If you arrive by train or want to do everything on foot, stay in the centre, between the station and the Lungomare Argentina: beaches, restaurants and buses to Sanremo and Ventimiglia are on your doorstep. For atmosphere, choose Bordighera Alta, the medieval village on the Capo, but remember it’s a limited traffic zone all year round. For peace, gardens and views, look at Via Romana and the hillside, where a car helps.
Bordighera is small and easy to explore on foot, but it has fewer places to stay than the big Riviera resorts, so choosing the right area and booking early matter more than elsewhere. Below you’ll find the areas with their pros and cons, the types of accommodation and the places we have already selected in town.
At a glance
- First visit, no car: the centre near the station, a few steps from the sea.
- Beach holiday: along the Lungomare Argentina or near the Capo.
- Couples and atmosphere: Bordighera Alta, with its little squares and restaurants at night.
- Quiet and a garden: Via Romana, Arziglia or the hillside.
- When to book: months ahead for summer, Easter and the big events between Sanremo and Monaco.
Bordighera’s areas
Centre and station
The station is in the heart of town, close to the sea, on the Genoa–Ventimiglia line: Sanremo is about ten minutes by train, Ventimiglia five to ten, and from there you continue into France. Around it you’ll find the shopping streets, the covered market and restaurants, and the beach is a few minutes’ walk away. It’s the most practical area if you travel without a car or plan day trips. The downside is traffic and train noise in rooms facing the street: ask for a room at the back or on the sea side.
Lungomare Argentina and the Capo
The Lungomare Argentina is a pedestrian promenade of more than two kilometres between the Capo and Rattaconigli beach, lined with palms, pines and beach clubs. Staying here means walking to the beach in the morning without the car and strolling at sunset. Towards the Capo are the rocks of Sant’Ampelio, perfect for snorkelling. Sea-view rooms are the first to go and summer prices rise: book early. It also suits families, since the promenade is car-free.
Bordighera Alta
The walled medieval village on the Capo hill is the most charming area: alleys, archways, the square of Santa Maria Maddalena church and, in the evening, restaurant tables in the little piazzas. Here you’ll mostly find holiday homes and apartments in old houses, often with stairs and no lift. Bordighera Alta has been a limited traffic zone (ZTL) since 2022, active 24 hours a day all year: you can only enter with a permit, and the blue-line parking around the village is paid all year until 11pm. Ask your host where to leave the car before booking. Without heavy luggage, it’s a short uphill walk from the centre.
Via Romana and the villas
Via Romana is the street of the villas and 19th-century hotels built by the British colony, home to the Bicknell Museum and large gardens. It’s the quietest and most elegant side of Bordighera, five to ten minutes’ walk from the sea and the station. You’ll find historic hotels, residences with gardens and apartments in period buildings. It suits those looking for calm, long stays and, in winter, the mild climate that drew Northern European travellers for a century.
Arziglia and the harbour
East of the Capo, beyond the harbour, the Arziglia area is more residential. It has a small free beach of sand and pebbles, quieter than those on the promenade. A good choice if you travel by car and want some space; the centre is a stroll away or a short ride on the coastal bus.
The hillside
On the hills behind town, along Via dei Colli and towards Sasso, there are holiday homes and villas with gardens, olive trees and sea views stretching to the Côte d’Azur. Silence is guaranteed, but a car is almost essential: the 11/2 town bus runs here only on weekdays. Always check whether the property has parking and how steep the road is.
Hotel, apartment or B&B?
Hotels: Bordighera has everything from small family-run hotels to large seafront properties, many in historic or Art Nouveau buildings. Some include a partner beach club or parking, details that make a real difference here, so check them.
Apartments and holiday homes: the most common choice for families and stays of a week or more, especially in summer. They give you freedom with meals and often have a terrace or garden. In high season many are let only by the week.
B&Bs and guesthouses: few rooms, family-run, breakfast included. Ideal for a weekend or a stopover between Liguria and France.
Recommended places to stay in Bordighera
Guest rooms ▣▣▣▣
Parrots & Palms
Bordighera
Awesome
Located in Bordighera, Parrots & Palms features a balcony and garden views. The accommodation is air conditioned, free WiFi and private parking is possible on site. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms…
Check availabilityApartments ▣▣▣▣
Bordighera Design Penthouse
Bordighera
Excellent
Located in Bordighera, Bordighera Design Penthouse features a balcony and garden views. The accommodation is air conditioned, free WiFi and private parking is possible on site. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms…
Check availabilityGuest rooms ▣▣▣▣
Mediterraneo
Bordighera
Awesome
Located in Bordighera, Bordighera Design Penthouse features a balcony and garden views. The accommodation is air conditioned, free WiFi and private parking is possible on site. 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom…
Check availabilityPractical tips
Car and parking
By car, leave the A10 motorway at the Bordighera exit and you’re in the centre in a few minutes. Blue-line parking is paid all year during the day and until 11pm in summer; the largest car parks are in Piazza Eroi della Libertà and Piazzale Raoul Zaccari, while under the covered market parking is free with a disc for one hour. A place with parking is worth a lot, especially in summer. All the details are in our Bordighera parking guide.
Without a car
Bordighera is one of the best bases on the western Riviera if you don’t drive: trains along the coast, the line 2 bus every 15–20 minutes on weekdays between Ventimiglia and Sanremo, and line 10 to Sasso and Seborga (weekdays only). From France you change at Ventimiglia: from Nice allow about an hour and a quarter. The nearest airport is Nice Côte d’Azur, about 58 kilometres away.
When to book
July and August are the busiest and most expensive months. Also book early for Easter and for the dates of the Sanremo Music Festival, the Monaco Grand Prix and the Monte-Carlo Masters, when accommodation in the area fills up. Spring and autumn offer the best prices and temperatures, and thanks to the mild climate (a January average of about 10°C) winter is pleasant for a long stay too.
Staying near Bordighera
If you can’t find a room in town or want something different, there are alternatives a few minutes away. Sanremo, 12 kilometres away, has a much wider choice and the seaside cycle path. Ventimiglia, five kilometres away, is handy if you often cross into France, with trains to Menton, Monaco and Nice. Inland, Dolceacqua, Apricale and Seborga have B&Bs and stone houses in the villages, perfect if you want quiet and have a car. Everything to see in town is in our Bordighera guide; for the surrounding area, read the guide to the Riviera dei Fiori.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in Bordighera?
The centre between the station and the Lungomare Argentina if you want everything on foot. Bordighera Alta for atmosphere, Via Romana and the hillside for peace and quiet.
Can I stay in Bordighera Alta with a car?
The village is a ZTL 24 hours a day all year and you can only enter with a permit. Ask your host where to park: around the village, blue-line parking is paid all year until 11pm.
Is Bordighera a good base without a car?
Yes: the station is central, trains to Sanremo and Ventimiglia are frequent and the line 2 bus runs every 15–20 minutes on weekdays. For the inland villages you need weekday-only buses or a car.
Is Bordighera a good base for visiting Monaco and Nice?
Yes, Monaco is about 32 km away and Nice less than an hour. By train you change at Ventimiglia; by car allow extra time at rush hour and in summer.
When should I book accommodation in Bordighera?
Months ahead for July, August, Easter and the big events between Sanremo and Monaco. In spring and autumn you’ll find more choice and better prices.
Hotel or apartment in Bordighera?
For a weekend or a stopover, a hotel or B&B. For a week at the beach with the family, an apartment, ideally with parking or close to the station.