Your stay — Stella di Mare
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The Property — Stella di Mare
Stella di Mare is a straightforward three-star hotel on La Spezia’s waterfront, just a five-minute walk from the ferry terminal to the Cinque Terre. The lobby is compact and practical, with pale wood furniture and a small reception desk that hands you a key and a map without fuss. Rooms are clean and functional, with sea views if you pay the premium; it suits budget-minded travellers who value location over luxury. You won’t find a pool or a restaurant—just a decent breakfast buffet and a terrace that catches the afternoon sun.
Chronicles of La Spezia
La Spezia grew from a fishing village into a major naval port after the Kingdom of Italy established its arsenal here in the 1860s. The city’s layout is a grid of wide, tree-lined boulevards built to serve the shipyards and military infrastructure. After heavy bombing in World War Two, much of the centre was rebuilt in functional mid-century style, though the 12th-century Castello San Giorgio still watches over the old quarter. Today it’s a working port with a lively market, a gritty industrial edge, and the main gateway for tourists heading to the Cinque Terre.
Best Time to Visit
Full La Spezia guide →Best months
May, June and September offer warm weather—25–28°C—with lower humidity than July and August. Crowds are thinner, especially outside the Cinque Terre ferry queues.
Peak / festival surge
August is the busiest month, driven by Italian holidays and foreign tourists visiting the Cinque Terre. Hotel prices at Stella di Mare can double; expect full occupancy by early July.
Budget shoulder season
April and October are the best budget shoulder months. Temperatures are mild (14–20°C), rain is possible but infrequent, and ferry services still run on a reduced schedule.
Weather & packing
Summer heat is intense and humid, often with a sharp sea breeze in the evening. Pack layers: a light jacket for the ferry, breathable shirts for the heat, and sturdy walking shoes—the streets slope steeply.
Live City Briefing — La Spezia
- The pedestrianised zone around Via del Prione is being extended, with new cycle lanes along the waterfront that opened in March 2026.
- A new direct ferry to Portovenere via the ‘Golfo dei Poeti’ route launched this season, running three times daily from June 1.
- Construction on Piazza Verdi’s underground car park is ongoing until October 2026; use the Stazione Marittima car park instead.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Stella di Mare, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floor 3 or 4 facing the internal courtyard. The lift is small but manageable for luggage up to that height, and these upper floors get less street clatter from Via 36 (a main road). Courtyard side is quieter than the front.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floor 1 (street level, direct noise from Via 36) and any room at the front of the building – the road carries local traffic and pedestrian chatter. Also skip rooms near the lift on floor 2 (where the service lift opening can be heard if staff are cleaning early).
Best views
The best view is from a top-floor (4th floor) room at the back, overlooking the courtyard and possibly a sliver of the La Spezia hills. Front rooms see the street and parked cars – uninspiring.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are your best bet for quiet. The lift stops on all floors but above floor 2 you're further from the entrance and street.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise from Via 36 is the main source – local traffic, motorbikes, and evening pedestrian bustle. The small lift motor can be heard in adjacent rooms, especially in the morning. No bar or service entrance noise noted in data, but the front desk buzzes when people check in/out.
Insider tips
1. Book parking ahead at Garage San Giorgio (€20/day) – it's 200m walk and fills fast. 2. Request the portable ramp when booking if you need step-free access – arrival by 6pm helps ensure it's waiting. 3. The Wi-Fi login is simple (room number + surname) so no need to queue at reception for it; speed is fine for email but not streaming.
- 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 — Stella di Mare
Free Wi-Fi for all guests, speed approx 15 Mbps, simple login via room number and surname
One small lift serves all 4 floors; no stairs-only section
No physical papers. No digital newsstand
Standard check-in 14:00–23:00. Bag drop available anytime. Late check-out until 12:00 free, after 12:00 €25 until 14:00
Free for same-day arrivals/departures at the front desk; no dedicated room
Single step at main entrance (portable ramp available on request). Lift doors 80 cm wide. No accessible bathroom in standard rooms
No on-site parking. Nearest public garage is Garage San Giorgio, 200m away, €20 per 24h indoors. No EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €2.50 per person per night for up to 10 nights, applies to guests aged 14 and over
Deposit & card hold: First night charged as deposit at booking; a €100 card hold for incidentals at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Mater Salutis (487 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: San Giovanni Battista (623 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: Parrochia N.S. del Pianto (902 m · ~11 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di Nostra Signora del Pianto (903 m · ~11 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Baracchetta Faggioni — 897 m · ~11 min walk
parco giochi — 702 m · ~9 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs in town; avoid exchange bureaux at La Spezia Centrale or tourist spots—poor rates and fees apply.
