Sanremo, Bordighera, Ospedaletti or Arma di Taggia? These four towns are just a few kilometres apart, sharing the same sea and mild climate, but each has its own character. This guide compares them to help you decide where best to look for a home. You will also find a full guide to each one.
At a glance
- Sanremo (around 53.000 residents): the city. A full range of amenities, events, a harbour, a railway station, a historic centre and homes of every kind.
- Bordighera (around 10.400 residents): elegant and compact, with villas and gardens, close to France.
- Ospedaletti (around 3.200 residents): small and quiet, without a railway station, with a seafront cycle path.
- Arma di Taggia (part of Taggia, around 14.000 residents): a family-friendly seaside town, with a wide beach, a railway station and a motorway junction.
Size and amenities
In Sanremo you will find everything a city offers: a hospital, theatre, casino, harbour, railway station and shops. Bordighera has a railway station, motorway junction, library, gardens and shops, but is smaller. Arma di Taggia has a railway station, motorway junction and essential amenities within walking distance. Ospedaletti is the smallest: for a railway station and shopping, you go to Sanremo, around 5 km away.
The sea
Arma di Taggia has the widest, sandiest beach, popular with families. Sanremo has city beaches and two harbours. Bordighera has Lungomare Argentina, one of the longest pedestrian promenades on the Riviera. Ospedaletti has its own seafront promenade, part of the cycle path, and a public beach near Capo Sant'Ampelio with a lovely view.
Character
- Sanremo: lively all year round, with events and cultural life; the centre is crowded during the Festival and rallies.
- Bordighera: the Belle Époque, palm trees and a long tradition of foreign residents, particularly English residents.
- Ospedaletti: peace and quiet and walks; the choice for those who want to live near Sanremo without its bustle.
- Arma di Taggia: a seaside town, with the cycle path and the historic centre of Taggia nearby, among olive groves.
Transport links
All four are on the Genoa-Ventimiglia railway line and via Aurelia; Sanremo, Bordighera and Arma di Taggia also have a railway station and an A10 motorway junction, while Ospedaletti's station closed in 2001 (the nearest are Sanremo and Bordighera). Nice Airport is around 50 km from Sanremo; Bordighera is a few kilometres from the French border.
What kind of home are you looking for?
- A year-round home with amenities nearby: Sanremo (San Martino, Foce, the centre) or central Bordighera.
- An elegant, quiet second home: Bordighera, in the residential areas and hills.
- Peace and quiet and cycling: Ospedaletti.
- The sea for the family, a wide beach: Arma di Taggia.
- An investment for holiday rentals: generally close to the sea and amenities, so the centre and seafront area of Sanremo, Bordighera's seafront or the beach area of Arma; short-term rental rules (including the CIN) must be checked on a case-by-case basis.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Sanremo or Bordighera?
It depends on how you want to live: Sanremo if you are looking for a lively city with a full range of amenities and a wider choice of homes; Bordighera if you prefer a smaller, elegant and quiet town close to France.
Where is it quietest to live?
Ospedaletti and the hillside and residential areas of Bordighera and Sanremo are the quietest; central Sanremo is the liveliest.
Where are there more homes for sale?
Sanremo has the largest selection and the widest variety of property types. To see what we currently have available, browse our properties.
Let's talk
We work in all four towns: Sanremo, Ospedaletti, Bordighera and Arma di Taggia. Tell us what you are looking for, or request a free valuation of your home: we will reply in Italian, English or Russian.
Sources: Wikipedia (data updated to May 2026) and Wikivoyage; descriptions from local sources.
