Holiday type
Active holidays in Bordighera
From the sea to the two-thousand-metre peaks of the Ligurian Alps in little more than an hour: trails, bikes, rackets and water, all year round.
Bordighera is a seaside town with the mountains at its back. The Beodo trail starts on foot from the old town; above the town, Monte Nero offers paths and dirt tracks for walking and cycling; and in little more than an hour by car you reach Colle Melosa, at 1,540 metres, the gateway to the Ligurian Alps.
Along the coast runs a 24-kilometre flat cycle path on the route of the old railway. And then there is tennis: Italy’s oldest club was founded here in 1878, and this is where Jannik Sinner grew up. The mild climate lets you be active outdoors in every season: in spring and autumn you walk, in summer you head for the water, and in winter — when there is snow — you put on snowshoes up in the mountains.
24 km
of flat cycle path along the sea
1878
Italy’s oldest tennis club is founded
150 km
the Ciclovia Bicknell loop, from the sea to the Alps
2,200 m
Monte Saccarello, the roof of Liguria
On foot: from the Beodo to the Ligurian Alps
The easiest walk begins just outside the walls of Bordighera Alta: the Beodo trail follows the old aqueduct almost on the level among palms and olive trees, and if you like you can carry on to the village of Sasso. For a proper hike without leaving the town behind there is Monte Nero, about six hundred metres above the sea, with trails starting from Cian d’Innamurai.
Higher up, Monte Bignone (1,299 m) overlooks the whole Riviera dei Fiori, and from Colle Melosa routes lead to Pietravecchia, Toraggio and the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri. The Sentiero degli Alpini is currently closed by order of the authorities: before setting out, check the notices of the Parco delle Alpi Liguri.
By bike: by the sea, in the hills, up into the mountains
Bordighera’s seafront is perfect for a gentle ride. About ten minutes away, at Ospedaletti, starts the Riviera dei Fiori cycle path: 24 car-free kilometres to San Lorenzo al Mare, on the old railway line right beside the waves, with the lit tunnel of Capo Nero and the ride through Sanremo.
If you are looking for climbs, there are panoramic roads up to Sasso, Seborga and Vallebona among terraced olive groves — within everyone’s reach on an e-bike — and the dirt tracks of Monte Nero for mountain biking. For cycle tourers there is the Ciclovia Bicknell: a loop of about 150 km between Italy and France, to ride in two or three days, in the footsteps of the English botanist Clarence Bicknell.
The town of tennis (and golf among the olive trees)
The Bordighera Lawn Tennis Club was founded by the English in 1878, a year after Wimbledon: it is the oldest tennis club in Italy, and Tilden, Lacoste and Cochet all played on its clay courts. Today the tradition lives on at the Piatti Tennis Center, Riccardo Piatti’s academy on the hill of Borghetto San Nicolò, where Jannik Sinner grew up.
25 minutes away by car, on the hillside above Sanremo, the Golf degli Ulivi is one of the oldest courses in Italy: 18 holes, par 69, among olive terraces with views of the sea.
On the water: kayaks, rock pools and canyons
You can also discover Bordighera’s sea from the water: by kayak along the rocks below the Capo, perhaps at sunset, when the light sets the houses of the old village aglow. For a change, 35 minutes inland are the laghetti di Rocchetta Nervina, emerald-green pools carved by the Barbaira stream: in summer you can swim in the cool water, and upstream of the Cin bridge you can descend the canyon with guides.
Ideas for 1, 2 or 3 active days
Three different days, to combine as you like. They all start from Bordighera.
From the village to the hill, then the sea
In the morning, the Beodo trail from Bordighera Alta to Sasso, among palm groves and olive trees. In the afternoon, a game of tennis or a kayak trip below the Capo, then the viewpoint in the Capo pine wood, above Sant’Ampelio.
Cycling the coastal path
From Ospedaletti through the Capo Nero tunnel, then Sanremo along the sea: stop at Corso Imperatrice and in the Pigna. If your legs allow, carry on to San Lorenzo al Mare, 24 km on the flat.
Up into the hinterland
In summer, the laghetti di Rocchetta Nervina for a swim in the Barbaira. In spring and autumn, Colle Melosa: the Pietravecchia loop, about 5 hours with 500 metres of ascent.
When to go
Spring
The best season for walking: flowers along the trails, mild temperatures, mountains still cool.
Summer
Sea, kayaks and rock pools. In the mountains, walk early in the morning; on the summit of Monte Bignone it is best to get up before the mist rises from the sea.
Autumn
Clear light, fewer people: ideal for the Alta Via, the Ciclovia Bicknell and the hills.
Winter
On the coast you can cycle and play tennis even in January; when it snows, snowshoeing around Colle Melosa.
Before hiking at altitude, check the weather and the notices of the Parco delle Alpi Liguri. The month-by-month climate is on the page The climate of Bordighera.
Also for those who love to keep moving
More ideas for an active holiday.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I cycle in Bordighera without climbs?
On the seafront and, above all, on the Riviera dei Fiori cycle path: 24 flat kilometres from Ospedaletti to San Lorenzo al Mare, away from cars. The Ospedaletti entrance is about ten minutes from Bordighera.
What is the easiest walk from the town centre?
The Beodo trail: it starts just outside the walls of Bordighera Alta and follows the old aqueduct almost on the level in the Sasso valley. You can turn back, make a loop or climb up to the village of Sasso.
How far are the mountains from the sea?
Hardly any distance: Monte Nero rises just above the town; Colle Melosa, at 1,540 metres and the starting point for the Ligurian Alps, is little more than an hour away by car.
Why is Bordighera called the town of tennis?
Because the English founded the Bordighera Lawn Tennis Club here in 1878, the oldest club in Italy, and because since 2018 the town has been home to the Piatti Tennis Center, the academy where Jannik Sinner trained.
Where can I swim in fresh water near Bordighera?
At the laghetti di Rocchetta Nervina, natural pools of the Barbaira stream about 35 minutes away by car. The swimming season runs from June to September; the water is cold and the rocks are slippery.
Plan your active holiday
How to get here, the climate and all the practical information to prepare your trip.
