In a nutshell
- La Spezia is a seriously smart alternative if you want to stay somewhere cheaper than Cinque Terre. The town is only 10 minutes away!
- Accommodation in La Spezia costs up to 50% less than in Cinque Terre — and is sometimes even nicer. We’ve picked out the five best places to stay for you.
- Most places to stay in La Spezia are guesthouses and bed & breakfasts. Our top pick is the Casa dei Treni — retro design, great value, and just a few minutes’ walk from the Cinque Terre Express.
- Happy to spend a little more for a truly beautiful room? Then we’d recommend the Alchimia di Mare — modern rooms, right in the old town, and above-average guest ratings.
Prices for Hotels and Accommodation in La Spezia
Although La Spezia is only 10 minutes from the Cinque Terre national park, hotels in the city are much cheaper. In general, La Spezia is way more affordable than other cities in Italy.
While you can easily pay between 250 and 350 euros per night in Cinque Terre during high season, here it’s rarely more than 200 euros.
So staying here is definitely worth it — especially since the Cinque Terre Express gets you to the national park in no time.
There are only a few large hotels in La Spezia — but a great many guesthouses and bed & breakfasts. And these are often even nicer than the hotels.
We’ve picked out the five best places to stay with the best value for money in La Spezia:
La Casa dei Treni
La Casa dei Treni is the perfect base if you’re using La Spezia as a jumping-off point for the Cinque Terre.
The small guesthouse is only a few minutes’ walk from La Spezia’s train station, where the Cinque Terre Express departs every half hour.
From here it takes about 10 minutes to reach the first of the five villages, Riomaggiore.
The rooms have a cool retro design, there’s a parking garage right next door, and the value for money is among the best for overnight stays in La Spezia.
And for a small surcharge of 5 euros, breakfast is served in the morning. Lovely!
Alchimia di Mare
A super relaxed vibe, bright, modern, and above all spacious rooms right in the middle of La Spezia’s pedestrian zone — with a private parking spot included.
From the Alchimia di Mare, it’s about three minutes on foot to the train station, and 10 minutes to the harbor promenade.
The small hotel is family-run, and the owners go out of their way to make you feel at home.
During high season, prices are slightly higher than at other La Spezia hotels — but in return, you’re staying somewhere with a genuinely warm, cozy atmosphere.
Nelli Rooms
There’s both the Nelli Rooms Via Biassa and the Nelli Rooms Via Veneto, though the latter is located outside the historic center. We recommend Nelli Rooms Via Biassa, which is very close to the harbor promenade.
The standard rooms have a four-poster bed, the deluxe rooms feature a spa shower and a balcony. The bathrooms are especially beautiful, tiled in white marble.
Plus, the minibar is included!
Check-in works contactlessly via an app, but the host is available by phone at any time.
New Moon Rooms
Modern, minimalist, and perfectly blended with the building’s original architectural details — New Moon Rooms wins us over with its seriously stylish décor.
There are five double rooms, two suites, and an apartment that sleeps up to four people.
It’s located in a historic building on Via Cavour, the main shopping street in the old quarter. The train station is a 10-minute walk away, and so is the harbor district. You’re right in the heart of it all.
We’d definitely recommend New Moon if you love modern design and want to explore both the Cinque Terre and La Spezia itself.
Via Chiodo Luxury Rooms
If you really want to treat yourself and stay somewhere at a luxury level, Via Chiodo Luxury Rooms is the place.
The prices are on the higher end — but only by La Spezia standards. In Cinque Terre or nearby cities like Pisa or Florence, rooms like these would cost twice as much.
Herringbone parquet flooring, wood-paneled walls, marble bathrooms — and the guesthouse is just a few minutes’ walk from the harbor. From here you can easily reach the Cinque Terre or Portovenere by boat.
