How to get to Portovenere: complete transport guide
Practical guide to reaching Portovenere in Liguria: boat from La Spezia, bus, car, parking and nearby airports. All the ways to reach the village on the Gulf.
How to get to Portovenere: all the ways to reach the village on the Gulf of Poets
Portovenere is a seaside village on the western tip of the Gulf of La Spezia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the Cinque Terre and the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto. It does not have a railway station, but is easily reachable from La Spezia by sea, bus or car.
Nearest airports to Portovenere
Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA)
Located about 100 km away, this is the most convenient airport. From the terminal, you reach Pisa Centrale by PisaMover (5 minutes), then continue by train to La Spezia Centrale (about 1 hour). From La Spezia, you reach Portovenere by bus or boat.
Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA)
About 110 km away, connected to Genova Piazza Principe by the Volabus shuttle. From Genoa, trains to La Spezia take about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)
Further away (about 280 km) but with many international flights. From Milano Centrale, high-speed trains to La Spezia take about 3 hours.
By boat from La Spezia: the most scenic way
The boat is the most beautiful way to reach Portovenere, sailing across the Gulf of Poets.
Regular service
Boats from the Consorzio Marittimo Turistico Cinque Terre depart from Molo Italia in La Spezia and reach Portovenere in about 25-30 minutes. From April to October, frequency is good (every 30-60 minutes). In winter, the service is reduced.
Boats to the Cinque Terre
From Portovenere in summer, boats depart for Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza and Monterosso, allowing you to combine the visit with the Cinque Terre.
To Palmaria Island
Small boats connect Portovenere to Palmaria Island in a few minutes. The service runs all year round, with greater frequency in summer.
By bus from La Spezia
The bus is the most economical way to reach Portovenere from La Spezia.
Line P (or 11)
The ATC bus line P connects La Spezia (from the railway station or the centre) to Portovenere in about 30 minutes. Departures every 20-30 minutes. The route follows the coastal road with beautiful views of the gulf.
By train to La Spezia
Portovenere does not have a railway station. The nearest arrival point is La Spezia Centrale.
From Pisa and Florence
From Pisa Centrale, regional trains to La Spezia take about 1 hour. From Florence about 2 hours 30 minutes with a change at Pisa.
From Genoa
Regional and InterCity trains from Genoa to La Spezia in about 1 hour 30 minutes.
From Milan and Rome
High-speed trains to La Spezia. From Milan about 3 hours, from Rome about 3 hours 30 minutes.
By car
Portovenere is reachable by car from La Spezia, but parking is limited.
Route
From the A12 or A15 motorway, exit at La Spezia and follow the provincial road to Portovenere (about 13 km, 20-25 minutes). The coastal road is scenic but narrow in places.
Parking
The main car park in Portovenere is at the entrance to the village, on the hill. It is fee-paying and in summer fills up very early (by 9-10 am at weekends). Arrive early or opt for bus or boat.
Transfers and taxis
From La Spezia, taxis to Portovenere are available (about 25-35 euros). Private transfers from Pisa airport to Portovenere cost about 120-150 euros. In summer, some hotels offer shuttles from La Spezia station.
Practical tips
- The boat from La Spezia is the most scenic option with no parking stress
- In summer, avoid the car: parking is insufficient and very expensive
- The bus from La Spezia station is frequent and very cheap
- Combine Portovenere with the Cinque Terre using the boats
- Bring comfortable shoes: the village has many steps and climbs
- Palmaria Island deserves half a day: frequent boat from Portovenere pier
