Visiting Italy from Cote d'Azur

Posted by soonerjace on 05/17/24 08:00 PM

My wife and three young children are spending a few nights in Antibes and plan to visit some of the towns along the Cote d'Azur. We noticed that the border of Italy was close by and thought about visiting one of the towns just inside the border, mostly to just say we went to Italy during our French vacation. The towns that stuck out to us were Ventimiglia and Bordighera. The first town mostly because it seems some trains in France actually end in Ventiimiglia so it would be easy. We saw a YT video about Bordighera and it looked pretty nice.

Has anyone gone across the border and have an opinion on a day trip to one of these towns? Also, would it be easier to take a train or drive there from Antibes?

Posted by Cyn

Colorado Mountains, USA

05/17/24 08:23 PM

7937 posts

We’ve come to Nice from Milan, passing through Ventimiglia, but didn’t stay. If you want another country to visit as a day trip from Antibes, there’s Monaco. They have a great aquarium, started by Jacques Cousteau.

Posted by Elizabeth

L'Occitanie, France

05/17/24 09:29 PM

10621 posts

I have family on the French side and have crossed many times, particularly for a certain grocery store where we get Italian products.
Ventimiglia isn’t worth the effort, except the grocery 3 kilometres over, It’s just a bit grittier. In Menton, on the French side, people speak both languages and you’ll hear a lot of Italian as people from Milan come for the weekend.

If you drive, you’ll take the bridge and tunnel autoroute through the mountains. The train leaves you in town. Parking can be difficult, at least the last time we went into Ventimiglia for lunch.

Posted by Janet

Boise, ID, USA

05/17/24 10:54 PM

2298 posts

There's the sweet little town of Dolceacqua, 15 minutes north of Ventimiglia by car (or taxi), 40 minutes by bus.

Posted by Gooster

Nice, France & San Francisco

05/18/24 09:13 PM

712 posts

The Friday market in Ventimiglia is popular but it is a grittier town as is the market. You can get to Ventimiglia/Vemtmille on your Sud Azur train pass, however, it will cost more to take a bus to Dolceacqua or train to Bordghera. Dolceacqua and the villages beyond (Apricale, etc) are beautiful. Bordighera is a sea resort and less gritty, with some nice beach-side dining options. San Remo is a bit bigger overall, and another choice reachable by train. If you go by car, there are some lovely sections along the coastal route by the way --- the main highway is set up high, above the coastal villages and seaside.

A note about the border; remember to take your passports. There is a current migrant surge and so the police may be checking. Ventimiglia is bearing the brunt of the northward pressure on the border.