Sanremo, Italy — The Riviera's Living: Flowers, Festival and the Riviera dei Fiori
Updated: Oct 18
Tour Name: Sanremo: Flowers, Festival and the Riviera dei Fiori
Sanremo in a Nutshell: The "City of Flowers" on the Italian Riviera, where palm trees, a Belle Époque casino and a medieval old town meet the sea. Russian empresses wintered here, Alfred Nobel lived and died here, and every February all of Italy watches its famous Song Festival. Come for La Pigna's steep lanes, the 24 km seaside bike path, Taggiasca olives and sardenaira, and day trips to Monaco and the hill villages. Sun, sea, music and pure Tranquillity, just 50 minutes from Nice airport.
Short Description: Sanremo - a sunny seaside town in western Liguria, famous for its Song Festival, its flower growing, its casino and its palm-lined promenade, with a medieval old town climbing the hill and the French Riviera just around the corner.
Important: Check our 4BTravelGuide's detailed picture albums and comments below:
Sanremo, Italy - The Queen of the Italian Riviera Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/UkEY3WHj6ki5ChHt5
Tour Summary: Sanremo has many faces. Down by the sea it is elegant and a bit nostalgic, with grand hotels, the white Art Nouveau Casino and the Corso Imperatrice, whose palms were a gift of a Russian empress. Up the hill it is medieval and wild: La Pigna, the old town shaped like a pine cone, with dark arches, steep stairs and tiny squares.
Around it, greenhouses full of flowers, olive groves of the famous Taggiasca olive, and a seaside bike path that follows the old railway for 24 km. In February the whole country turns its eyes to the Ariston Theatre for the Sanremo Music Festival, and in March the cyclists of Milan-San Remo sprint into town. For the Traveller from Switzerland, it is the closest taste of the Mediterranean, with mild winters and long summers.
Liguria is Italy’s mountainous Mediterranean coastal region centered around Genoa and the Italian Riviera. Is located between France to the west and Tuscany to the southeast, with Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna inland.
Location: Sanremo, province of Imperia, Liguria, Italy. On the Riviera dei Fiori, about 25 km from the French border, 50 km from Monaco, 60 km from Nice airport, 140 km west of Genoa.
Sanremo Map:
Sanremo town map: Open map
Population about 53,000.
Local Map of Points of Interest:
The Belle Époque sights line the seafront from west to east; La Pigna and the best view are uphill from the centre.
How to get there (from Zurich, Milan and abroad)
Sanremo, the elegant Riviera town on the Ligurian coast, is easier to reach than you might think. Whether you arrive by car, train or plane, the journey is part of the adventure: Alpine scenery gradually gives way to the Mediterranean, palm trees and colourful Italian towns.
From Switzerland, Sanremo makes a wonderful long weekend destination — and an excellent excuse to swap mountain views for sea views, espresso and dolce vita.
Sanremo station lies underground, right in the town centre near the City Hall, since the railway was moved into a tunnel. Trains along the coast connect it with Genoa, Ventimiglia and Nice.
Google Maps route links
Route | By car | By public transport |
Zurich to Sanremo | ||
Milan to Sanremo |
From Zurich:
By train: From Zurich HB to Milano Centrale through the Gotthard Base Tunnel, about 3 h 20, then Milan to Sanremo via Genoa, about 3 h 30 to 4 h. Total about 7 h with one or two changes
By car: Gotthard, Lugano, Milan ring road, A7 to Genoa, A10 along the coast. About 480 km, 5 h to 5 h 30
Tip for the Traveler: By car from Zurich, leave early to pass the Gotthard before the queues, and plan a coffee stop in Lugano or a lunch in Genoa. The A10 along the coast is a road of tunnels and viaducts with sea views between them. By train, the Zurich to Milan leg is fast and comfortable; from Milan the trip along the Riviera is slower but beautiful, with the sea at your window from Genoa onwards. Times are approximate; check SBB and Trenitalia before you go.
From Milan
By train: Milano Centrale to Sanremo via Genoa, about 3 h 30 to 4 h, some direct Intercity trains
By car: A7 Milan to Genoa, then A10 to the Sanremo exit. About 280 km, 3 h
From Zurich and Milan everything runs through Genoa and then along the coast; from Nice you come in from the west via Ventimiglia.
From Nice / France
By train: Nice to Sanremo along the coast with a change in Ventimiglia, about 1 h 15
By car: A8 / A10 via Ventimiglia. About 60 km, 50 min
From Abroad:
Fly in: Fly to Nice Côte d'Azur (closest airport, 60 km), Genoa (140 km) or Milan (Malpensa)
Quick Travel Itinerary in Short Form
Morning: cappuccino and a slice of focaccia on Via Matteotti, the main shopping street, past the Ariston Theatre.
Dive into the Mercato Annonario, the covered market, where Sanremo's nonnas haggle over Taggiasca olives, silver anchovies, wild herbs and flowers straight from the hills. Grab a warm slice of sardenaira and eat it standing, like the locals.
Walk up through La Pigna, the medieval old town, to the Giardini Regina Elena and the sanctuary of Madonna della Costa for the view.
Lunch in the old town: farinata, stuffed vegetables, brandacujun, a glass of Vermentino.
Afternoon: rent a bike and ride the seaside cycle path towards Ospedaletti or Arma di Taggia.
Late afternoon: Villa Nobel, the house where Alfred Nobel spent his last years.
Sunset stroll on Corso Imperatrice under the palms, then a look at the Casino lit up at night.
Total Walking Distance at this location: About 6 to 8 km for the centre, La Pigna and the promenade (with many steps in the old town). The bike path adds up to 24 km.
Interests: Belle Époque architecture, flowers and gardens, beaches, music, history, Belle Époque architecture, flowers and gardens, beaches, cycling, Ligurian food and wine, casino, day trips to the French Riviera.
Tour Type: Seaside town and cultural city break.
