Cinque Terre - Levanto to Monterosso

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Trail in the Cinque Terre region from Levanto to Monterosso, the first village in the Cinque Terre (near Genoa and Pisa in Italy), following the SVA trail closest to the coast.
Levanto is one of the best places to visit the five villages by train and go hiking.
This allows you to walk from Levanto to Monterosso without taking the train at the start. Return by train.

Details

n°1297329
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.16 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,260 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,247 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,037 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 13 ft
  • ⚐ Country: Italy
  • ⚐ City: Levanto 
  • ⚑
    Start: N 44.168114° / E 9.610808°
  • ⚑
    End: N 44.145731° / E 9.650833°
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Photos

Departure above Levanto
Monterosso al Mare
Monterosso al Mare seen from the hiking trail
Small chapel

Description of the walk

Start at the Municipal Casino and Levanto swimming pool.

(S) Stay along the beach, following the red and white markings (SVA) towards "Punta Mesco".
Turn left up the steps and tackle a steep, rapid ascent with steps and a steep gradient.
You’ll reach a flat section following a path at an altitude of 150 m, then begin another steep climb, passing the 250 m mark.

(1) Walk past some barracks (unnamed), then climb again to reach the highest point at 300 m.

(2) At this point, there is a junction with a hairpin bend to the left leading up to the Col de Bagari and another path to the right descending towards San Antonio (towards Punta Mesco, which is the inaccessible rocky peak).
Take the path descending to the left towards Monterosso (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 13 ft - Levanto
  2. 1 : mi 2.49 - alt. 814 ft - Isolated houses
  3. 2 : mi 2.92 - alt. 991 ft - Crossroads of paths
  4. E : mi 4.16 - alt. 23 ft - Monterosso

Notes

There are no water points along the route. Make sure to take 3 litres of water per person in July.
Make sure you have some sweets with you before the climbs.
A route with few visitors (unlike between Monterosso and Corniglia).
Difficult route due to the steep gradient.
No trail toll on this section of the SVA (but a €7.50 toll between Monterosso and Corniglia).
In Monterosso, there is a wide choice of places to eat and drink.
Return to Levanto by train, which runs very frequently.
Price: €4 per person.
Ticket machine accepts card payments and is easy to use as it is translated into French.
Don’t forget to validate your ticket by swiping it from right to left.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 25 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
S BOEHRER
S BOEHRER

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb hike with magnificent views. The first 2 kilometres are uphill, but the effort is more than rewarded by the view.

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Claude81
Claude81

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did this hike in the morning as it was quite warm. It’s actually very shaded, but in places you can catch glimpses of some beautiful scenery. A real treat. It’s described as difficult, but it’s no more challenging than the other hikes in the Cinque Terre. I’d recommend doing this hike in high or low-cut hiking boots, but not in sandals, as I’ve seen people doing.

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Dominique Perichon
Dominique Perichon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent, fairly challenging hike starting from Levanto, but such a pleasant experience with beautiful scenery.
Note: there’s a slight detour at one point along the route, but nothing to worry about.
Monterosso isn’t the most typical of the Cinque Terre, but you can stroll around there without the crowds.
Definitely worth doing

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Drygo
Drygo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk with beautiful views, but a little disappointed by the arrival in Monterosso, which is less typical than advertised

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Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very beautiful hike

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Patrixdemex
Patrixdemex

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This trail is not included in the Cinque Terre tour and is free of charge. However, it is perhaps the most beautiful trail we have walked, with more varied landscapes, fewer visitors and a magnificent view of the entire Cinque Terre from Sant'Antonio al Mesco.
Thank you for the trail.

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User 10078258

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Low attendance at the end of June, even on a Sunday.
A small coffee, a drink or a cake are available at Lovara. Very friendly welcome.
Quite a steep descent in the heat (late morning).

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crissey
crissey

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this route in April, so there weren't many people around, which probably isn't the case in summer.
A magnificent hike.

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chephilor
chephilor

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The trail was quiet on 25 March, a rainy day, still "off season". The elevation changes in Cinque Terre, mostly stairs in the Italian "bancels" (terraced crops), require strong calves!
Levanto is indeed a very good starting point for visiting Cinque Terre. We didn't use our car at all during our week there.

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TineDo
TineDo
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Tour conducted with an FFRandonnée guide, departing from Levanto.
A wonderful first introduction to hiking in Cinque Terre. It was a tough start climbing the uneven steps, but what a reward once we reached the ridge! Magnificent views over the colourful villages. A beautiful introduction to the landscape and, after the steep descent down the numerous steps, a stroll through the pretty village of Monterosso.
A wonderful introduction to this region.
The return journey by train and boat was very pleasant.

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Phil_fer13
Phil_fer13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The steep climb up the stairs is quickly forgotten when you discover the view over the entire Cinque Terre coastline, from Monterosso to Porto Venere.
Beautiful view from Punta Mesco.
The descent to Monterosso is less steep than the climb.

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ESCUR CORINNE
ESCUR CORINNE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike that requires good hiking boots
Plan to leave early if it is very hot and bring at least 2 litres of water per person

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dezei
dezei

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

quite physical at the beginning and end, but very enjoyable

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Thierry et Isabelle
Thierry et Isabelle

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, quite physically demanding at the beginning with its stairs and at the end with its rather steep descent to Monterosso. The walk along the coast offers some very beautiful panoramic views.

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Frizon
Frizon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you and well done for this exceptional itinerary.

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