Ventimiglia Tourist Information
Ventimiglia old town
Ventimiglia is the first town over the Italian border. At the huge Friday market you will find clothes, accessories, household goods and food. Open all year. In winter you can find real fur coats and cashmere jumpers for sale.
WARNING: Be particularly careful not to buy designer fakes, such as Gucci belts or Versace handbags, as you can be fined very heavily for buying counterfeit goods - double the value of the real thing. You can even be stopped by French police well into France.
Cigarettes and alcohol are considerably cheaper in Italy, by the way. The covered food market is a delight. There are lots and lots of cafes, bars and restaurants. To get to the quieter beach restaurants, in the market by the river, cross the footbridge. On the other side turn left and here you will find a row of beach restos.
Getting there: The train station is bang in the middle of town and just a short walk towards to the beach is where you will find the market. Avoid coming by car in July and August on market day - it is hell in town, I promise you. The other way to go to Ventimiglia is by luxury coach. Door to door - the coach picks you up at your hotel or apartment - it's much cheaper than a taxi. The company is Autocars Musso which also provides a number of other tours, including a half day to the grottos of St Cézaire.
Tip: Watch your bag and particularly your credit cards at Ventimiglia station.
WARNING: Be particularly careful not to buy designer fakes, such as Gucci belts or Versace handbags, as you can be fined very heavily for buying counterfeit goods - double the value of the real thing. You can even be stopped by French police well into France.
Cigarettes and alcohol are considerably cheaper in Italy, by the way. The covered food market is a delight. There are lots and lots of cafes, bars and restaurants. To get to the quieter beach restaurants, in the market by the river, cross the footbridge. On the other side turn left and here you will find a row of beach restos.
Getting there: The train station is bang in the middle of town and just a short walk towards to the beach is where you will find the market. Avoid coming by car in July and August on market day - it is hell in town, I promise you. The other way to go to Ventimiglia is by luxury coach. Door to door - the coach picks you up at your hotel or apartment - it's much cheaper than a taxi. The company is Autocars Musso which also provides a number of other tours, including a half day to the grottos of St Cézaire.
Tip: Watch your bag and particularly your credit cards at Ventimiglia station.
If you have the time stay in the evening, go to a concert or opera at Teatro Communale.
Ventimiglia Tourist Office: V. Cavour 61 (0184 35 11 83; infoventimiglia@rivieradefiori.org), 5 min. from the train station. English spoken. Open M-Sa 9am-12:30pm and 3:30-7pm. Turismo Monte Carlo, V. Cavour 57 (0184 35 75 77; fax 35 26 21), 2 doors down, has currency exchange and bus and hotel info. Open M-Sa 9am-12:30pm and 2:30-7pm.
Ventimiglia Tourist Office: V. Cavour 61 (0184 35 11 83; infoventimiglia@rivieradefiori.org), 5 min. from the train station. English spoken. Open M-Sa 9am-12:30pm and 3:30-7pm. Turismo Monte Carlo, V. Cavour 57 (0184 35 75 77; fax 35 26 21), 2 doors down, has currency exchange and bus and hotel info. Open M-Sa 9am-12:30pm and 2:30-7pm.