Difficulty: Easy | Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours | Height difference: 150 m | Departure: Bordighera Alta

If we had to recommend only one walk in Bordighera, it would be this one. The Beodo trail follows the route of the ancient aqueduct built in the 15th century to bring drinking water to the town. It starts in Bordighera Alta, crosses an evocative underpass and finds itself immersed in a historic palm grove, among mimosas, broom and centuries-old olive trees.

The path gently ascends the Vallone del Sasso, with panoramic views of the coast and hinterland. Architect Charles Garnier, who lived in Bordighera for a long time, called it “one of the most exciting walks, an uninterrupted succession of corners in which form and elegance harmonize.” And Claude Monet painted several of his 38 Bordighera canvases there.

The trail reaches the hamlet of Sasso, a small rural village where time seems to stand still. From here you can return by the same route or continue to Seborga (see next hike).

Difficulty: Medium | Duration: 4 – 5 hours (loop) | Height difference: 550 m | Departure: Bordighera Alta or Sasso

Seborga is one of the most curious villages in Liguria. It proclaims itself an “independent principality”-a history somewhere between historical tradition and folklore that makes it irresistible to visit. But the best part is getting there on foot.

The route starts in Bordighera Alta, follows the Beodo Trail to Sasso, then climbs up to Monte Nero (606 m) and from there descends to Seborga. The loop trail is marked with red and white notches and offers extraordinary views of the coast: on clear days you can see from Corsica to the French Riviera.

In Seborga it is worth stopping to visit the parish church, walk through the stone alleys, and taste local products. The return trip passes by the Madonna della Neve locality and takes you back to Sasso.

Getting there: 20 minutes by car | Bus from Ventimiglia | Visiting time: 2 – 4 hours

Dolceacqua is probably the most popular excursion from Bordighera, and with good reason. The medieval village is dominated by the Doria Castle and bisected by the Nervia stream, crossed by a Romanesque humpback bridge that Monet immortalized in 1884, calling it “a jewel of lightness.”

The village is small but dense with things to do: the artisan stores in the historic center, the Bottega del Vino where you can taste Rossese di Dolceacqua (the only DOC in the province of Imperia), michette-traditional sweets made with almond paste. Every August the Michetta Festival is held with the evocative rite of the blessed host.

For those who want to walk, several paths depart from Dolceacqua toward the hinterland of the Nervia Valley: Rocchetta Nervina with its natural pools, Isolabona and Pigna with its spas.

Difficulty: Easy | Distance: 24 km (A/R to San Remo) | Duration: 2 – 3 hours by bike, 1 – 1.5 hours on foot (Bordighera-Ospedaletti section)

The Ponente Ligure bicycle path was carved out of the route of the old railway and is one of the most beautiful bicycle and pedestrian paths in Italy. From Bordighera you can go west to Ventimiglia or east through Ospedaletti to San Remo and beyond.

The most scenic stretch is the one that leads from Bordighera to Ospedaletti: the track runs above the sea, with the blue below you and the mountains behind. In Ospedaletti you can stop at the track bar or go down to the beach.

For those continuing on to San Remo, the track goes through the former railroad tunnel and directly into the heart of the city. From there, you can visit the center, Porto Vecchio and La Pigna (San Remo’s medieval old town).

Getting there: 20 minutes by car | 15 minutes by train | Visiting time: half or full day

Crossing the border at Ventimiglia, it takes only a few minutes to reach Menton-a town that combines the elegance of the French Riviera with a still authentically Mediterranean atmosphere. The old town with its pastel-colored facades is one of the most photogenic on the Riviera.

Don’t miss: the Val Rahmeh Botanical Gardens (an exceptional collection of tropical plants), the Jean Cocteau Museum, the Les Halles covered market (open every morning), and the waterfront walk to Garavan. In February, the Fête du Citron transforms the city into a citrus sculpture show.

