Dolceaqua Menton Day Trip: Market & Monet's Bridge

Italian market, a painted medieval bridge, and the French Riviera coast in one day

A private full-day tour from Nice takes you across the Italian border to an Italian market in Ventimiglia, then to the medieval village of Dolceaqua (famous for its bridge painted by Monet) before continuing to Menton on the French coast. Your driver-guide picks you up from your accommodation, handles all the driving, and returns you the same way, with time to explore each stop and optional lunch in Dolceaqua.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Ventimiglia2h
2. Nice Corniche Roads1h

Italian market and coastal towns tour

• Explore Italian market and local products
• Free time in Ventimiglia, San Remo, or Bordighera
• Visit Bordighera town
• Visit San Remo town
• Visit medieval village of Dolceaqua
• Visit Menton, the pearl of France
• Return via Haute Corniche with Riviera views

The experience

The day starts in Ventimiglia, where you walk through a working Italian market to see local products and the everyday rhythms of a border town. From there you have free time to explore nearby Bordighera or San Remo if you choose, or move straight to Dolceaqua. The medieval village sits inland, its narrow streets and stone buildings preserved much as they were centuries ago. The bridge that brought Monet here, arched stone spanning the river, still stands in the center, and a climb up to the medieval castle offers views across the valley.

After Dolceaqua, the route follows the coast toward Menton, the last French town before Italy. Menton is built in tiers of pastel buildings that rise from the waterfront, and you'll have time to walk its streets and waterfront. The return journey takes the Haute Corniche, the highest of the three coastal roads, which winds above Monaco and the entire sweep of the Riviera before dropping back to Nice. Your driver-guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, French or another language of your choice, and can adjust the day's pace and stops to what interests you.

Pickup and drop-off happen at your accommodation in Nice, so there's no need to arrange transport to a meeting point or navigate to a starting location. The full day runs nine hours, which accounts for driving time between stops and the leisure to linger at each one. Lunch is not included, but you can eat in Dolceaqua or one of the Italian towns, or wait and eat in Menton.

What’s included

• Transport in a comfortable recent vehicle.
• a private driver-guide for the full day in your choice of English, Spanish, Portuguese, French or another language.
• pickup and drop-off at your Nice accommodation.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Riviera Star Tours

Is this one for you?Pickup from your accommodation means you don't arrange transport to a starting point, and the private guide adjusts the day's pace and stops to what you want to see: useful if you're without a car or staying in central Nice and want to explore both the Italian border towns and the French coast without driving yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese.

What is Dolceaqua and why is it famous?

Dolceaqua is a small medieval village in Italy known for its well-preserved stone streets and a medieval castle set on a hillside. The village gained wider fame when the painter Claude Monet visited and painted its arched stone bridge spanning the river. The bridge still stands in the center of the village and is the main landmark visitors come to see.

Can I choose which Italian towns to visit, or is the route fixed?

The route is flexible. Your guide can adjust the day according to your wishes, so you can spend more time in one town, skip another, or add stops your guide suggests. The morning typically includes time in Ventimiglia's market and free time to explore nearby towns like Bordighera or San Remo, but the exact stops are yours to decide.

What is the Haute Corniche and why is it part of the return?

The Haute Corniche is the highest of three coastal roads that run along the French Riviera above Nice. It winds through the hills with views down to Monaco and the entire coastline, and it is the most scenic route back to Nice after a day on the coast and in the Italian villages.

Where do I eat lunch, and is it included?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You can choose to eat in one of the Italian towns (Ventimiglia, Bordighera or San Remo), or wait and have lunch in Dolceaqua or Menton. Your guide can recommend restaurants and help you choose based on what you want to eat.

Do I need a car to do this tour, or does pickup work from any hotel in Nice?

Pickup and drop-off are included from your accommodation anywhere in Nice, so you do not need a car or need to arrange transport to a meeting point. Your driver-guide collects you in the morning and returns you at the end of the day.