Cinque Terre Private Tour from La Spezia: Minivan and Ferry

The boat ride between villages is the route itself, not an add-on.

A private minivan and ferry tour from La Spezia reaches Cinque Terre's five UNESCO villages in a single day, starting by road and then switching to the water. The tour runs eight to nine hours with a live guide in English or Italian, air-conditioned minivan transport, bottled water, and pickup from your port or hotel. Ferry tickets and lunch are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Cinque Terre villages by minivan and boat

• Travel from La Spezia by minivan
• Visit Riomaggiore village
• Visit second village
• Visit third village
• Visit fourth village

The experience

The minivan picks you up in La Spezia and drives to the first village, Riomaggiore, where you board a boat to travel between the remaining four villages along the Mediterranean coast. If weather makes the ferry unsafe, the route switches to train instead: the operator adjusts on the day. You visit each of the five villages that make up this UNESCO World Heritage Site, scattered across a stretch of coastline that is the draw itself.

The tour runs eight to nine hours total, which means you leave the port or your hotel in the morning and return by early afternoon or late afternoon depending on the departure time. The minivan is air-conditioned, and the operator provides bottled water throughout the day. A live guide travels with the group and speaks English or Italian. Because this is a private tour, the group is only your party: no strangers added to the minivan or the boat.

Ferry and train tickets are not included in the price, nor is lunch. You'll want to budget for both and eat at one of the villages during the day. The tour does not involve hiking, though the villages themselves require walking on their streets and stairs. It's not recommended for travelers with significant walking difficulties or certain health conditions, but moderate fitness is the baseline.

What’s included

• Private minivan transport from La Spezia to the first village.
• ferry or train travel between the remaining four villages.
• air-conditioned minivan.
• live guide in English or Italian.
• bottled water.
• port or hotel pickup and drop-off.
• fuel surcharge.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:15 and 09:00Last departure this season: 16 Nov

AgesAdult (4 to 90 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.Operator's directions: “La Spezia Cruise Terminal”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availableNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bellaitalia Tour

Is this one for you?Eight to nine hours leaves room for a morning departure and an early afternoon return, or a midday start and late-afternoon finish, depending on your ship's schedule or hotel plans for the rest of the day. The private minivan means no waiting for a group to assemble, and the ferry ride is built into the route, not an optional add-on you arrange separately.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 4): free.

What are the five villages in Cinque Terre that we'll visit on this tour?

Riomaggiore is the first village, reached by minivan from La Spezia. The other four villages are visited by ferry (or train if weather prevents the boat), and each one is a separate stop where you walk through the village itself.

Does the tour include ferry tickets, or do I buy those separately?

Ferry tickets are not included in the tour price, so you'll purchase them when you board. If weather forces a switch to train instead, train tickets work the same way. You buy them at the time.

Is this tour private, or will we be grouped with other travelers?

This is a private tour, so only your party travels in the minivan and on the boat. No other groups are added.

What happens if the weather is too rough for the ferry?

The tour switches to train travel between villages instead. The route and the villages remain the same. Only the transport method changes based on sea conditions on the day.

Do I need to be a strong hiker for this tour?

There is no hiking on the tour itself, but walking through the villages is required. The tour is not recommended for travelers with significant walking difficulties, though moderate fitness is the baseline expectation.