Levanto is not only a popular destination for bathers and Cinque Terre hikers but also an ideal starting point for excursions by train or boat to many interesting places of the Riviera di Levante (between Genoa and La Spezia). Some Tuscan cities can also be visited on day trips by train or by car.
Sestri Levante: This picturesque town is beautifully situated on a peninsula on the Gulf of Tigullio, appr. 30 minutes by train from Levanto and Cinque Terre. Before visiting the Old Town we recommend the short hike from Sestri Levante to Punta Manara (1 hour) with fantastic views of the Gulf. The old town of Sestri Levante is very pretty and has two beautiful bays. The most famous is the Baia del Silenzio (Bay of Silence) where the poet HC Andersen found inspiration for his fables. Bring your swimsuit!
Visit Camogli, San Fruttuoso, Portofino and Santa Margherita in only one day. Take the train from Levanto - Cinque Terre to Camogli (50 min). The old town is amazing with its colorful houses and the lively harbor. From Camogli you can take the challenging coastal path which goes up to San Rocco and continues to the ancient Benedictine Abbey of San Fruttuoso (a 3-hour hike). Otherwise you can go by boat from Camogli directly to the monastery. Here it’s nice to swim! From San Fruttuoso take the boat along the coast to the picturesque fishing village of Portofino. From here boat or bus to Santa Margherita Ligure. In this small town you will find plenty of restaurants and shops. From Santa Margherita train back to Levanto - Cinque Terre.
Genoa with its famous historical centre is well worth a day trip. The old town with its narrow streets and squares is the biggest historical city center in Europe. In the delicious trattorias you can taste the typical Ligurian specialties such as Pasta with Pesto alla Genovese. In Via Garibaldi you will find some of the most magnificent palaces of the 16th century, which have been declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The aquarium, located in the heart of Porto Antico, represents a special attraction both for children and adults.
Portovenere can be reached from Levanto by boat (1 hour). Otherwise you can hike from Riomaggiore along the coast to Portovenere (4-5 hours). One of the main tourist attractions is the striped Church S. Pietro, built in 1277. High above the sea you’ll find the Genoese fortress, the Castello Doria. You don't need to pay the entrance charge to the castle to enjoy excellent views; a pretty terrace below it looks over the sea and is a lovely spot for a picnic. It’s possible to visit the three nearby islands by boat; Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto.
Pisa is just 2 hours away by train from Levanto and the Cinque Terre. The Campo dei Miracoli holds the main attractions of Pisa, one of Europe's greatest groups of Romanesque buildings. Most famous is the Leaning Tower; 54 meters tall, has eight stories, six of them with open galleries. Inside the spiral staircase there are 294 steps leading to the top of the tower. Il Duomo or Santa Maria Cathedral is located next to the Leaning Tower. It is an imposing white building dating from 1063. The facade, constructed in the twelfth century, has four tiers of open galleries housing statues and decorated with marble inlay.
Lucca is a wonderful town situated in the northwest of Tuscany, only 20 km away from Pisa, about 90 km from the Cinque Terre. The medieval walls, thick and strong, built in the sixteenth century still surrounds the town and the walkways present on the top of the walls offer an enjoyable opportunity for biking or walking to nearby sights. Duomo di San Martino (Cathedral of St. Martin) is the biggest example of the Pisan-Lucchese Romanesque school of architecture. The construction of the cathedral began in 1060.
Florence, a Renaissance city in the heart of Tuscany, can be reached by train from Levanto and the Cinque Terre in 3 hours. This famous town has some of Italy's best museums with many famous paintings and sculptures, beautiful cathedrals and churches, interesting streets and squares with elegant buildings and shops. We highly recommend you to book your tickets to the popular museums and other tourist sights online in advance. The cathedral (Duomo) of Florence is the most popular tourist site. The Baptistery of John the Baptist from the 11th century, standing in front of the famous Duomo is one of Florence's oldest buildings. The Uffizi Gallery is one of the world's top art museum. It houses some of the most important works of the Renaissance, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli and Michelangelo. Ponte Vecchio, the oldest of Florence's six bridges, is one of the city's best known images and the only bridge to survive World War II.