There is a precise moment when you realize that Sanremo is a different place from what you expected. It usually happens while you are walking through an alley in La Pigna, among stone arches and laundry hanging out to dry, and suddenly a glimpse of the sea opens up before you. No flowers, no music Festival di Sanremo staircase. Just a Ligurian city that has existed for centuries and has lived many lives before becoming famous for its songs.
If you are looking for what to see in Sanremo, this guide is designed for you: someone who definitely wants to take a selfie in front of the Ariston, but then also wants the insider secrets.
Why visit Sanremo
Vayadù has deep roots in Liguria, and we love Sanremo because, in our opinion, it is not a city that overwhelms you right away. It does not have a symbolic monument that everyone knows, and it does not have a postcard-perfect historic center. It has something more subtle: a layering of eras and personalities that coexist without clashing.
There is the medieval city perched on the hill, with its alleyways that seem built on purpose to make people get lost. There is the Art Nouveau city of the nineteenth century, the one with villas, English-style gardens, and the Casino lit up in the evening. There is the seaside city, with its promenade and cycle path. There is the green city, with flower greenhouses that perfume the entire coast. And then there is the neighborhood city, the one made of bars open early in the morning and trattorias with paper placemats.
That is why you should visit Sanremo. Because those who arrive expecting only the Festival find a much richer city. And those who arrive expecting nothing usually no longer want to leave.
What to see in Sanremo: the places not to miss
La Pigna: the ancient heart of the city
Start here. La Pigna is the medieval district that climbs the hill above the center, a maze of caruggi, stairways, and covered passages that develop in concentric circles, just like a pine cone.
Walking here means getting lost in the best possible way. The streets are narrow, cats doze on the steps, and every now and then the city opens onto a terrace with the sea below. The Sanctuary of Madonna della Costa is worth the climb: from the small square in front of the church, you can see all of Sanremo from above, with its orange rooftops and the port in the distance.
It is one of the best places for a beautiful souvenir photo.
The Casino and Art Nouveau architecture
The Sanremo Casino is one of the most beautiful buildings on the Riviera. Built in 1905, it is an almost perfect example of Art Nouveau déco architecture: the curves, the wrought-iron details, the façade overlooking Corso degli Inglesi with a certain confidence.
You do not need to be a gambler to appreciate it. Just stop in the square and look at it at sunset, when the light changes and the building seems to have just stepped out of another era. The Casino is also the place that best tells the story of the city’s aristocratic season, when English and Russian visitors came here to spend the winter.
The Ariston Theatre
Here at Vayadù, we are huge fans of Sanremo, the Italian Song Festival that has been held in the city since 1951 and at the Ariston Theatre since 1977.
The Ariston is an active theatre all year round: it hosts concerts, shows, and film screenings.
The façade with its illuminated sign has become a visual icon. But it is also worth going inside, when there is an event on the schedule, to understand what that stage you have seen a thousand times on television is really like.
The Old Port and the promenade
The Old Port. Fishing boats, seafood restaurants, outdoor tables. It is the point where the seafront walk begins and from which, if you feel like it, you can take the Riviera dei Fiori cycle path. This is more than 20 kilometers of coastline that can be traveled on foot or by bike, between the sea and the flower greenhouses that have made this area famous throughout Europe. Cycling here early in the morning, when there are not many people yet, is one of the most pleasant experiences Sanremo can offer. And if you like the idea of building your holiday around cycling tourism, read our detailed guide.
Historic villas and gardens
Few people know that Alfred Nobel, inventor of dynamite and of the famous prize, spent the final years of his life in Sanremo. Villa Nobel, now a museum, is open to the public and tells the story of a man who chose this city for its light and mild climate.
Villa Ormond and the Regina Elena Gardens, the latter currently closed for restoration, complete the picture of a city that in the nineteenth century was frequented by the whole European aristocracy. Walking among these villas means understanding why Sanremo has that elegant and slightly melancholic air that sets it apart from the other towns on the Riviera.
The Russian Orthodox Church of Sanremo
Officially called the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, it was built at the request of Empress Maria Feodorovna for the large Russian community living in the city. The architect Aleksey Shchusev was inspired by Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow and blended Neo-Moorish, Neo-Byzantine, and Neoclassical styles. Work began in December 1912, and the building was inaugurated exactly one year later. You can recognize it from afar by its five golden domes with blue roofs and its octagonal bell tower, about 50 meters high. It feels like being in Red Square.
The statue of Mike Bongiorno
Since 2013, on Via Escoffier, a side street off the central Via Giacomo Matteotti, there has been a bronze statue dedicated to the famous presenter and icon of Italian TV, who hosted the Sanremo Festival no fewer than 11 times.
Museums to visit in Sanremo
When you think of Sanremo, we do not think museums are the first thing that comes to mind, but even so, the city has a few places that are worth visiting and that tell aspects of Sanremo that would otherwise remain in the background. They are the perfect stop for those looking for a bit of culture or for rainy days.
