Your stay — Da Vice
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The Property — Da Vice
Da Vice is a modest 3-star hotel a short walk from La Spezia’s main train station, making it a practical base for exploring the Cinque Terre by rail. The lobby is compact and functional, with essential WC and luggage storage – no frills, but efficient. It suits budget-conscious travellers who value location over luxury, and who need a clean room for one or two nights between train journeys. The vibe is no-nonsense Italian hospitality: friendly staff, decent breakfast, and a roof terrace that’s a genuine plus for evening drinks with a view of the city rooftops.
Chronicles of La Spezia
Founded as a Roman port (Portus Lunae), La Spezia remained a modest fishing and trading town until the 19th century, when the Kingdom of Sardinia established the Royal Naval Arsenal here in 1861. This military shipbuilding boom transformed it from a village of 6,000 into a modern city of over 90,000, encircled by 19th-century fortifications now turned into parks like Parco della Rimembranza. Its strategic position at the head of the Gulf of Poets (so named by Byron and Shelley) gave it a literary gloss, but the city’s real identity remains naval and industrial – a workaday port with a surprisingly elegant, neoclassical centre, rebuilt after WWII damage. Today, La Spezia balances its dockyard duties with tourism, acting as the least hyped gateway to the Cinque Terre and Lerici, yet preserving its own distinct, unpretentious character.
Best Time to Visit
Full La Spezia guide →Best months
May and September – warm enough for sunbathing (20-25°C), much less tourist density than July/August on Cinque Terre trails; June also works if you avoid the very end of the month when crowds build.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are absolute peak, driven by European summer holidays and cruise ship arrivals; hotel prices in La Spezia double or triple – expect Da Vice to charge around €180-220/night. The Palio del Golfo rowing race (first Sunday of August) pumps up demand further.
Budget shoulder season
April, early June and October offer the best compromise: lower rates (save 30-40%), mild weather (15-22°C), and far fewer hikers on Cinque Terre paths – bookable last-minute without stress.
Weather & packing
La Spezia’s Gulf microclimate can shift quickly from scorching sun to sudden downpours, especially in early summer. Pack a light rain jacket or travel umbrella always, plus layers for evening sea breezes even in June.
Live City Briefing — La Spezia
- The Cinque Terre train line upgrade continues: seasonal disruption to local train schedules expected June-August 2026 – check Trenitalia for service alerts or delays before committing to day trips.
- La Spezia’s new urban beach ‘Lido di Foce’ soft-opened in May 2025, with summer 2026 the first full season – expect sunbeds, a bar, and lifeguards for a city-centre swim alternative.
- Construction on the new cruise terminal in Porto Lotti may cause partial harbour closure and rerouted pedestrian access near the waterfront promenade through summer 2026.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Da Vice, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third (top) floor, facing the internal courtyard rather than Via dei Piani. The top floor minimises footfall noise from the lobby and street, and the courtyard side cuts traffic rumble from the road.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first floor directly above the entrance or facing Via dei Piani. The two steps at the main door mean foot traffic noise there, and first-floor rooms catch street-level sounds from the road plus lift door clatter.
Best views
Ask for a courtyard-facing room at the back of the building. Via dei Piani is a narrow urban street with parked cars and occasional traffic, so a rear aspect gives a quieter outlook over neighbouring rooftops and less road activity.
Quietest floors
Floors two and three are generally quieter. The third floor has less overhead activity, while the second avoids the ground-floor bustle but still benefits from being above the entrance.
🔊 Noise notes
The main street frontage (Via dei Piani) is a residential road but has regular car and scooter traffic from early morning until around 22:00. The Park Centro car park 200 m away can generate early arrivals and late departures. The lift is single and audible in adjacent rooms—especially on lower floors.
Insider tips
1. Book Park Centro in advance online if you arrive after 18:00—spaces fill for the overnight rate. You can walk down Via dei Colli in under three minutes. 2. The free Wi-Fi is slow (5 Mbps max) so download maps and any streaming content before you arrive; consider a mobile data backup if you need reliable internet.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Da Vice
free basic Wi-Fi (up to 5 Mbps); no paid tier; login via room number and surname
one lift serves all three guest floors (no stairs-only sections)
no digital newsstand; complimentary physical copies of Corriere della Sera at breakfast
check-in 14:00–22:30 (later arrival by prior arrangement); early bag-drop from 09:00; late check-out until 12:00 for €20 (subject to availability)
free storage on request (in a locked luggage room; staff will assist)
no step-free main entrance (two steps at door); lift too narrow for standard wheelchairs (60 cm door); accessible rooms not available
no on-site parking; nearest public car park is Park Centro (Via dei Colli, 200 m) at €12 overnight (18:00–09:00); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €2.50 per person per night (mandatory, paid at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: no advance deposit required; a €50 credit-card hold for incidentals at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Chiesa del Carmine (146 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Pieve di Sant'Andrea (252 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Oratorio di Santa Croce (293 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Basilica Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta (350 m · ~4 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Centro Commerciale "Centro Luna" — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
Piazza Cesare Battisti — 413 m · ~5 min walk
Museo Diocesano di Sarzana — 486 m · ~6 min walk
Teatro degli Impavidi — 398 m · ~5 min walk
Parco Gioco — 398 m · ~5 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 175 m · ~2 min walk
Farmaè — 41 m · ~1 min walk
Sarzana — 416 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use bank ATMs in the town centre for best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at La Spezia train station or tourist spots as they add poor rates and high fees.
Contactless cards are widely accepted in supermarkets, most restaurants, and shops. Smaller street markets and some cafés prefer cash; always have a few euros on you.
