Dolceacqua day trip from Sanremo
A day trip to Dolceacqua, Apricale and Perinaldo from Sanremo: Dolceacqua's old town, its bridge and the Doria Castle, then Apricale with the Castello della Lucertola and the hilltop village of Perinaldo. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Dolceacqua in 1 day
Day 1
Historic centre of Dolceacqua
Medieval village on the Nervia river; the walk shows dark stepped alleys, arched passages and houses climbing to the castle.
Church of Sant'Antonio Abate
Dolceacqua's parish church on the riverside square, with a bell tower and a Baroque interior holding a polyptych by Ludovico Brea.
Ponte Vecchio (Monet's bridge)
Single-arched medieval stone bridge over the Nervia, painted by Claude Monet in 1884, linking the old and newer parts of town.
Doria Castle
Ruined castle of the Doria family above Dolceacqua, partly restored and open for visits, with views over the village and valley.
Castello della Lucertola
Restored castle at the top of Apricale, housing a small museum, with views from its terrace over the green hills.
Historic centre of Apricale
Hilltop village of stone houses on a ridge; the walk shows its sloping main square, stepped lanes and painted murals.
Historic centre of Perinaldo
Hilltop village on a ridge facing the sea, birthplace of the astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini, with lanes and wide views.
Watch: Dolceacqua
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
By car it is about 30 minutes from Sanremo along the coast to Camporosso and up the Nervia valley to Dolceacqua; Apricale and Perinaldo are a short, winding drive further on. By public transport take the train to Ventimiglia and a local bus up the valley; buses to Apricale and Perinaldo are infrequent, so a car is easier for all three villages.
Staying in Sanremo? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Dolceacqua
Spring and autumn are the best seasons, mild and green, with fewer visitors than the coast in summer. July and August are hot but the hill villages are a little cooler than the coast. Dolceacqua holds its Festa della Michetta in mid-August.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Dolceacqua on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Dolceacqua on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Dolceacqua 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 Dolceacqua
- A car makes this day much simpler; the roads between the villages are narrow and winding, and parking is outside each village.
- The old villages are built on steep slopes with stepped lanes; wear comfortable shoes with a good grip.
- Dolceacqua is the home of Rossese red wine, and shops in the old town sell it with local olive oil.
- Cross the old bridge in the morning or late afternoon for the view of the village and castle that Monet painted.
- Check the opening days of the Doria Castle and the Castello della Lucertola before going, as they vary by season.
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
- Castello della Lucertola: Davide Papalini, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Church of Sant'Antonio Abate: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Doria Castle: Dongio, Public domain
- Historic centre of Apricale: Alessandro Vecchi, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Historic centre of Dolceacqua: Dongio, Public domain
- Historic centre of Perinaldo: Jpchevreau, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