Villa Nobel is the starting point. Alfred Nobel spent the final years of his life here, surrounded by laboratories and gardens. The museum tells the story of a contradictory and fascinating man. It is worth a visit even just to understand why Nobel chose Sanremo in particular.
The Civic Museum, housed in Palazzo Nota in the historic center, collects archaeological finds, works of local art, and documents on the history of the city. It is useful for anyone who wants to understand the city’s roots.
The Flower Museum, the Floriseum, is more unusual: it tells the story of floriculture on the Riviera dei Fiori, an industry that shaped the landscape and economy for more than a century.
For those heading inland, the Doria Castle in Dolceacqua completes the picture with a truly unique medieval dimension.
What to see in Sanremo in one day: an itinerary
If you have little time, here is an ideal route to do in just one day.
Morning. Start from the Old Port, have breakfast at a café, and watch the movement of the boats. Then head back up toward the center and focus on La Pigna: get lost among the alleyways and make your way up to the Sanctuary of Madonna della Costa. It takes about an hour, but you will see that you will stop for longer, given the beauty.
Lunch. Walk down toward the center and look for a focaccia shop or a trattoria. Recco focaccia, sardenaira, the Ligurian pizza, and the typical pesto made with Taggiasca olive oil are already reason enough to come here.
Afternoon. Walk toward the Casino and then visit one of the historic gardens. If your energy holds up, rent a bike and ride along a stretch of the cycle path.
Evening. Sanremo’s center has its own atmosphere in the evening: shops still open, people out and about, restaurants full of life. Have dinner near the port and then, if you feel like it, spend the evening at the Casino or in one of the venues with music.
Sanremo and cycling
Sanremo and bicycles have a special relationship. You understand it by looking at the cycle path that runs along the coast, but you understand it even better every March, when the city stops to wait for the riders of the Milan-Sanremo.
The Milan-Sanremo, or Classicissima di Primavera, as fans call it, is one of the oldest and most beloved cycling races in the world. It has been held since 1907 and covers around 300 kilometers from the Lombard capital to the Sanremo seafront, where the final straight on Via Roma becomes, every year, the stage for one of the most eagerly awaited sprints of the season.
For those who come to Sanremo with a bike but without professional ambitions, the Riviera dei Fiori cycle path is the right answer. Created along the route of an old disused railway, it runs parallel to the sea for more than 33 kilometers from Sanremo to Ospedaletti, San Lorenzo al Mare, and beyond, without a single significant climb. You cycle between the scent of flower greenhouses and the blue of the Mediterranean, with the sea always within sight. It is suitable for everyone: families, children, and people who have not been on a bike for years.
What to do in the evening in Sanremo
Evenings in Sanremo are typical of the Italian seaside: aperitivo, dinner, and a little stroll through the center.
The promenade and the port are the natural center of evening life. The tables fill up, the lights reflect on the water, and there is that typical feeling of seaside towns where time slows down at the exact moment the sun sets. It is the right place for a chilled Rossese and a plate of anchovies while watching the world go by.
Those looking for something livelier have the Casino, which in the evening turns into a place with its own particular atmosphere, even just to see how it works, without necessarily playing. In summer, the calendar of outdoor events becomes busier: concerts, evening markets, shows along the seafront.
Those who prefer to stay in the historic center will find the caruggi of Via Matteotti and the streets around La Pigna filled with bars, wine bars, and a few venues with live music.
Are you more of a dancefloor type? There is no shortage of nightclubs in Sanremo. You can let loose, for example, at Bay Club, considered by many to be the most beautiful nightclub on the entire Ligurian Riviera, on the seafront between the Old Port and Portosole, or at the historic Kursaal Club in Bordighera, a local landmark that hosts events with different music genres every weekend.
The beaches of Sanremo
The sea in Sanremo is clean, the water is clear, and the seabed slopes down gently, a combination that works well both for those who swim and for those who simply want to soak in the water and float.
The coast alternates between equipped beach clubs and free beaches. Tre Ponti is one of the beaches most loved by Sanremo locals, quieter than the center and popular with surfers when the wind comes from the west. Spiaggia dei Porti is convenient and well served. Bussana is more secluded and suitable for those looking for a little more silence.
For those who love moving in the water, the coast also offers good opportunities for snorkeling. And for those who prefer to stay dry, the cycle path runs parallel to the sea for more than 20 kilometers: one of the most pleasant ways to discover the Riviera dei Fiori without having to take the car.
What to eat in Sanremo
Sanremo’s cuisine is that of the Ligurian Riviera: tasty, fish-based, classic.
The essential starting point is sardenaira: the medieval-origin Ligurian pizza that takes its name from the sardines it was once prepared with and is now enriched with oregano, onion, and olives. It is the street food par excellence of this area.
Then there is brandacujun, a stew of salt cod and potatoes that sounds rustic but turns out to be surprisingly refined.
