La Spezia with Kids

Honestly? Before we booked the cruise from Rome, I hadn’t heard of the city of La Spezia in Italy at all. When I read the itinerary, I saw that the stop in La Spezia was mainly described as a transit point to more well-known destinations, Pisa (about an hour by train) or Florence (about two hours by train). At first, I thought about skipping the stop, as it seemed like a long and tiring day trip with the girls, especially during a cruise stop.

But then I did a bit more research and discovered that La Spezia is much more than just a “transit stop.” It’s a cute and pleasant town, with a beautiful seaside promenade, a large harbor, and a city center with a more local, less touristy vibe. Beyond that, La Spezia turns out to be a perfect base for star-shaped trips to the charming villages of Cinque Terre, with a fast train bringing you to each village in just 10–20 minutes! At that point, it was clear we had to make the most of the stop, get off, and explore both the city itself and the surrounding area.

So in August 2025, on our cruise, we stopped in La Spezia as a full family group: two adults and two girls, Maya (5.5) and Sophie (2.5).

Table of content hide

1 A bit about La Spezia

2 How to get there

3 Hop-on Hop-off Train in La Spezia

4 Promenade

5 Central Square

6 Naval Museum – Museo Tecnico Navale

7 Village of Manarola – Cinque Terre

8 Other Villages in Cinque Terre

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A bit about La Spezia

La Spezia is a port city in northwestern Italy, located in the Liguria region, right between Pisa and Genoa. The city itself doesn’t always get much tourist attention, but in reality, it’s a pleasant destination with plenty to offer, especially for families looking for a slower pace compared to the busy villages of Cinque Terre.

How to get there

We arrived in La Spezia via cruise. From the port, a shuttle bus takes passengers to a central point in the city, from where it’s easy to continue: take a taxi to the train station if you plan to go to Cinque Terre, Pisa, or other cities, or simply start exploring the city center on foot.

If arriving independently, you can also get to La Spezia by train – the city is connected by direct lines to Pisa (about an hour), Florence (about two hours), and Genoa. If arriving by car, there are paid public parking lots in the city, but keep in mind that parking in the city center is limited.

Hop-on Hop-off Train in La Spezia

Right where the cruise shuttle stops, there’s a nice surprise for kids (and adults too) – a small tourist train that goes around the city. The train departs every half hour, and the ride lasts about 35 minutes. During the tour, you can see the main sites in the city, even stop at the central square to wander around a bit, and later hop on another train.

This is an easy and fun activity for kids, and also a convenient way for adults to get a “taste” of the city and see where it’s worth returning later. Maya really loved the train ride and enjoyed that it was decorated with flowers.
Prices: €10 per adult, €5 per child.
Hours: Morning until afternoon.
Directions.

Promenade

The promenade in La Spezia is one of the most beautiful spots in the city in my opinion. It’s wide, easy for strolling with a stroller, and offers views of both the sea and the mountains in the background – a really special combination.

Along the promenade, you’ll find benches, small gardens and shade, interesting sculptures, and even space for kids to play and burn off energy. It’s definitely a place to stop, wander, let the kids run freely, or just sit and relax while enjoying the view.
The harbor is also very close, and you can always watch boats and yachts docked there – my girls loved looking at them. Directions.

Central Square

The central square in La Spezia is called Piazza Garibaldi, and it’s one of the liveliest spots in the city. Around it, there are shops, cafes, and restaurants. We arrived there by taxi and later also stopped there with the tourist train after returning from the village of Manarola.

We had coffee (and hot chocolate for the girls) at La Réserve Cafe, and this break was just what we needed before continuing our walk. Additionally, the square is in a convenient location, making it easy to continue on foot to the promenade or toward the train station, so you can’t miss it.

Naval Museum – Museo Tecnico Navale

A museum that houses ships, models, and the maritime history of the city. Kids can admire ships, boats, interactive exhibits, and sometimes there are activities for children. We didn’t have time to visit, but it seems like a great option for families with kids. Directions.

Village of Manarola – Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre has five different villages, all stunning, at least from the pictures I saw. Initially, I debated which village to visit, as we had limited time and knew we could only see one at our pace. After some research, I realized Manarola is one of the most famous and beautiful villages in Cinque Terre, and I decided it would be the one we visit.

How to get to Manarola from La Spezia

Trains depart every few minutes from La Spezia station. The one-way fare for us was €20 (for two adults and Maya, Sophie was free since she’s under 3). Tickets can be bought online or at the kiosk in the station. When we were there in August, the station was very busy. Tip: don’t wait for the train at the entrance – it gets very crowded. Once we moved to another platform, we found seats and the ride was much calmer, even with our large stroller. Manarola was the second stop, and we arrived in about 20 minutes, including minor delays. It’s very important to remember to validate your tickets in the machine, as a conductor checks them on the train, and those who don’t can get fined.

What to do in Manarola with kids

• Just wander around the village and take photos – it’s too beautiful to miss a single detail.
• Go into the water – there are a few beautiful spots for swimming or wading. Even though the village doesn’t have large beaches like other Cinque Terre locations, you can find flat rocks or small piers that allow easy access to the sea. The water is deep blue and clean, with stunning views around.
• Playground – Sophie, for example, loves swings, and the playground is in a spot with amazing views. Directions.
• Nessun Dorma – you can order an Aperol or spritz, or a glass of prosecco, with a plate of burrata cheese, bruschetta, prosciutto, and tomatoes (€47 per plate, prosecco €7). In hindsight, ordering different types of bruschetta is cheaper and more varied, but it was very tasty. The restaurant also offers a pesto-making workshop with good reviews, but you need to reserve in advance.

From Manarola, you can continue to the next village by train or ferry, or return to La Spezia to finish the day.

Other Villages in Cinque Terre

Besides Manarola, Cinque Terre has four more small, colorful villages, each unique:

• Riomaggiore – the southernmost village, with narrow streets, colorful houses, and a lively scene of restaurants and food stalls. There’s also a short seaside promenade with amazing views of the bay.
• Corniglia – the only village not directly on the sea, located on a hill with spectacular views of the bay. You need to climb stairs or take a local bus, but the view is worth every effort.
• Vernazza – one of the most famous villages, with a small colorful harbor, picturesque streets, waterfront restaurants, and small beaches. Perfect for photos or lunch by the sea.
• Monterosso al Mare – the largest village and the only one with a sandy beach. It has a long promenade, kid-friendly beaches, cafes, and restaurants along the shore, with a typical beach town atmosphere.

Each village has its charm, and even though we didn’t visit them all this time, we definitely saved them for a future visit to explore all five colorful villages.

In summary, La Spezia is a small and pleasant town in northern Italy, suitable for a short stop with kids. You can stroll around the city, sit in the square or on the promenade, and even take a ride on the little tourist train. Additionally, it’s easy to reach the colorful villages of Cinque Terre or Pisa and Florence by train if you want to extend your trip.

I hope my post helps you. If so, I’d love to hear your comments, and if you have more questions, feel free to ask in the comments or reach out on my blog’s social media: Facebook and Instagram.

Looking for more information about Italy? I have many more posts about Italy on my blog.

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