Things to do in

La Spezia

Get a taste of 'la dolce vita' on this jam-packed tour to the Cinque Terre, a collection of quintessential Italian towns dotted along the coast of Tuscany. After meeting your guide in central Florence, listen to an insightful introduction about the Cinque Terre on the 2-hour bus journey to La Spezia. After a quick bathroom break, board the first train of the day. Arrive in Manarola, the first of the Cinque Terre villages you will visit. Here you will join a small guided walk through the vines, and then enjoy some free time to explore at your own pace. Next, take the train to Corniglia. Climb the steps to reach the center of this quaint village and take some time to wander around. If you have selected the add-on, sit down at a local restaurant with a beautiful terrace and sea views. Tuck into a lunch of fresh fish for your 'primo' and homemade pesto pasta for your ‘secondo’. Then, choose to either go on an adventurous guided hike from Corniglia to Vernazza, or if you prefer to take it easy, follow your guide and take a train instead. Once in Vernazza, sit at one of the local cafés, or take a refreshing dip in the sea. Next, board a train to Monterosso, the village renowned for its beautiful beaches and artisan shops. If the weather allows it, you will then board a boat to navigate along the coast of the Cinque Terre. Arrive in Riomaggiore, an ancient fishing village and the most southern of the 5 villages. After exploring this last village, board the train back to La Spezia and then take the coach back to Florence.

Once you arrive at the port of La Spezia, meet your tour leader at the cruise terminal. Take a 20-minute walk to arrive at the train station from where you will begin your adventure. On the walk, you will discover the beautiful city center of La Spezia. Trains are undoubtedly the ideal means of transportation to explore the area, in just 15 minutes, passing through the sheer heights of the Ligurian Sea, you will reach Vernazza, one of the most colorful villages in the area. Here you can enjoy some free time in this picturesque village, characterized by pastel-colored houses with beautiful views of crystal clear waters. The second stop will be Monterosso, the largest of the Cinque Terre villages, which also owns a stunning beach characterized by fine white sand and a clear and transparent sea. Here you will have a surprise reserved for you, a tasting of delicious Limoncino in a traditional shop. This exquisite liqueur is ideal to toast for the wonderful day that you are spending, immersed in the nature, colors, and flavors of this fascinating and unique land. After having some free time in Monterosso, take the train to Riomaggiore, the last stop before coming back to La Spezia. This small village, like the other four, offers breathtaking views of the coast, as well as glimpses of the daily lives of the fishermen with their traditional boats that you will see tied to the port. Also, choose the best starting point for you: the cruise port or the train station.

Discover the "Cradle of the Renaissance" and the beautiful miracle square at your own pace with a round-trip transfer service from La Spezia Port. Your journey will be in a comfortable GT coach with air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi, driven by a multilingual assistant for your convenience. You'll receive a free map of Florence and Pisa, as well as receive an emergency number so that everything goes smoothly. Your first destination will be Florence - you'll be dropped off at the Piazzale Montelungo next to Santa Maria Novella Train Station. Then, enjoy approximately 3.5 hours to explore the sites that interest you the most at your own pace. At 2:30 PM, you'll leave Florence and travel to Pisa where you'll have at least 70 minutes to visit the famous Piazza dei Miracoli, one of Italy's most famous monuments. Then, the bus leaves Pisa to come back to La Spezia. With this transfer service, focus on enjoying these two beautiful cities instead of worrying about transportation.

Visit Pisa with this shore excursion from La Spezia. Upon debarking, you will take one of the free shuttle buses from the pier to the terminal to travel to the local partner's bus. Once having boarded, it will be time to begin your tour of Pisa. You will walk through Piazza Dei Miracoli to admire its monuments, including the Leaning Tower, the cathedral, the baptistery, and much more. After a short walk you will have free time to enjoy an ice cream tasting before relaxing by the central square. You'll also be welcome to visit inside the Leaning Tower with the purchase of a ticket. At the conclusion of your experience, you'll return to La Spezia to re-board your ship.

Spend a full day navigating the beautiful landscape of Cinque Terre at a close range, with a peaceful boat trip along the coast. Meet your guide and depart from the Mirabello port of La Spezia. During the tour, visit Golfo Della Spezia, Portovenere, Palmaria island, Le Rosse, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. Take the opportunity to plunge into the refreshing waters for a swim or a snorkel. Feel free to stop as many times as you like wherever you like.  Arrive in Monterosso at lunchtime and enjoy a 1.5-hour stop to explore the town and find somewhere to eat lunch. After the break, meet your crew back at the boat and set sail back towards La Spezia. 

