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Levanto is a quieter, more affordable alternative to staying in the ever-popular Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera.
Levanto was the perfect base for our five days in the region. We could hike or take the train five minutes to Monterosso (the first of the Cinque Terre villages), but we had a quiet place to retreat to after braving the crowds.
Levanto is a pleasant seaside town in its own right. The pretty historic centre is lovely to wander, the beach is great for relaxing and swimming, and there are lots of hiking and biking opportunities.
While Levanto gets busy with Italians in July and August, in mid-April, it was peaceful, and we had enough sun to enjoy the beach.
In this Levanto travel guide, I share our picks for the best things to do in Levanto, where to eat and stay, and how to get there.
At the end, you’ll find a Levanto map with all our recommendations.
Contents
- Where is Levanto, Italy?
- Best Things to Do in Levanto
- Our Favourite Places to Eat in Levanto
- Where to Stay in Levanto
- How to Get to Levanto
- Levanto vs La Spezia as a Base for Cinque Terre
- Levanto, Italy Map
- Is Levanto Worth Visiting?
- More Italian Riviera Tips
Where is Levanto, Italy?
Levanto is located on the coast of Liguria, a region in northwest Italy between Tuscany and France.
The coastline is known as the Italian Riviera and includes the picturesque Cinque Terre villages, which are just south of Levanto.
The nearest major city (and international airport) is Genoa (Genova in Italian), which is 90 kilometres (56 miles) west along the coast. Pisa Airport (109km east) has more flight options, though.
I include details on how to get to Levanto below.
Best Things to Do in Levanto
1) Stroll the Historic Centre
Levanto has a small but pretty historic centre that’s a much quieter place for a stroll than the nearby Cinque Terre towns.
I recommend starting in Piazza Cavour, a square lined with orange trees and the site of a former 17th-century convent.
The tourist information office is here, so you can pick up a map of the town with a walking route, although it’s quite hard to follow in the winding lanes.
Here is a rough walking route:
- Chiesa di San Rocco – This simple church is behind the square and was once used by the convent. I love the pretty flower shop that spills onto this quiet street.
- Via Garibaldi – A street of colourful houses, many painted with trompe-l’œil decorative details. At the corner with Via Vinzoni, look out for the 16th-century street art, Le Grottesche, a series of caricatures of customers at an inn.
- Via Guani – A quiet backstreet that connects Via Garibaldi with the next two churches.
- Chiesa di Santa Maria della Costa and Oratorio di San Giacomo – From Via Guani, walk the narrow street that leads up a hill to these two tiny churches. We couldn’t go inside, but it’s very peaceful here. Continue down the cobbled street of the Salita San Giacomo.
- Loggia Medievale – One of Levanto’s major historic landmarks, this 13th-century building features stone arches and was used as a meeting place, market hall, courthouse, and even a quarantine station during the plague. You can’t go inside, but you can enjoy the view from the pretty square.
- Medieval Walls and Clock Tower – Close to the Loggia, head down Strada de Prealba to find these other medieval constructions, built as defences by the Republic of Genoa, which was concerned about attacks from rival Pisa.
- Chiesa San Andrea – This black-and-white-striped church is one of Levanto’s most important and was built in the Ligurian Gothic style beginning in 1222. You can go inside.
- Levanto Castle – From the piazza outside Chiesa San Andrea, you can see Levanto’s pocket-sized Castello San Giorgio above and can follow a narrow path up. It was built in 1165, and you can’t go inside. You also pass the castle on the walk to Monterosso (from the seafront side).
- Via Dante Alighieri – After your walking tour, I recommend finishing on Levanto’s main shopping street, where you could perhaps pick up some focaccia at one of the bakeries to take to the nearby beach.
2) Relax on Levanto Beach
Levanto Beach is one of the largest beaches in the area, with a mix of small pebbles and grey sand (I found water shoes helpful for swimming).
It’s very close to the centre of town, so you can easily pick up a slice of focaccia or gelato on your way to the beach.
