In brief
From Nice to Bordighera is about an hour’s journey: just under fifty kilometres of coastline that run past Monaco and Menton, cross the border and reach the Italian Riviera. You can do it by train, always close to the sea, or by car, and it is just as easy to start from Nice Côte d’Azur airport.
Many visitors plan a trip to the French and Italian Riviera together, and this is where the two meet. This guide covers how to get here from the city and the airport, what to see along the way, how to spend a day in Bordighera from the Côte d’Azur and, the other way round, how to use Bordighera as a base for exploring France.
How far is Bordighera from Nice?
- By car: about 48 km, almost all on the motorway. Without traffic it takes around forty minutes from the airport; longer at rush hour and in summer.
- By train: about an hour from Nice to Ventimiglia along the coast, plus a few minutes from Ventimiglia to Bordighera. Including the wait for the connection, usually between an hour and a quarter and an hour and a half.
- From the airport by public transport: tram to Nice-Saint-Augustin station, then the train: allow about an hour and a half.
Along the coast, Bordighera is about 15 km from Menton and around 30 km from the Principality of Monaco. And no, Nice is not in Italy: it has been French since 1860, but Italy starts less than forty kilometres away.
From Nice airport to Bordighera
Nice Côte d’Azur is the closest international airport to Bordighera. You have several options.
By tram and train
From the airport terminals the tram takes you in a few minutes to Nice-Saint-Augustin railway station, which was moved in 2022 precisely to connect with the tram. From there, take a regional TER train towards Ventimiglia (Vintimille) and change at Ventimiglia for Bordighera. It is the cheapest option and works well if you travel light.
By taxi or private driver
The most comfortable choice, especially with luggage or in the evening. The town’s official tourism website recommends Bordighera’s taxis and local chauffeur services, booked in advance.
By coach
Long-distance coaches, such as FlixBus, also run from the airport to Sanremo; from Sanremo it is a few minutes to Bordighera by train or local bus.
By rental car
All the main rental companies are at the airport. A car is useful if you also want to explore the hill villages inland; for Bordighera and the coast it is not essential. If you rent in France to drive into Italy, check the cross-border and drop-off conditions.
By train from Nice to Bordighera
The railway runs almost entirely along the shore, and it is the most relaxing way to travel: no traffic, no parking and the French Riviera rolling past the window. It is also the easiest way to plan a French Riviera itinerary by train that ends in Italy.
- Nice to Ventimiglia on the regional TER trains of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region (ZOU! network), which leave from Nice-Ville and also stop at Monaco-Monte-Carlo and Menton. The ride takes about an hour and trains run frequently throughout the day.
- Ventimiglia to Bordighera on a Trenitalia regional train: Bordighera is the first or second stop after Ventimiglia, a few minutes away.
You can buy a single through ticket online on a website or app that sells both legs, or two separate tickets, one for the French leg and one for the Italian leg. If your Trenitalia ticket is on paper, remember to validate it before boarding. Bordighera station is right in the centre, a short walk from the sea and the Lungomare Argentina promenade: once you arrive, the town is easy to explore on foot.
Timetables and fares change with the seasons and with engineering works: check the SNCF and Trenitalia websites before you travel.
By car from Nice to Bordighera
From Nice, take the A8 motorway towards Italy; after the border it becomes the A10 Genoa–Ventimiglia. Leave at the Bordighera exit and a scenic road brings you down to the centre in a few minutes. There are tolls in both France and Italy.
If you are not in a hurry, the coast road is slower but more beautiful: it goes through the centre of Menton, runs along the sea at the Balzi Rossi and crosses Ventimiglia. In summer, it is best to leave the car outside the centre of Bordighera and walk. Full details are in Getting here.
What to see along the way
The stretch of coast between Nice and Bordighera is one of the richest on the whole Riviera, and every stop can become a detour:
- Èze, the hilltop village perched above the sea between Nice and Monaco.
- The Principality of Monaco, with the Rock, the Prince’s Palace, the Cathedral and the Oceanographic Museum.
- Menton, the last French town before the border, with its ochre old town and the Lemon Festival in February.
- The Balzi Rossi, prehistoric cliffs right on the border, with caves and a museum.
- The Hanbury Botanical Gardens, sloping down to the sea at Capo Mortola, with plants from all over the world.
- Ventimiglia Alta, the medieval old town on the hill above the mouth of the Roia.
All the places across the border are gathered in French Riviera.