Get a welcome drink as you board a boat in Monterosso and sail across the waters of the Ligurian Sea. Make your way towards the beautiful town of Vernazza and take wonderful photos of the spectacular landscape and romantic towns of Cinque Terre along the way. Pass the naturist beach of Guvano and gaze in awe at the villages of Corniglia and Manarola. Savor a typical appetizer of local food and wines as you head towards Riomaggiore and Punta Montenero at the southeastern tip of Cinque Terre National Park. Cool down with a swim with stunning views of the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto as you play in the water. Enjoy a savory lunch of local food prepared by the crew back on the boat. Then, head further out to sea as you sail from Punta Montenero and make your way to Punta Mesco at the northeastern tip of Cinque Terre National Park.

The starting point of this wonderful adventure is the Central Station of La Spezia, located near the historic center of this lesser-known city characterized by a unique, old-timey charm. The first stop will be Vernazza, one of the five jewels that are part of Cinque Terre. This village is the one with the most colorful views. During your excursion in Vernazza, you will enjoy some free time to discover the village. The second stop will be Monterosso, where you will enjoy a limoncino tasting. You will then have enough free time to discover the village and eat at some of its local restaurants. The last stop before going back to La Spezia will be Riomaggiore. Here, you will have some free time to walk through the narrow streets of the town. Visit the fishing port and a panoramic terrace to admire the views.

Take a day-long adventure away from Florence to the UNESCO world heritage site of Cinque Terre. A series of 5 secluded villages built onto verdant seaside cliffs and only connected to one another world via boats and trains, Cinque Terre is one of Italy’s national treasures. Your trip begins early in the morning, when you’ll meet your guide in Florence to begin the scenic, 2.5-hour drive to La Spezia. Along the way, your guide will give you a thorough introduction to the region. After you arrive, the rest of the day’s activities are up to you. With the whole day free, it’s up to you as to where you go — the other 4 villages, Riomaggiore, Vernazza, Monterosso al Mare, and Corniglia, are all easily accessible by boat or train. Wander the cobblestone streets and marvel at the closely-packed, pastel houses rising up over the cobalt-blue sea. Head down to one of the many stunning beaches for white sand and clear water. Enjoy a lovely Italian meal, overlooking the vast sea cliffs.  After a full day hopping between the picturesque villages, you’ll meet back in La Spezia to head back to Florence.

Admire the dynamic cliffs, beaches, and towns of the Cinque Terre on this sailing tour from La Spezia. Cruise past the picturesque villages of Portovenere and Lerici and the islands Palmaria and Tino. Relax as you sip on water and wine as you sail. Meet your skipper at the dock in La Spezia. Hop aboard and feel the wind in your hair as you sail away in a modern sailboat. Cross the Gulf of Poets and see the vibrantly colored houses that hug the hills and shores of the villages of Portovenere and Lerici. Admire the rocky landscapes of the small islands of Palmaria and Tino. Make your way along the villages of the Cinque Terre with a stop in front of Vernazza where you can see the Santa Margherita di Antiochia Church from the water. Take a refreshing dip in the sea in the waters of a pristine marine protected area. If you want to learn how to captain a sailboat, your skipper can give you a sailing lesson. Return to dock in La Spezia at the end of your tour.

Fall in love with Pisa and the amazing Piazza Dei Miracoli: the most popular attraction in Pisa where you will have free time to visit the Leaning Tower, the Cathedral and the Baptistery or to relax. Once you arrive in Lucca, have some free time for lunch or if you wish you can add to your guided tour a typical lunch in the city center. After the lunch an escort will lead you past the most important landmarks like the Torre Guinigi, the Anfiteatro Square and the San Frediano Church. You can add a typical lunch in the city center to your excursion, or if you prefer visiting Lucca and Pisa on your own you can choose the Low-Cost Option that includes only the transfer.  Note for arrival: upon debarkation, all cruise ship passengers should take 1 of the free shuttle buses from the pier to the terminal; this takes approximately 5 minutes. You will be met by a representative at the shuttle stop.