There are several bars right on the beach. In summer, most of the sand will be covered with sunbeds, but in mid-April, they weren’t laid out, but you could ask at the bars (Bar Piper or Bar Nadia) to rent a bed.
At Bar Piper, they were charging a reasonable €10 per bed, but we got them half price in the afternoon.
In April, the sea was a refreshing 18ºC—chilly for many (including Simon), but I enjoyed many swims looking back at the town and the hills beyond.
I liked the view at the south end of the beach best with the castle, San Andrea church, and colourful villas.
3) Bike Through Old Rail Tunnels to Framura
The Pista Ciclopedonale Maremonti is a bike path through old rail tunnels that connects Levanto with the small towns of Bonassola and Framura.
The 10km (6.2-mile) return trail took us about an hour in total, though with stops in the towns, we were out for about 2.5 hours.
The bike trail is one of the best things to do in Levanto, especially if you want an easy outdoor excursion with some protection from rain or sun.
See the Levanto to Framura route on AllTrails (ignore the elevation gain and hard rating).
It’s an easy, flat path that’s away from roads most of the time. There are gaps in the tunnels where you enjoy views out to sea.
While you could walk it, I wouldn’t recommend that past Bonassola, as there are long sections of tunnel that would be monotonous on foot.
Halfway along the path is Bonassola, a cute small town that’s worth a quick wander, or in summer, a swim from the grey sandy beach. We had a lovely pizza lunch at the outdoor terrace at Pinseria Curnea.
Framura is smaller. At the end of the bike path, you can lock up your bike and take the stairs or lift down to a small harbour full of colourful fishing boats.
In summer, there’s a bar here, but it was closed in April. There are basic public toilets at the harbour.
L’Agave restaurant at the end of the bike path (above the harbour) looked like a beautiful place to eat, but it’s closed on Wednesdays when we were there.
In theory, you could take the train back from Framura, but due to construction, it was unclear how to cross the train tracks to reach the station from the bike path. It was easy enough to just cycle back.
Where to Rent Bikes in Levanto
There are a few bike shops in Levanto. We rented from Cicli Lapucci for €8 each for 4 hours, plus €3 for a helmet. A full day rental is €12.
Cicli Raso is another option.
Both places close for lunch around 12.30pm – 3pm. We were able to drop off when they were closed, though.
The bike path starts near Bagni Vallesanta at the north end of Levanto Beach, just a few minutes’ cycle from Cicli Lapucci.
4) Watch the Sunset
Head to Levanto Beach at sunset for a drink or stroll. It’s a very pleasant, family-friendly atmosphere.
For a DIY experience, bring your own drinks (the Doro supermarket is close by) and sit on one of the benches along the promenade near Casinò (a seafront restaurant).
Or for the best view, head out on the rocks on the Moletto di Levanto (a small pier).
Bar Piper, right on the beach, has the best sunset view if you want to eat or drink somewhere.
5) Hike from Levanto to Monterosso
We love hiking along the Cinque Terre coast, and the trail from Levanto to Monterosso al Mare is a quieter and free alternative to the Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail) on the other side of Monterosso (which charges a fee).
The 8km (5-mile) route took us 2 hours 50 minutes of walking (plus about 30 minutes of breaks) with an elevation gain of 407 metres.
See the Levanto to Monterosso hike on AllTrails (we have the Plus membership to save maps offline).
The trail starts from the south end of Levanto Beach. From Casinò, keep walking on the promenade south until you reach the large blue villa (Villa Celeste, available on Airbnb!)
Look for the red-and-white paint stripes on the stone arches beneath the villa, which mark the start of the hiking trail.
You start by walking up the stairs to the castle and then go right. There are plenty of signs.
10 minutes into the trail, you reach a beautiful view of Levanto. Even if you don’t want to walk the whole trail to Monterosso, it’s worth walking up here.
The trail mixes ascents and more level sections, so we didn’t find the climb as bad as expected. There’s a mix of forest and coastal path, past some remote houses and olive groves.