French Riviera vs Italian Riviera: why stop in Bordighera
It is the same coastline divided by a border, with a similar mild climate. The French side has larger cities like Nice and Monaco; the Italian Riviera di Ponente has smaller towns and villages, Ligurian food and a hinterland of olive groves and medieval villages. Bordighera is the same Riviera at a different pace.
In the 19th century, after the success of the novel Doctor Antonio and the arrival of the railway in 1872, Bordighera became a winter resort much loved by the British, and it still has the villas, gardens, former Anglican church and one of Italy’s oldest tennis clubs from that time. To look back at the whole coast you have travelled, go up to the hill village of Sasso, above the town: the view runs along the French coast as far as Monaco.
- Bordighera Alta, the old village on the hill, with its gates, small squares and narrow lanes: discover it here.
- The palms, which give the town its character and its tradition of braided palm leaves for Palm Sunday: see the Palm Grove.
- Monet. In 1884 Claude Monet came here by train from the French Riviera and stayed three months painting palms, gardens and the old village: Monet in Bordighera shows where to find his views today.
- The sea, awarded the Blue Flag every year since 2003, with the rocks of Capo Sant’Ampelio and the seafront promenade: Bordighera Blue Flag.
- The hills and villages a few minutes away, such as Dolceacqua with its bridge and Doria castle.
A day trip from Nice to Bordighera
If you are staying on the Côte d’Azur, Bordighera makes an easy day trip from Nice to Italy:
- Morning: early train from Nice, change at Ventimiglia, walk from the station to the Lungomare Argentina and up to Bordighera Alta.
- Lunch: a Ligurian dish; for ideas read Flavours of Bordighera and see Where to eat.
- Afternoon: the Via Romana with its villas and gardens, the Museo Bicknell on opening days and the church of Sant’Ampelio on the rocks.
- Back: train to Ventimiglia and on to Nice. If your trip falls on a Thursday, there is also the morning market on the seafront.
With more time, follow Bordighera in a weekend.
The other way round: Bordighera as a base for the French Riviera
Many travellers do the reverse: they stay in Bordighera and visit Menton, Monaco and Nice by train, coming back in the evening to a quieter seaside town. And within minutes you are in the Ligurian hinterland, among villages, olive groves and Rossese vineyards.
Practical information if you are coming from France
- Documents: France and Italy are both in the Schengen area, but there may be checks at the border: always carry a valid passport or ID card.
- Currency and time: both countries use the euro and are in the same time zone.
- Phone: EU SIM cards roam at no extra cost; with a non-EU SIM, check your provider’s rates.
- Language: Italian, of course, but near the border French is widely understood and English is spoken in tourist facilities.
- Climate: mild, sunny winters, just like the Côte d’Azur: see Bordighera’s climate and the live weather and webcams.
- Information on the spot: the IAT tourist office is on Via Vittorio Emanuele, in the town centre.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Bordighera from Nice?
About 48 km. By car it takes around forty minutes without traffic; by train between an hour and a quarter and an hour and a half, changing at Ventimiglia.
How do you get from Nice to Bordighera by train?
Take a regional TER train from Nice-Ville to Ventimiglia, about an hour, then a Trenitalia regional train from Ventimiglia to Bordighera, a few minutes. You can buy a single ticket online for the whole journey.
Can you get from Nice airport to Bordighera by public transport?
Yes: tram from the airport to Nice-Saint-Augustin station, TER train to Ventimiglia and a regional train to Bordighera. Otherwise, a long-distance coach to Sanremo, or a pre-booked taxi or private driver.
Do I need a passport to go from Nice to Italy?
France and Italy are in the Schengen area, but there may be checks at the border. EU citizens should carry a valid ID card or passport; non-EU visitors need their passport.
What is the difference between the French and Italian Riviera?
They are the same coastline split by the border, with a similar climate. The French Riviera has bigger cities such as Nice and Monaco; the Italian Riviera di Ponente has smaller towns and villages, Ligurian cuisine and an inland area of olive groves and medieval villages. From Bordighera you can easily visit both.
Is Nice in France or Italy?
Nice is in France. It became French in 1860; the Italian border is about 35 km east, just after Menton.
Can you visit Bordighera on a day trip from Nice?
Yes: by train you arrive in about an hour and a half, and in a day you can see the seafront, Bordighera Alta, the Via Romana and Capo Sant’Ampelio.