Recommended Stay Duration: Two days for the town, four to five days with day trips to the hill villages, Monaco and Nice.
Physical Effort: Easy along the sea. Moderate in La Pigna, with steep stairs and lanes.
Adventure Type: Relaxed and urban, with easy cycling, swimming and hiking in the hills for the active Traveler.
Language Spoken: Italian and the Ligurian dialect. French is widely understood because of the nearby border; English in hotels and restaurants.
Risks: Very busy and expensive during Festival week in February and in July and August. Traffic and parking in the centre are difficult. Watch your bag in crowds and on trains. Steep and slippery steps in La Pigna when it rains.
Best Time to Visit: April to June and September to October for warm sea and fewer people; February for the Festival; March for Milan-San Remo; winter for mild sunny days and the Riviera without crowds.
Weather Considerations: Mediterranean and protected by the mountains behind. Winters are mild, around 13 to 15 °C in the day, with many sunny days. Summers are warm, around 27 °C, with sea breezes. Autumn can bring heavy rain storms in short bursts.
Air and Sea at a Glance: Winter days reach 13 to 15 °C with the sea at 13 to 15 °C. In spring the air warms from 15 °C in March to 21 °C in May, the sea from 13 to 17 °C. Summer brings 24 to 27 °C in the air and 21 to 24 °C in the water, warmest in August. September stays at 25 °C with a 22 °C sea, then October and November cool to 21 and 17 °C, with the sea still at 20 and 17 °C. Best swimming: late June to mid-September.
The Weather in Sanremo, Season by Season
Sanremo has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, and it owes its gentle weather to geography. Behind the town, the Maritime Alps and the Ligurian hills form a wall that stops the cold north winds, while the sea in front keeps the air soft all year. This is why Russian empresses, British lords and Alfred Nobel came here for the winter, and why flowers grow outdoors when Switzerland is still under snow. Over the year the average daytime high is close to 20 °C, and even the night rarely drops below 8 °C.
Winter (December to February) is the great secret of the Riviera. Days are often clear and sunny, with highs around 13 to 15 °C and nights around 8 °C. Frost and snow on the coast are very rare. You can have lunch outside on a sunny terrace in January, walk the seafront in a light jacket and watch the snow on the mountains behind. Rain comes in a few heavy days rather than long grey weeks. The sea is cool, about 13 to 15 °C, so swimming is only for the brave.
Spring (March to May) is the season of flowers. Temperatures climb from about 15 °C in March to 21 °C in May, the hills turn green and the gardens explode with colour. There are still some rainy spells in March and April, but long sunny days become more frequent. It is the perfect time for walking, cycling and exploring the hill villages before the summer heat. The sea warms slowly, reaching about 17 °C in May.
Summer (June to August) is hot, sunny and dry. Highs are around 24 °C in June and 27 °C in July and August, with warm nights around 22 °C. July is the driest month, with only about 20 mm of rain. A sea breeze usually cools the afternoon, so it feels more pleasant than inland cities like Milan. The sea is at its best, about 23 to 24 °C in August, ideal for long swims. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible in the hills, rarely on the coast.
Autumn (September to November) starts as a second summer. September is still warm, around 25 °C, with a sea at about 22 °C and far fewer people. From October the weather changes: October and November are the wettest months, with about 100 to 110 mm of rain each. Rain often falls in short, intense storms, sometimes with strong southwest winds (the libeccio) and rough seas, followed by clear, sparkling days. Highs drop from about 21 °C in October to 17 °C in November.
What it means for the Traveller
Winter days reach 13 to 15 °C with the sea at 13 to 15 °C.
In spring the air warms from 15 °C in March to 21 °C in May, the sea from 13 to 17 °C.
Summer brings 24 to 27 °C in the air and 21 to 24 °C in the water, warmest in August. September stays at 25 °C with a 22 °C sea, then October and November cool to 21 and 17 °C, with the sea still at 20 and 17 °C.
Best swimming: late June to mid-September.
Our advice regarding weather consideration:
Pack layers in every season, a light rain jacket from October to April, and strong sun protection from May to September.
For swimming, choose late June to mid-September.
For walking, cycling and sightseeing in comfort, April to June and September to October are ideal.
For a mild escape from the Swiss winter, Sanremo in January or February offers sun, flowers and Festival atmosphere at 13 °C.
History of Sanremo
Sanremo's history follows the arc of every great Riviera city: ancient Ligurian settlement,
From Romans to the pine cone. In Roman times a small settlement called Matutia stood here by the sea. In the early Middle Ages, when Saracen pirates raided the coast, the people moved up the hill and built a walled village that looks like a pine cone from above. They called it La Pigna, the pine cone, and it still stands today. Its covered passages and arches were made so that the houses could support each other in earthquakes and so that defenders could move unseen.
The name. Sanremo has nothing to do with Remus of Rome. The name comes from "Sant'Eremo di San Romolo", the hermitage of Saint Romulus, a bishop of Genoa who lived as a hermit in the hills above the town.
Genoa and freedom. Over the centuries the town belonged to the counts of Ventimiglia, the bishops of Genoa and the Doria and De Mari families, before becoming a free town at the end of the 15th century. In 1753 the people rose against Genoa, and the Genoese built the Fort of Santa Tecla by the harbour to keep them under control. It served as a prison until 2002 and is now a museum. In 1814 Sanremo became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and later of Italy.
The Riviera of kings and writers
In the 19th century northern Europeans discovered the mild winters of the Riviera. In 1874 the Russian Empress Maria Alexandrovna spent the winter here and, as a thank you, gave the town the palm trees that still line the Corso Imperatrice. Russian aristocrats followed and built the Orthodox church with its onion domes. Grand hotels, villas and gardens grew along the coast. Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, bought a villa here in 1891, worked in its laboratory and died here in 1896, shortly after writing the will that created the Nobel Prizes.