It’s rocky in parts, so good shoes are necessary. And bring plenty of water and snacks, as there are no facilities along the way (except the Podere Lovara farm museum, which has an entrance fee and limited hours).
We didn’t see any other hikers (starting at 8.15am) until nearly two hours in, when we reached the highest point with views down to all five Cinque Terre villages. In the morning, we were facing into the sun, so it wasn’t very clear, but still a beautiful sight.
From here it was an easy hour down to Monterosso al Mare, the first of the Cinque Terre villages.
After lunch and a wander around the busy town (where the beach looked very appealing—consider bringing swimming gear), we hopped on the train back to Levanto.
6) Visit the Cinque Terre
Levanto is a great base for exploring the Cinque Terre, a series of five picturesque seaside villages that get extremely crowded with tour groups.
Levanto is only 5-8 minutes on the train to the first village, Monterosso (or you could hike there), and it’s included in the park rail pass.
If you want to hike other trails in the Cinque Terre and visit several towns, it’s worth considering the Cinque Terre Treno Card, which includes unlimited train rides and the paid trails.
You can buy the pass at train stations, but the queues can be long. You can also buy it online at the Parco Nazionale 5 Terre website. If your pass includes the short Via dell’Amore walk (one way from Riomaggiore to Manarola), you can also choose a time slot for it.
You don’t need to do the paid trails to see some amazing views in the area. We love the free hike from Corniglia to Manarola via Volastra, which passes through vineyards (we even stopped at one for a glass of local white!).
It’s even more beautiful than the Levanto to Monterosso trail, but it has a steeper, more challenging ascent and is much busier.
You could also explore the villages by hopping on the train (or taking the less frequent and crowded ferry) between them. I recommend going early or in the evening to avoid the intense crowds.
See my Italian Riviera travel guide for more Cinque Terre tips.
7) Take Day Trips by Train
Levanto is fairly well-placed for day trips to other towns in the Italian Riviera. Although I do think it’s worth also staying somewhere further west.
On this trip, we combined Levanto (for Cinque Terre exploration) with our favourite Ligurian town, Camogli, which is closer to Portofino and San Fruttuoso. See my Camogli travel guide for more details.
Here are the towns I most recommend visiting from Levanto with train times (on the fastest regional trains):
- Sestri Levante (14 minutes+) – The sandy beach at Baia del Silenzio is rare in this area and my favourite.
- Chiavari (20-40 minutes) – A hidden gem with a beautiful historic centre. We love the wood-fired farinata (chickpea pancake) at Luchin.
- Rapallo (30 minutes+) – A bigger, less touristy town with a pleasant promenade and a cable car up into the mountains. See my Rapallo travel guide.
- Santa Margherita Ligure (35 minutes+) – A chic resort town with beautiful architecture. It’s the gateway to Portofino by bus or ferry.
You could also take the ferry to Portovenere, but it takes 1 hour 50 minutes (via all the Cinque Terre) and doesn’t come back until 4 or 5pm, so check timetables carefully.
See my guide to the best things to do in the Italian Riviera for more ideas.
Our Favourite Places to Eat in Levanto
See the Google Map below for the locations of our favourite places to eat—they are all in the compact centre of Levanto.
Casual Spots
- Focacceria Domè – On the main street of the old town, this bakery has lots of different flavours of focaccia and pizza slices. Ideal for a quick meal or beach snack.
- Aggio & Persa – This tiny place has just a few tables and is quick, casual, and affordable. You choose from a selection of pre-cooked meals and are charged by weight, so you can try a few different things. As vegetarians, we enjoyed the pesto lasagna, melanzana alla parmigiana (eggplant parmesan), and minestrone soup.
Sweet Treats
- Italiano – This local cafe has good coffee and croissants (called brioche here), and the gelato was our favourite.
- Gelateria Basilico e Limone – Another great spot for gelato, and it’s close to the beach.
Restaurants
- La Picea Pizzeria – This award-winning pizzeria didn’t quite live up to our expectations (pizza in Liguria is generally not as good as south Italy), but the pizza was pretty good. Our favourite was the starter of farinata (chickpea pancake) with amazing pesto.
