San Remo has been recommended as has Dolceacqua and Bordighera. Have also read that Menton gives you enough Italian flavour, to spend a day there. Would you spend a day on the Italian side? If so, why?
I have done so much research with so many travel sources that I have become confused. Would rather hear from travellers here online...subjective opinions. Thanks.
Posted by
Chicago
7864 posts
No. It takes too much time to get there and back.
Posted by
OP
oakville
173 posts
Even from Vence to San Remo?
Posted by
Washington DC
27138 posts
I considered going to San Remo but didn't make it. I can vouch for Menton, though. It's picturesque and has a couple of very good gardens (one not really walkable from town) as well as the Cocteau Museum. It is a very popular toutist destination, however. It's possible that San Remo would be less busy.
I take it that you will be driving? Getting ftom Vence to San Remo (much less the smaller Italian towns) by public transportation would not be a quick process.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10201 posts
We got into a huge traffic jam in San Remo on our way back to France. Not many roads. How about Ventimiglia if you can go on a Friday for the market. Vendors come up from all over Italy.
Posted by
OP
oakville
173 posts
Is Ventimiglia a nice town?
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
Ventimiglia is nice for a day trip or even overnight. I like the town. It has a beach with long promenade but I don't know what the beach is like. I'm thinking it is probably sand. There is an open air market, a small downtown area, restaurants, train station. Even though it is just over the border from France, the town is definitely Italian. People from France and Monaco like to go there to buy their liquor. It must be a tax thing. I've stayed in Ventimiglia several times while passing through into Italy. The hotel situation is reasonable. There are several (my favorite is the Calypso) near the train station and several across the river in the area of the new harbor. The old section of town is interesting and typically Italian. This is a nice small city for walking.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10201 posts
I've gone only to the market, restaurants along the beach and often to the grocery store 3 kilometers inside the border. What I've seen is different from the French side. This isn't a touristy area. San Remo isn't as nice either. Remember along the French Riviera it's beautiful, built up, and kind of sparkling and has gone that direction due to tourism and snowbirds for almost 200 years. The Italian side still has greenhouses on the hillsides instead of condos.