Levanto is a famous seaside resort along the Italian Riviera, 80 km east of Genoa, about 30 km from La Spezia and near one the five towns of the Cinque Terre, Monterosso al Mare.
Levanto is the perfect starting-point for visiting the picturesque villages of Cinque Terre. Levanto is just one train stop north of Monterosso and included in the Cinque Terre train pass. From here you can also reach the five Cinque Terre villages by ferry or by foot through guided tracks.
Levanto has a long sandy beach, shops and good restaurants. This popular sea resort is surrounded by a green valley of pine forests, olive groves, vineyards and small medieval villages.
Levanto is not only a place for sun-bathers, divers, surfers and hikers. It’s also an ideal starting-point for day-trips by train or boat to many interesting places along the Riviera such as: Cinque Terre, Portovenere, Portofino and Genoa.
Where to stay in Levanto
Levanto is a budget-friendly destination and the accommodations are significantly cheaper than in the Cinque Terre. You will find a wide range of three and four-star hotels with good standards or if you prefer some very romantic Airbnbs near the beach. Discover our best choices for all budgets and tastes: Hotels in Levanto and Bed & Breakfasts in Levanto.
If you are travelling with family or a group of friends there are also some great beachfront apartments for rent: Apartments in Levanto.
Staying at an agriturismo or farmhouse in Italy will offer you an authentic Ligurian experience! If you love nature and tranquillity there are some really nice high-quality farmhouses with spa and pool on the hills around Levanto. Farmhouses in Levanto.
How to reach Levanto
By car: Highway A12 (Genova - Livorno), exit at Carrodano - Levanto and follow directions toward Levanto. Two main parking areas are located near the railway station and the waterfront. For more information: Parking in Levanto
By train: Railway station Levanto on the Genoa - Cinque Terre - La Spezia line. If you arrive from the north, Milan or Genoa, you can take an Intercity train directly to Levanto. Travel time from Milan: 3 hours. If you arrive from the south, take an InterCity train to La Spezia and change to the Cinque Terre Express train to Levanto.
By plane: The nearest airports to Levanto are Pisa, Genoa and Milano Malpensa. To fly into Milan from the US is probably the cheapest option. From all three airports there are shuttle buses into the city centers and then Intercity trains directly to Levanto.
By boat: You can reach Levanto by boat from La Spezia, Portovenere and Cinque Terre. Boat excursions Levanto - Cinque Terre.
What to see in Levanto
- The cycle track Levanto - Bonassola - Framura (5 km)
- Piazza Cavour (Cavour square)
- Sant' Andrea Church
- Oratorio di San Giacomo
- Church of San Rocco
- Piazza della Loggia (Loggia square)
- Via Garibaldi (Garibaldi street)
- The medieval castle and tower
Hiking trails Levanto - Cinque Terre
A network of hiking trails connects Levanto with the National Park of Cinque Terre. Tou can walk from Levanto to Monterosso in around 3 hours.
We also recommend you to visit the beautiful village of Bonassola situated just a few kilometers west of Levanto with a wonderful beach. For more informations visit the Levanto footpaths map page.
Map trails in Levanto
Shopping in Levanto
The shops are generally open from 9 am to 1 pm and from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm. From Monday to Saturday there is a covered market selling fruit, vegetables and fish.
Every Wednesday a nice open air market on the seafront selling clothes, shoes and garden plants. We can recommend the shops selling Pasta Fresca; all sorts of fresh pasta, ravioli, gnocchi, trofie etc and different sorts of rice- and vegetablepies, lasagne and pesto.
Map of Levanto
More maps can be found on Cinque Terre Maps.
Events
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Weekly Market in Levanto every Wednesday morning.
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1st January: Un tuffo nell’anno nuovo - New Year's Day swim.
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3rd Sunday of May: Mangialonga, wine & food walk through the trails of Levanto valley.
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July 25: Festa di San Giacomo - Festival of the sea with religion procession, flag-throwing and fireworks.
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July and August: Festival Amfiteatrof - international festival of classic music.
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August 10: Tuffo sotto le stelle - beach party.
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August 15: Ferragosto - public holiday. Carneval and beach party.
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Mid August: La Traversata del Golfo di Levanto - Swimming race in the ocean.
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October: De Gustibus Tour - an enogastronomic walk through the historic center of Levanto, tasting of local specialties offered by the commercial shops. Torta d'erbe, ravioli al ragù and more.
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October: Stralevanto, half marathon (circa 14,5 km) in Levanto and surroundings.
