--- title: "Day Trips from Nice to Italy: Ventimiglia, Sanremo & More" description: "Day trips from Nice to Italy: the Ventimiglia Friday market, Sanremo, Bordighera and Dolceacqua by TER train or car, with 2026 fares, border tips and more." url: "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/day-trips-from-nice-to-italy" image: "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/_astro/01M5J4124VQF6QPD0VP4QXAAY3.BlXaBIyU_ZVcfrt.jpg" --- 1. [Home](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/) 2. [Travel insights](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) 3. Day Trips from Nice to Italy: Ventimiglia, Sanremo, Dolceacqua and More [Travel insights](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) # Day Trips from Nice to Italy: Ventimiglia, Sanremo, Dolceacqua and More Day trips from Nice to Italy: the Ventimiglia Friday market, Sanremo, Bordighera and Dolceacqua by TER train or car, with 2026 fares, border tips and more. By [Karine](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/team/karine), Senior Travel Designer · Published on November 8, 2026 · 7 min read ![The Baie des Anges and the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, seen from above Castle Hill](/_astro/01M5J4124VQF6QPD0VP4QXAAY3.BlXaBIyU_Z26OeJ1.webp) Italy starts about 40 kilometers east of Nice, and the easiest day trips from Nice to Italy are Ventimiglia for its Friday market, Bordighera, Sanremo and the medieval village of Dolceacqua, all within about an hour to an hour and a half by train or car. The regional TER train runs from Nice-Ville to Ventimiglia in about 55 minutes, once or twice an hour, for €10.60 (about $12) one way in 2026, and Italian trains continue along the coast from there. Genoa and Portofino are possible in a very long day, but we plan them with a night. Our team works from Nice, and this is the Italian day we organize most often. ## Day trips from Nice to Italy at a glance | Destination | How we go | Time from Nice | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Ventimiglia | TER train | about 55 min | The Friday market, the old town on the hill | | Bordighera | TER, then a Trenitalia regional train; or car | about 1 h 15 min by train with the change; about 45 min by car | Palm-lined promenade, a quiet lunch | | Sanremo | TER, then a Trenitalia regional train; or car | about 1 h 30 min by train with the change; about 1 h by car | Old town, casino, seafront path | | Dolceacqua | Car or driver; or bus from Ventimiglia | about 50 min to 1 h by car | Stone bridge Monet painted, castle, Rossese wine | | Hanbury Botanical Gardens | Car or driver | about 45 min | Gardens over the sea, spring | | Genoa and Portofino | Train or driver | about 3 h to 3 h 30 min to Genoa by train | One or two nights rather than a day | Road times assume no traffic, which on a Friday market day or a summer weekend is optimistic. ## By train: Nice to Ventimiglia, then the Italian line 1. **Nice-Ville to Ventimiglia on the TER.** Regional TER trains of the Région Sud ZOU network run once or twice an hour along the coast, through Villefranche, Monaco and Menton, and reach Ventimiglia in about 55 minutes. They are 2nd class only, with no reservations. The full fare is €10.60 one way, and promotional fares are sometimes lower. Sit on the right-hand side, facing forward, for the sea. 2. **Change at Ventimiglia for Bordighera or Sanremo.** French trains end here. Italian regional trains run on to Bordighera in about 6 minutes (€2.40 in 2026) and Sanremo in about 15 minutes (€3.50). You need a separate Trenitalia ticket: buy it at the machine in Ventimiglia station or in the Trenitalia app, and validate a paper regional ticket before boarding. 3. **Coming back.** Check the last train before you set off. In 2026, because of night works, no trains run between Nice and Ventimiglia from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Sunday to Thursday nights until December 11, with replacement buses; the timetable changes again on December 13, 2026. Carry your passport. France runs checks at the Italian border, on trains and on the road, and they are more frequent on the way back into France. ## Ventimiglia and its Friday market Ventimiglia's Friday market is the reason most people from Nice cross the border: hundreds of stalls with clothes, leather, household goods, cheese, olive oil and Ligurian specialties, spread through the lower town near the Roja river. It runs every Friday of the year. Arrive around 9 a.m.; by early afternoon stalls start packing up, and the trains back to Nice are full. Watch your bag in the crowds, and be wary of designer labels at market