Bordighera and the coast towards France from above

Bordighera as a base: day trips to the Riviera and Côte d’Azur

Day trips from Bordighera: Menton, Monaco, Nice, Dolceacqua, Apricale, Seborga and the Hanbury Gardens, with travel times by car, train and bus.

Bordighera and the coast towards France from above

Train: Sanremo 8–10 minutesVentimiglia 5–10 minutes, Nice about 1 hour with one change
Bus: line 2 to Ventimiglia and Sanremo every 15–20 minutes on weekdays
Côte d'Azur: Menton 25 minutesMonaco 35–45 minutes by car
Villages: Dolceacqua and Seborga 15–20 minutesApricale 25
Airport: Nice Côte d'Azur58 km
How long: a week to combine seavillages and France

Bordighera sits where the Riviera dei Fiori meets the Côte d’Azur: Ventimiglia is 5 km away, Sanremo 12, Menton 16 and Nice airport less than an hour. Staying here means the sea on your doorstep and a different day trip within half an hour every day: the hill villages of the Nervia valley, botanical gardens, the Principality of Monaco. And in the evening, back to the Lungomare Argentina.

By Italian Riviera editorial team·Updated on October 8, 2026·4 min read

Why use Bordighera as a base

Bordighera has a station on the Genoa–Ventimiglia line, its own exit on the A10 motorway and coastal buses every quarter of an hour. It is close enough to the border for day trips to the Côte d’Azur, yet it stays a quiet small town, with a seafront promenade of about two kilometres and a centre you can walk around.

Compared with the bigger towns nearby there is less traffic; compared with the hill villages there is far more choice of places to stay, from seafront hotels to apartments. That makes it a practical base out of season too: winters are mild, with a January average of around 10 °C.

Day trips to France

Baie des Anges and the Promenade des Anglais in Nice

Menton

About 25 minutes by car, or by train with a change in Ventimiglia. The colourful old town above the harbour and its gardens make an easy first stop in France, even for half a day.

Monaco

About 32 km, 35–45 minutes on the motorway. By train, take the French regional trains from Ventimiglia: leaving the car behind is often simpler, as parking in Monaco is scarce and expensive.

Nice

The centre is 46 km away. By train it takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 15, changing in Ventimiglia onto the TER to Nice, and getting back in the evening is easy. For timetables and tickets see our guide from Nice to the Italian Riviera by train.

Hill villages

Dolceacqua

10 km, 15–20 minutes by car. The humpback bridge and the Doria castle are the very ones Monet painted in 1884, while he was staying in Bordighera. It is also home to Rossese, Liguria’s first DOC wine. By bus: line 7 from Ventimiglia.

Apricale and Pigna

Apricale is 17 km away, about 25 minutes, perched on its hill; higher up, at the head of the Nervia valley, is Pigna. With a car you can see both in one day, together with Dolceacqua.

Seborga

The village of the self-styled “Principality of Seborga” is 10 km above Bordighera. Bus line 10 runs there from the station (about 25 minutes, weekdays only).

The Rocchetta Nervina rock pools

In summer the stream pools above Rocchetta Nervina are the coolest trip in the area: see our guide to the Rocchetta Nervina rock pools.

Gardens, sea and markets nearby

Villa Hanbury among Mediterranean plants overlooking the sea

Hanbury Botanical Gardens at La Mortola: 11 km, 15–20 minutes. A full ticket costs €10 and opening hours change with the season: check the official website.
Balzi Rossi, the prehistoric caves on the border just past Hanbury: see Balzi Rossi.
Ventimiglia market: every Friday morning, 10 minutes away. Read our guide to the Ventimiglia market.
Sanremo: 8–10 minutes by train for La Pigna, the Casino and the Imperatrice promenade. See what to see in Sanremo.

A sample week

Day 1: Bordighera Alta, Sant’Ampelio and the Lungomare Argentina.
Day 2: Hanbury Gardens and Balzi Rossi, back via Ventimiglia (market on Fridays).
Day 3: Dolceacqua and Apricale, with lunch in the village.
Day 4: Menton and Monaco.
Day 5: beach time and a walk on Monet’s paths.
Day 6: Sanremo by train.
Day 7: Nice.

To choose where to stay, read our guide on where to stay in Bordighera.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about day trips from Bordighera

Is Bordighera a good base for the Côte d'Azur?

Yes, especially for Menton (about 25 minutes) and Monaco (35–45 minutes on the motorway). Nice is about an hour away, by car or by train with a change in Ventimiglia.

Can I do these trips without a car?

Along the coast, yes: trains to Ventimiglia, Sanremo and France, and bus line 2 every 15–20 minutes on weekdays. Buses to the hill villages are few, and line 10 to Seborga only runs on weekdays, so a car is much easier there.

How far is Nice airport from Bordighera?

About 58 km, 45–60 minutes by car without traffic.

Which day trips from Bordighera suit children?

The Hanbury Gardens, the Balzi Rossi caves and, in summer, the Rocchetta Nervina rock pools. With small children, one trip a day plus an afternoon on the beach works best.

Is Bordighera worth visiting out of season?

Yes: the climate is mild in winter too, and the villages, gardens and Côte d’Azur can be visited all year round, with less traffic than in summer.

Where to stay