Every beach in Bordighera from Rattaconigli to Arziglia: bathing establishments, free beaches, the Bau Beach for dogs and snorkelling at Sant'Ampelio.
Bordighera’s beaches run the whole length of the town, from the big beach of Rattaconigli in the west to the rocks of Sant’Ampelio and the beach of Arziglia east of the harbour. They are made of small round pebbles and, depending on the winter storms, coarse sand; the water is clear and the seabed slopes gently. Bordighera has held the Blue Flag in 2025 and 2026: this guide describes every beach from west to east, with bathing establishments, free beaches, the dog beach and tips for choosing.
The coastline divides into five areas, each different in size, facilities and atmosphere. The seabed is much the same everywhere; what changes is the way you spend the day.
Bordighera’s westernmost beach is also its newest and largest, almost entirely free: the perfect spot if you love open space. Behind it there is a pedestrian promenade and several car parks; there are public showers and changing rooms and four bars along the beach, two of which rent out deckchairs and sunloungers. In summer some bars host evenings with music.
The stretch between Rattaconigli and the station is the easiest to reach by car, with parking along the promenade. The bathing establishments focus on entertainment: windsurfing lessons and rental, floating platforms with trampolines, games for children, a swimming pool and evenings with music.
From the station to the Sant’Ampelio roundabout, the beaches are the closest to the centre and the shops: you reach the sea through underpasses. Almost all the bathing establishments have a good restaurant, also open in the evening, and some stay open in winter for seafood lunches by the sea.
Below the little church on the Capo, the rocks are for those in the know: few tourists spend the day here, but every local grew up here daring friends to dive in. This is where you will find the cleanest water in town. Bring a mask and snorkel: underwater, a submerged tunnel links the two sides of the rocks.
East of the marina, Arziglia is the least touristy beach: about three hundred metres of sand and pebbles, quiet in every season. It was the old fishermen’s beach, as many 19th-century paintings show. Today it is mostly free; a third is equipped by the only bathing establishment in the area. Near the harbour, swimming is forbidden within two hundred metres of the harbour mouth.
Almost all the bathing establishments are on the Lungomare Argentina, with umbrellas, sunloungers, showers and often a restaurant. Addresses and phone numbers can change from one season to the next: to book in July and August it is best to call a few days ahead.
Bordighera has plenty of free beaches. Apart from the long stretch of Rattaconigli, almost every bathing establishment on the seafront alternates with a stretch of free beach, with a changing room and a shower with drinking water. Arziglia is also mostly free. In July and August it is best to arrive by nine to find a spot near the water.
At Rattaconigli, at the western end, is the Bau Beach, the area where you can take your dog to the sea. It is enclosed by a wooden fence and has shaded areas and drinking water; there are rules to follow, posted at the entrance. Some bathing establishments on the seafront accept dogs, such as Maoma Beach: always ask before booking.
With children. The gently sloping seabed makes almost all the beaches along the seafront suitable. The most convenient are those west of the station, with games, a pool and entertainment, and Rattaconigli, for the space and the nearby car parks.
Snorkelling and diving. The best place is the rocks of Sant’Ampelio, with a rocky seabed, fish and the submerged tunnel. Offshore lies the Pelagos Sanctuary, the protected area for the whales and dolphins of the Ligurian Sea, where whale-watching trips set out in summer.
FAQ
No, they are made of small round pebbles and, depending on the winter storms, coarse sand. The water is very clear and the seabed slopes gently.
For the cleanest water, the rocks of Sant’Ampelio; for space and free beach, Rattaconigli; for peace and quiet, Arziglia.
Yes: Rattaconigli is almost entirely free, Arziglia mostly so, and along the seafront almost every bathing establishment alternates with a free stretch with a shower and changing room.
Yes, the Bau Beach at Rattaconigli, fenced, with shade and drinking water. Some bathing establishments accept dogs.
Yes, Bordighera was awarded the Blue Flag in 2025 and 2026.
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