive 'Lardarina' staircase with its 382 steps, or comfortably by shuttle bus from the train station.

Vernazza is often described as the most beautiful village of the Cinque Terre. It impresses with its natural harbor, the striking Church of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia located right at the water's edge, and the Doria Castle towering above. With its cozy piazza and colorful boats, it embodies the perfect Italian postcard idyll on the Riviera.

Monterosso al Mare is the largest and most easily accessible village of the Cinque Terre. It attracts visitors with the region's only large sandy beach and a lively promenade. While the old town charms with its narrow alleys, the newer part, Fegina, offers modern amenities and the imposing Statue of the Giant.

Originally, we wanted to see all five villages, but we quickly realized that this is hardly possible unless you manage to catch the first boat at 9:00 AM. And even then, it is still a challenge. When we arrived at the first village, we decided not to get off right away because a long queue of tourists had already formed at the pier, waiting to head to the next village. So, we stayed on until the last village and only disembarked there.

We took a little look around Monterosso. The village with its narrow alleys is truly beautiful, but of course, it’s very crowded during the high season. Because of that, we only took a short stroll and had a bite to eat. The prices are quite steep, yet all the restaurants were very busy.

Here you will find information about the location of the port, public transportation, rental cars, and options for independent excursions.

La Spezia can be explored very well independently. Here you can see the highlights awaiting you.

Meine Landausflüge offer you fantastic cruise trips at the most popular ports worldwide. Typically, they are available in much smaller groups and at more affordable prices than the cruise line’s own excursions. All our options are carefully selected to guarantee you an unforgettable outing experience.

• Small group sizes  
• Punctual return guarantee  
• Convenient pick-up and drop-off service from/to the port  
• Money-back guarantee for itinerary changes and port cancellations  
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour (Flex option up to 60 minutes before the tour start)

With GetYourGuide, you can book land excursions in small groups, often at better prices than those offered by cruise lines. All experiences are carefully selected and reviewed by experts. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start of the excursion.

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