Italy

How to get from Florence to La Spezia

Compare all transport options: bus, ferry, train, flight. Prices, durations and practical tips.

⏱
FASTEST
2h 55min
💶
From
17€
📍
Distance
121 km
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⚡ Quick answer

Checked offer from Florence to La Spezia: Bus, about 2h 55min – 3h 30min, from €17. Main companies selling this route on 12Go (checked on October 27, 2026): Cinque Terre Travel, FlixBus, Marino; main departure point: Florence Bus Station.

Distance: 121 km. Data updated on .

One option to get from Florence to La Spezia

Select an option below to see the route details and compare prices. Secure booking via our partner 12go.asia.

Bus
2h 55min – 3h 30min
17 – 18 €
View
🚌 Departure from Florence
📍Long-distance buses in Florence leave from designated stops, and the exact one depends on the service you book. Your ticket and confirmation email give the precise boarding address, so check it before travelling and arrive early to load your luggage.
🚇Florence's centre is compact, so you can often walk to the stop or use the local tram and city buses. A taxi is a simple option with luggage. Enter the address from your ticket into your map app to find the best route.
⏰Several departures run during the day. Exact first and last times vary by season and day of the week, so check the departure times shown on the booking page and choose the one that suits your plans.
💸 Transport from 17€ per person
⚡ Fastest: 2h 55min
🗓 Book now Secure payment · via 12go.asia

Companies selling this route on 12Go

Offers listed on 12Go on October 27, 2026 for a departure on November 17, 2026. Timetables and prices change with the date: check them before booking.

CompanyModeDeparts fromFromOffers
FlixBus Bus Florence Bus Station €17 1
Marino Bus Florence Villa Constanza Bus Station €18 1
ITmoving Van / transfer €356 1
Cinque Terre Travel Van / transfer €420 2
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Practical tips

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Book early in high season

Popular departures toward the Cinque Terre fill up in summer and on weekends. Booking ahead secures your seat and usually a better fare than a last-minute purchase, so you avoid paying more for lack of planning.

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Check the boarding point

Florence has more than one place where long-distance buses stop. Read the departure address on your ticket the day before and locate it on a map, so you do not end up at the wrong stop.

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Arrive early with luggage

Be at the stop well before departure so you can load your bag in the hold and find your seat calmly. Keep your phone ticket, passport or ID and a charged battery within reach.

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Compare before you pay

Look at the departure times and fares in the table on this page before choosing. Prices can differ from one departure to another, so a small change of time may save you money.

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Plan your arrival in La Spezia

If you continue to the Cinque Terre the same day, check your onward connection and your accommodation check-in time before booking. Arriving earlier in the day gives you more flexibility if something changes.

The journey experience

Florence to La Spezia is a classic link for independent travellers heading to the Cinque Terre, and the bus is the option to know about. Here the comparison is simple: one road option, with the current duration and price range shown in the table on this page, so you can judge it at a glance and move on with your planning.

The coach is a straightforward choice. You board in Florence, settle in and get off in La Spezia without changing, which is a real advantage when you carry a backpack or a suitcase. Luggage normally goes in the hold, seats are generally comfortable, and the road takes you from the Tuscan hills toward the Ligurian coast. Booking online gives you instant confirmation and a ticket on your phone, so there is nothing to queue for.

Our advice: choose your departure time first, then book ahead in high season, when the most convenient departures fill up first. Always check the exact boarding point on your ticket, because large Italian cities often have more than one stop. Once in La Spezia, you are well placed to continue to the Cinque Terre villages. Follow the instructions on your booking and you will arrive without surprises.

Frequently asked questions — Florence → La Spezia

Why visit La Spezia?

  • ✓ Hike or take the train between the five Cinque Terre villages, from Monterosso to Riomaggiore
  • ✓ Stroll the Via dell'Amore and Manarola's cliffside paths with views over the Ligurian Sea
  • ✓ Take a boat trip to Portovenere and the island of Palmaria, a UNESCO-listed coastal gem
  • ✓ Visit the Naval Museum and the Amedeo Lia Museum in La Spezia's historic centre
  • ✓ Taste local specialties like pesto genovese, farinata and fresh anchovies at the Piazza Cavour market
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Recommended stay
2 to 4 nights — La Spezia is an ideal base for Cinque Terre and Portovenere day trips

When to visit La Spezia?

MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE

April to June and September to October — mild weather, clear skies and fewer crowds on the trails

Jan 😞
Feb 😞
Mar 😐
Apr 😐
May 😊
Jun 😊
Jul 😐
Aug 😐
Sep 😊
Oct 😊
Nov 😞
Dec 😞
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In La Spezia — Plan your stay
Accommodation, activities and tips selected for you
🏨 Accommodation
Hotels in La Spezia
Compare the best rates available
via trip.com

What to do in La Spezia?

Local experiences, must-see sights and activities selected for you

MUST-SEE
🚆
Gateway to the Cinque Terre
La Spezia is the best-value base for the five villages. Trains to Riomaggiore take 10 minutes and run every 15-30 minutes. Buy the Cinque Terre Card (train + trails, around 19€/day) at the station. Start before 8:30 to beat crowds, and check trail closures first.
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Museo Navale and Arsenale
Located beside the historic naval arsenal, this museum traces Italian maritime history with ship models, figureheads and war relics. Entry is about 5€, and visits typically take 1 to 1.5 hours. Bring ID and check opening hours, since the site is military and the schedule can change.
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Castello San Giorgio Museum
This 14th-century hilltop fortress houses the Museo Civico Formentini, with Roman finds and the mysterious Lunigiana stele statues. Tickets are around 5€. Open most days except Tuesday, closing mid-afternoon in low season. The terrace offers a great view over the gulf and port.
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Boat Trip to Portovenere
Ferries leave from the Passeggiata Morin dock to Portovenere in about 30 minutes, from roughly 12€ one way. Visit the black-and-white San Pietro church on its rock and the Byron Grotto. Go early, as it fills by midday, and check the last return departure.
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Mercato Centrale Food Hall
The 1890s covered market, one of Liguria's best, sells local produce, focaccia, anchovies, cheeses and pesto ingredients. Open Monday to Saturday mornings, with the liveliest atmosphere before 11:00. Pick up picnic supplies for a trail hike for under 10€ and ask vendors for samples.
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Trofie al Pesto and Mesciua
Try Ligurian classics in the old town: trofie with basil pesto, farinata chickpea flatbread, and mesciùa, a spelt, chickpea and bean soup typical of La Spezia. Trattorias around Via del Prione serve full meals from about 15€. Book dinner on weekends and ask for the day's catch.
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CAMeC Modern Art Museum
A compact museum of 19th and 20th-century Italian art, set in a building facing the gulf near the waterfront. Entry costs around 5€ and a visit takes about an hour. It is a calm rainy-day option, but confirm opening days as it is closed on Mondays.
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Monte Parodi Sunset Hike
A lesser-known walk on the hills above the city leads to viewpoints over the Gulf of Poets, away from Cinque Terre crowds. Wear sturdy shoes, carry water and allow 2 to 3 hours. Start about two hours before sunset, bring a headlamp, and check the route with the tourist office.

How long to visit La Spezia?

2 to 3 days

La Spezia works best as a base for 2 to 3 days. Spend one full day on the Cinque Terre by train (hiking or village-hopping, buy the Cinque Terre Card), and another on Portovenere and the Gulf of Poets by boat or bus. With a third day, add Lerici or a day trip to Lucca, Pisa or Carrara marble quarries. Book accommodation here rather than in the villages: it is cheaper and the train hub is 5 minutes from the center.

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