Salerno or La Spezia?

Posted by agendavideo on 02/05/15 03:53 AM

We're planning a cruise in early May and our port choices are La Spezia or Salerno.
We would wind up visiting either port on our itinerary ... but we'd like to arrive incountry
a 3 days earlier and do some of our own land tours. Arriving in Rome and training to
either port once we decide. The question is: Salerno or La Spezia for our base before
setting off on the cruise. Any preferences? If we choose La Spezia... Salerno would
be a port-of-call and we'd do Pompeii excursion. If we do Salerno, La Spezia would be
a port-of-call and a day excursion.
I know Salerno as base would allow Pompeii and Amalfi coast.... so that's attractive.

Choices...choices... any thoughts?

Thx

Posted by Katherine

Atlanta, GA, USA

02/05/15 04:01 AM

795 posts

It depends on your interests....which location has more that you are interested in?

La Spezia has options of Florence, Pisa, Lucca and Cinque Terre
Salerno has Capri, Pompeii, Amalfi, Paestum

Even though I love Salerno, the locations nearby would seem to lend themselves to relaxing and being leisurely.....which you may have already done on the cruise.....Florence and its environs might be a little more "seeing things".....so helping you decide, which type of sightseeing do you wanna do?

But I would also say that Salerno and its environs may be easier to get a whole feel for in 3 days instead of trying to go go go in Florence and the surrounding area...

Posted by Mike

Boston

02/05/15 01:00 PM

1817 posts

La Spezia is not very close to Florence, or Pisa and Lucca for that matter. Florence about 4 hrs. RT, Lucca and Pisa about 2 1/2 to 3.

Posted by Katherine

Atlanta, GA, USA

02/05/15 11:30 PM

795 posts

though its far, there are a lot of shore excursions from La Spezia to those places, so I was basing the info on what many people do when they are in port there.....

I still say go with what you are looking for MORE of, if you are only interested in Pompeii in the south, then I would say go with Salerno as a port, or if you are only interested in 1 thing near La Spezia, go for that as your port....

Posted by Laura

Rick Steves' Europe

02/05/15 11:59 PM

16895 posts

Evenings in the Cinque Terre can be more pleasant when cruise ship and other day-trippers have thinned out, which is one reason to make that an overnight location, as well as the possibility of more than one day there.

From La Spezia to all 5 towns of the Cinque Terre is easy and quick by train, so you definitely don't need a formal excursion to explore there, whether you come from the ship or by direct train from Rome.

If visiting the Amalfi Coast on your own over three days, you can certainly get around by a mix of public transportation. If stopping with your ship, an organized excursion from Salerno to Pompeii sounds like a convenient service.