Bordighera packs a surprising variety into its compact footprint on the Riviera dei Fiori. You can spend a morning exploring an exotic cactus garden on a cliffside, an afternoon swimming from a free public beach, and an evening walking the seafront promenade past Belle Epoque villas. Here are the top things to do in Bordighera, from the medieval old town to the best spots for a sunset drink. See our for more details. See our for more details. For more information, read our complete Bordighera travel guide.
Things to Do in Bordighera: Historic and Cultural Attractions
Bordighera Alta (Old Town)
The medieval old town sits on the hill of Sant’Ampelio, about 800 metres inland from the seafront. Known locally as Bordighera Alta or simply “il Borgo,” this pedestrian-only maze of narrow lanes (caruggi) dates to the 15th century. The defensive walls, three surviving gateways (Porta Sottana, Porta Soprana, and Porta del Capo), and the 17th-century Church of Santa Maria Maddalena with its baroque bell tower are the main landmarks. Walk up Via dei Bastioni for the best views over the sea and the French coast. The climb from the seafront takes about 15 minutes on foot via the stepped path of Via al Capo. Free entry, open all hours. Check our Bordighera weather guide for more details.
Chiesa di Sant’Ampelio
This small church sits on a rocky outcrop directly at the water’s edge at the eastern end of the Lungomare Argentina, built on the spot where Saint Ampelio , the town’s patron saint and a 5th-century hermit , is said to have lived. The current structure dates to the 11th century with later modifications. The crypt contains the saint’s tomb. The location itself is the main draw: the church overlooks the Mediterranean and the Capo Sant’Ampelio headland, which marks the southernmost point of Liguria. Free admission. Open daily 8:00-18:00 (winter closes at 17:00). The Feast of Sant’Ampelio on May 14 brings a candlelit procession to the church. See the best time to visit Bordighera for detailed information.
Museo Bicknell (Clarence Bicknell Museum)
Founded in 1888 by British botanist and archaeologist Clarence Bicknell, this museum houses one of the most important collections of prehistoric rock engravings from the Mont Bego region of the nearby Maritime Alps. Bicknell catalogued over 12,000 petroglyphs during his expeditions between 1897 and 1918 , the museum displays plaster casts, photographs, and his original notebooks. The building itself, designed in a neo-Romanesque style, sits inside a garden of rare plants collected by Bicknell. Entry costs 5 EUR. Open Tuesday to Saturday 9:00-13:00 and 14:00-17:00; closed Sundays and Mondays. Via Romana 39, a 5-minute walk from the train station. Our Bordighera events calendar has the full breakdown.
Villa Regina Margherita
Built in 1883 and named after Queen Margherita of Savoy, who stayed here in 1914, this villa sits on Via Romana overlooking the sea. It now serves as Bordighera’s civic museum and cultural centre, hosting temporary art exhibitions, concerts, and the September jazz festival. The villa’s palm garden (once featured in Monet paintings , the artist stayed in Bordighera in 1884 and painted the gardens) is open to visitors. Free entry to the gardens and ground floor. Exhibition prices vary. Via Romana 34. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-13:00 and 15:00-18:00. Read the Bordighera neighborhoods guide for more.
Things to Do in Bordighera: Outdoor and Nature Activities
Giardino Esotico Pallanca
One of Europe’s finest exotic gardens, the Pallanca Garden climbs a steep hillside above Bordighera and houses over 3,000 species of succulents and cacti from around the world. The collection includes specimens of Echinocactus grusonii (golden barrel cactus) over 300 years old. A terraced path winds upward through the garden, and the views over the sea from the top are the best in Bordighera. The garden sits about 2 km uphill from the centre on Via Madonna della Ruota. Entry costs 8 EUR for adults, 5 EUR for children aged 6-12, free for under 6. Open daily March to October 9:00-18:00, November to February 9:00-16:00. Wear sturdy shoes , the paths are steep and uneven in places. Check our where to stay in Bordighera for more details.
Lungomare Argentina
Bordighera’s seafront promenade stretches for about 2 km from Capo Sant’Ampelio in the east to the start of the Ventimiglia beachfront in the west. The walkway is paved, flat, and lined with palm trees, benches, and flower beds. Along the route you pass the Marina di Bordighera (small fishing harbour), several public and private beaches, and the Bicknell Museum. In the evening, the Lungomare turns into the town’s social hub , locals and visitors walk, cycle, and stop at the gelaterias and bars along Corso Italia, which runs parallel one block inland. Free, accessible 24/7, lit at night. See the Bordighera travel tips for detailed information.
Bordighera Beaches
Bordighera has about 4 km of coastline with a mix of free public beaches (spiaggia libera) and private beach clubs (stabilimenti). The main public beach sits between the Marina and the mouth of the Borghetto stream , it is pebbly with some sand, typical of the Ligurian coast. The Spiaggia dei Cani (Dog Beach) near the eastern end of town is a designated dog-friendly beach with no entry fee. Popular beach clubs include Bagni San Giuseppe and Bagni Lido, which rent sun loungers and umbrellas for 15-25 EUR per day in summer. Water shoes are recommended for the pebbly entry. All beaches are free to access; you only pay for equipment rental at private clubs.
Passeggiata del Beodo
This scenic walking path runs along the Beodo stream from the upper reaches of Bordighera down through olive groves and terraced gardens toward the sea. The trail is about 3 km one way, taking about 1 hour at a relaxed pace. You will pass old water mills, stone bridges, and small waterfalls. The upper trailhead starts near the hamlet of Sasso, accessible by local bus or a 30-minute walk uphill from the centre. The path connects to several marked hiking routes into the Ligurian hills. Free access. Best walked in the morning before the midday heat in summer.
Things to Do in Bordighera: Day Trips
Sanremo
Sanremo is a 10-minute train ride east of Bordighera (ticket costs about 2 EUR). Known for its casino, the annual Italian Song Festival (Festival di Sanremo), and its flower market (Mercato dei Fiori), Sanremo has a larger old town (La Pigna) and a more developed seafront. The Russian Orthodox Church with its onion domes is a 20-minute walk uphill from the station. Trains run roughly every 30 minutes on the Ventimiglia-Genoa line.
Ventimiglia
Five minutes west by train (about 1.50 EUR), Ventimiglia straddles the Italian-French border zone. The Friday market along the Roya River is one of the largest in Liguria , it draws shoppers from France and Italy for clothing, leather goods, and food. Ventimiglia Alta, the old town, sits on a hill above the station with a Roman theatre and the 10th-century Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. The Hanbury Botanical Gardens, 5 km west of Ventimiglia at Capo Mortola, cover 18 hectares of terraced gardens planted by Sir Thomas Hanbury in 1867 on a promontory above the sea. Entry 9 EUR, open daily March to September 9:30-18:00, October to February 9:30-17:00.
Dolceacqua
This medieval village in the Nervia Valley, 15 km inland from Bordighera, is one of the most photogenic in Liguria. A humpback Romanesque bridge crosses the Nervia River beneath the ruins of the Doria Castle. The narrow lanes of the Terra district are packed with wine bars and artisan shops. Dolceacqua is famous for its Rossese red wine , several cantine offer tastings. Reach it by bus from Ventimiglia station (line 7, about 30 minutes, 2 EUR) or drive via the SS64 in 20 minutes. Monet painted the bridge of Dolceacqua in 1884; a plaque marks the spot where he set up his easel.
