Ventimiglia is a somewhat less known town among tourists on the Ligurian shore. However, Ventimiglia is in no way less interesting than the other resorts. There are the same picturesque landscapes, medieval architecture, excellent hotel and transport infrastructure. In addition, Ventimiglia has a railway station that connects Northern Italy with cities of the French Riviera such as Nice, Cannes, Menton, Monte Carlo and others. There are different ways of how to get to Ventimiglia, but the starting points are usually Genoa or Milan.
Table of Contents:
How to get to Ventimiglia from Genoa
How to get to Ventimiglia from Milan
How to get from Ventimiglia to Sanremo
How to get from Ventimiglia to Nice and other cities on the French Riviera
When to travel to Ventimiglia
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Ventimiglia. I figured out how to get to Ventimiglia, where to stay & what to see there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to this charming town.
For swimming purposes, it is better to visit Ventimiglia from June until October. This period of the year is the warmest and the sunniest and suits perfectly for swimming and getting sunbathes. The other time of the year Ventimiglia is good for getting excursions and long-distance walking in surroundings as the local climate is quite mild even in winters.
How to get to Ventimiglia
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Where do you fly into to get to Ventimiglia? You can get to Ventimiglia from Genoa or Milan; these are the two closest cities that have the airports that accept international flights. You can check the current flight timetable to both cities via specialized online services such as Aviasales and other similar ones. The most convenient way to get to the resort from the airport, in this regard, is to use the services of the Italian railway of Trenitalia or to hire a car. Getting there by taxi is also possible.
How to get to Ventimiglia from Genoa
The distance between Genoa and Ventimiglia is just about 160 km. You can find out either automobile or railway connection between the cities.
How to get to Ventimiglia from Genoa by trains
The trains start running from 9 am. Direct trains depart towards Ventimiglia from Genoa Piazza Principe Station. The travel time is about 2 hours. Trains depart up to 7 times a day. The last one departs at 10 pm. High-speed trains of EC or IC type run on the route. You can check the current train timetable in advance and purchase tickets, for example, at the Raileurope booking service. I can truly recommend Raileurope as I use this online planner for my own trips and it helps me a lot to find out the best available railway connections.
How to get to Ventimiglia from Genoa by taxi
Another way to get from Genoa to Ventimiglia is to use a taxi or transfer service, which allows you to travel even at night when public transport does not operate. The travel time is also 2 hours. You can order a taxi at the information desk in the arrival terminal, or you can order a transfer service in advance via different international services, for example, via Kiwitaxi or other similar ones. I read the reviews of Kiwitaxi transfer service and most of them are positive, so I can recommend it. For sure, there are a lot of other taxi services available at the airport.
How to get to Ventimiglia from Genoa by car
Car renting in Genoa is a pretty popular option as it allows you to travel in any direction, including Ligurian shore. The distance between Genoa and Ventimiglia is just about 160 km. Both cities are connected with #A10/E80 motorway. The travel time is approximately 2 hours (see on the map).
You can find the car rental offices at the airport as well as at the city center of Ventimiglia. You can also book a car in advance via various online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. Based on my experience, it will save your time on the spot. Anyway, a car is a comfortable and fast way of how to get to Ventimiglia.
How to get to Ventimiglia from Milan
The distance between Milan and Ventimiglia is much more impressive. It is about 290 km, but there is direct train connection as well as automobile connection too.
How to get to Ventimiglia from Milan by train
During the day, Milano Centrale Train Station has up to 7 connections to Ventimiglia, starting at 7 am and ending at 8 pm. The trains are direct and high-speed, so the travel time is about 3 hours 40 minutes. You can check the current train timetable in advance and purchase tickets, for example, at the Raileurope booking service. It is one of my favourite online services for planning upcoming trips around Europe so I can definitely recommend it.
How to get to Ventimiglia from Milan by car
As an option, tourists can also rent a car to travel from Milan in different directions, including Ligurian shore. Car rental in Milan is very popular as it allows travellers to discover a huge number of attractions in Northern Italy. Car rental points can be found at the airports of Milan as well as at the city area. Tourists can also book a car in advance. It is an especially useful option for “high” tourist periods. You can book a car in advance via different online services like Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc.
According to my experience, both online services have a decent search. I would recommend comparing them both to discover the best available car rental options. The distance between Milan and Ventimiglia is about 290 km. Both cities are connected with # A7 and A10/E80 highways. The travel time by car is about 3 hours 15 minutes (see on the map).
How to get from Ventimiglia to Sanremo
Tourists often, in order to diversify their stay in Ventimiglia, go to neighboring cities. To the right of Ventimiglia is the famous resort of Sanremo, to the left 7 km from the town is the border with France and the opportunity to visit Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo and other resorts of the Cote d’Azur.
How to get from Ventimiglia to Sanremo by public transport
The distance between Ventimiglia and Sanremo is 20 km. You can get from one resort town to another by train or by trolleybus. High-speed trains of the EC or IC type run from Ventimiglia to Sanremo and back up to 6 times a day. Approximate journey time is just 15 minutes. The first train from Ventimiglia departs at 9 am. The last one departs at 7 pm.
