Portovenere and the Three Islands by Boat from La Spezia: Is It Worth It?

Yes, if you want a short, easy boat outing with a pretty village at the end of it; no, if what you are really after is the five Cinque Terre villages. Portovenere sits at the western tip of the Gulf of La Spezia, opposite three small islands, and it is a different trip from the Cinque Terre, not a cheaper version of it.

What you actually see

Portovenere is a harbour village of tall, pastel-coloured houses along the waterfront, with a church and fortifications on the headland. Together with the Cinque Terre and the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto it forms one UNESCO World Heritage site. The islands are the part most visitors only see from the water: Palmaria is the largest, Tino and Tinetto lie beyond it. Tino is largely closed to visitors, so the boat tours circle the islands; read the booking page if a landing matters to you.

The Gulf is nicknamed the Gulf of Poets, which explains why some tours carry that name instead of Portovenere. The same area, with a different itinerary, shows up in our Portovenere boat tours page, which lists 49 offers from €22.

The main options compared

The Portovenere and 3 islands boat trip from La Spezia takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours from €69 and has 438 reviews with 4.8 stars. The listing describes ruins, cliffs and sea caves, plus free time in Portovenere.

If you are already in Portovenere, the three-islands boat tour from Portovenere is 1.5 hours from €40 with a swim stop (382 reviews, 4.8 stars). A shorter loop listed as the 3 Islands tour from Portovenere runs 45 minutes from €22, but it has only 15 reviews with an average of 4.0, so read recent comments first.

For the evening, the golden hour boat tour takes 1.5 hours from €60 and includes a glass of local wine and appetisers (148 reviews, 4.7 stars), while the sunset tour of Portovenere and Palmaria lasts 3 hours from €109 and is described as a small-group trip with swimming stops and an aperitif (89 reviews, 4.7 stars). More on timing in sunset boat trips at Cinque Terre.

Two things the price hides

The first is where the trip starts. Several listings start in La Spezia, so the price includes the Gulf crossing; the Portovenere departures start from the village itself, so you must get there first. A local bus runs from La Spezia and there is also a public ferry from the Cinque Terre side; check the current timetable rather than relying on a number here.

The second is the size and type of boat. The photograph in one of the listings shows an open rigid inflatable with exposed seats, while others use larger covered boats. Ask whether there is shade, whether life jackets are provided and what the operator does if the sea is rough. If you are travelling with children, the booking page is where minimum age and life-jacket sizes are stated; do not assume them.

Portovenere or the Cinque Terre?

Choose Portovenere if you have only two or three hours, if you want swimming or cave views more than village streets, or if you are staying near La Spezia and want a short evening trip. Choose the Cinque Terre if the five villages are the reason you came. The longer tours combine both: the Cinque Terre and Portovenere cruise takes 7 to 8 hours from €133 with 255 reviews and 4.9 stars. How a boat day compares with a day on the train is in Cinque Terre by boat or train.

When it is not worth it

If the sea is rough, the islands are more of a swell test than a sight, and operators may cancel. If you get seasick, pick the shortest loop. And if you want to walk, Portovenere is not the base for it; for paths see our guide to hiking the Cinque Terre.