Bordighera day trip from Sanremo or Ventimiglia or Nice
A day trip to Bordighera from Sanremo, Ventimiglia or Nice: the walled old town of Bordighera Alta, the church of Sant'Ampelio on its cape and the palm-lined Lungomare Argentina, then the villas of Via Romana with Villa Margherita, the Bicknell Museum and the old Anglican church, and the shops of Via Vittorio Emanuele. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Bordighera in 1 day
Day 1
Historic centre of Bordighera Alta (Piazza del Popolo)
The walled medieval town on the hill, with old gates, narrow lanes and the church of Santa Maria Maddalena on Piazza del Popolo.
Capo Sant'Ampelio and the Church of Sant'Ampelio
Small Romanesque church on the rocky cape where the hermit Ampelio, the town's patron saint, is said to have lived.
Lungomare Argentina
Long seafront promenade lined with palms and beaches, running west from Capo Sant'Ampelio, good for a walk with sea views to France.
Via Romana and Villa Margherita
Street of Belle Epoque villas and old hotels of the English colony, with the villa where Queen Margherita of Savoy died, now a museum.
Bicknell Museum
Museum founded by the English botanist Clarence Bicknell, covered in climbing plants, with his casts of the rock engravings of Mont Bego.
Anglican Church, Bordighera
Nineteenth-century church built for the English winter visitors, now used for exhibitions and cultural events.
Via Vittorio Emanuele
Bordighera's main shopping street in the lower town, with cafés, bakeries and shops along the railway.
Getting there
Regional trains along the coast stop at Bordighera, a short walk from the seafront: a few minutes from Ventimiglia, about a quarter of an hour from Sanremo and around an hour from Nice, often with a change at Ventimiglia. Local buses also run along the Aurelia between the coastal towns.
Staying in Sanremo or Ventimiglia or Nice? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Bordighera
Bordighera is mild all year, which made it a winter resort for the English in the nineteenth century, and Claude Monet painted its palms in 1884. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant times for walking, while July and August bring beach crowds. The town's palms supply fronds for Palm Sunday, when woven palm branches appear in the churches.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Bordighera on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Bordighera on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Bordighera on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Bordighera
- Come by train: the station is in the centre, between Via Vittorio Emanuele and the seafront, and parking is hard in summer.
- Bordighera Alta sits on the hill above the cape: start there, walk down to Capo Sant'Ampelio and the seafront, and come back along Via Romana.
- The Bicknell Museum keeps short hours on a few days of the week; check before planning the afternoon around it.
- Bring a swimsuit in summer: the Lungomare runs along pebble beaches, with bathing establishments and free stretches.
- Many of Bordighera's villas and gardens are private; see them from Via Romana and the streets above it.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Anglican Church, Bordighera: Jose Antonio at Italian Wikipedia, Public domain
- Bicknell Museum: Bettylella, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capo Sant'Ampelio and the Church of Sant'Ampelio: Bettylella, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Historic centre of Bordighera Alta (Piazza del Popolo): Davide Papalini, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lungomare Argentina: Al*from*Lig, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Via Romana and Villa Margherita: Youflavio, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
