Most La Spezia shore excursions head for the Cinque Terre, the five villages a short train ride up the coast. The choice is between a shared group day and a private guide. We compared the best-reviewed of each. Cinque Terre tour with limoncino tasting from La Spezia Port is rated 4.2 across 150 reviews, from about $83. Private Tour: Cinque Terre from La Spezia is rated 4.8 across 183 reviews, from about $474 per person.
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The verdict
For most cruise passengers, Cinque Terre tour with limoncino tasting from La Spezia Port is our pick, for two reasons: it includes a guaranteed on-time return to your ship, and it costs about $83 per person when we checked, with the train pass included. Know what you are buying: its rating is lower, 4.2, and one reviewer describes it as close to a self-guided day, with the tour leader mainly handling the trains and the timing.
Private Tour: Cinque Terre from La Spezia is the better-rated experience, 4.8 with 91% five stars, and the one to book if you want a real guide and your own pace. It does not list a formal return guarantee, although the itinerary is built to bring you back to the port on time. The boat leg is not available from November 1 to March 29.
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
The private tour’s boat transfer is a public ferry service that does not run from November 1 to March 29, and it depends on the weather the rest of the year. Out of season you travel between the villages by train only. Both tours involve a fair amount of walking and neither is wheelchair accessible. For the boat on its own, see our comparison of Cinque Terre boat tours.
Which one is for you?
Take the shared tour if
- You want a guaranteed return to the ship.
- You want the Cinque Terre at the lowest price, train pass included.
- You are happy to explore the villages on your own once you get there.
- You would like to taste limoncino, the local lemon liqueur.
Take the private tour if
- You want a guide who explains the villages, not just the trains.
- You want to set the pace and choose where to stop for lunch.
- Your cruise calls between March 30 and October 31 and you want the boat.
- The higher rating is worth the higher price to you.
What each price covers
The shared tour
Included: an expert multilingual escort, the Cinque Terre Card (the day pass for the trains between the villages), a limoncino tasting and a guaranteed on-time return to your ship. The day covers Vernazza and Monterosso with the group and ends in Riomaggiore, with about an hour of free time before the train back to La Spezia.
Not listed as included: lunch. Travelers should have moderate fitness.
The private tour
Included: a fully licensed local guide, train transfers and, from March 30 to October 31 and weather permitting, a boat transfer on the public ferry. The itinerary is flexible and can be customized. The usual route covers Riomaggiore, Manarola and Vernazza.
Not included: food and drinks, and the short taxi from the cruise terminal to the train station if you do not walk.
Where each one starts
- Shared tour: the cruise terminal on Largo Michele Fiorillo. Take the shuttle bus from the ship to the terminal, where the tour leader waits in a blue “Shore Emotion Crew” t-shirt. The tour ends at La Spezia Centrale station, near the port.
- Private tour: your guide meets you at the cruise terminal with a sign bearing your name, then walks or takes a taxi with you to the train station.
Side by side
| Shared tour | Private tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2 from 150 | 4.8 from 183 |
| Five-star reviews | 92 (61%) | 167 (91%) |
| Price | from about $83 per person | from about $474 per person |
| Length | About 8 hours | About 6.5 hours |
| Villages | Vernazza, Monterosso, Riomaggiore | Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza |
| Transport | Train, day pass included | Train, plus boat March 30 to October 31 |
| Return to ship | Guaranteed on time | No formal guarantee listed |
| Wheelchair accessible | No | No |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before | Free up to 24 hours before |
What travelers say
On the shared tour
Excellent tour guide – very organized as she guided us through the trains and villages. Leisurely pace with lots of free time.
Laurie_S, May 2026, via Viator
It’s important to know this is pretty close to a self guided tour.
Arthur_B, August 2026, via Viator
On the private tour
Very well organized and orchestrated tour using public transportation
Sean_H, September 2026, via Viator
Was waiting at the La Spezia terminal, then short taxi to train. Taxi not included.
John_M, July 2026, via Viator
Reviewers of the shared tour praise the organization and the free time, but some expected more guiding: the same reviewer notes a walk of about 1.3 miles from the terminal to the station. Reviewers of the private tour praise the guides and the logistics on public transport.
More of the Cinque Terre and other ports
Planning the villages in more depth? Read our guides to Cinque Terre tours, Cinque Terre hiking and the Cinque Terre itinerary. Along the same coast, compare Portofino boat tours.
If your cruise calls at other Italian ports, compare our Livorno shore excursions, Civitavecchia shore excursions and Naples shore excursions. For Genoa and Messina, see our Genoa shore excursions and Messina shore excursions.
Questions travelers ask
Which La Spezia shore excursion is best?
For most cruise passengers, the Cinque Terre tour with limoncino tasting from La Spezia Port: it includes a guaranteed return to the ship and started at about $83 per person when we checked. For a private guide and a higher rating, the Private Tour: Cinque Terre from La Spezia is rated 4.8 across 183 reviews.
Can I visit the Cinque Terre on my own from the cruise port?
Yes, the villages are on the train line from La Spezia Centrale station, near the port. The trade-off is the timing: on your own, no one guarantees your return to the ship, which is what the shared tour adds.
Is the boat included?
On the private tour, yes, from March 30 to October 31 and weather permitting: it uses the public ferry, which does not run from November 1 to March 29. The shared tour travels by train only.
What if the tour is late back to the ship?
The shared tour lists a guaranteed on-time return to your ship on Viator. The private tour plans the return by train to reach the port in time to board, but does not list a formal guarantee. Check the terms when you book.
Can I cancel?
Both offer a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start, as shown on Viator in September 2026. Check the terms again when you book.
Book the shared tour for the lowest price and a guaranteed return to the ship; book the private tour for a real guide, your own pace and, in season, the boat.
Editorial assessment by Italy2Love, September 2026. Inclusions and exclusions, meeting points, itineraries, seasonal conditions, prices, ratings, review counts and cancellation terms read on both Viator product pages (product codes 6367P47 and 8733P8), September 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review March 2027, or sooner on any change to either option.