Casino, conference and flowers
In 1905 the Art Nouveau Casino opened. In 1920 the San Remo Conference met here and decided the future of large parts of the former Ottoman Empire, including the British Mandate of Palestine. In the 20th century the hills filled with greenhouses, and Sanremo became the "City of Flowers", exporting carnations, roses and ranunculus all over Europe.
The Sanremo Music Festival
In 1951 the first Sanremo Music Festival took place, in the Casino. It moved to the Ariston Theatre in 1977 and became Italy's most important song contest, launching stars like Domenico Modugno ("Nel blu dipinto di blu"), Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, Eros Ramazzotti and Måneskin. The Festival also inspired the creation of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Why visiting Sanremo
Sanremo is where the Italian Riviera turns on the charm — palm-lined promenades, Belle Époque villas, colourful old-town alleys, flower markets and the endless blue of the Mediterranean.
Famous for its music festival, mild climate and elegant casino, Sanremo offers much more than glamour. Wander through La Pigna, the medieval old town; enjoy fresh seafood by the harbour; cycle along the spectacular coastal path; or escape into the hills to discover authentic Ligurian villages, olive groves and vineyards.
With sunshine, Italian cuisine and the French Riviera just around the corner, Sanremo is the perfect blend of sea, culture, nature and dolce vita.
Come for the views. Stay for the food. Fall in love with the lifestyle.
Mediterranean sun, close to home. The nearest real Riviera from Switzerland, with mild winters and long summers.
Two towns in one. An elegant Belle Époque seafront and a wild medieval old town, five minutes apart.
Music lives here. Walk past the Ariston and feel the magic of Italy's greatest song festival.
A dream bike path. 24 km car-free along the sea, flat and easy for everyone.
Ligurian food. Taggiasca olives, pesto, focaccia, sardenaira, fresh fish and Vermentino.
The perfect base. Monaco, Nice, Menton, Dolceacqua and Bussana Vecchia are all within an hour.
Main Objectives and Extended Explanations
Below is a list of Sanremo’s main attractions, with detailed descriptions to help you plan your stay and make the most of your visit.
1. La Pigna. The medieval heart of Sanremo, built after the year 1000 when the people fled the Saracen raids on the coast. Seen from the sea, its houses pile up the hill in rings, like the scales of a pine cone, which gave it its name. Enter from Piazza Eroi Sanremesi through one of the old gates and you step into another century: narrow lanes called carruggi, covered passages, arches thrown between the houses to hold them together in earthquakes, tiny squares with fountains and chapels.
Many houses are still lived in, with laundry hanging between the walls, geraniums on the windows and cats on every step. Look for the old stone portals with carved coats of arms, the small oratories and the wall shrines with the Madonna. Go slowly, let yourself get a little lost, and keep climbing: the reward is at the top. At the foot of the old town, stop at the Romanesque cathedral of San Siro, the oldest church of Sanremo. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours, wear good shoes, and go in the morning when it is cooler and the light falls into the lanes.
2. Giardini Regina Elena and Madonna della Costa. At the very top of La Pigna, the Queen Elena gardens are a green terrace of palms, cypresses and flower beds with benches looking out over the roofs of the old town, the port and the whole bay. Just above stands the Baroque sanctuary of Madonna della Costa, the spiritual protector of Sanremo, whose big dome is visible from far out at sea. For centuries sailors and fishermen prayed here before long journeys and left votive gifts after surviving storms. Inside you find a rich Baroque interior with marble, gold and paintings. Outside, the panorama is the best in town: on clear days you see the coast towards France and the mountains behind. Come at sunset, when the light turns the old town golden, and bring water: the climb is steep. If you prefer to save your legs, take a taxi or bus up and walk down through La Pigna instead.
3.The Casino. The white Art Nouveau (Liberty) palace opened in 1905 and quickly became the meeting place of the Riviera's high society, with princes, writers and businessmen at its tables. Its façade with columns, balconies and decorated windows is best admired at night, when it is lit up at the end of Corso Matteotti. Inside you find the gaming rooms with roulette, card tables and slot machines, a restaurant and the Teatro dell'Opera del Casinò, the historic theatre where the Sanremo Festival was born in 1951 and held until 1976. Concerts, conferences and cultural evenings still take place there. To enter the gaming rooms you must be at least 18 and bring an ID; smart casual is recommended in the evening. You do not need to gamble: a drink on the terrace and a look at the Belle Époque rooms is enough.
4. Teatro Ariston and Via Matteotti. Via Matteotti is the pedestrian shopping street of Sanremo, lined with fashion shops, cafés, gelaterie and pastry shops, and busy with people doing the evening passeggiata. Halfway along stands the Ariston, the theatre that has hosted the Song Festival since 1977. Its red neon sign is one of the most famous in Italy: for one week in February millions of Italians watch it on TV every night. Outside Festival time the Ariston is a normal cinema and theatre, so you can buy a ticket for a film and sit in the same hall where Italian music history is written. Look for the plaques and photos of past winners nearby, and in Festival week for the crowds of fans waiting for the stars at the artists' entrance.
5. Villa Nobel. A Moorish-style villa with an exotic garden on the eastern seafront, where Alfred Nobel, the Swedish chemist who invented dynamite, lived from 1891 until his death in 1896. He called it "Mio Nido", my nest. Here he built a laboratory and even a pier into the sea to test his explosives, which did not always please the neighbours. It was also here that he worked on the will that turned his fortune into the Nobel Prizes. Today the villa is a museum about his life, his inventions and the Prize laureates, with original rooms, documents and multimedia displays. Allow about 2 hours, and check opening days before you go, as they change with the season. The garden alone, with palms and Mediterranean plants by the sea, is worth the visit.
