{"id":7182,"date":"2026-10-02T16:32:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T14:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visitbordighera.com\/luoghi\/bordighera-harbour\/"},"modified":"2026-10-04T09:18:53","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T07:18:53","slug":"bordighera-harbour","status":"publish","type":"luogo","link":"https:\/\/visitbordighera.com\/en\/places\/bordighera-harbour\/","title":{"rendered":"Bordighera harbour"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bordighera harbour is small, compact and well worth a look: it lies just east of Capo Sant\u2019Ampelio, the southernmost point of Liguria, sheltered by a long breakwater that closes it off from the open sea. Inside are the pontoons for pleasure boats, the fishermen\u2019s quays and the clubhouses of the town\u2019s sailing clubs.<\/p>\n

Since 2021 the harbour has also held the FEE Blue Flag<\/a> for marinas, confirmed in 2026: an award for the harbour\u2019s environmental management and its services for people who go to sea.<\/p>\n

It is not a harbour of yachts and shop windows but a lived-in one: in the morning the fishing boats come back in, in summer the sailing boats and the divers\u2019 dinghies head out, and in the evening locals stroll along the quays with the Capo and the little church of Sant\u2019Ampelio<\/a> in front of them.<\/p>\n

History<\/h2>\n

For centuries Bordighera had no real harbour. Fishermen hauled their boats up on the beaches, especially in the bay of Arziglia, and kept their nets and gear in wooden huts on the sand: a scene found in many paintings and postcards of the old Riviera.<\/p>\n

The present harbour was built by the town council with public funds, in the sheltered bend between the Capo and Arziglia, and has been run directly by the town ever since. Part of the quays has always been reserved for fishing boats, alongside the berths for pleasure craft.<\/p>\n

Plans to enlarge it have been discussed for over thirty years: the first project dates back to the 1990s, others followed in 2003, 2009 and 2020, and a new, scaled-down version was put forward again in 2025. For now the harbour remains as it has always been, with the character of a small town harbour.<\/p>\n

What to see and do<\/h2>\n

A stroll along the quays<\/h3>\n

Access on foot is free: you walk along the quays among the boats, watch the fishermen at work and reach the spots from which you can see Capo Sant\u2019Ampelio from the sea side, with the Romanesque church on the rocks and, higher up, the pine wood<\/a> and the Marabutto<\/a>. Dogs on a lead are welcome too.<\/p>\n

The fishing boats<\/h3>\n

About twenty berths are reserved for professional fishing: the harbour is still home to Bordighera\u2019s fishermen. Come in the morning to watch the boats return.<\/p>\n

Sailing, kayaking and diving<\/h3>\n

The town\u2019s sailing and diving clubs are based at the harbour, such as the Club Nautico Bordighera, the Yacht Club Sant\u2019Ampelio and the Centro Sub Riviera dei Fiori. They run sailing courses, kayak outings and dives in the seabed around the Capo. Every summer, with \u00abSportinPorto\u00bb, the harbour becomes an open-air gym for a weekend, with free taster sessions of sailing, kayaking and snorkelling and a dinghy race.<\/p>\n

Events by the sea<\/h3>\n

The quays also serve as a stage for concerts and open-air celebrations: in September 2026, for example, the harbour hosted the concert for the seventieth anniversary of the twinning between Bordighera and Villefranche-sur-Mer. For upcoming events, ask the IAT tourist office<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Arriving by boat<\/h2>\n

The harbour has 223 berths, 20 of them reserved for boats in transit, for vessels up to about 15 metres. Transit stays are limited to 72 hours and include water, electricity, toilets and showers. Inside the harbour and within 200 metres of the entrance the speed limit is 3 knots.<\/p>\n

The harbour is well sheltered from westerly and north-westerly (mistral) winds, while with easterly and south-easterly (sirocco) winds quite a swell enters at the mouth: on those days it is best to check beforehand. For transit and fees contact the Harbour Office in Via Marinai d\u2019Italia.<\/p>\n

Visiting tips<\/h2>\n