La Spezia or Levanto: which base for Cinque Terre?
By the TravelCheap Editorial Team · Updated October 18, 2026
Choose Levanto if you drive, want a sandy beach or plan to spend most days around Monterosso and Vernazza: Monterosso is 4 to 5 minutes away by train and parking is cheap. Choose La Spezia if you arrive by train from Pisa or Florence, travel in low season or want a real city around you: Riomaggiore is about 9 minutes away.
The two towns sit at opposite ends of the same Cinque Terre train line, and both usually cost less than sleeping in the five villages. So the best pick mostly depends on which end of the coast you will use most.
La Spezia vs Levanto at a glance
| La Spezia | Levanto | |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest village by train | Riomaggiore, about 9 min | Monterosso, about 4 to 5 min |
| Far end of the line | Monterosso, about 25 to 30 min | Riomaggiore, about 25 min |
| Arriving by train | Main station on the line from Pisa; change here for the villages | On the line from Genoa, with Intercity and regional trains |
| Arriving by car | A12 exit La Spezia, then the SP370 for the southern villages | A12 exit Carrodano-Levanto |
| Parking | Paid parking near the station | Large car parks, from €0.60 an hour (Via Galli) to €2 an hour by the station |
| Beach | A port city; you swim in the villages | Wide sandy beach with free and paid sections |
| Ferries | Boats to the villages and Portovenere (March 28 to November 1, 2026) | Boats to the villages (same season) |
| Evenings | Restaurants and events all year | Quieter seaside-town evenings, more seasonal |
| Rooms | Every price point, the most budget choice | Better value than the villages, good budget choice |
| Best for | Train travellers, low season, day trips to Pisa or Florence, Portovenere | Drivers, families, beach days, stays of four nights or more |
Train times from Cinque Terre trains and timetable (cinqueterre.eu.com) and Levanto or Cinque Terre: how to choose your base (La Spezia Guide); parking from Parking in Levanto (cinqueterre.eu.com); ferries from Cinque Terre ferry boats 2026 (cinqueterre.eu.com); base profiles from Cinque Terre: where to stay, a practical guide (La Spezia Guide) and Levanto or Cinque Terre: how to choose your base (La Spezia Guide).
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Compare hotels in LevantoChoose Levanto if...
- You are driving. Levanto has big car parks, including one of the cheapest rates near Cinque Terre (€7.20 for 24 hours at Via Galli), and you never have to drive the narrow coast road.
- You want a beach. Levanto has a wide sandy beach and a flat seafront promenade, which the villages do not.
- You will spend most time in Monterosso and Vernazza, or hike Vernazza to Monterosso: you are one stop away.
- You travel with young children or stay four nights or more, the profile local guides suggest for Levanto.
- You like quiet evenings. A former railway line along the cliffs, now a walking and cycling path, links Levanto with Bonassola and Framura.
Choose La Spezia if...
- You arrive by train from Pisa, Florence or Rome. Long-distance trains stop at La Spezia Centrale, where you change for the villages.
- You visit in low season (from November 2). Many village and seaside businesses close, while La Spezia keeps restaurants open and runs winter events.
- You want the widest choice of budget rooms and city services.
- You plan day trips beyond Cinque Terre: Portovenere by boat, or Pisa and Florence by train.
- You will spend most time in Riomaggiore and Manarola, about 10 to 15 minutes away.
What about sleeping in the villages?
Staying in Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola or Riomaggiore lets you enjoy them early and late, after day visitors leave around 6 pm. The trade-off is price, stairs and very limited parking: a local guide says a decent double room is hard to find under €125 even in low season. Compare each village in our where to stay guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Levanto part of Cinque Terre?
No. Levanto is the town just north of Monterosso, outside the five villages, but it is the northern end of the Cinque Terre train line. The Cinque Terre Treno Card covers trains from Levanto to La Spezia.
Is La Spezia or Levanto cheaper?
Both are usually cheaper than the five villages. La Spezia has the widest range of budget rooms because it is a city; Levanto has good value too, especially outside July and August. Compare live prices for your dates.
How long is the train from Levanto to Riomaggiore?
About 25 minutes on the Cinque Terre train, which stops in all five villages. From La Spezia, Riomaggiore is about 9 minutes away.
Which is better with a car?
Levanto. It has large car parks with low daily rates and a direct motorway exit, and you can leave the car and take the train into the villages.
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More from our Cinque Terre Special
Sources
- Cinque Terre: where to stay, a practical guide (La Spezia Guide)
- Levanto or Cinque Terre: how to choose your base (La Spezia Guide)
- Parking in Levanto (cinqueterre.eu.com)
- Cinque Terre trains and timetable (cinqueterre.eu.com)
- Cinque Terre ferry boats 2026 (cinqueterre.eu.com)
- The best time of year to visit Cinque Terre (La Spezia Guide)
Prices, timetables and trail status change. We checked the figures on this page on October 18, 2026. Found something out of date? Email contact@travelcheap.online.