Lerici and Tellaro day trip from Cinque Terre or Portovenere and La Spezia or Lucca
A day trip to Lerici and Tellaro from the Cinque Terre, Portovenere and La Spezia or Lucca: the church of San Giorgio and the lanes of Tellaro in the morning, a swim at Fiascherino bay, then Lerici Castle, the harbour and old town, the Venere Azzurra beach on the walk round the bay, Shelley's Villa Magni and the little castle of San Terenzo towards evening. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Lerici and Tellaro in 1 day
Day 1
Church of San Giorgio, Tellaro
Church on the rocks at the tip of Tellaro, its bell tower tied to the legend of an octopus that rang the alarm against pirates.
Historic centre of Tellaro
Fishing village of tall coloured houses piled on the rocks, with stepped lanes, arches and little squares open to the sea.
Fiascherino bay
Small rocky cove between Tellaro and Lerici, with clear water and a little beach below the pines; a good place for a midday swim.
Castle of Lerici
Medieval castle on the headland above the harbour, built by Pisa and Genoa, with views over the whole Gulf of Poets.
Historic centre of Lerici and the harbour
Lively harbour of fishing boats below the castle, with cafés on the piazza, a seafront promenade and lanes of the old town behind.
Spiaggia della Venere Azzurra
Sandy beach on the bay between Lerici and San Terenzo, with calm water and beach clubs, on the seafront walk to San Terenzo.
Villa Magni (Shelley's house), San Terenzo
White seafront house in San Terenzo where Shelley spent his last months in 1822, a private home seen from outside.
Castle of San Terenzo
Small Genoese castle on the point above San Terenzo's beach, used for exhibitions and summer events, with views back to Lerici.
Getting there
From La Spezia, local buses reach Lerici in about 30 minutes and continue to Tellaro. In the warmer months boats cross the gulf from Portovenere and the Cinque Terre to Lerici. From Lucca the drive is about an hour; parking near Lerici's seafront and in Tellaro is limited, so leave the car above the village.
Staying in Cinque Terre or Portovenere and La Spezia or Lucca? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Lerici and Tellaro
May, June and September are the best months, warm enough to swim and calmer than July and August, when the bay is busy with visitors from La Spezia and Tuscany. The ferries across the gulf run in the warmer months only. In winter the towns are quiet and mild, good for walking.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Lerici and Tellaro on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Lerici and Tellaro on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Lerici and Tellaro on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Lerici and Tellaro
- Tellaro is closed to cars: park at the top of the village and walk down the lanes to the sea.
- The walk along the bay between Lerici and San Terenzo takes about 20-30 minutes and is pleasant towards evening.
- Lerici Castle and the castle of San Terenzo are closed on Mondays, and their hours change with the season: check before you go.
- Boats across the Gulf of Poets run only in the warmer months; outside that season, use the buses from La Spezia.
- Try focaccia and fresh fish on the harbour, and stay for the evening passeggiata along the seafront.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Castle of Lerici: Hugh Llewelyn from Keynsham, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Castle of San Terenzo: Davide Papalini, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Historic centre of Lerici and the harbour: www.thhe.dk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Historic centre of Tellaro: Davide Papalini, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Villa Magni (Shelley's house), San Terenzo: LinoSalis, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
