Between the small towns of Levanto, Bonassola and Framura, just north of the Cinque Terre, is a beautiful cycling/walking path called La Ciclopedonale Maremonti.

When I visited Levanto in late summer, I couldn’t wait to rent a bike and see the trail for myself. It was a major highlight of our trip, and I’m already dreaming about going back again.

Here’s my guide for anyone who might be interested in the bike and walking path between Levanto, Bonassola and Framura.

A guide to La ciclopedonale Maremonti bike and walking path in Levanto, Italy

The basics

History of the Bike and Walking path from Levanto to Framura

The Levanto – Bonassola – Framura path opened in 2011.

It runs along an old railway line from the late 1800s. The path begins in the beach parking lot in Levanto and runs along the coast, through the old railroad tunnel. Some parts of the path are exposed, but much of it is covered. On a hot summer day, the cool air inside the galleries brings a bit of relief from the sun.

Don’t worry about missing the view – as you ride, you’ll also get stunning shots of the sea below.

How long is the path?

The total length of the path from Levanto to Framura is about 5.5 kilometers. The time it takes is up to you, especially if you want to stop for a swim, a meal, or a visit in one of the other towns.

Who is the path suitable for?

The path is completely flat, so it’s suitable for all ages and fitness levels. It’s nice and wide, with separate lanes for pedestrians and runners, and a bike lane going in each direction.

Renting bikes in Levanto

There are several small bike rental shops in Levanto. We cycled the path twice during our stay, and both times, we rented from Cicli Raso and had a great experience.

You can rent a bike for €6 for half a day, or €10 for an entire day. You can also rent for multiple days, or even up to two weeks if you’re staying long. The bikes were really comfortable and came with locks.

Renting bikes in Bonassola

There appear to be two places to rent bikes in Bonassola. One is near the post office on Via Cristoforo Colombo, and the other is Bar Smash, which is right at the mouth of the gallery on the bike path itself.

Note that neither of these places have much information available online. If you’re staying in Bonassola, it’s probably best to ask around in case there are other places to rent that also don’t have websites.

Renting bikes in Framura

There is another place to rent bikes in Framura, called Pesciocan. It’s right near the train station, which is at the beginning of the path if you’re starting there, or at the end of it if you’re coming from Levanto or Bonassola.

The beaches along La Ciclopedonale Maremonti

There are beaches in Levanto and Bonassola, and there’s a swimming area in Framura. In addition to these, we counted four small beaches along the path. There’s even a dog beach! If you’re coming from Levanto and heading towards Bonassola, it’s the second one.

Amenities along the path

There are some benches towards the beginning of the trail on the Levanto end, so if you need to stop and rest, or just want to admire the crashing waves below, you can.

There are no bathrooms, restaurants or cafés between Levanto and Bonassola, but it’s only about a 3km ride. Once you arrive in Bonassola, you can find whatever you need.

As I mentioned above, there’s a nice beach there, too. It’s divided into a spiaggia libera (i.e. a free beach where you don’t have to pay for a chair and/or umbrella) and an area with stabilimenti (i.e. where you do have to pay for a chair/umbrella).

If you decide to continue on and do the whole trail, there are some places towards Framura itself, including a nice-looking enoteca/restaurant called Agave, and another beach bar kind of place with fast food and a pickup window near the swimming area.

Framura is actually a tiny port and there’s no sand, but you can tan on the rocks or go for a dip there if you choose to.

The bike and walking path in Levanto was really the most memorable part of our trip. Racing along as the waves crash beside you, popping in and out of the galleries to see a glowing blue sky and sparkling water, and stopping to cool off our hot skin in the salty water are not things I’ll soon forget.

If you’re visiting Liguria, don’t miss Levanto or the breathtaking Ciclopedonale Maremonti.

Want more on Levanto?

Here’s my guide on what to see, do and eat in Levanto!