6. Corso Imperatrice, the port and Fort Santa Tecla. The Corso Imperatrice is Sanremo's grand promenade, lined with the tall palms donated by Empress Maria Alexandrovna in 1874. On one side, Belle Époque hotels and villas; on the other, gardens, benches and the sea. Walk it slowly, ideally in the late afternoon, and step into the park of Villa Ormond, with its exotic trees, Japanese garden and views of the coast. Continue east towards the old port, where fishing boats and sailing yachts lie side by side. At the water's edge stands the Fort of Santa Tecla, built by the Genoese in 1755 to control the rebellious town and used as a prison until 2002; today it hosts exhibitions and events. Further on, the Portosole marina is full of yachts, with bars and restaurants for a sunset aperitivo.
7.Villa Ormond and its Park. A green paradise on the eastern seafront, with a Swiss story that every Traveler from Switzerland will love. In 1875 Michel Louis Ormond, a Swiss tobacco businessman, and his French wife Marie Marguerite bought the old Villa Rambaldi here, an estate of citrus trees, olives and date palms, to enjoy the healthy Riviera climate. When the earthquake of 1887 damaged the house, they called in the Swiss architect Émile Reverdin, the man behind the Grand Théâtre de Genève, and in 1889 the elegant new villa was finished, surrounded by a romantic park designed for privacy and long walks. Princes of Prussia, the Duke of Aosta and Empress Elisabeth of Austria, the famous "Sissi", were among their guests. After the death of Madame Ormond the town bought the estate around 1930, and the mayor Pietro Agosti opened the park to the public and designed its large fountain.
Today the park is one of the most beautiful gardens of the Riviera, with about 245 species and varieties of plants from every continent: tall date palms in the Palmetum that recalls Sanremo's love story with palms, a Lebanon cedar, wisteria, bougainvillea, cycads, agaves and flowering trees from South America, Africa, Australia and Asia. Look for the small Japanese garden with its pond and bridge, and for two surprising monuments: one to the Mexican writer Ignacio Manuel Altamirano, who spent his last years in Sanremo, and one to King Nikola I of Montenegro, father of Queen Elena of Italy, a link to the royal crypt of the Russian church. The villa itself hosts municipal offices, exhibitions and international flower shows; the building is open on weekdays (Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 18:00, no booking needed). Free entry to the park makes it the perfect shady stop between the Corso Imperatrice and Villa Nobel, ideal for a picnic with market food or a quiet hour on a bench in pure Tranquillity.
8. The Riviera cycle path. When the coastal railway was moved into a tunnel inland, the old line along the sea became one of the most beautiful cycle and walking paths in Italy. It runs about 24 km between Ospedaletti and San Lorenzo al Mare, completely flat and car-free, through lit old railway tunnels, past beaches, coves, olive terraces and small towns like Arma di Taggia and Santo Stefano al Mare. Some old stations have become cafés and rest stops. Bike rental shops in Sanremo offer city bikes, e-bikes, tandems and children's bikes, often right on the path. Ride it early in the morning in summer, stop for a swim along the way, and finish with lunch by the sea. Walkers and joggers use it too, so ride gently.
9. The covered market and flower culture. The Mercato Annonario, at the foot of La Pigna near Piazza Eroi Sanremesi, is the town's kitchen. Every morning except Sunday its stalls are piled with Taggiasca olives, local cheeses, fresh fish from the night's catch, wild herbs, artichokes, lemons and seasonal fruit. Locals shop, chat and argue about prices; it is the best place to understand everyday life in Sanremo and to buy picnic food. Around it you find bakeries for sardenaira and focaccia. The flowers are the other soul of the town: the greenhouses on the hills grow roses, carnations, ranunculus and decorative greens that are shipped all over Europe from the big wholesale flower market in Valle Armea. In spring, watch for the flower-covered floats of the Sanremo in Fiore parade, and look for flower shops and nurseries in the hills to bring a little of the Riviera home.
The Mayor's Villa — Villa Comunale. A short walk from Villa Ormond, the Villa Comunale — historically associated with the civic life of San Remo and known locally as the Mayor's Villa — is another surviving example of the grand residential architecture that once lined the hillsides above the lungomare. The building represents the layer of San Remo that existed between the extravagance of Nobel's villa and the commercial energy of the port: prosperous, cultivated, and architecturally confident.
The surrounding garden is integrated into the broader green corridor of the upper city — a quiet escape from the busier streets below, with views over the rooftops towards the sea.
The Beaches of Sanremo
Sanremo's coast stretches for about 10 km, from the border with Ospedaletti in the west to Bussana in the east, and in 2026 five of its beaches carry the international Blue Flag for clean water and good services: Tre Ponti, Imperatrice, Tiro a Volo, Baia Capo Pino and Bussana.
More info: Spiagge.it: Sanremo Blue Flags 2026, Case Bonello: Sanremo beaches, Sanremo Guide: le spiagge
Most beaches are a mix of coarse sand and fine pebbles, with clear water and a seabed that drops gently near the centre and faster on the rocky stretches. As everywhere in Liguria, you choose between a bagno (a private lido with umbrellas, sunbeds, showers, bar and often a restaurant, around €25 to €35 a day for two sunbeds and an umbrella in high season) and a spiaggia libera (free beach, bring your own towel and umbrella). Some free beaches are "libere attrezzate", run by the town, where you can rent a sunbed for less. From west to east:
Beach | Area | Type | Best for |
Tre Ponti | East, towards Busana | Wide beach, free and equipped sections, Blue Flag | Families, long swims, space even in summer |
Boca Beach | West, Corso Marconi 99 | Stylish beach club | Lunch, cocktails and weekend music |
Foce (Lido Foce, Foce Levante, Bagni Matuzia, Tartaruga, Ippocampo, Paradiso) | West-centre, Foce district | Row of lidos plus a free equipped town beach | Families, playgrounds, pizza by the sea |
Imperatrice | Centre-west, below Corso Imperatrice | Urban beach with historic lidos, Blue Flag | Staying in a seafront hotel, a quick swim after sightseeing |
Spiaggia dei Porti | Centre, between the Old Port and Portosole | Fine sand, gentle slope | Small children, a swim without leaving town |
Bagni Morgana | Centre, Corso Trento e Trieste 12 | Sandy lido with restaurant and sports | Active families, beach volleyball, a swim before a night out |
Tiro a Volo | Centre-east, near the old port | Historic lidos, Blue Flag | Classic Riviera atmosphere |
Sanset Beach | Lungomare Calvino | Beach with dog access | Travelling with your dog (check current rules) |
Baia Capo Pino | East, towards Bussana | Sheltered cove, fine gravel, few facilities, Blue Flag | Clear water, swimming and snorkelling |
Bussana Mare | East | Quiet gravel beach with small lidos, Blue Flag | Peace and Tranquillity away from the crowds |
Cala degli Orsi | East, near Bussana | Small rocky cove, deep water | Snorkelling and adventurous swimmers |
Tre Ponti. Sanremo's widest beach, with a long stretch of free equipped beach next to well-run lidos, lifeguards, showers and a beach bar. The water is clean and the slope gentle, so it is great for families. Easy access from the Via Aurelia and the cycle path; arrive early in July and August.
