Levanto is the easiest and calmest base for visiting the Cinque Terre. From here you can reach the five villages by train, ferry, boat or on foot, and come back in the evening to a town with its own beach, a seafront promenade and room to breathe.
The Cinque Terre are a UNESCO World Heritage Site: a stretch of rugged coast in eastern Liguria dotted with five villages, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. They are a true hiking paradise, an excellent food and wine destination and a region any photographer should add to their bucket list.
Why stay in Levanto to visit the Cinque Terre
- Fast trains: from Levanto station it takes about 4 minutes to Monterosso, 7 to Vernazza and 15 to Riomaggiore, with trains about every 30 minutes.
- Ferry from the town: boats to the Cinque Terre and Portovenere leave from La Pietra in Levanto, in season.
- The SVA trail starts here: you can walk from Levanto to Monterosso along the SVA (formerly trail no. 1), one of the most panoramic trails in the area. The Levanto to Monterosso section is always open.
- A real town: Levanto has its own beach, shops, restaurants and a medieval centre, and life here does not stop outside the high season.
- Calmer evenings: after a day among the crowds you come back to a place where people actually live.
Over the centuries, local farmers built robust dry-stone terraces on the cliffs overlooking the sea to grow their vines and olive trees. It is their determination and sacrifice, handed down from generation to generation, together with the lack of industrial development and the relative isolation, that gave the Cinque Terre their beauty and uniqueness.
How to visit the Cinque Terre from Levanto
By train
The Cinque Terre Express is the fastest and most practical way to move between the villages. It runs mostly in tunnels, so there is little to see from the window, but trains are frequent and the villages are only minutes apart. Read our complete guide to the Cinque Terre Express train line.
By ferry
The ferry run by Navigazione Golfo dei Poeti, which leaves from La Pietra in Levanto, is the most scenic way to see the five villages from the water. Our tip is to go to Portovenere first and stop in the other villages only on the way back. If you want to return to Levanto earlier, you can take the train from any of the Cinque Terre villages (Portovenere has no station). Timetables and tickets change with the season, so check our Cinque Terre ferry guide.
With the Cinque Terre Card
We issue the Cinque Terre Card at our front desk, so you can skip the queue at Levanto station. It covers train trips between the villages, the park bus and access to the hiking trails, and it is valid for one, two or three days. Everything you need to know is in our ultimate guide to the Cinque Terre Card.
On foot: hiking in the Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre National Park and its surroundings offer countless hiking trails, and many of them start right from Levanto, so you can walk to the villages and come back by train. When you arrive you will find a detailed Cinque Terre map in your room, our front desk has a wide selection of hiking books, and we are always happy to give personal tips.
Our favourite way to start is the SVA trail (formerly trail no. 1) from Levanto to Monterosso al Mare, a section that is always open. Trail conditions and closures change, so read our hiking in the Cinque Terre guide and the practical Cinque Terre hiking tips on Silvia's Trips, and check the official trail status on the day. Wear sturdy shoes: good trainers are the minimum.
By boat
For an independent day on the water, hire a typical Ligurian gozzo in Levanto from Rosa dei Venti. Marco, the owner, gives you a ten-minute introduction before you set off from La Pietra, and in winter hire is available on request. Read everything about it in our guide to hiring a gozzo in Levanto.
If you prefer to leave the helm to someone else, the Vernazza Water Taxi is a service our guests have always appreciated, and our guide to the best boat tours in the Cinque Terre compares the options, including morning and sunset tours.
By bike
Whether you prefer MTB downhill trails, road bikes or a more relaxing electric bike, there is plenty of choice around Levanto. Oasi is a bike hotel, and in our guide to biking in Levanto and the Cinque Terre area you will find the information and tips you need to plan your cycling holiday.
By car
Visiting the Cinque Terre by car is a bad idea, and we advise against it. The area is vertical, so moving from one village to the next means driving up and down several times, and the local roads were once mule tracks, which makes them very narrow and winding. The other big problem is parking: the villages are tiny, home to a few hundred people, and the car parks, always outside the villages, are in proportion. Leave the car behind and use the train, the ferry or your own feet.
Stay in Levanto
The Oasi Eco Boutique Hotel is open all year round. For the best conditions book on our official website, see how booking direct compares with Booking.com on our book direct page, or write to us on WhatsApp at +39 0187 807356 or by email at info@oasihotel.eu.
Frequently asked questions
Is Levanto a good base for visiting the Cinque Terre?
Yes. Levanto has frequent trains to the five villages, a ferry from La Pietra, the start of the SVA trail to Monterosso, its own beach and a calmer atmosphere than the villages themselves.
How long does the train take from Levanto to the Cinque Terre?
About 4 minutes to Monterosso, 7 minutes to Vernazza and 15 minutes to Riomaggiore, with trains about every 30 minutes.
What is the best way to visit the Cinque Terre?
It depends on what you want: the train is the fastest, the ferry the most scenic, the trails the most rewarding and a hired gozzo the most independent. We advise against going by car.
Can I buy the Cinque Terre Card at the hotel?
Yes, we issue the Cinque Terre Card at our front desk, so you avoid the queue at Levanto station.
Can I walk from Levanto to Monterosso?
Yes, along the SVA trail (formerly trail no. 1), one of the most panoramic trails in the area. The Levanto to Monterosso section is always open.
Should I visit the Cinque Terre by car?
No. The roads are narrow and winding, and parking is scarce and always outside the villages.
Last updated: 1 November 2026
