The station was built in 1887 and is an important hub for regional passenger transport. La Spezia has a large port, but the cargo is mainly transported through another train station in the city. La Spezia Centrale leads to Piazza Medaglie d'Oro, near the historic centre, not far from the Museo Nazionale Trasporti (National Transport Museum), a museum dedicated to railway travel.

There are four platforms at La Spezia Station. This is one of the destinations of the Parma-La Spezia line and a stop on the Genoa-Pisa line. The latter includes staying in five villages in the Cinque Terre. Some trains to La Spezia stop at each town in the Cinque Terre on the way to Genoa, while other trains stop at one or two, so be sure to check your ticket before boarding.

La Spezia Centrale offers luggage storage facilities, tourist information and some places to shop or dine. The passengers at the station are only one floor, so everything is easier to find.

Just outside the station, there are several bus stops that offer a variety of services in La Spezia and other towns in the area.