prices. After the market, climb to **Ventimiglia Alta**, the medieval town on the hill across the river, with its cathedral and quiet lanes, then lunch on the seafront. On other days of the week Ventimiglia is a calm border town, and we would rather send you farther along the coast. Between Menton and Ventimiglia, the **Hanbury Botanical Gardens** at La Mortola descend in terraces to the sea, with plants from around the world. They are easiest by car or with a driver, and best in spring. ## Bordighera Bordighera is the quiet option: a town of palms, villas built for English winter visitors in the 19th century, and the Lungomare Argentina, a long, flat seafront promenade. Monet spent several months here in 1884 and painted its gardens. The old town on the hill is small and pleasant for a walk before lunch. It suits travelers who want a slow Italian day more than shopping or sights. ## Sanremo Sanremo is the largest town on this stretch of the Riviera dei Fiori. Our order for the day: the covered market in the morning, the steep medieval lanes of **La Pigna**, the old town, then the Russian Orthodox church and the Art Nouveau **Casino** along Corso Imperatrice. In the afternoon, rent a bike or walk on the seafront path built on the old railway line, flat and car-free along the sea. Sanremo is also the home of Italy's song festival in February, when hotels fill up. Its station is underground, reached through a long tunnel from the town. ## Dolceacqua and the villages of Val Nervia Dolceacqua is about ten kilometers inland from Ventimiglia, up the Nervia valley: a stone village with a single-arch medieval bridge, which Monet painted in 1884, and the ruined castle of the Doria family above it. It is the home of Rossese di Dolceacqua, a light red wine we like to taste with lunch in the village. Riviera Trasporti buses from Ventimiglia reach it in under half an hour but are not frequent, so with a driver we combine Dolceacqua with **Apricale**, a hilltop village a few kilometers farther, and come back along the coast through Bordighera. ## Genoa and Portofino: a long day or an overnight Genoa is about 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes from Nice by train, with a change at Ventimiglia onto a Trenitalia Intercity; Portofino has no station, so you continue to Santa Margherita Ligure and then take a bus, a boat in the warmer months, or walk about an hour along the coast. As a day trip from Nice, that is seven to nine hours of travel. We plan **one or two nights** instead: a night in Genoa for its palaces and old port, or in Santa Margherita for Portofino early in the morning, before the day boats arrive. With several suitcases, a driver from Nice to Santa Margherita takes about three hours by motorway. Our [French Riviera vs Italian Riviera comparison](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/french-riviera-vs-italian-riviera) explains how we combine the two coasts. ## Driving to Italy from Nice The A8 motorway runs east from Nice and becomes the Italian A10 at the border, with tolls on both sides. Count on about 40 to 45 minutes to Ventimiglia and about an hour to Sanremo without traffic. Three things to know: - **Border checks** on the motorway can cause queues, especially toward France in the late afternoon. - **Limited traffic zones (ZTL)** close most Italian old towns to non-resident cars, and cameras send the fine to your rental company weeks later. - **Parking** in Ventimiglia on market day and in Sanremo in summer is hard to find. This is why, for a family or a group, we usually book a driver: door to door from your Nice hotel, waiting while you shop or lunch, and back for dinner. Our drivers are quoted on request, and they can also stop in Menton or Monaco on the way. ## Accessibility The coastal day trips work for many travelers with reduced mobility. At Nice-Ville, SNCF's Assist'enGare service helps with boarding, and we book it at least 48 hours ahead, and RFI's free Sala Blu service helps at Italian stations, Bordighera included: book at least 3 working hours ahead in the SalaBlu+ app or SalaBlu Online, and RFI asks travelers from abroad to send requests preferably 24 hours ahead. The seafront promenades of Bordighera and Sanremo and the Sanremo seafront path are flat. Ventimiglia's market is crowded and uneven underfoot, and the old towns of Ventimiglia Alta, La Pigna, Dolceacqua and Apricale are steep and stepped, so we plan those with an adapted vehicle and viewpoints rather than lanes. Our [Accessible French Riviera](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/accessible-french-riviera) guide covers the Nice side. ## How we plan Italian days from Nice - **Friday for Ventimiglia, any other day for Sanremo or Bordighera.