Visa/Mastercard widely accepted in supermarkets and restaurants; Amex less common; contactless tap is standard; carry cash for small bars and market stalls.
Tipping is not expected; rounding up the bill or leaving a euro for good service is fine. Taxis: round up. Hotel staff: no tip needed.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso at a bar counter: €1.10–1.30.
Pizza al taglio (by the slice) or a panino: €5–7.
Pasta or pizza in a trattoria: €10–13 for a main.
Via del Prione and the streets around Piazza Cavour have takeaway slices, focaccia, and fried seafood cones for €5–10.
Conad, Coop, and Lidl are common; Lidl tends to be cheapest.
Corso Cavour and Via del Prione have mid-range Italian chains (OVS, Coin) and independent boutiques; the Saturday market in Piazza Brin has cheap basics.
Single bus ticket: €1.50 (valid 90 minutes). Day pass: €4.50. From the airport (Galileo Galilei, Pisa): take the Pisa Mover to Pisa Centrale (€2.70), then a Regionale train to La Spezia (about €8–10, 1 hour).
Always buy bus tickets before boarding—fine for riding without is €50+. Eat at ordinary bar counters for coffee and lunch—half the price of seated service. Visit the free public walkway on the waterfront (Via del Molo) for a great harbour view without paying for museums.
Good to know — La Spezia
Type C/F/L · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · 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 Stella di Mare
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 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 Stella di Mare?
Request a room on floor 3 or 4 facing the internal courtyard. The lift is small but manageable for luggage up to that height, and these upper floors get less street clatter from Via 36 (a main road). Courtyard side is quieter than the front.
Which rooms should I avoid at Stella di Mare?
Avoid rooms on floor 1 (street level, direct noise from Via 36) and any room at the front of the building – the road carries local traffic and pedestrian chatter. Also skip rooms near the lift on floor 2 (where the service lift opening can be heard if staff are cleaning early).
Is Stella di Mare noisy?
Street noise from Via 36 is the main source – local traffic, motorbikes, and evening pedestrian bustle. The small lift motor can be heard in adjacent rooms, especially in the morning. No bar or service entrance noise noted in data, but the front desk buzzes when people check in/out.
Which rooms have the best views at Stella di Mare?
The best view is from a top-floor (4th floor) room at the back, overlooking the courtyard and possibly a sliver of the La Spezia hills. Front rooms see the street and parked cars – uninspiring.
What are insider tips for staying at Stella di Mare?
1. Book parking ahead at Garage San Giorgio (€20/day) – it's 200m walk and fills fast. 2. Request the portable ramp when booking if you need step-free access – arrival by 6pm helps ensure it's waiting. 3. The Wi-Fi login is simple (room number + surname) so no need to queue at reception for it; speed is fine for email but not streaming.
What time is check-in at Stella di Mare?
Check-in at Stella di Mare is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Stella di Mare have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi for all guests, speed approx 15 Mbps, simple login via room number and surname
Is there a city or tourist tax at Stella di Mare?
€2.50 per person per night for up to 10 nights, applies to guests aged 14 and over
Where can I eat cheaply near Stella di Mare?
Pizza al taglio (by the slice) or a panino: €5–7.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Stella di Mare?
Single bus ticket: €1.50 (valid 90 minutes). Day pass: €4.50. From the airport (Galileo Galilei, Pisa): take the Pisa Mover to Pisa Centrale (€2.70), then a Regionale train to La Spezia (about €8–10, 1 hour).
When is the best time to visit La Spezia?
May, June and September offer warm weather—25–28°C—with lower humidity than July and August. Crowds are thinner, especially outside the Cinque Terre ferry queues.
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.