Riviera di Ponente: Genoa to the French border
Medieval harbour towns, prehistoric footprints in a cave and Monet’s bridge on the western Ligurian coast, ending in a garden above the sea.
- Distance
- 178 km (111 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 28 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 9
- Countries
- Italy
- Updated
- September 20, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 178 km (111 mi) with 9 stops, from Genoa to Hanbury Botanical Gardens. About 2 h 28 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Italy
Route description
Leave Genoa westwards on the SS1 Aurelia, which follows the coast all the way to France; the A10 motorway runs parallel above it and is quicker but tolled. Noli, a former sea republic, keeps its towers and a Romanesque church, and the cliffs of Capo Noli hang over the road beyond it.
At Finale Ligure turn inland to walled Finalborgo, then continue to Toirano for the show caves with prehistoric footprints. Albenga has a cluster of brick towers and one of the oldest baptisteries in Liguria, and the plain behind it is covered in greenhouses and vegetable fields.
Cervo is a small village of lanes climbing to a Baroque church with a curved facade, where a chamber-music festival is held in summer. The flower town of Sanremo follows, with its casino and the steep medieval quarter of La Pigna.
Just before Ventimiglia head up the Nervia valley to Dolceacqua for the castle and the bridge Monet painted, then return to the coast for the Hanbury Gardens at La Mortola. The Aurelia is congested in July and August, and villages are tight for large vehicles, so use car parks at their edges.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Genoa
Italy - 260 km
Noli
Italy - 39 km
Finalborgo
HistoryFinale Ligure, ItalyA walled medieval quarter a kilometre inland from Finale Ligure’s beach, with gates, towers and a ruined castle above. Park outside the walls and walk in.
- 414 km
Toirano caves
NatureToirano, ItalyShow caves in the hills behind the coast where Palaeolithic footprints and cave-bear bones were found. Visits are guided and the caves stay cool all year.
- 511 km
Albenga
Italy - 620 km
Cervo
Italy - 737 km
Sanremo
Italy - 816 km
Dolceacqua bridge and castle
ViewsDolceacqua, ItalyA single-arched medieval bridge below the Doria castle, painted by Monet in 1884. Leave the car in the car park by the river; the village lanes are too narrow.
- 911 km
Hanbury Botanical Gardens
NatureVentimiglia, ItalyTerraced gardens founded in 1867 by Thomas Hanbury, dropping from the Via Aurelia to the sea a few kilometres from the French border. Allow two hours and bring water.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Genoa → Noli · 60 km · 0 h 49 minOvernight nearby, for example: Camping Terre Rosse (2 km); Rustia (2 km).
- Day 2: Noli → Albenga · 34 km · 0 h 28 minOn the way: Finalborgo, Toirano caves.Overnight nearby, for example: Agricampeggio Ca' de Michè (< 1 km); Green Village (< 1 km).
- Day 3: Albenga → Sanremo · 57 km · 0 h 47 minOn the way: Cervo.Overnight nearby, for example: Villaggio dei Fiori (3 km); Agricampeggio A Bunda (9 km).
- Day 4: Sanremo → Hanbury Botanical Gardens · 27 km · 0 h 23 minOn the way: Dolceacqua bridge and castle.Overnight nearby, for example: Por La Mar (1 km); Camping Roma (4 km).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and November. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- Italy: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autostrade; pay at the barrier by card or cash. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Riviera di Ponente: Genoa to the French border?
4-day road trip of about 178 km (111 mi) with 9 stops, from Genoa to Hanbury Botanical Gardens. About 2 h 28 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Riviera di Ponente: Genoa to the French border?
We suggest 4 days: about 2 h 28 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Riviera di Ponente: Genoa to the French border start and end?
It starts in Genoa and ends in Hanbury Botanical Gardens.
Which countries does Riviera di Ponente: Genoa to the French border pass through?
Italy.
Where can you camp along Riviera di Ponente: Genoa to the French border?
OpenStreetMap lists 125 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Genova Est, Camping Villa Doria and Camping Castello dei Fieschi.
When is the best time for Riviera di Ponente: Genoa to the French border?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
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