Foce. The beach district west of the centre, at the mouth of the Foce stream. A string of family lidos (Matuzia, Tartaruga, Ippocampo, Paradiso) with sunbeds, play areas and restaurant terraces, plus the free town beach Foce Levante. Lively, practical and close to many holiday flats.
Imperatrice. Right below the palm-lined Corso Imperatrice, this is the beach of the grand hotels. Historic lidos with striped umbrellas, perfect for a swim between a museum and an aperitivo.
Spiaggia dei Porti. A small, central beach of fine sand between the Old Port and Portosole, with a very gentle slope, one of the best spots for small children.
Bagni Morgana. A sandy lido on the seafront between the Old Port and Portosole, a few minutes' walk from the centre and Piazza Bresca. Sunbeds and umbrellas, lifeguards, hot showers, changing cabins, a beach bar and a restaurant, plus a beach volleyball court, a lit five-a-side football pitch and a children's play area. Perfect for active families by day, and right next to Bay Club and Victory Morgana Bay when the sun goes down. Book online in summer (Spiagge.it).
Tiro a Volo. Named after the old clay-pigeon shooting ground that once stood here, a central beach with lidos that have welcomed bathers for decades, close to the old port and the cycle path.
Baia Capo Pino. A sheltered bay east of the centre with fine gravel and some of the clearest water on the coast. Few facilities, so bring water, shade and snorkel. Best reached by bike along the cycle path.
Bussana Mare. The seaside hamlet below the artists' village of Bussana Vecchia, with a quiet gravel beach and small family lidos. A good choice when the centre is crowded.
Cala degli Orsi. A wild little cove near Bussana, famous for its transparent water and rocks. The seabed drops quickly, so it suits good swimmers and snorkellers more than small children.
Beyond Sanremo. For long sandy beaches, ride the cycle path east to Arma di Taggia (about 15 minutes by car), or go west to Ospedaletti, with very clear water between Capo Nero and Capo Sant'Ampelio.
Traveler info for the beach
Season: Lidos open from about May to late September; the sea is warmest (23 to 24 °C) in August.
Prices: Expect €25 to €35 a day for two sunbeds and an umbrella in high season, less in June and September and for afternoon-only tickets.
Book ahead: In July and August, and every weekend, reserve your lido by phone or app the day before.
Free beaches: Arrive before 10:00 in summer to find a good spot.
Shoes: Many beaches have pebbles; water shoes make life easier.
Getting there: The cycle path links almost all beaches. Parking near the sea is limited and paid in summer.
Dogs: Dogs are not allowed on most beaches in summer; use the dedicated dog-friendly areas.
Safety: Lifeguards are on duty at lidos and major free beaches in summer. Red flag means no swimming.
Sanremo by Night
When the sun goes down behind Capo Nero, Sanremo changes its clothes. The evening starts, as everywhere in Italy, with the passeggiata: locals and visitors stroll along Via Matteotti and Corso Imperatrice, stop for a gelato, look at the shop windows and greet friends. Around 19:00 it is time for the aperitivo, a spritz, a glass of Vermentino or a Negroni with small plates of focaccia, olives and farinata. Dinner starts late, rarely before 20:30, and the night goes on by the sea and around the old port until the early hours. In summer the town lives outdoors; in winter the atmosphere moves inside to wine bars, the Casino and the theatres.
Piazza Bresca: the heart of the night. A few steps from the Old Port, this lively square is lined with restaurants, bars and terraces under the trees. By day it is a quiet Ligurian piazza; from aperitivo time it fills with music, conversation and people of all ages. Try 21 Bistrot for cocktails on its big terrace with DJ sets on event nights, B.I.G. for cocktails and local aperitivo platters, and La Ginoteria for an elegant gin-based evening. La Pignese is a classic for fresh fish.
Bars, lounges and aperitivo spots
Place | Where | Why go |
21 Bistrot | Piazza Bresca 21 | Large terrace, cocktails, live music and DJ sets |
B.I.G. | Piazza Bresca 20 | Cocktails and aperitivo with Ligurian products |
La Ginoteria | Piazza Bresca area | Refined gin bar for a stylish evening |
Pico de Gallo | Lungomare Vittorio Emanuele II 13, at Lido Imperatrice | Caribbean bar and restaurant on the beach, open in winter too |
Cocoon | Via Cavour 24 | Aperitivo with live music and DJ sets |
La Boteguita | Via Gaudio 21 | Aperitivo and tapas in a relaxed mood |
Rolling Stone Café | Portosole marina | Drinks and food among the yachts, live music on event nights |
Decò American Bar | Lungomare Italo Calvino 74 | Summer apericena by the sea |
Clubs and late nights
Bay Club. Sanremo's best-known nightclub, opened in 2015 on Corso Trento e Trieste between the Old Port and Portosole, with a modern design and a terrace above the sea. Dancing to international DJs on weekend nights, dinner with music on Sundays. Dress smart; a selective door is part of the game.