For those who enjoy walking, the coastal path from Menton to Cap Martin is a walk of about an hour with spectacular views of the bay. You can continue to Roquebrune and its medieval perched village.

Getting there: 40 minutes by car | 50 minutes by train | Visiting time: full day

From the Principality of Seborga (population 500, self-proclaimed) to the Principality of Monaco (population 38,000, recognized): the distance is only 35 km. Monaco is the classic day trip that always amazes, even for those who have been there before.

The classic itinerary: the Rock with the Princes’ Palace and the changing of the guard (at 11:55 a.m.), the Oceanographic Museum (one of the best aquariums in the Mediterranean), the harbor with yachts, and finally the famous Monte Carlo Casino with its gardens. For those who are fans of Formula 1, walking on the street circuit is a unique experience.

For lunch, avoid the tourist traps around the Casino and move to La Condamine, the covered market district where you can eat well at reasonable prices.

Getting there: 10 minutes by car | Regular bus | Visiting time: 3 – 4 hours

Just 5 km from Bordighera, Ventimiglia offers two very different experiences in one trip. The first: the Balzi Rossi, a complex of prehistoric caves overlooking the sea on the French border. The adjoining museum preserves artifacts from 240,000 years ago, and the beach below, set among red cliffs, is one of the most striking on the Riviera.

The second: the medieval old town of upper Ventimiglia, with its Romanesque Cathedral of the Assumption, 5th-century baptistery, and alleyways leading down to the Roja River. Every Friday morning, along the waterfront, one of the largest open-air markets in Liguria is held-a fixture for residents and tourists from all over the coast.

For lunch, the lower town offers several trattorias where you can sample the typical Ligurian-Piedmontese cuisine of the border area: brandacujun (baccalà mantecato), sardenaira (the local focaccia) and barbagiuai (fried ravioli filled with pumpkin).

Getting there: 30 minutes by car | Visiting time: half a day

Bordighera’s hinterland hides medieval villages that seem to have emerged from another century. Apricale-whose name means “exposed to the sun”-is a tangle of stone alleys, artist murals, and hidden little squares. It has been listed among Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages and in summer hosts a theater festival that turns squares into stages.

Perinaldo, not far away, is the village of astronomers: Gian Domenico Cassini, who discovered the division of Saturn’s rings, was born here. The village houses an astronomical observatory and a small museum dedicated to the famous scientist. At night, far from the light pollution of the coast, the starry sky is extraordinary.

The two villages can be combined into a single half-day tour, perhaps adding a stop in Vallebona, a quiet village specializing in growing mimosas.

Getting there: 25 minutes by car | Visiting time: half a day

If you are looking for an alternative to the beach on hot days, Rocchetta Nervina is the answer. This tiny village upstream from Dolceacqua is famous for the freshwater pools carved by the Barbaira stream into the rock: natural emerald pools where you can swim surrounded by nature.

The path to the most beautiful pools starts from the village and follows the creek for about 20-30 minutes on a path that is not always well marked but is easily navigable. The water is cold even in the middle of summer-prepare yourself-but the setting is so picturesque that it is absolutely worth it.

The hamlet itself is worth a visit: a few stone houses, a small church, and a bar-restaurant on the square where home cooking from the hinterland is served.

Getting there: 1 hour by car | 1 hour by train | Visiting time: full day

Nice is the perfect excursion for those who want a big-city day out without giving up the sea. From Bordighera, the regional train takes about an hour, and Nice station is within walking distance of the Promenade des Anglais and downtown.

For a typical day: morning in the Vieille Ville (the old town) with the flower market on Cours Saleya, ascent to the Castle Hill for a view of the Baie des Anges, lunch with a socca (Niçoise chickpea porridge) in one of the downtown stores, afternoon at the Matisse Museum or MAMAC (contemporary art), aperitif on the Promenade.

Those with more time can go as far as the Port district with its seafood restaurants, or take the bus to the village of Eze with its spectacular exotic garden 400 meters above the sea.