Bordighera is about ten minutes by train from Sanremo, towards France. It is a smaller, slower-paced town, with palm-lined avenues, 19th-century villas and one of the longest pedestrian promenades on the Riviera di Ponente. In the second half of the 19th century it became a winter destination for the English community, and that influence is still visible: gardens, Anglican churches, libraries, street names.
Here you will find what to see in a day, how to get there and a few ideas for the surrounding area.
Getting there from Sanremo
- By train: the Genoa–Ventimiglia line stops at Bordighera; from Sanremo it takes about 10 minutes. The station is in the centre, a short walk from the sea.
- By bus: Riviera Trasporti routes connect Sanremo, Ospedaletti and Bordighera along the via Aurelia.
- By car: about 15 minutes on the Aurelia, traffic permitting. In summer parking near the sea is limited.
- By bike: the Riviera dei Fiori cycle path goes as far as Ospedaletti; from there you continue on the road, taking care in the traffic.
The lungomare Argentina
This is Bordighera's pedestrian promenade, about 2 kilometres long, between the beach and the railway. It is named after Argentina following Evita Perón's visit in 1947. It is flat, shaded in places, with bars and beach clubs along the way: perfect for walking, running or pushing a buggy. At sunset the view stretches from Capo Sant'Ampelio to the French coast.
Capo Sant'Ampelio and the little church by the sea
At the eastern end of the promenade, on the headland, stands the small Romanesque church of Sant'Ampelio, built over the cave where, according to tradition, the hermit who is the town's patron saint lived. It is one of the most photographed spots in Bordighera: rocks, open sea and, on clear days, views of the Côte d'Azur. The saint's feast day is in May.
The old village (Bordighera Alta)
On the hill above the centre lies the medieval village, still enclosed by its gates. It is a small maze of alleys, arches and little squares. Don't miss:
- piazza del Popolo, with the church of Santa Maria Maddalena;
- the gates into the village and the houses packed tightly against one another;
- the viewpoints over the sea, from which you can see the whole coast to the west.
You can explore the village in an hour, at a gentle pace. Walk up from the centre, or park nearby if you have small children.
The Bicknell Museum
On via Romana, the street of villas and historic hotels, is the Bicknell Museum, founded in 1888 by the English clergyman Clarence Bicknell, a botanist, archaeologist and Esperantist. It is considered the oldest museum on the Riviera di Ponente. Among other things, it holds casts of the rock engravings from the Vallée des Merveilles, in the Mercantour massif, which Bicknell studied for years. The building, covered in climbing plants, is worth the visit on its own. Check opening times before you go.
Monet in Bordighera
In 1884 Claude Monet spent several months in Bordighera and painted dozens of canvases: palms, gardens, the old village, the coast. Among his best-known subjects are the Moreno gardens, which no longer exist in their original form. Walking between via Romana and the old village, you can recognise many of the views he painted. On the same trip Monet also visited Dolceacqua, the village with the medieval bridge in the nearby Val Nervia.
Gardens and palm trees
Bordighera has been linked to palm trees for centuries. The town holds the historic privilege of supplying the woven palms (the parmureli) for Palm Sunday at the Vatican. To see Mediterranean and exotic plants up close:
- Giardino Esotico Pallanca, on the via Aurelia towards Sanremo: terraces above the sea with more than 300 species, mainly cacti and succulents, some of them very large. Check opening days and times.
- via Romana and corso Italia, with palms, villas and Belle Époque hotels.
The beaches
Bordighera has been awarded the 2026 Blue Flag for its entire coastline and its marina. The beaches are pebbles and coarse shingle, with clear water and a seabed that slopes gently in many places. Along the lungomare Argentina, beach clubs alternate with free stretches. Bring water shoes, especially with children.
Where to eat
The old village and the promenade have trattorias and restaurants serving Ligurian dishes: focaccia, sardenaira (a Ligurian pizza with tomato, anchovies and olives), stuffed vegetables, catch of the day, Ligurian-style rabbit. On summer weekends, book ahead.
A day in Bordighera: itinerary
- Morning: arrive by train, have breakfast in the centre and walk along the lungomare Argentina to Sant'Ampelio.
- Late morning: climb up to the old village, piazza del Popolo and the viewpoints.
- Lunch: in the old village or at a place by the sea.
- Afternoon: via Romana and the Bicknell Museum, then a swim or some rest on the beach.
- Evening: sunset on the promenade and the train back to Sanremo.
In the surrounding area
- Dolceacqua, in the Val Nervia, about 20 minutes by car: the medieval bridge painted by Monet and the Doria castle.
- Seborga, on the hillside, a small village known for its "principality".
- Ventimiglia and the French border, from where you can reach Menton and Monaco: read Sanremo, Monte Carlo and Nice in a day.
Staying in Bordighera
If you are looking for a slower pace than Sanremo, Bordighera is an excellent base: a station in the centre, a flat promenade, Blue Flag beaches and France a few minutes away. Abitare's homes in Bordighera are on the Bordighera page; you can also search by dates and guests on Search. To compare areas, read Where to stay in Sanremo.