Victory Morgana Bay. A Liberty-style building on the seafront that is restaurant (sushi and Mediterranean), lounge, cocktail bar and club in one: DJ happy hours, live music, themed nights and fashion events, all with the sea at your feet.
The beach club at Corso Marconi 99. In summer, a beach club right on the sand with DJ aperitivos, Latin nights and weekend beach parties (known as Boca Beach and K Beach Club; check its current name and programme).
Club Eagles. A smaller club in Via San Francesco for those who want to dance late in the centre.
The Casino. For a different kind of night: roulette and card tables, the Belle Époque rooms, a bar and frequent shows and concerts. Bring ID; smart casual.
Night tips for the Traveler
Timing. Aperitivo from 18:30 to 20:30, dinner from 20:30, clubs from midnight.
Book. Reserve restaurants on weekends and in summer, and tables at Bay Club or Victory for big nights.
Season. Beach clubs are summer-only; in winter, the action moves to Piazza Bresca, the wine bars, the Casino and the Ariston.
Festival week. In February the whole town turns into one big party, with events, after-shows and famous faces everywhere.
Getting home. Taxis are limited late at night; the centre, the old port and Piazza Bresca are close enough to walk.
Safety. Sanremo is a safe town at night, but keep an eye on bags in crowds and on the seafront.
Places and programmes change from season to season, so check before you go.
More detailed information on the offcial websites: Voloscontato: Sanremo clubs and nightlife, Il Rosso Vespa Tour: Piazza Bresca, 22places: Sanremo travel guide.
Ligurian Cuisine
Ligurian cuisine in San Remo leans slightly richer than in Bordighera — more meat, more elaborate preparations, a stronger French influence in the sauces.
What to order:
Farinata — chickpea flatbread, eaten standing at a sciamadda bakery at noon. Non-negotiable.
Trofie al pesto — the canonical Ligurian pasta with the finest basil in the world
Acciughe di Liguria — local anchovies, marinated, fried, or in salsa verde
Coniglio alla sanremese — rabbit braised with olives, pine nuts, and white wine; the city's signature meat dish
Sardenaira — San Remo's own version of pizza, topped with tomato, anchovies, capers, and olives. Thinner and more savoury than Neapolitan pizza. Order it at any bakery.
Rossese di Dolceacqua — the local red wine, light and fragrant. Our friends ordered it everywhere and were always right to do so.
Our Restaurant Advice: Sanremo's restaurant scene runs deep rather than showy. Look for places serving trofie al pesto made with the correct Ligurian basil — smaller leaf, more delicate than the Genovese variety — or the local speciality of sardenaira, a thick focaccia-like flatbread topped with tomato, olives, anchovies, and capers that has been feeding this coastline for centuries. The aperitivo hour along Via Matteotti draws a genuinely local crowd, which is always the best sign.
Restaurants for a memorable dinner
Fish by the port. The restaurants around Piazza Bresca and the Old Port, like La Pignese, serve the catch of the day: try spaghetti allo scoglio, grilled fish, fried anchovies and the local red prawns.
In the old town. Little trattorias in La Pigna, like Osteria Camelot with its small terrace, cook the Ligurian classics: stuffed vegetables, coniglio alla ligure (rabbit with olives and pine nuts), trofie al pesto, brandacujun.
Special evenings. La Vita è Bella for refined fish and great wines, and Paolo & Barbara, a tiny, family-run temple of Ligurian cuisine loved by gourmets.
Simple and local. For a cheap and happy night: farinata and sardenaira from a bakery, pizza by the sea at the Foce lidos, and a gelato on Via Matteotti.
Special Events over the Year
When | Event | What to expect |
16 to 20 February 2027 | Sanremo Music Festival | Italy's biggest song contest at the Ariston, five evenings live on TV, stars and fans all over town |
Late winter or spring | Sanremo in Fiore (Flower Parade) | Floats covered in thousands of flowers parade along the seafront |
A Saturday in March | Milan-San Remo | The longest one-day classic of pro cycling, about 290 km, finishing on Via Roma in Sanremo |
Spring | Rallye Sanremo | Historic car rally on the twisting roads of the hinterland |
Summer | Beach season | Lidos open, evening events, open-air concerts along the sea |
August | International fireworks contest | Fireworks over the sea, watched from the beaches and the port |
Autumn | Premio Tenco | Prestigious award for Italian songwriters at the Ariston |
Every Tuesday and Saturday | Weekly market | Large open-air market in the centre (check current days locally) |
The Festival, up close. For one week in February, Sanremo is the centre of the Italian world. Fans wait for hours outside the Ariston, journalists fill every café, and singers walk through the streets. Tickets for the theatre are very hard to get, but the atmosphere in town is free: watch the evenings on big screens in bars and squares, and look for stars on Via Matteotti during the day. Book your hotel months ahead.
Milan-San Remo, up close. First raced in 1907, "La Classicissima" is the first big classic of the cycling year. Riders climb the Cipressa and the Poggio di Sanremo in the last kilometres and then sprint down into town. Stand on the Poggio to see them fight, or on Via Roma for the finish.
Sanremo Architecture: from Medieval Lanes to Belle Époque Villas
Walk from the old town down to the sea and you travel through eight centuries of building. Sanremo's architecture tells its history in three layers. At the top, La Pigna: medieval stone houses pressed together on the hill, linked by arches and covered passages, built for defence against pirates and strength against earthquakes. In the middle, the Baroque and Genoese town of the 17th and 18th centuries, with noble palaces along Via Matteotti, the domes of churches and the Fort of Santa Tecla. Along the sea, the Riviera of the Belle Époque: from the 1870s, when Europe's aristocracy discovered the mild winters, architects filled the coast with grand hotels, villas in Moorish, neo-Gothic, neoclassical and Liberty (Art Nouveau) styles, and exotic gardens full of palms. Look up as you walk: painted façades, wrought-iron balconies, loggias, towers and turrets are everywhere.
