After the Sanremo Marathon: Ventimiglia and Menton

The Route: Sanremo → Ventimiglia (1 night) → Menton (1 night) → home Logistics: The coast line runs from Sanremo to Ventimiglia in around half an hour, and trains continue across the border to Menton in about ten to fifteen minutes. Check the timetable, and carry a passport, because border checks can happen at short notice. Bring euros, as both countries use them. Marathon Month: December Duration: 2 nights

Sanremo ──(train, about 30 mins)──> Ventimiglia (night 1)
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                       Old town (Città Alta) ── Hanbury gardens
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Ventimiglia ──(train, about 10-15 mins)──> Menton (night 2)

Ventimiglia is a border town, and it behaves like one. The station is busy, the shops on the main street cater to French day trippers, and a large market on Fridays draws shoppers across the frontier. The old town on the hill, the Città Alta, is quieter and has a Romanesque cathedral. The coast between here and Menton is steep, with villages on cliffs and gardens dropping to the sea.

Menton is the first town on the French side, with a long beach, a pastel old town stacked up a hill and a reputation for lemons. The two together give a different feel to each night.

December in Ventimiglia and Menton: the climate is mild, with daytime temperatures often in the low teens, and the lemon trees are in fruit. Days are short. A winter swell can close the beach, and rain is likely at any point.

Getting there

From Sanremo, regional trains reach Ventimiglia in about half an hour. Buy a ticket in advance. For Menton, a regional or cross-border train takes about ten to fifteen minutes from Ventimiglia. Check the timetable and the border arrangements.

Night one: Ventimiglia

Cross the river Roia to the old town. The climb is steep, and a taxi saves your legs. The cathedral and the narrow lanes are the main sights. The Giardini Botanici Hanbury, a large garden on a headland a short bus ride west, make a good outing on a clear day, with seasonal opening times. Check them before you go.

For dinner, look for a trattoria in the old town or near the station. Fish and pasta dishes are common.

Night two: Menton

In Menton, walk the seafront promenade, the Promenade du Soleil, which is flat and runs for a long way along the beach. The old town rises from the harbour in terraces of ochre and pink houses, with the Basilique Saint-Michel on a square at the top. The climb is steep, and the steps are many, so choose wisely. The Musée Jean Cocteau, a modern museum, stands on the front and has seasonal opening days.

Menton's lemon festival takes place in February, not December, but citrus is on market stalls. Dinner may feature fish, pizza or Provençal dishes. Check the opening times of restaurants.

Where to stay

In both towns, a hotel near the seafront or station keeps walking to a minimum. Check that it has a lift and that it is open in December.

Getting back