On a trip to Italy next year I am considering taking the train into La Spezia to go to Portovenere.

How far is the ferry to Portovenere from the train station? Can we walk there easily, or do we need to take a cab?

Any help would be appreciated.

You will need to take a taxi. It is too far to walk to the waterfront. I would guess the cab will cost 10-12 Euro.

There is a bus from La Spezia to Portovenere. I believe the cost is 1.50 euro one way. This may be a better way to go.

http://www.atclaspezia.it/

How long will you be staying in Portovenere? If a few days or more, it may be worth it to rent a car.

I would taxi--cannot be too much. The bus runs often but not sure where to catch it. You will love Portovenere--we have gone 4 times but always with a car.

The website http://tinyurl.com/538p3j states that the ferry (traghetto in Italian) from La Spezia to Portovenere is suspended during the winter, will run again as of the middle of March, departures from La Spezia will be at 9:15, 10:00, 11:15, and 14:15.

From the La Spezia Centrale FS station down to the far side of the harbor it’s barely more than a mile (1.8 km), less to the closer (eastern) side.

There is a luggage check (“Deposito Bagagli”) in the La Spezia Centrale FS station.

If you wish to know exactly from which jetty on which side of the harbor the ferry will leave, use the query form on this site: http://tinyurl.com/5yrbe5

I'm not sure if there is competition on that stretch, maybe another ferry company also runs to Portovenere (and beyond, of course).

Take a look at this website - just for the sheer beauty of the relief map in the graphic at the top. It makes you want to hop on a plane and go there right now...
http://tinyurl.com/3jscq7

Enjoy!