Sanremo packs more into its compact Ligurian footprint than most visitors expect. The city is best known for the Ariston Theatre and its February music festival, but the real draw is the contrast between the glittering casino-and-palm-tree seafront and the medieval warren of La Pigna climbing the hillside behind it. You can walk from a Belle Epoque casino to a 10th-century stone alley in under ten minutes. The 24km coastal cycle path, the flower market at Valle Armea, and day-trip access to the French Riviera round out a destination that works as both a weekend break and a week-long base for exploring the Riviera dei Fiori.
Things to Do in Sanremo: Historic Sights and Landmarks
La Pigna (Old Town)
La Pigna is Sanremo’s medieval core, a dense cluster of stone houses stacked up the hillside behind the modern city. Its name means pine cone, describing the spiral layout of narrow alleys (caruggi) that wind upward from Porta San Giuseppe to the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Costa at the top. The walk from the bottom gate to the sanctuary takes about 20 minutes and rewards you with a panoramic view of the Gulf of Sanremo from the sanctuary terrace. Along the way you will pass the 12th-century Cathedral of San Siro, the oldest church in the city, and the Civic Museum inside Palazzo Borea d’Olmo. The caruggi are free to explore at any hour, but wear shoes with grip: the cobblestones get slick after rain. The sanctuary is open daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM; no entry fee. For more, see our weather by month.
Casino di Sanremo
The Sanremo Casino, opened in 1905, is one of only four casinos in Italy and by far the most architecturally significant. The Liberty-style (Italian Art Nouveau) building on Corso degli Inglesi was designed by French architect Eugene Ferret and still operates as a gaming house with slot machines, roulette, poker, and chemin de fer tables. Even if you do not gamble, the building is worth visiting for its frescoed ceilings, chandeliers, and the Teatro dell’Opera inside the casino complex. Entry requires a government-issued ID (passport for non-Italians) and a 10-euro daily admission fee. Dress code is smart casual: no shorts or flip-flops. Open daily from 10:00 AM; gaming tables start at 2:30 PM. The casino is a 10-minute walk from the Ariston Theatre along Corso degli Inglesi. For more, see our best time to visit.
Russian Orthodox Church (Chiesa Russa)
Sanremo’s Russian Orthodox Church on Via Nuvoloni is a striking anomaly on the Italian Riviera: five onion domes and a bell tower built in 1913 for the Russian aristocratic community that wintered here before the 1917 Revolution. Tsarina Maria Alexandrovna was a frequent visitor, and the church served the Russian colony that at its peak numbered over 1,000 residents. The interior features an iconostasis and frescoes in the Moscow style. The church is open to visitors Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Entry is free but a 2-euro donation is suggested. Russian Orthodox services are still held here, particularly on January 7 (Orthodox Christmas). No photography inside during services. For more, see our events and festivals.
Things to Do in Sanremo: Outdoor and Active
Pista Ciclabile del Ponente Ligure (Coastal Cycle Path)
The 24-kilometer coastal cycle and pedestrian path runs along the route of a decommissioned railway line connecting San Lorenzo al Mare, Imperia, Sanremo, and Ospedaletti. The Sanremo section is about 8 kilometers, stretching from the western suburb to the eastern edge near Arma di Taggia. The path is flat, paved, and separated from vehicle traffic the entire way, making it suitable for all skill levels. You will ride directly above the sea with uninterrupted views of the Ligurian coast. Bike rentals are available at NoloBici near the Sanremo end of the path (Via Frantoi Canavesi, about 15 euros per day for a hybrid bike, 25 euros for an e-bike). The path is lit at night and patrolled during summer. There are water fountains and gelato shops at regular intervals in the former train station buildings. For more, see our neighborhoods guide.
Sanremo Beaches and Beach Clubs
Sanremo’s beaches are pebbly rather than sandy, which surprises first-time visitors expecting Riviera sand. The main public beaches are Spiaggia Libera Attrezzata near the port and the stretches east of the Casino toward Bussana. For a more comfortable experience, book into a beach club (bagno): Bagni Paradiso (Lungomare Imperatrice, sunbeds from 25 euros/day in high season), Bagni La Milanese (Lungomare delle Nazioni, 20 euros/day), and Bagni Morgana (toward Ospedaletti, quieter). Most bagni offer chair and umbrella rental, changing cabins, showers, and a bar/restaurant. The water is clean: Sanremo holds a Bandiera Blu (Blue Flag) designation. Water shoes are useful on the pebbles. The beaches are busiest from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM in July and August. For more, see our where to stay guide.
Monte Bignone Hiking and Views
Monte Bignone (1,299 meters) looms directly behind Sanremo and offers the best panoramic viewpoint on this stretch of the Riviera. On a clear day you can see from the French coast to Genoa and across to Corsica. The summit is reachable by car via the SP58 road from Sanremo (about 30 minutes), or by hiking trail from the Madonna della Costa sanctuary (3 to 4 hours one way, 800m elevation gain). The road passes through the San Romolo pine forest, a popular local picnic spot at about 800 meters elevation. There is a small bar at the summit that opens in summer. In October, the Rallye Sanremo uses the Monte Bignone road as a special stage: the road is closed to the public on rally days. Check the Automobile Club Sanremo website for rally dates if visiting in autumn. For more, see our travel tips.
Villa Ormond and Gardens
The 19th-century Villa Ormond on Corso Felice Cavallotti sits in a 2-hectare public park with a Japanese garden, cedar trees, and a fountain designed by Pietro Agosti. The villa itself houses the International Institute of Humanitarian Law and is not open to the public, but the park grounds are free and open daily from 8:00 AM to sunset. The Japanese garden was created in 1957 to commemorate a visit by the Japanese consul and contains a koi pond, stone lanterns, and pruned pines. The park is a 10-minute walk east of the Casino along the main road. It is particularly pleasant in spring when the wisteria blooms.
Things to Do in Sanremo: Day Trips and Excursions
Bussana Vecchia (Artists Village)
Bussana Vecchia is an abandoned medieval village 8 kilometers northeast of Sanremo that was destroyed by an earthquake in 1887. In the 1960s, a community of international artists moved in and rebuilt portions of the stone ruins, creating studios, galleries, and a handful of quirky bars among the roofless houses. Today about 20 artists live and work here year-round. The village is car-free: you park at the base and walk up a steep path (about 10 minutes). The Osteria degli Artisti serves simple Ligurian food on a terrace with a sea view. There is no admission fee. The village can feel touristy in July and August, but visiting on a weekday in spring or autumn gives a more authentic experience. The unpaved access path is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. Buses from Sanremo to Bussana stop at the new town (Bussana Nuova) at the bottom of the hill; from there you walk up to the old village.
Dolceacqua and the Nervia Valley
Dolceacqua is a postcard-perfect medieval village 25 kilometers from Sanremo in the Nervia Valley, crowned by the ruined Doria Castle and spanned by a single-arch stone bridge that Monet painted in 1884. The old town (Terra) clusters on the hillside below the castle with winding alleys, craft shops, and wine bars serving Rossese di Dolceacqua, the local red wine. The castle (Castello dei Doria) is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, entry 5 euros. The drive from Sanremo takes 35 minutes via the SS1 and SP64. There are also buses from Sanremo bus station (Via Cavallotti): line 7 toward Ventimiglia, change at Ventimiglia for the Dolceacqua bus (about 1 hour total). The village hosts a Rossese wine festival in September.