Architects and artists who shaped Sanremo
The Architects and Artists Who Shaped Sanremo - the visionaries whose creativity, architecture, and artistic legacy have defined the city’s unique identity.
Name | Era | Contribution to Sanremo |
Domenico Belmonte | 1770s | Designed the great dome of the Madonna della Costa sanctuary (built 1770 to 1775), the landmark that sailors see from the sea |
Anton Maria Maragliano | Early 1700s | Genoa's master of wooden sculpture; his statues of saints adorn the Madonna della Costa |
Pio Soli (1847-1906) | 1880s to 1900s | The architect of Sanremo's villas: Villa Nobel (1892), Villa Bel Respiro (1893), Villa Stefania (1896), Villa del Sole (1898). Influenced by Charles Garnier, his elegant eclectic villas still define the seafront |
Carlo Gastaldi (1862-1934) | 1880s to 1930s | Sanremo-born architect who trained as a draftsman for Charles Garnier on the Monte Carlo Casino and Villa Garnier in Bordighera. Back home he built the Presbyterian church (1884, with Pio Soli, demolished 1936), the Waldensian church on Via Roma, the Carmelite church, Palazzo Escoffier and Casa Cassini, added a floor to Villa Nobel, designed the gardens of the Hotel Royal and the Deposito Franco at the port |
Émile Reverdin | 1889 | Swiss architect of the Grand Théâtre de Genève, who rebuilt Villa Ormond for the Ormond family after the 1887 earthquake |
Charles Garnier | 1870s to 1890s | The architect of the Paris Opera and the Monte Carlo Casino lived in neighbouring Bordighera; his taste inspired the villas of the whole Riviera dei Fiori |
Eugène Ferret | 1905 | French architect who won the competition for the Art Nouveau Casino, Sanremo's most iconic building |
Alexey Shchusev | 1913 | Russian architect, later famous for Lenin's Mausoleum in Moscow, who designed the Russian Orthodox Church with its five onion domes |
Pietro Agosti | 1920s to 1930s | Mayor rather than architect, he opened the Villa Ormond park to the public and designed its large fountain |
Giovenale Gastaldi Jr. (1892-1979) | 1920s to 1970s | Carlo's son, engineer, architect and painter of Sanremo views. He built Palazzo Guidi on Via Roma, the Domus Nostra and Gastaldi palaces, the schools of Via Volta and Piazza Nota, restored Santa Maria degli Angeli, and was artistic adviser to the Liguria monuments office and a board member of the Madonna della Costa |
Buildings to look for: the Casino (Liberty, 1905); Palazzo Borea d'Olmo on Via Matteotti, the grandest noble palace of the old families; the Belle Époque hotels along Corso Imperatrice, such as the Royal Hotel; Villa Nobel with its Moorish details; Villa Ormond; the Fort of Santa Tecla by the port (Genoese, mid-18th century); and, in contrast, the modern Teatro Ariston.
Churches and cathedrals to consider visiting
Basilica Concattedrale di San Siro. The oldest and most important church of Sanremo, at the foot of La Pigna. Built in Romanesque style in the 12th century over an early Christian church, with a calm stone interior, three naves and a famous 15th-century black crucifix. The base of the bell tower is from the 13th century. The perfect start for a walk up the old town.
Oratorio dell'Immacolata Concezione. Right next to San Siro, a small Baroque oratory with a rich interior and paintings, often used for concerts and exhibitions.
Santuario della Madonna della Costa. The Baroque sanctuary at the top of La Pigna, about 100 m above the sea, built after a sailor's vow in 1600 and completed in 1630; its dome followed in the 1770s. Inside: an altar with spiral alabaster columns (from 1699), the ancient Madonna and Child painting (attributed to 1401), wooden statues by Maragliano and a ceiling fresco of the Assumption (1727). Outside, the churchyard is paved with a pebble mosaic and offers the best view of Sanremo.
Russian Orthodox Church of Christ the Saviour. Russian Orthodox Church of Christ the Saviour. Consecrated in 1913, designed by Alexey Shchusev, with five onion domes and a crypt where King Nicholas I and Queen Milena of Montenegro rested until 1989.
Romanian Orthodox Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius. Tucked away at Corso Cavallotti 7, this modest church is considered the area’s oldest Romanian place of worship, with historical links to the princely Mavrocordat family. Its neo-Gothic exterior hides a traditional Orthodox interior, bringing a touch of Romanian heritage to the Italian Riviera. A little-known cultural gem, especially meaningful for Romanian travellers
The ruined church of Bussana Vecchia. In the artists' village destroyed by the 1887 earthquake, the roofless Baroque church stands open to the sky, one of the most poetic sights of the Riviera.
Tip for the Traveler: Combine architecture and churches in one walk: start at San Siro and the Oratorio, climb through La Pigna to Madonna della Costa, come down to Via Matteotti for Palazzo Borea d'Olmo and the Casino, then follow Corso Imperatrice west to the Russian church. About 3 to 4 hours with stops. Visit churches outside Mass times and dress modestly.
The Ports of Sanremo
Sanremo has two harbours side by side, and together they tell the story of the town: one belongs to fishermen and history, the other to sailing and the jet set. Between them stands the Fort of Santa Tecla, and the seafront promenade of Corso Trento e Trieste links them in a pleasant 15-minute walk.
Porto Vecchio (the Old Port)
The historic harbour, right below the old town and a few steps from Piazza Bresca. For centuries it was the working heart of Sanremo, where fishing boats unloaded their catch and small ships carried olive oil, lemons ad later flowers to Genoa and France. In the 18th century the Genoese built the Fort of Santa Tecla at its edge to keep the rebellious town under control. Today it is still a lively, authentic port: colourful fishing boats, small sailing yachts, the fish restaurants around Piazza Bresca and the bars that fill up at aperitivo time. Walk out along the long breakwater towards the harbour light for a beautiful view back to La Pigna and the dome of Madonna della Costa, especially at sunset. Boat tours along the coast and, in season, excursionsino the Pelagos Sanctuary for whale and dolphin watching depart from the Sanremo area; check current operators and dates locally.
