Parks Manager

National parks near La Spezia, Liguria

Cinque Terre National Park is the closest national park to La Spezia, Liguria — 8.5 km (5.3 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 14 min behind the wheel.

Cinque Terre is close enough to visit on an ordinary afternoon. Appennino Tosco-Emiliano, Tuscan Archipelago, and Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona and Campigna make a full day trip — leave early. Val Grande, Gran Paradiso, Stelvio, Dolomiti Bellunesi, Monti Sibillini, and Archipelago of La Maddalena are better with a night booked nearby.

La Spezia has a population of about 93,288.

National parks near La Spezia

Parks ranked by distance from La Spezia
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Cinque Terre National Park8.5 km (5.3 mi)14 minRight on your doorstep
Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park40.4 km (25.1 mi)55 minDoable as a day trip
Tuscan Archipelago National Park154 km (95.9 mi)2 hr 43 minDoable as a day trip
Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona and Campigna National Park157 km (97.4 mi)2 hr 45 minDoable as a day trip
Val Grande National Park242 km (150 mi)4 hrBest as a weekend
Gran Paradiso National Park256 km (159 mi)4 hr 13 minBest as a weekend
Stelvio National Park273 km (169 mi)4 hr 27 minBest as a weekend
Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park287 km (178 mi)4 hr 40 minBest as a weekend
Monti Sibillini National Park307 km (191 mi)4 hr 58 minBest as a weekend
Archipelago of La Maddalena National Park321 km (200 mi)5 hr 10 minBest as a weekend

When to make this trip

Cinque Terre National Park is generally best May, June, September, and early October, with April and late October as the quieter shoulder either side.

Winter is cool and wet at low elevation and snowy in the mountains, with reduced hut and refuge service.

July and August combine peak heat with peak domestic holidays. Shoulder months are both cooler and quieter.

Month-by-month detail for Cinque Terre National Park

Seeing more than one

Several parks near La Spezia are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.

Distances between parks near La Spezia
PairApartEstimated drive
Cinque Terre → Appennino Tosco-Emiliano46.7 km (29 mi)1 hr 2 min
Appennino Tosco-Emiliano → Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona and Campigna130 km (80.7 mi)2 hr 22 min
Cinque Terre → Tuscan Archipelago158 km (98.3 mi)2 hr 47 min
Cinque Terre → Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona and Campigna165 km (103 mi)2 hr 53 min

Planning a trip from La Spezia

Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.

Read the Cinque Terre National Park guide

Other towns in Provincia di La Spezia

Common questions

What is the closest national park to La Spezia?

Cinque Terre National Park. It is about 8.5 km (5.3 mi) from La Spezia, roughly 14 min of driving.

Can I do a national park day trip from La Spezia?

Yes — Cinque Terre National Park, Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park, Tuscan Archipelago National Park, and Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona and Campigna National Park are within about a three-hour drive.

How many national parks are near La Spezia?

10 parks are within reach of La Spezia, 4 of them close enough for a day trip.

When is the best time to visit the parks near La Spezia?

For Cinque Terre National Park, the closest one, generally May, June, September, and early October. Either side of that, April and late October stays quieter.