** - **Train for the coast, driver for the villages.** Dolceacqua and Apricale are much easier by car. - **Go early in summer** and come back before the evening trains fill up. - **Two countries, two tickets.** Buy the Italian leg before you need it. For more ideas closer to Nice, see our [day trips from Nice](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/day-trips-from-nice), our [Nice to Monaco guide](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/nice-to-monaco) and our [guide to Nice](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/nice-travel-guide). Our [French Riviera in 7 Days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/flavors-and-landscapes-of-the-blue-coast) can include an Italian day, and our [Switzerland to Italy by train](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/from-switzerland-to-italy-medieval-towns-outdoor-fun-and-italian-riviera) trip continues across northern Italy. More is on our [Italy page](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/countries/italy). Tell our Nice team which days you have, and we will build your [Italian day from Nice](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/plan-your-trip) around them. More guides: [Getting around](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/topics/routes)[Places and regions](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/topics/regions) ## Contents Written by ### [Karine](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/team/karine) Senior Travel Designer · France A true Niçoise with 30 years in destination management; designs our French Riviera trips from Nice and swims in the sea most of the year. [More about Karine](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/team/karine) ## Related destinations - [France](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/countries/france) - [Italy](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/countries/italy) ![Karine](/_astro/01M5J4124FN78ZVZ6AN69EDF3Z.R_I4RjHW_1PfxPY.webp)**Karine**Senior Travel Designer Your France trip, planned by Karine - Priced itinerary within 48 hours - Free, no commitment - Trains, hotels and guides: we book it all [or call +1 607 354 8869](tel:+16073548869) ## Trips for this guide - [![Flavors and Landscapes of the Blue Coast](/_astro/01M5J4124KG6FF457NNV4YR4B7.Cb0a_Myj_1zpfVj.webp)**French Riviera in 7 Days: Saint-Tropez, Porquerolles, Nice & Monaco**From €1,899 · 7 days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/flavors-and-landscapes-of-the-blue-coast) - [![From Switzerland to Italy : medieval towns, outdoor fun and italian riviera](/_astro/01M5J4124QMGRZKA4DGVWAAVSG.CZhi2FDY_ZKyIQy.webp)**Switzerland to Italy by Train: Alps, Lucerne & Lake Como in 14 Days**From €5,499 · 14 days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/from-switzerland-to-italy-medieval-towns-outdoor-fun-and-italian-riviera) - [![7 days in Nice: Accessible trip](/_astro/01M5J4124VQF6QPD0VP4QXAAY3.BlXaBIyU_ZsWT3U.webp)**Accessible French Riviera in 8 Days: Nice, Monaco, Eze & Grasse**From €1,499 · 8 days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/7-days-in-nice-accessible-trip-with-4) ## Frequently asked questions ### Can you do a day trip from Nice to Italy? Yes, easily. Ventimiglia is about 55 minutes by TER train from Nice-Ville, and Bordighera, Sanremo and Dolceacqua are within about an hour and a half by train or car. The most popular day is Friday, for the Ventimiglia market. Genoa and Portofino are too far for a comfortable day trip, so we plan them with a night. ### How do I get from Nice to Sanremo by train? Take a TER from Nice-Ville to Ventimiglia, about 55 minutes, then an Italian regional train to Sanremo, about 15 minutes. There are no through trains, so you need two tickets: €10.60 for the French leg in 2026, plus a Trenitalia ticket bought in the app or at the Ventimiglia station machine. Allow about 1 hour 30 minutes with the change. ### What day is the Ventimiglia market? Every Friday, all year. It spreads through the lower town near the Roja river with hundreds of stalls selling clothes, leather, food and household goods. Arrive around 9 a.m., before the crowds and the heat, because stalls start to pack up in the early afternoon and the trains back to Nice get full. ### Do I need a passport to go from Nice to Italy? Both countries are in the Schengen area, but France runs checks at the Italian border, on trains and on the road, so carry your passport. Checks are more frequent on the way back into France. Travelers from the United States, Canada