Portosole (the Marina)
The modern marina east of the Old Port, opened in 1978, is one of the largest and most elegant marinas of the Riviera. It has around 800 berths for boats of all sizes, including superyachts up to 90 m, with sandy depths of 2.5 to 7 m. Around the pontoons you find shipyards, workshops, yacht brokers, chandlers, bars and restaurants, shops and parking, and it has received the Blue Flag for quality and environmental standards.
Portosole is the home of big sailing events: the famous Giraglia regatta has been held every year since 1953, and the Sanremo Yacht Meeting brings international boats to town. Even if you don't own a yacht, come for a stroll along the quays, admire the boats and have a drink with the masts swaying in the evening breeze. Next to it stands the Morgana, a 1930s rationalist building with an external staircase, once a famous restaurant and dance hall, and the small Arenella beach.
Traveler info for the ports
Getting there: Both ports are a 10 to 15-minute walk from the station and Via Matteotti; the cycle path passes right by.
Parking: Portosole has a car park with a barrier; the first hour is usually free.
For sailors: Portosole marina office is on Via del Castillo 17, phone +39 0184 500349, VHF channel 9. Book berths early in summer and for regatta weeks.
Best moments: Morning for the fishermen in the Old Port, sunset on the breakwater, evening aperitivo at Portosole.
Combine: Old Port, Fort Santa Tecla, Piazza Bresca, then dinner by the sea: one of the best evening walks in town.
List of important Local Tours
There are many trips options in Sanremo.
La Pigna Walk 1 — La Pigna Ascent: Enter from Piazza Eroi Sanremesi and climb through the concentric rings of medieval lanes to the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Costa at the top. The complete ascent takes 30–40 minutes; allow double that to stop, look, and occasionally get deliberately lost. Descent via the opposite side for different views.
La Pigna Walk 2 — Lungomare Circuit: From the old port along the full length of the Lungomare Imperatrice to the casino gardens and back — 4 km, completely flat, 1 hour at a relaxed pace.
La Pigna Walk 3 — Via Julia Augusta Trail: Sections of the ancient Roman road are still walkable in the hills above San Remo — the tourist office has a trail map. The path passes through old olive groves and abandoned terraces with extraordinary views over the bay.
Belle Époque Walk. Corso Imperatrice, the Russian church, the Casino, Villa Ormond's gardens and the grand hotels along the sea.
Bike the Riviera. Ride the cycle path east to Arma di Taggia or west to Ospedaletti, with a swim and lunch on the way.
Villa Nobel and the eastern seafront. Combine the museum with a walk along the sea and a drink at Portosole marina.
Taste of Sanremo. The covered market in the morning, then focaccia, sardenaira, farinata and a wine tasting of Vermentino or Rossese.
Poggio di Sanremo. Ride or walk up the last climb of Milan-San Remo for a view over the whole town.
List of important Tours in the area
Bussana Vecchia. A village destroyed by an earthquake in 1887 and brought back to life by artists. Studios, galleries and cafés among the ruins, about 20 minutes away.
Taggia and Badalucco. The medieval town of Taggia and the Argentina valley, home of the Taggiasca olive. Visit an olive mill such as Roi in Badalucco and taste the oil where it is made.
Dolceacqua. A medieval village with a stone bridge painted by Monet and a castle of the Doria family. Taste the red Rossese wine.
Apricale and Triora. Hilltop villages of the hinterland; Triora is known as the "village of the witches".
Bordighera. The elegant town of palms next door, loved by Monet and British travellers, with a beautiful seafront walk.
Hanbury Botanical Gardens. At La Mortola near Ventimiglia, terraced gardens with exotic plants falling down to the sea.
Ventimiglia Friday market. One of the largest markets of the Riviera, popular with French visitors.
Monaco, Menton and Nice. Across the border in less than an hour, for the glamour of Monte Carlo, the lemons of Menton and the old town of Nice.
Extra Tips for Your Visit
Leave the car in the garage. Parking in the centre is hard and expensive; walk, cycle or use the coastal trains.
Beaches. Many lidos charge for umbrella and sunbed (around €30 a day in summer), but there are free beaches too. Tre Ponti, just outside the centre, is quieter.
Eat like a local. Try sardenaira (Sanremo's tomato and anchovy focaccia), farinata (chickpea flatbread), brandacujun (creamed stockfish and potatoes), pesto and Taggiasca olives.
Lunch is late, dinner later. Restaurants open around 12:30 and 19:30. Many shops close between 12:30 and 15:30.
Festival week costs. Prices for rooms can double in February. Book very early or stay in Bordighera or Imperia.
Euro and cards. Cards are widely accepted, but keep some cash for markets and small bars.
Wear good shoes. The stairs of La Pigna are steep and can be slippery.
Combine with France. A rail pass or a car lets you see Sanremo, Monaco and Nice in one trip.
Sanremo Fashion: Discover Italian elegance through fashion shows, catwalks and haute-couture events hosted at the historic Casinò di Sanremo, continuing the city's long tradition of fashion, music and Riviera glamour.
Buying or long term rental of properties in Sanremo
If you are looking to buy a property in Sanremo we can recommend you to talk to
Agent Name: Mrs Barbara Pertili
Agenzia Tema Casa Centro
Address: Via Roma, 129 - Sanremo (IM), Italy
Email: centro@temacasa.it
Closing Statement
Sanremo is a town that sings. It sings in February from the stage of the Ariston, in March when the cyclists fly down the Poggio, and every day in the lanes of La Pigna, in the market and on the terraces by the sea. Empresses brought it palms, Nobel brought it his dreams, and the flowers gave it its name. Come for the sun, stay for the stories, and leave with the taste of focaccia and the sound of the sea in your heart. Buon viaggio, dear Traveller, and see you on the next 4BTravelGuide journey.
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