bus to porto venere

La Spezia is a big town. Where in La Spezia would you like to go from?

The local bus company has a trip planner.
https://www.atcesercizio.it/en/?linea=1003%232&fermata=

I don't think this has changed in the last couple of years Route P - and maybe Route 11 during the summer months - runs to Porto Venere. The closest place to catch the P bus is when it makes a loop past the Mercato towards the center of town.

It is about an 800 meter walk - according to Google - from the train station to Mercato Nord which is in the center of town near the market. The walk is pleasant and through a mostly pedestrian shopping district if you plan it right. Walk to Mercato Nord and catch the bus on its inner town loop.

A PDF of bus routes is here:
https://www.atcesercizio.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/MAPPA-URBANA-21_09_21.pdf

I would buy bus tickets at the train station before boarding the bus because you need tickets unless tap-in/out has reached La Spezia and I'm skeptical about that. Validate your ticket in the bus. The bus ride is kind of windy but pretty easy all things considered.

As I recall the taxi prices were clearly posted but were extortionate - I want to say 40e to PV versus <2e on the bus.

Hope that helps, take the ferry across to Lerici and other towns on the south of the bay if you have time,
=Tod

You can also get a bus connecting to the "P" bus from Via Fiume in front of La Spezia Centrale station.

Depending on what time of year, how about a nice ferry ride instead of the bus?

https://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en/boat-excursions

I believe there's a bus ticket vending machine available at the La Spezia station, and if it's not clear on the machine, I think Portovenere requires a 'Codice' 3 ticket which you must validate once on board (via a little date stamp machine). You can see the bus stop icons on Google Maps. If you click on an icon it will list the bus routes that stop there, and sometimes additional info under 'Departure Board'. Along Via Fiume (beyond the station piazza and down some stairs), several icons are shown and one does specify a stop for the P / 11 bus (if it doesn't say Portovenere on the front or side of the bus, ask a passenger or the driver to be sure it's the right bus in the right direction).

One other note it was not at all clear where to buy tickets in PV to come back. It is inside the stone walkway close to the parking garage entrance.
It's a little hard to describe but the machine is here close to here on the Google map view:
https://www.google.it/maps/@44.0518418,9.8362248,3a,75y,322.54h,87.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sseqO4GE1h9q18c8eSZ1v0w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?coh=205409&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkxOC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

But I will say that this is probably the loveliest place I've ever waited for a bus:
https://www.google.it/maps/@44.0533543,9.8371369,3a,75y,112.38h,84.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szeSOT005-AX4lLyshrxB3g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?coh=205409&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkxOC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
with the Med glittering in background and the boats bobbing and people walking the promenade.

Enjoy,
=Tod