Levanto/Santa Margherita Ligure

Posted by mrsstoddard03 on 02/15/26 03:00 PM

Hello all,

I am planning a two-week trip to Italy this summer with my mom and two daughters. My mom is an active 75 year old with knees that give her trouble at times, though she is very mobile and doesn't really let it slow her down too much. I chose to not stay in any of the CT towns because it looks like it's mainly hiking and she can't handle that. She can handle steps (carefully) and hilly pedestrian walkways, but not vigorous hiking. I am thinking that we'd stay in Levanto to allow for some of us to visit the CT towns during the day and do some hiking while she stays in Levanto and hangs around there, taking in the sites and views. Is Levanto or Santa Margherita Ligure a good place for an older person with bad knees?

I appreciate the advice!

Amanda

Posted by LIZinPA 🧳

SE Pennsylvania

02/15/26 03:25 PM

3222 posts

I stayed in Levanto on a Rick Steves tour a few years ago. Easy access to the the CT villages, a pleasant place to stay, and not too hilly. It has a beach, too.

Posted by Laurel

Forest Grove, OR

02/15/26 04:26 PM

12196 posts

You might also consider Rapallo. A little easier to access the other coastal locations than SML and flat overall, but a lovely cable car to a viewpoint and restaurant above.

Posted by mrsstoddard03 OP

02/16/26 07:02 PM

3 posts

Thank you both for your help. I appreciate the feedback!

Posted by Janet

Boise, ID, USA

02/16/26 07:47 PM

2580 posts

SML is mostly flat unless you need to walk to the train station, which is on top of a hill.

Posted by mont3589

02/17/26 01:42 AM

194 posts

Cinque Terre isn't just about hiking. The 5 villages are nice to see.

We've stayed in Levanto a couple of times when visiting the Cinque Terre. It's easy to take the train to the Cinque Terre villages, but you have to get to the Levanto train station from your hotel. Monterosso is flat and easily walkable, both the Old Town and New Town areas.

4 of the 5 Cinque Terre towns have ferry service...Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Corniglia is high above and does not have a ferry landing. Vernazza and Manarola aren't difficult to walk around if you stay around the ferry landing. Almost all of Riomaggiore is an uphill walk.

You might also want to think about visiting nearby Porto Venere (south of Riomaggiore) by ferry. It's another beautiful village and most of it isn't too difficult to walk around.

Posted by mrsstoddard03 OP

02/17/26 04:20 PM

3 posts

Thanks for the additional info! I've sent it all to my mom and told her to see what she thinks. Grazie!

Posted by californiacuore

02/20/26 07:04 AM

163 posts

Levanto. It’s flat with a nice paved path along the beach. Easy train to CT or Santa margherita.

Posted by Frank II

Freedonia

02/20/26 02:29 PM

18549 posts

I've stayed in both towns.

Levanto is flatter and closer to the CT.

I stayed near the train station in SML so it was a slight uphill walk from town to my hotel but there were plenty of hotels closer to the center of town. If she stayed in SML she could get the bus to Portofino while you explore the CT,

It will take anywhere from 50 minutes to an hour and 15 minutes to get from SML to Monterosso depending on which train you take. Levanto is a five minute ride.

While I pesonally preferred SML, for your wants I would suggest Levanto.