Not expected. For good service in restaurants, leave a euro or two on the table (not a percentage). Taxis: round up to the nearest euro. Hotel porters: €1 per bag if you want.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso at bar counter in a local café: about €1.10
Pizza al taglio (by the slice) or a filled focaccia from a bakery: around €4–€6
Pasta dish in a trattoria away from the main drag: €10–€14 for a primo
Look for bakeries and takeaway pizzerias near Piazza Garibaldi and along Via Prione for cheap slices and focaccia.
Conad, Coop, Lidl and Eurospin are the main budget supermarkets in La Spezia.
Via del Prione and the market at Piazza Cavour (mornings, except Monday) have affordable high-street chains and cheaper stalls.
ATC bus day pass (city network): €3 for unlimited rides within La Spezia. From airport: ATC shuttle bus from Pisa or Genoa to La Spezia train station, about €8–€10 one way.
Buy a daily bus pass instead of single tickets if taking two or more rides. Shop for picnic supplies at Conad or Lidl near the town centre before heading to Cinque Terre. Eat lunch out (menu del giorno) rather than dinner – it’s cheaper for the same dishes.
Good to know — La Spezia
Type C/F/L · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · EUR
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in La Spezia, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Da Vice
🕒 Check-in is from 15:00. Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 175 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Farmaè — 41 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →La Spezia Centrale station (bus stop 'Stazione FS') → Hotel Stella (stop 'Via Fiume/Cavour')
💡 Hardly necessary — it’s a 500m walk. But if you have heavy bags, single tickets (biglietto corsa singola) are sold at the tabacchi inside the station. Validate it in the machine onboard; the fine is €60.
Pisa Airport bus stop (outside arrivals) → La Spezia bus station
💡 Book online in advance (€8–12) for the cheapest fare. The bus drops you at Piazza Brin, a 10-min walk to the hotel — cut through the market hall if it’s open. Luggage goes in the hold, no weight limit issues.
Pisa Airport (platform at station ground level) → La Spezia Centrale (then 5-min walk to Hotel Stella)
💡 Buy the Pisa Mover ticket (€2.70, cash only at the airport machine) to reach Pisa Centrale, then a regional train to La Spezia. Avoid the Intercity — it costs triple and barely saves time. The hotel is a block from the station, turn left on Via Fiume.
Pisa International Airport (PSA) → Hotel Stella, La Spezia
💡 Book a shared transfer via ShuttleDirect or getDriver for around €50 per person. A standard taxi from the rank costs more, but always confirm the fixed price before you set off — drivers often add a surcharge after 10pm.
About La Spezia
Wikipedia ↗
La Spezia is a city and municipality at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the eastern part of the region of Liguria in Italy, the capital of the Province of La Spezia. With a population of 92,711, it is the 2nd-largest municipality in Liguria and the 52-largest in Italy. La Spezia is the second-...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Da Vice?
Request a room on the third (top) floor, facing the internal courtyard rather than Via dei Piani. The top floor minimises footfall noise from the lobby and street, and the courtyard side cuts traffic rumble from the road.
Which rooms should I avoid at Da Vice?
Avoid rooms on the first floor directly above the entrance or facing Via dei Piani. The two steps at the main door mean foot traffic noise there, and first-floor rooms catch street-level sounds from the road plus lift door clatter.
Is Da Vice noisy?
The main street frontage (Via dei Piani) is a residential road but has regular car and scooter traffic from early morning until around 22:00. The Park Centro car park 200 m away can generate early arrivals and late departures. The lift is single and audible in adjacent rooms—especially on lower floors.
Which rooms have the best views at Da Vice?
Ask for a courtyard-facing room at the back of the building. Via dei Piani is a narrow urban street with parked cars and occasional traffic, so a rear aspect gives a quieter outlook over neighbouring rooftops and less road activity.
What are insider tips for staying at Da Vice?
1. Book Park Centro in advance online if you arrive after 18:00—spaces fill for the overnight rate. You can walk down Via dei Colli in under three minutes. 2. The free Wi-Fi is slow (5 Mbps max) so download maps and any streaming content before you arrive; consider a mobile data backup if you need reliable internet.
What time is check-in at Da Vice?
Check-in at Da Vice is from 15:00. Check-out is by 11:00.
Does Da Vice have Wi-Fi?
free basic Wi-Fi (up to 5 Mbps); no paid tier; login via room number and surname
Is there a city or tourist tax at Da Vice?
€2.50 per person per night (mandatory, paid at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near Da Vice?
Pizza al taglio (by the slice) or a filled focaccia from a bakery: around €4–€6
What is the cheapest way to get around from Da Vice?
ATC bus day pass (city network): €3 for unlimited rides within La Spezia. From airport: ATC shuttle bus from Pisa or Genoa to La Spezia train station, about €8–€10 one way.
When is the best time to visit La Spezia?
May and September – warm enough for sunbathing (20-25°C), much less tourist density than July/August on Cinque Terre trails; June also works if you avoid the very end of the month when crowds build.
Top Attractions in La Spezia
💡 It's on a small lane off Via del Prione. Look for the bell tower poking above the drying laundry. Combo walk: visit here, then head up the steps to the castle.
💡 Take coffee at Bar Il Molo on the corner – they do a decent espresso for €1.20. Best light for photos is early morning before the cruise crowds appear.
💡 Take the ferry from La Spezia to Porto Venere (cheap, runs regularly) then walk back along the coastal trail. It's about 6km, decently marked, and saves you backtracking.
💡 Walk up via the Salita della Cittadella—steep but cuter than the road. Skip the museum if you're cash-strapped; the ramparts and view alone justify the ticket.
💡 Photography is partly restricted inside, but the outdoor collection of anchors and propellers is fair game. Go on a weekday morning to avoid school groups.