Things to Do in Sanremo: Top 9 Attractions & Our Best Tips

What you need to know about Sanremo

Sanremo means Art Nouveau villas, flowers, sea, and music. Here’s why:

• Sanremo is full of Art Nouveau villas built by European and Russian aristocrats in the 19th century. Back then, it was one of the most fashionable resort towns on the continent.
• Sanremo is full of flowers — hence the nickname “City of Flowers” or “Riviera of Flowers.” Thanks to the mild climate, hundreds of flower varieties are grown here year-round.
• Sanremo sits right on the sea. The city’s beaches earn the Blue Flag every year — a mark of exceptionally high water quality.
• Sanremo is the city of music — specifically the Festival di Sanremo. It’s the oldest music competition in Europe and a seriously big deal in Italy!

Our map of attractions in Sanremo

Sanremo is located in the north of Liguria, about 20 kilometers from the border with France.

We’ve marked all the key things to do in Sanremo on the map above so you can plan your visit easily.

Our top 9 attractions in Sanremo

Beachfront Promenade

Sanremo’s beachfront promenade is officially called “Passeggiata dell’Imperatrice” — the Empress’s Promenade.

The name comes from Russian Empress Maria Alexandrovna, who was a regular visitor to Sanremo and donated a large sum to the city to create this palm-lined walkway.

And it was absolutely worth it — ever since, visitors have been able to stroll here with sweeping views of the sea and Sanremo’s grand historic hotels.

Old Town La Pigna

Sanremo’s old town is known as La Pigna. Here you’ll wander up and down through winding alleys, covered passageways, and houses stacked on top of one another.

The old town was built this way in the Middle Ages for better protection against pirates. You can easily lose an hour or two exploring it — and you’ll want to, because there are great photos around every corner.

When you reach the top of the hill, you’ll find the Parco Regina Elena and the small church of Madonna della Costa, which doubles as a viewpoint over the city.

Giardini Regina Elena

The Regina Elena Park is the most well-known park in Sanremo, sitting just above the old town. If you keep climbing through La Pigna’s alleys, you’ll naturally end up here.

The park has palm trees and pines, a playground, and a fountain — it’s a lovely spot to catch your breath.

But the real reason to come is the 360-degree view: from up here you can see Sanremo, the sea, and the surrounding hills all at once. Seriously stunning.

Casinò di Sanremo

Sanremo’s casino was built in the early 20th century to keep the aristocratic vacationers suitably entertained.

From the outside, the building is beautifully ornate and even more impressive when lit up at night.

Inside it’s less spectacular — honestly not that different from a casino in Las Vegas. There’s no dress code, so you can just walk right in if you’re curious.

Teatro Ariston

The Teatro Ariston might not be the biggest draw for international visitors, but for Italians it’s practically sacred. Every February, the Sanremo Music Festival takes place here — an event that virtually the entire country follows.

The building sits on Sanremo’s main shopping strip, Via Matteotti, and is thoroughly 1960s in style. The glowing neon letters spelling out “Ariston” are visible from far away.

If you’re not visiting in early February during the festival, it functions as a perfectly ordinary movie theater and performance venue — still worth a look from the outside.

Villa Nobel

Alfred Nobel lived in Sanremo for several years and died here too. His villa, where he conducted research and experiments, is now a museum — and a really fascinating one.

You can see his personal belongings and the laboratory equipment he used while working on the invention of dynamite.

There’s also an exhibition about Nobel Prize laureates from the 19th century.

The tour includes a walk through the garden, so plan for about two hours.

Coastal Bike Path

Running through Sanremo is one of the longest bike paths in the Mediterranean — the Pista Ciclabile della Riviera.

It stretches about 25 kilometers from the coastal town of Ospedaletti to San Lorenzo al Mare, built on former railroad tracks and passing through several charming small villages.

In Sanremo you can rent a bike and head out on a beautiful ride along the Riviera. The entire path is super flat, so you don’t need to be in any special shape. You’re also welcome to walk it or skate it.

Russian Orthodox Church San Basilio

The strong influence the Russian tsars had on Sanremo becomes unmistakably clear when you spot the Russian Orthodox church rising up in the middle of the city.

Even if churches aren’t normally your thing, this one is really worth a look: with its colorful onion domes and lavish exterior decorations, it’s genuinely striking.

The interior is rather plain by comparison. You can go inside for a small admission fee, though the church isn’t always open.

Bussana Vecchia

Bussana Vecchia is a small village just outside Sanremo that was destroyed by an earthquake in 1887.

Abandoned for decades, it was rediscovered in the 1960s when hippies and artists moved back in. The medieval alleys have been lovingly maintained ever since and are full of studios, shops, and street art.

Today Bussana Vecchia is a district of Sanremo and gets flooded with tourists in summer — but it’s completely one of a kind and you absolutely shouldn’t skip it.

The easiest way to get there from Sanremo is by car; the drive takes about 20 minutes.

Our Hotel Recommendations in Sanremo

We’ve picked out the three hotels with the best value for money in Sanremo: centrally located, close to the beach, and with above-average reviews.

Going to the beach in Sanremo

Sanremo is perfect for a beach vacation — though be aware it gets very crowded in July and August.

There are several beaches and you really can’t go wrong with any of them.

All the beaches are sandy and slope gently into the water, making them great for families and non-swimmers. Right at the beach you’ll find playgrounds, showers, and beach bars.

A large portion of the beaches are paid, but there are also a few free sections. For a beach umbrella and a lounge chair, you’ll pay around 30 euros per day — which is very affordable compared to beaches further south along the Ligurian coast.

One of the most popular spots is Tre Ponti, just outside the city center. The water here is crystal clear and it’s noticeably less crowded than right along the promenade. All of Sanremo’s beaches are super easy to reach via the Pista Ciclabile coastal bike path.

Our restaurant tips in Sanremo

You can eat really well in Sanremo — and often with a beautiful view to go with it. These are our top picks:

• Osteria Camelot: A small restaurant with an elevated outdoor terrace in the old town. Tiny menu, but the food is seriously delicious.
• Ristorante La Vita è Bella: A slightly more upscale option for fish and wine lovers — widely considered one of the best restaurants in Sanremo.
• Paolo & Barbara: A real local favorite. A tiny, family-run restaurant that works exclusively with locally grown ingredients.