Portovenere and La Spezia day trip from Cinque Terre or Pisa or Lucca
A day trip to Portovenere and La Spezia from the Cinque Terre, Pisa or Lucca: the tall coloured houses of the Calata Doria harbour, the church of San Lorenzo, Doria Castle and the striped church of San Pietro on its headland above Byron's Grotto, a boat to Palmaria Island, then late afternoon in La Spezia along Via del Prione and the seafront Passeggiata Morin. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Portovenere and La Spezia in 1 day
Day 1
Historic centre of Portovenere (Calata Doria)
Harbour front of tall, narrow, coloured tower-houses, part of the UNESCO site with the Cinque Terre and the islands offshore.
Church of San Lorenzo, Portovenere
Romanesque church in the upper old town, reached by stepped lanes, with a carved portal over the entrance.
Doria Castle (Portovenere)
Genoese fortress above the town, with terraces looking over the Gulf of Poets, Palmaria and the open sea.
Church of San Pietro, Portovenere
Gothic church in black and white stripes on the rocky headland at the end of the town, above the sea cave known as Byron's Grotto.
Boat trip to Palmaria Island
A few minutes by boat to the largest island of the gulf, with walking paths, quiet coves and views back to Portovenere.
Via del Prione (La Spezia)
La Spezia's main pedestrian street through the old centre, lined with shops and cafes, busiest for the early-evening stroll.
Passeggiata Morin and the public gardens
La Spezia's seafront promenade by the harbour, beside public gardens of palms and tall trees, pleasant at sunset.
Getting there
From the Cinque Terre, boats run to Portovenere in season (about April to October); all year, take the train to La Spezia Centrale and then the bus to Portovenere, about 30 minutes. From Pisa La Spezia is about 1 hour by train, and from Lucca a little longer, usually with a change. Buses and boats link Portovenere and La Spezia through the day.
Staying in Cinque Terre or Pisa 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 Portovenere and La Spezia
April to June and September to October are the best months, warm enough for Palmaria with fewer day-trippers. July and August are hot and crowded, especially at weekends. In winter most boats stop, and Portovenere is quiet but still reachable by bus.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Portovenere and La Spezia on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Portovenere and La Spezia on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Portovenere and La Spezia 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 Portovenere and La Spezia
- Boats to Palmaria and from the Cinque Terre run mostly from spring to autumn and stop in rough sea; check the last boat back before setting out.
- Portovenere's upper town, the castle and San Lorenzo are reached by steep steps and lanes; wear good shoes and bring water in summer.
- Palmaria has walking paths and small coves with little shade or services; take a swimsuit, water and sun protection.
- Parking in Portovenere is very limited in summer; the bus from La Spezia or a boat is usually easier than driving.
- In La Spezia, Via del Prione and the old-town streets come alive in the early evening, a good time for focaccia, farinata or an aperitivo before the train.
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
- Boat trip to Palmaria Island: Giorgio Galeotti, CC BY 4.0
- Church of San Lorenzo, Portovenere: Tangopaso, Public domain
- Church of San Pietro, Portovenere: Roman Klementschitz, Wien, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Doria Castle (Portovenere): Tangopaso, Public domain
- Historic centre of Portovenere (Calata Doria): Aconcagua (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Via del Prione (La Spezia): Chabe01, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