Ligurian-style rabbit with olives, pine nuts, and aromatic herbs is a main course that always makes your mouth water.
For fresh fish, the restaurants near the port are the most obvious choice.
No meal in Liguria is complete without pesto. The one made here with fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmigiano Reggiano, and extra-virgin Taggiasca olive oil is creamy and wonderfully fragrant. Order it with trofie or trenette, preferably with green beans and potatoes, as tradition requires.
To finish, canestrelli, the crumbly flower-shaped biscuits scented with lemon and dusted with powdered sugar. Or a delicious bacio di Alassio, with chocolate and hazelnuts.
Surroundings: three villages not to miss, one garden, and two stops in France
Sanremo is also a starting point. With a car, in half an hour you can reach beautiful villages in Italy and cross the border into France.
Dolceacqua is the village that even the famous painter Monet painted. The medieval bridge over the Nervia and the Doria Castle perched on the hill justify the trip on their own. In autumn, with the vineyards heavy with Rossese grapes, it is even more beautiful.
Bussana Vecchia is a medieval village destroyed by the 1887 earthquake, left abandoned for decades and then colonized by artists from all over the world. Today it is a small community of ceramicists, painters, and artisans. Strange, atmospheric, absolutely worth seeing.
Apricale is the Ligurian hinterland in its purest form: stone alleyways, a square with a fountain, and plenty of silence. You get there in twenty minutes by car from Sanremo and find yourself in a place outside time.
Menton is the first French city on the French Riviera, 35 minutes by car from Sanremo. The historic center is made up of colorful houses climbing toward the Basilica of Saint-Michel and looking out over the sea. It is known for its lemons.
The Hanbury Botanical Gardens are located in Mortola Inferiore, a few kilometers from Ventimiglia, and are among the most extraordinary botanical gardens in Italy. Founded in 1867 by the English entrepreneur Thomas Hanbury, they stretch across a cliff overlooking the sea with a breathtaking view. The collection, with more than 5,000 plant species from all over the world, grows along terraces that descend toward the Mediterranean, among scents and colors that change with every season.
Nice is large, lively, and international, one hour by car from Sanremo. The Promenade des Anglais follows the entire bay and is one of the most famous seafronts on the French Riviera. Also not to be missed is the old town, with the Cours Saleya market, pastel-colored façades, and squares animated by cafés and restaurants.
Where to stay in Sanremo: two Vayadù homes in the heart of the Riviera
If, for you, a holiday means feeling at home and you are not very fond of hotels, here are two delightful and carefully curated Vayadù homes in the center of Sanremo.
Casa Melodie is bright, with harmonious spaces and a balcony from which you can see the city change color at sunset. The location allows you to reach both the sea and the historic center on foot. Plus: a covered parking space.
Casa Controvento has 44 square meters of well-organized space, with an eat-in kitchen, living area, and double bedroom. Above all, it has two private terraces from which you can see the city and the sea. It is very central, close to the cycle path, and perfect for those who want to get around without a car.
Both are a good starting point for everything there is to see in Sanremo and in the surrounding villages. They are among the first homes to become part of the Vayadù collection, and we are especially fond of them.
FAQ about Sanremo
Is Sanremo worth visiting for just one day? Yes, if you are in the area. But two or three days allow you to really enjoy it, including the surroundings.
What should I see in Sanremo if I have little time?
If you only have a few hours, you can focus on the Old Port, the Ariston Theatre, the historic center of La Pigna, and the Casino.
When should I go to Sanremo?
Spring and early autumn are the best times in terms of weather and temperatures. Summer is more crowded and hot, but evenings on the seafront are beautiful.
Is Sanremo worth visiting even out of season? Yes. In winter, the city is quieter, the climate remains mild, and you can experience places without queues.
Is Sanremo suitable for a weekend?
Yes. In two or three days, you can visit the city, take a trip to the inland villages, and devote a few hours to the sea.
Where should I stay in Sanremo?
A holiday home, like the ones we at Vayadù offer, allows you to experience the city with more freedom, especially if you are traveling with family or friends.
Is Sanremo also suitable for those who want a bit of beach time?
Yes. The Sanremo seaside is one of the main reasons why many visitors choose the city. Along the coast, you will find beach clubs, free beaches, and a long cycle path that follows the sea for more than twenty kilometers.
What can you see with children in Sanremo?
Sanremo is a fairly easy city to visit with children. The seafront, public gardens, and cycle path are suitable spaces for getting around with little ones.
How do you get to Sanremo?
Sanremo is well connected both by car and by train. The A10 motorway runs along the entire Ligurian Riviera, while regional trains connect the city with Genoa, Ventimiglia, and France. From the station, you can reach the center in just a few minutes.
Which villages should you visit near Sanremo?
Among the most interesting villages in the surrounding area are Bussana Vecchia, Dolceacqua, and Apricale. They are very different from one another, but all are easy to reach by car in less than an hour. If you want to cross the border, we recommend Menton and Nice, in France.
