Escape the businesslike bustle of Italy’s fashion capital for the blissful beauty of the Ligurian coast. Find out about taking the train from Milan to La Spezia.
When you’ve filled your extra suitcase with all the designer clothing you can manage for one trip to Milan, it’s time to take a break with some time on the coast. One of the most popular destinations on the Ligurian coast is Cinque Terre, and the biggest city close to Cinque Terre is La Spezia.
The train make the trip from Milan to La Spezia easily, covering the 139 miles (224 km) in approximately three hours. While the drive might be a bit faster, navigating the twisting roads of the coast isn’t always fun. Make your trip relaxing with the train by gazing out the train window at the spectacular scenery, writing postcards, or even taking a nap!
Frequent Trains from Milan to La Spezia Centrale
Most of the direct trains running from Milano Centrale station to La Spezia Centrale station are Trenitalia’s InterCity trains, but there are some high-speed Alta Velocità (AV) trains as well. The travel time between the two options isn’t terribly different, about 3 hours for the Frecciabianca AV trains compared to 3 hours and 15 minutes for the InterCity trains. Either way the journey is a little over three hours.
There are also a number of options for indirect trains between the two cities, as well, requiring one transfer along the way. Those trips range from 2 hours and 59 minutes to 3 hours and 45 minutes, and include a combination of Regionale, InterCity, and AV trains. The transfer station is typically in Genoa.
Altogether, there are 32 trains departing Milano Centrale for La Spezia Centrale each day. Ticket prices on this route range from $11-39.
Note that weekends and holidays typically mean less frequent service and sometimes longer travel times.
Direct Trains from Milan to La Spezia Centrale
There is a good selection of direct trains from Milan to La Spezia each day, with travel times a little over three hours whether you choose a Frecciabianca AV train or an InterCity train. Some of the indirect routes aren’t much longer than that, some are even quicker, so it may be worth checking the routes with one connection.
Amenities on Trains from Milan to La Spezia Centrale
Frecciabianca trains are very similar in terms of passenger experience to the top of the line AV trains, they’re just not as fast. There are both 1st class and 2nd class cars. Passengers in 1st class cars get a free drink and a newspaper. Both typically have a cafe car which all passengers can use, and power outlets are in both class cars at each seat.
InterCity and Regionale trains sometimes have 1st class and 2nd class cars. Because reservations are not required on these trains, you simply find an available seat on a car in the appropriate class for your ticket. There is no food service or cafe car on these trains, and the on-board air conditioning doesn’t always work.
Milan and La Spezia Centrale Train Stations
Milan's main station, Centrale is a local transportation hub with buses and trams stopping outside and a Metro (subway) stop in a lower level of the station itself. Porta Garibaldi station is a smaller station, though it also has a Metro stop and several bus lines stopping nearby.
La Spezia Centrale is the city’s main train station, located in the city center on Piazza Medaglie. Several bus lines stop outside the station, and there are regular trains from La Spezia to the Cinque Terre towns nearby.
Journey Information
See below for details on traveling from Milan to La Spezia Centrale by train.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Train Travel in Italy
From seat assignments and luggage space, to the different types of tickets, here are some of the most frequently asked questions about train travel in Italy.
Arrival and Departure Train Destinations
Read on for information about Milan to La Spezia Centrale train stations.
Milano Centrale Guide
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La Spezia Centrale is the main station for the city of La Spezia, considered the gateway to the nearby Cinque Terre on the Ligurian coast.
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