Montecarbone from Ventimiglia

Anyone travelling from France to Italy via the motorway will have seen Monte Carbone without realising it, as it is the rocky massif directly opposite us as we pass the Ventimiglia toll booth. This walk along a few footpaths will reveal a lesser-known side of Ventimiglia, offering lovely views of the Mediterranean.

Details

n°29952179

Creation:
16 Jan 2023

Last update:
17 Jan 2023

Last review:
22 Sep 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 5.62 mi
Average duration: 3h 45
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 1,368 ft
Descent: - 1,368 ft
Highest point: 1,398 ft
Lowest point: 203 ft

Country: Italy
City: Ventimiglia
Start/End: N 43.790521° / E 7.616842°
Hour-by-hour weather

Avalanche risk assessment bulletin

Discover Visorando Premium

Downloads

Open in the mobile app

Download GPX GPX

Download PDF PDF

Photos

Description of the walk

By car: in Ventimiglia, cross the railway bridge and take the dead-end road leading uphill directly opposite you. The start of the path is on the left at the top of the hill. Parking is available along the road.
A return journey by train is possible; the starting point is 1 km from Vintimiglia station.

(S/E) The start of the path on the left is marked by a square wooden post bearing the sign “Alta Via dei Monti Liguri”.
The path climbs immediately, offering a bird’s-eye view of Ventimiglia, and is marked with the letters ‘AV’.

(1) Ignore the path branching off to the left – this will be the return route – and continue until you reach the junction with a tarmac road.

(2) At this junction, leave the path, turn right and follow the tarmac road. Follow the ‘AV’ markings.

(3) At the next fork in the road, walk past the chapel on the left, continue straight on and cross the motorway.

(4) Carry on straight ahead along this track, which will become a woodland path.

(5) Continue straight ahead on the path, following the AV signpost.

(6) Turn onto the track on the left and proceed to a Fork in the road.

(7) Turn right onto the ascending track and walk past the old military barracks from the last war.

(8) Turn left and continue the climb towards Monte Carbone.
At the summit, at an altitude of 448 m, there is a viewpoint overlooking old Ventimiglia and the motorway toll booth.

(9) Head back down and, at a hairpin bend, turn left to rejoin the junction from the outward journey.

(7) Turn right and retrace your steps to the first junction.

(2) Turn right and stay on the road, which ends in a cul-de-sac. Take the path on the left leading towards the antennae.

(10) A remarkable view over the town of Ventimiglia. Take care – there is no parapet. On the left, a ruin serves as a base for a statue of the Virgin Mary. Follow this wall and head down this unmarked path; the sea is on your right.

(1) At the crossroads of paths, turn right to return to the starting point via the same route you took on the way there (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 203 ft - Roadside parking
1 : mi 0.36 - alt. 610 ft - Return journey
2 : mi 0.53 - alt. 784 ft - Junction of the footpath and tarmac road
3 : mi 1.02 - alt. 846 ft - Chapel
4 : mi 1.34 - alt. 974 ft - Start of the track suitable for vehicles
5 : mi 1.64 - alt. 948 ft - Crossroads of the footpath and the carriageway
6 : mi 1.75 - alt. 997 ft - Junction
7 : mi 2.13 - alt. 1,070 ft - Crossroads of tarmac tracks
8 : mi 2.36 - alt. 1,230 ft - Junction of tracks suitable for vehicles.
9 : mi 2.73 - alt. 1,391 ft - Summit of Montecarbonne
10 : mi 5.17 - alt. 732 ft - Viewpoint
S/E : mi 5.62 - alt. 203 ft - Roadside parking

Notes

No special equipment required.
Depending on the weather, bring swimwear for after the walk.
(S/E) Ventimiglia railway station: a train every half hour. Ventimiglia–Nice: €3 per ticket

Worth a visit

- The fascinating Girolamo Rossi Civic Archaeological Museum, situated within the town’s fortifications.

In the centre of Old Ventimiglia (Ventimiglia Alta).
Visit the Oratorio dei Neri and the monumental baptistery of the cathedral in Ventimiglia Alta.

The colourful covered market is open every morning.
The best day to visit the main market is Friday.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5

Based on 2 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5

Ease of following the route
5 / 5

Route interest
4 / 5

bernard bb

22 Sep 2025 at 23:59 7200

thank you, Quinquamul, for this clear and concise review
it's true that the station is just a stone's throw away
best regards, Rando, B

Machine-translated

Quinquamul

22 Sep 2025 at 17:38 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

We followed this route on our return from Montecarbone (downhill direction).
This short hike is particularly worthwhile for the panoramic views, especially in the higher sections.
Lower down, the noise from the town and traffic is not very pleasant.
We had climbed via a route above the lower Roya Valley - no better, if not worse...
Don't hesitate to take the train, as parking is difficult, whereas the station (Ventimiglia) is just a stone's throw away.

Machine-translated

elodieR

16 Oct 2023 at 09:32 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This was my second hike using the app, and I really enjoyed it! It wasn’t part of my original plan, but it turned out to be brilliant! There were some lovely views and a variety of trails, both through woodland and up the hills. As you pass through residential areas, you have to be quiet – the guard dogs are on the lookout.

Machine-translated

bernard bb

17 Mar 2023 at 11:15 3600

OK, and a thousand apologies, – well spotted, that’s a lovely alternative too
Looking forward to bumping into you, best wishes, rando b.

Machine-translated

Grande Séolane

15 Mar 2023 at 15:38 3600

I didn’t make myself clear, Bernard. I didn’t write that it was “impossible to do a circular motion”. I specified that “it is possible to do a circular motion starting from Ventimiglia”. To be precise, I climbed Monte Carbone by doing a circular route starting from the station, with a completely different route for the ascent and the descent. I ascended via the south-western slope of Carbone (which is not the one described in Visorando) and descended via the route you took. It was just an alternative route. Kind regards.

Machine-translated

bernard bb

15 Mar 2023 at 15:15 3600

Hello Seolane, I don’t understand what you mean by “it’s impossible to complete a circular route” – perhaps I’m the one who doesn’t understand, as I’ve completed it (twice) and posted about it on Visorando
Kind regards, B.

Machine-translated

Grande Séolane

13 Mar 2023 at 19:40 3600

It is possible to do a circular walk from Ventimiglia, a route best tackled in a clockwise direction. From Ventimiglia railway station, take the underpass, then either ‘Via Bandette’ on the left or ‘Via Degli Ulivi’ on the right. Whichever route you take, you’ll come to a fairly steep concrete track, followed by a good footpath. This joins the tarmac road leading to the “Madona della Virtu” (situated in a cave; you can visit it on the way there and back). One hundred metres before reaching the Madonna, on the left, there is another long dirt track leading to the summit slope of Monte Carbone, either straight up (a steep climb) or via the ridge. From the summit, descend via the north side and then follow the route described.

Machine-translated