La Spezia Cruise Port to the Town Centre and Station: Shuttle, Walk or Taxi
Quick answer: Ships berth at Molo Garibaldi inside a working cargo port, so you cannot walk off the ship into town. A free shuttle bus takes about 10 minutes to the terminal building at the port exit. From there the old town is about 10 minutes on foot and La Spezia Centrale station about 2 km, a 25-minute flat walk. City buses S, L, C and 3 run to the station for €1.50, and a taxi costs about €12–20 (2026). From the station, the Cinque Terre Express reaches Riomaggiore in about 10 minutes.
Where the cruise ships dock
There is one cruise area: the Molo Garibaldi cruise berths and the terminal building. Two large ships can berth at the same time. La Spezia is not a tender port.
The berths sit inside the cargo port, and passengers are not allowed to walk through it. Free shuttle buses run between the ship and the terminal building at the port exit, and the ride takes about 10 minutes. Every option below starts from that terminal building, so add the shuttle to every journey time in both directions.
The terminal building is about 2 km from the centre and the station.
Port shuttle
- ·Cost: free.
- ·Time: about 10 minutes each way.
- ·Where: from the ship to the terminal building at the port exit, and back.
There is nothing to buy. On the way back it is one more step after the train and the walk, and people forget it.
Walking to the old town and the station
The walk is flat and mostly on pedestrian streets. From the terminal building:
- ·Piazza Europa: about 5 minutes. City buses and the Portovenere buses leave from its north side.
- ·Old town (Piazza Verdi and Via del Prione): about 10 minutes.
- ·La Spezia Centrale station: about 25 minutes, 2 km.
Walk along the waterfront, then up Via del Prione to the station. Or go through Piazza Verdi and the Via Chiodo arcades. Allow an hour if you stop on the way. Shops on Via del Prione close for a long midday break.
City bus to the station
- ·Cost: €1.50 for a 60-minute urban ticket (2026).
- ·Lines: S, L, C or 3.
- ·Where to board: the north side of Piazza Europa, about 5 minutes on foot from the terminal building.
- ·Time: a short ride.
Buy tickets before you board, at newsstands, tabacchi or the ATC office near Piazza Chiodo. Validate the ticket on board. You can buy on the bus, but it costs extra.
Taxi
- ·Cost: about €12–20 to the station (2026 reports).
- ·Time: 5–15 minutes.
- ·Where: taxis wait at the terminal building and at the station.
- ·Phone: Radio Taxi La Spezia, +39 0187 523523.
The taxi is most useful on the way back. If you arrive at La Spezia Centrale later than planned, a taxi from the station rank to the terminal is the fastest way back to the shuttle.
From the station to the Cinque Terre
Most passengers walk to the station only to catch the train. The Cinque Terre Express runs between La Spezia Centrale and Levanto and stops at all five villages. Riomaggiore is about 10 minutes away.
- ·Single ride: €5, €8 or €10 for an adult, depending on the day's crowd band (16 March–3 November 2026). Children 4–11 pay half. One flat fare covers any journey on the line.
- ·Cinque Terre Card Treno: €22, €29.50 or €35 for an adult for one day, depending on the crowd band (2026). It covers unlimited second-class regional trains between Levanto and La Spezia, plus park trails and village buses, and is valid until midnight.
- ·Frequency: about every 20 minutes from March to November, about twice an hour in winter.
The card is named, so carry ID, and validate it before your first train.
Options compared
| Option | Cost (2026) | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port shuttle | Free | About 10 min | Everyone: ship to terminal building |
| Walk to old town | Free | About 10 min | Via del Prione, Piazza Verdi |
| Walk to station | Free | About 25 min (2 km) | Most people heading for the train |
| City bus S, L, C, 3 | €1.50, 60-minute ticket | Short ride | Avoiding the 2 km walk |
| Taxi | About €12–20 | 5–15 min | The return, or running late |
| Cinque Terre Express | €5, €8 or €10 per ride | About 10 min to Riomaggiore | One or two train rides |
| Card Treno | €22–35 per day | Valid until midnight | Three or more rides, plus trails |
When to head back
The guide's rule: leave the Cinque Terre villages two and a half hours before all-aboard, and Portovenere two and a quarter hours before. From Pisa or Florence, be back in La Spezia two hours before all-aboard.
Afternoon trains and platforms are crowded, and a full train may leave you behind. After the train you still have the 25-minute walk or a taxi to the terminal, then the shuttle to the ship. Check for transport strikes on your date.
From inside La Spezia, leave the old town 90 minutes before all-aboard and the station 95 minutes before.
All-aboard times vary by line, so use the one in your daily programme. Here are three examples:
| Leave from | All-aboard 17:00 | All-aboard 17:30 | All-aboard 18:00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old town (Via del Prione) | 15:30 | 16:00 | 16:30 |
| La Spezia Centrale | 15:25 | 15:55 | 16:25 |
| Portovenere | 14:45 | 15:15 | 15:45 |
| Cinque Terre villages | 14:30 | 15:00 | 15:30 |
If things go wrong, take a taxi from La Spezia Centrale to the cruise terminal (5–15 minutes). If you will miss all-aboard, call the port agent number on your daily programme straight away.
For other times, plan your day with your own all-aboard time.
Common mistakes
- ·Expecting to walk off the ship into town. Take the free shuttle to the terminal building first. The cargo port is closed to pedestrians.
- ·Forgetting the walk back from the station. Allow 25 minutes on foot or a taxi from La Spezia Centrale, then the shuttle. This is the most common trap at this port.
- ·Queuing for train tickets at La Spezia Centrale in the morning rush. Buy the Card Treno online or use the station machines, and validate before boarding.
- ·Buying the bus ticket on board. It costs extra. Buy at a newsstand, tabacchi or the ATC office first.
- ·Trying to see all five villages. Choose two or three and leave two and a half hours before all-aboard.
- ·Relying on the ferry for the return. Sailings are cancelled in rough weather. Know the train or bus alternative before you go.
FAQ
Can you walk from La Spezia cruise port to the town?
Yes, after the free shuttle to the terminal building. The old town is about 10 minutes on foot and La Spezia Centrale station about 25 minutes, on flat streets.
How far is La Spezia cruise port from the train station?
About 2 km from the terminal building. That is a 25-minute walk, a short city bus ride or a 5–15 minute taxi.
Is there a shuttle from La Spezia cruise port?
Yes. A free shuttle bus runs between the ship and the terminal building at the port exit, about 10 minutes each way. You cannot walk through the cargo port.
How much is a taxi from La Spezia cruise port to the station?
About €12–20 (2026 reports), 5–15 minutes. Taxis wait at the terminal and at the station.
Which bus goes from La Spezia cruise port to the station?
Lines S, L, C or 3 from the north side of Piazza Europa. A 60-minute urban ticket costs €1.50 (2026). Buy it before boarding and validate it on the bus.
Is La Spezia a tender port?
No. Ships berth at Molo Garibaldi.
For the Cinque Terre, Portovenere and the rest of the day, see the full La Spezia port guide.
Sources
- ·La Spezia Guide – La Spezia cruise port: a practical guide
- ·La Spezia Guide – Cruise terminal to the train station
- ·ATC Esercizio – Tickets
- ·ATC Esercizio – Bus trips around the gulf
- ·Trenitalia – Travel around 5 Terre
- ·Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre – Carta Treno
- ·Le Cinque Terre – Cinque Terre by train (2026 fares)
- ·What's In Port – La Spezia