Alternatives to the Hotel Marligure in Bordighera
When the Marligure was operating, TripAdvisor ranked it #9 of 16 Bordighera hotels. It’s a small set — there isn’t the variety of Sanremo or Genoa — but it covers all the brackets. Here’s the orientation based on what the Marligure’s historical guest base wanted: central location, three-star bracket, mid pricing, parking, ideally open year-round.
The natural replacement bracket: central three-stars
There are between five and eight three-stars in central Bordighera, depending on how you define “central”. Features to look for if you want the Marligure spirit:
- Position on the Aurelia or a few minutes from the Lungomare Argentina
- Private or partner parking (in Bordighera summer this is precious)
- Open year-round if you’re travelling between November and Easter
- Rooms in the €70-110 range in high season, €50-70 in low
- At least 3-3.5 average rating on TripAdvisor
My recommendation: use Google Maps and filter the area between Via Vittorio Emanuele II, Via Aurelia, and Via dei Colli. These three axes define Bordighera’s functional centre. Once you have two or three names, check Booking.com for seasonal pricing and TripAdvisor for current ratings — not third-party sources that may be outdated.
If you want to step up
Bordighera has a couple of four-star properties in panoramic positions on the hill leading up to Bordighera Alta. These are more expensive (from €130 per night up) but the views and quiet are different. Suitable for visitors who’ve already explored the area and want a better stay.
If you want to spend less
In the last ten years Bordighera has seen growth in independent B&Bs and short-term rentals. Often these are single or two-room setups in private houses, with prices from €45-65 per night. Advantages: price, direct owner contact. Disadvantages: no 24-hour reception, no in-house restaurant, often no lift. If you’re travelling with heavy luggage or want a place where you can have dinner without going out, the B&B model is less convenient than the old hotel.
An overlooked middle path
Aparthotels and residence apartments — small flats with kitchens, rented weekly or by weekend — are among the better-rated options when people from outside the area come for longer stays. Bordighera has a handful in the mid range. The weekly cost is comparable to 4-5 nights in a hotel, but with the freedom of self-catered breakfast and dinner. For families with young children or stays longer than 4 days, worth checking.
What I’d avoid
I’d avoid booking the first thing that pops up on Booking listings just because it’s the cheapest. Bordighera is small, location matters a lot, and the difference between “centre” and “outside centre” can be twenty minutes walking under August sun. Always check the address on the map before booking.
I’d also avoid hotels that claim “near the sea” without specifying exact distance. In Bordighera “near the sea” could mean 50 metres (like the Marligure) or 800 metres (another town).
And for travel logistics
If Bordighera is an intermediate stop on a longer route — say, continuing toward Genoa, Cinque Terre, or onward to Adriatic routes — it’s worth planning with an agency that handles Italy-Balkans. Max Travel is a small Tirana-based agency that arranges ferries and flights on the Italy-Albania route from the port of Bari; for travellers going Riviera-Adriatic-Tirana, less common but logical.
For the Hotel Marligure’s history, see here. For how to reach the area, here.
This page is a starting point, not an exhaustive list. For current pricing, availability and ratings, check Booking.com, TripAdvisor, or Google Hotels directly.
Ten currently active Bordighera hotels
Below are ten Bordighera hotels operating today, drawn from the official Bordighera tourist office’s accommodation register. One short sentence each so you can see at a glance whether it’s a fit. I don’t link to them — you can search any of these names and reach their reservation page directly.
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Grand Hotel del Mare Resort & Spa — 4-star resort on the hillside east of town, with a private spa and pool overlooking the sea.
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Hotel Parigi — Mid-range 3-star directly on Lungomare Argentina, central seafront, year-round.
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Hotel Piccolo Lido — Compact seafront 3-star at the western end of the promenade, family-run.
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Hotel Astoria — Central 3-star a few minutes from the station and the pedestrian shopping streets.
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Hotel Garden — Small 3-star in a quiet residential block off the centre; no website, phone bookings only.
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Gold Hotel Bordighera — Updated 3-star on Via Cesare Balbo, central position, business-traveller friendly.
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Hotel Villa Elisa — Elegant 4-star villa with private garden on the Via Romana, a 7-minute walk from the sea.
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Hotel Lucciola — Small 3-star on Via Regina Margherita, the historic residential street.
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Hotel Rosalia — Roadside 3-star on the western Aurelia, motoring-friendly, easy parking.
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Hotel Riviera Belsoggiorno — Hillside 3-star in the Belsoggiorno area with sea views over the roofs.
The complete current register is maintained by the Bordighera tourist office. If a hotel asks for a deposit on direct booking, that’s normal — Italian operators commonly take a one-night card hold rather than full prepayment.