From Sanremo the first one departs at 10.30 am. The last one departs at 11 pm. You can check the current train timetable in advance and purchase tickets at the Raileurope booking service. To my mind, it is a very useful railway planner with a lot of filters to sort the results.
In addition, you can travel along this route and back on a special trolleybus, which departs from the Main Bus Station in Sanremo, and from the Constitution Square in Ventimiglia.
How to get from Ventimiglia to Nice and other cities on the French Riviera
Similarly, you can get to any of the cities of the French Riviera from Ventimiglia by train. The distance between Ventimiglia and Nice is 40 km, which can be covered in 1 hour by direct train. Trains start running at 5.30 am and depart from Ventimiglia station every half an hour throughout the day.
Based on my map research, the distance between Cannes and Ventimiglia is 75 km. Direct trains also run between the cities; the travel time is about 1.5 hours.
The shortest distance is between Ventimiglia and Menton. It takes about 11 km. Menton is considered to be the hidden gem of the French Riviera, although it is much less popular than the famous Nice and Cannes. You can get from Ventimiglia to Menton by train in just 15 minutes; trains run every half an hour.
You can check the current train timetable in advance and purchase tickets at the Raileurope booking service.
Where to stay in Ventimiglia
After you have already found out how to get to Ventimiglia, it is the time to choose suitable accommodation options. All Ventimiglia hotels are divided into those located in the center and those located on the shore. Ventimiglia is a small town that can be explored on foot, but the old town is located a little further, on the hills.
Villa Eva Hotel 3* is conveniently located relatively close to the sea, which is within walking distance. In addition, there is a public transport stop nearby, from where you can easily reach the old part of the town. The hotel offers guests a terrace with sea views and free private parking on site. Free Wi-Fi is also provided.
Hotel Kaly 3* is located a few steps from the beach, which is why the hotel offers views of the shore. There is a terrace overlooking the sea and a small garden. Free private parking is available on site (reservation is not required). Wi-Fi is provided throughout the hotel. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 11.00.
Outside of town center
Hotel Posta 3* is located near the Railway Station. There is a bar at the hotel. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that the private parking is provided nearby upon reservation and at an additional cost. The front desk serves guests 24 hours a day and there is luggage storage available.
Sole Mare 3* is located by the sea; all rooms have panoramic views of the shore. The hotel is surrounded by a garden and has a bar. You can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available throughout the entire hotel and is free of charge. Free public parking is available on site. It is important to have a parking place in case you choose a car as a way of how to get to Ventimiglia. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and provides luggage storage services.
What to see in Ventimiglia
Ventimiglia can be divided into old and new parts. The old town rises on the hills and winds through narrow streets, occasionally leading to squares where some historical landmark is sure to be hidden. The new town is located down on the shore and is famous for its promenades and beaches. Thus, Ventimiglia is equally suitable for an excursion holiday and a beach holiday.
Historical Attractions
Walking through the old part of the town, called Ventimiglia Alta district, you can see several historical monuments at once. This is the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and the Church of the Archangel Michael, and the Oratory, and the Fortezza fortress, and even the archaeological complex, or as it is also called, Antiquarium, which is located on the site of an old Roman settlement. All these attractions indicate that the town has a rich history.
After wandering through the ancient quarters of Ventimiglia, be sure to go downstairs to appreciate the natural attractions of the surroundings. The natural park called “Balzi Rossi”, or “Red Stones”, can be found here. The park consists of a whole complex of caves that were formed back in the Paleolithic era. Red rocks cascade down to the water, forming a secluded beach, or as it is called here, a “red rock oasis”. The place is considered to be a colorful and picturesque corner of Ventimiglia.
Hanbury Botanical Park
In my point of view, another local attraction of Ventimiglia which is definitely worth seeing is the Hanbury Botanical Park. The park was organized back in the mid-19th century, and was named after its creator, the English aristocrat who loved Ventimiglia with all his soul, Henry Hanberry.
As I found out, the park covers an area of almost 20 hectares, where you can see the Mediterranean flora in all its glory. Part of the park is occupied with green plants, the other part is with flowers, the third part is with trees and shrubs, and the fourth part is with fruit trees and bushes. So, here you can find palm trees, olive groves, citrus trees, agave, feijoa, papaya and other rare plant species. The park is decorated with various sculptures, pavilions, ponds and other unusual features.
Local Beaches
The beaches of Ventimiglia, like those of neighboring Bordighera, are pebbly and are considered to be among the best in Northern Liguria. The sea here is mostly calm, the water is clean, and the entrance is gentle, which is why tourists love the beaches of Ventimiglia and Bordighera. In addition, most of the beaches here are public, which means that entry is free. As I discovered the most popular beaches in the town are Roia and Calandre, more intimate ones are Kaly and Balzi Rossi (the one located on the Red Rocks).
In my opinion, for a beach holiday in Ventimiglia, it is better to have rubberized shoes with you, since the pebbles on the shore can be quite large. Public beaches, as a rule, are equipped only with showers, while private ones have sunbeds, umbrellas and other services.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Dennis Sylvester Hurd
Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…
