The city centre is walkable — from La Spezia Centrale station to the market, the Naval Museum, and Porto Mirabello is 15–20 minutes on foot. The castello is uphill, either a short steep walk or a lift from Piazza Mentana.
Local buses run across the city and are cheap and reliable. Taxis are available from the rank outside the station. Ferries to Porto Venere, the Cinque Terre villages, and the islands (Palmaria, Tino, Tinetto) run from Molo Italia at the harbour — a pleasant 10-minute walk from the station. Ferry timetables vary seasonally; check GoTirreno or Navigazione Golfo dei Poeti for current schedules.
For the Cinque Terre villages, the train is faster and more reliable than the ferry except in very calm summer conditions.