and Latin America need the same entry documents as for France. ### Is it better to drive or take the train from Nice to Italy? The train is simpler for Ventimiglia, Bordighera and Sanremo, since it avoids traffic, border queues and parking. A car or a driver is better for Dolceacqua, Apricale and the Hanbury Gardens, which trains do not reach. If you drive yourself, watch for Italian limited traffic zones in the old towns, which fine non-resident cars automatically. ## Plan this trip Be inspired by our European itineraries, then let our local travel designers tailor your journey to your interests, preferences and pace. [All itinerary ideas](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages) ![Flavors and Landscapes of the Blue Coast](/_astro/01M5J4124KG6FF457NNV4YR4B7.Cb0a_Myj_N9sDT.webp) 7 days / 6 nights ### [French Riviera in 7 Days: Saint-Tropez, Porquerolles, Nice & Monaco](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/flavors-and-landscapes-of-the-blue-coast) Six nights, three in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez and three in Nice: a private dinner on arrival, a yacht day to Porquerolles, the gardens of Cap Ferrat and Eze, Monaco at night and your own perfume in Grasse. Driver throughout. From **€1,899** per person ![From Switzerland to Italy : medieval towns, outdoor fun and italian riviera](/_astro/01M5J4124QMGRZKA4DGVWAAVSG.CZhi2FDY_Z1wOw8X.webp) 14 days / 13 nights ### [Switzerland to Italy by Train: Alps, Lucerne & Lake Como in 14 Days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/from-switzerland-to-italy-medieval-towns-outdoor-fun-and-italian-riviera) Thirteen nights from Zurich to Milan by train: Rhine Falls, kayaking on Lake Brienz, the Schilthorn, a via ferrata, Rigi, Lugano, Lake Como and the Borromean Islands. Central 3-star hotels; an active trip with full days. From **€5,499** per person ![7 days in Nice: Accessible trip](/_astro/01M5J4124VQF6QPD0VP4QXAAY3.BlXaBIyU_Z1fdGlk.webp) 8 days / 7 nights ### [Accessible French Riviera in 8 Days: Nice, Monaco, Eze & Grasse](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/7-days-in-nice-accessible-trip-with-4) Seven nights in an accessible room at the Hotel West End 4-star on the Promenade des Anglais, adapted transfers throughout: Nice by bus, a perfume workshop in Grasse, a cruise to Monaco, the Matisse Museum, Eze and a beach day. From **€1,499** per person ## More to read [All articles](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) ![A red Rhaetian Railway train crossing a small stone viaduct in deep snow on the Bernina line](/_astro/01M5J4124NCCP82JJ7FY8RXAQ4.CeI7SiQJ_Z2aYD41.webp) Italy ### [Lake Como to St. Moritz: Train via Tirano, Bernina Express, Bus or Car](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/lake-como-to-st-moritz) Lake Como to St. Moritz by train via Tirano and the Bernina Express: 2026-2027 timetable, ticket prices and reservations, the Lugano bus, the Maloja road. ![Bayeux](/_astro/01M5J4124HQQD1YQP8476K97DY.vUo0bMtD_14qkj6.webp) Switzerland ### [Three Generations, One Europe: How to Plan a Trip Everyone Will Remember](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/three-generations-one-europe-how-to-plan-a-trip-everyone-will-remember) The most powerful travel memories are shared ones. And sharing them across generations creates something that lasts far longer than the journey itself. ![Isola Bella and its baroque terraced gardens rising from Lake Maggiore, seen from the water](/_astro/01M5J4124QMGRZKA4DGVWAAVSG.CZhi2FDY_Z1wOw8X.webp) Italy ### [Lake Maggiore Travel Guide: Stresa, the Borromean Islands and How Many Days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/lake-maggiore-travel-guide) Plan Lake Maggiore the way we do: two or three nights in Stresa, the Borromean Islands by boat, the Swiss shore at Locarno, trains from Milan, where to stay. Tailor-made by local experts ## Let us help you plan a trip that feels right Tell us what you’re dreaming about: dates, pace, who you’re traveling with, and what would make it special. A real person will get back to you with thoughtful ideas, not a generic pitch. 1. 1Share your dates and wishes 2. 2Get a priced itinerary within 48 hours 3. 3Refine it together, then travel 8 travel designers, local experts across Europe, reply to every request themselves. ★★★★★ > “A wonderful travel partner” Carol W., Seattle, WA · 4.8/5 on 273 reviews - [US+1 607 354 8869](tel:+16073548869) - [Europe+33 4 26 30 36 82](tel:+33426303682) - [contact@mobeeinternational.com](mailto:contact@mobeeinternational.com) Two minutes, three steps. 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