Where to Stay in Levanto
The Sea Airbnb
We stayed in a one-bedroom Airbnb apartment called The Sea, which was ideal for us.
The owners are very nice and even picked us up from the station (this is not a self-check-in place), which is a 10-minute walk away.
It was clean and modern, with everything we needed, including a washing machine, air conditioning, an oven, a dishwasher, beach towels and umbrella.
It’s located on the fourth floor, but there’s an elevator (not always the case).
The balcony has a view of the mountains and a bit of the sea, which is very close. The beach is just a few minutes’ walk away.
It can accommodate four guests as there’s a sofa bed in the living room.
It’s popular, so book early—The Sea on Airbnb.
Or there are lots of other holiday apartments to rent in Levanto. Search on Airbnb or Booking.
Hotels in Levanto
If you’d rather stay in a hotel or B&B, you can find some options on Booking.
I was tempted by the stylish Park Hotel Argento, which has a beautiful setting and pool, but it’s a little out of town (a free shuttle bus is provided).
Hotel Baia di Levanto is a more affordable option right in the centre, just minutes from the beach.
How to Get to Levanto
I recommend visiting Levanto by train as parking can be difficult to find and expensive.
Arriving by Plane
We flew into Pisa International Airport (PSA) because it offers more flight options than the slightly closer Genova City Airport (GOA).
From there, it took us about three hours to get to Levanto, including connections. We took the Pisamover airport train for the short hop to Pisa Centrale station, then the InterCity train to La Spezia, where we changed to the regional train to Levanto.
Train Travel
Getting around the Italian Riviera by train is easy. Check schedules on Trenitalia (make sure to use the Italian place name, i.e., Genova, not Genoa).
We used the Trenitalia app to book the regional trains we hopped on along the coast, which saved us from queuing at the machines or the counter. Plus, we didn’t have to validate our tickets (you have to use machines on the platform to stamp paper tickets).
There’s no need to book regional trains in advance (just book more than five minutes before the train departs), but when travelling further afield on the faster Freccia trains, it’s cheaper to book a few months ahead.
When we have luggage, we prefer to book Intercity trains (or Freccia trains) rather than regional trains, if possible. You can then book a seat in advance, and there’s more luggage storage.
Levanto vs La Spezia as a Base for Cinque Terre
As the Cinque Terre towns are so crowded, many visitors consider staying in one of the two towns on either side of the five villages. We’ve used both as a base for exploring the area, and here are my thoughts.
La Spezia:
- Much larger
- Better rail connections
- Closer to Portovenere (by bus or ferry)
- Museums to visit
Levanto:
- Smaller and more charming
- Lovely beach
- Cycle path to Framura
- Hiking trail to Monterosso
Both are similar distances by train from the Cinque Terre towns. Levanto is 5 minutes from Monterosso, and La Spezia is 6 minutes from Riomaggiore. We found both just as easy to access the towns.
La Spezia worked well for us when we wanted to visit Portovenere, and we loved our Airbnb, La Spezia Lounge, which is close to the station, and one of the most stylish and comfortable apartments we’ve stayed in.
We thought the city was fine, and we’d stay there again, but we didn’t love it.
Overall, we preferred Levanto because we like small towns, enjoyed the hikes and bike rides, and loved relaxing on the beach each afternoon after a morning of activity.
Levanto, Italy Map
Is Levanto Worth Visiting?
Levanto is absolutely worth visiting. It’s our new favourite base for Cinque Terre, but it also has its own charm, pretty historic centre, and a lovely beach.
I love the easy access to hikes and bike rides, and the train station makes it easy to explore further afield.
More Italian Riviera Tips
We’ve visited the Italian Riviera many times. Read our other posts for more tips:
- Hiking Corniglia to Manarola in Cinque Terre
- 11 Stunning Things to Do in the Italian Riviera
- Rapallo Travel Guide: The Best Italian Riviera Base
- Finale Ligure, Italy: The Quiet Side of the Italian Riviera
Camogli
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