Sanremo, a well-known seaside resort in Liguria and famous above all for the Italian Song Festival which is hosted every year in its largest theater, is a real gem of the Ligurian Riviera. You will be amazed by its elegant buildings, the lush promenade teeming with palm trees, ancient churches and lush gardens. Find out more about Sanremo, what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening .
What to see in Sanremo Ariston Theater
1 Ariston
Theater 2
Casin Sanremo 1
Casin di Sanremo 2 Russian Church
1 Russian
Church 2
San Siro Cathedral
Sanremo Old Town 1
Sanremo Old Town 2
Statue Mike Good morning Sanremo
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1 – Cathedral of San Siro
Photo by Federica Ermete. The Cathedral of San Siro is the oldest religious building in Sanremo , just think that it dates back to 811. It is also the main example of Romanesque architecture in the entire Ligurian area, located in the historic center in the homonymous square which, according to local beliefs, it would be the place where the Syrian Bishop of Genoa celebrated masses . Its structure consists of two side doors which would be the oldest parts of the Church and have bas-reliefs by unknown authors. Inside, however, there are, of considerable importance, a black crucifix and a statue of the Madonna del Rosario.
- How to get there: it is located in the heart of the historic center, reachable in a few minutes from any other central point – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: free
2 – Russian Orthodox Church
Photo by Federica Ermete. The Russian Orthodox Church is a real work of art and a symbol of the city , certainly due to its architecture different from all the other buildings in Sanremo. It was built in the early 1900s after noticing that the Russian Orthodox community in Sanremo had reached a thousand people, thanks to the Russian nobility who had chosen it as a tourist place. Its exterior has the typical round and colored domes , a classic element of the Russian style, and in the courtyard there are two busts depicting Vittorio Emanuele III and his wife Elena of Montenegro , the latter of Orthodox religion until before getting married.
- How to get there: it is located near the station and the seafront, reachable by car or in less than 10 minutes on foot – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: free
3 – Sanctuary of the Madonna della Costa
The Sanctuary of the Madonna della Costa is located on a hill 100 meters above sea level in the historic district of Sanremo la Pigna. This sacred place is linked to a famous local festival, the feast of chains , during which the population goes to the sanctuary dragging chains to celebrate the liberation from the Doria family. Apart from this, the sanctuary has a particular facade in Baroque style where there are marble representations of the saints Siro and Romolo while inside there are numerous wooden statues depicting various saints.
- How to get there: it is located in the historic center, but can be reached on foot in about 20 minutes or by car in just 7 minutes – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: free
4 – Sanremo
Civic Museum The Sanremo Civic Museum is a museum set up to collect the rich archaeological, historical and artistic heritage of the town and of the whole Western Liguria . The archaeological section can be admired on the entire first floor where there are ancient testimonies of the territory starting from prehistoric times with perfectly contextualized finds to intrigue and involve those who visit the museum. On the second floor there is the picture gallery with its works of art by painters and sculptors from 1600 to today, and the Hall of the Municipal Council full of frescoes from the 1700s .
- How to get there: it is located in the historic center, close to other points of interest and reachable in a few minutes – Get directions
- Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 8:30 to 18:30
- Ticket price: full € 5.00 – reduced € 3.00
5 – Villa Nobel
The Villa Nobel was the home of Alfred Nobel, the famous inventor of dynamite and creator of the Nobel Prize , the most important literary and scientific recognition in the world. This villa is an elegant and imposing Moorish style house built in 1870, chosen by Nobel first as a retreat for health reasons and later also to be able to install a study laboratory where he then gave life to his invention. To welcome you there is a large courtyard with a thick vegetation of exotic plants while inside the building is divided into three floors on which it is possible to visit Nobel’s studio and the various dining and bedroom rooms in which a series of stands out . of frescoes on the ceiling.
- How to get there: it is located outside the historic center, but on one of the main streets directly connected to the central area so it can be reached in a few minutes by car or alternatively to piedin in about 20 minutes – Get directions
- Hours: open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 12:30 and only on Friday and Saturday also from 15:00 to 18:00
- Ticket cost: free
6 – Casino di Sanremo
Photo by Federica Ermete. The Casino di Sanremo is one of the four great Italian gambling houses and resides in an elegant Art Nouveau building , the work of the French architect Ferret. The casino was inaugurated as early as 1905 but was soon closed in 1940 due to the Second World War and reopened immediately afterwards in 1945. The entrance to the casino is completely free and anyone can enter, as long as they are of greater age, even just to admire the building, the important thing is to keep in mind the rules on clothing . So, whether you are lucky or not, whether you want to take part in the games or not, we still recommend an evening stroll in this extraordinary structure.
- How to get there: not far from the historic center from which it can be reached in 7 minutes on foot – Get directions
- Hours: open every day from 10:00 to 2:30 at night
- Ticket price: free admission but reserved for adults
7 – Teatro Ariston
Photo by Federica Ermete. The Ariston Theater is the famous place that every year hosts the Italian Song Festival , now known simply as the Sanremo Festival, and other events of this magnitude such as the Tenco Award which rewards the Song of the Author. It is a unique theater both in size and in features, just think of its 2,000 seats and all the other events proposed such as poetry, ballet, opera, exhibitions, cabaret and television broadcasts. Unfortunately it is possible to enter it only to watch the shows but , since you are in Sanremo, being its best known attraction, you might as well pass by to take a picture .
- How to get there: it is located in a very central position in the historic center and can be easily reached on foot from every point of interest – Get directions
- Hours: variable according to the show
- Ticket cost: variable according to the show
8 – Giardini Regina Elena
The Giardini della Regina Elena consist of a large public park that honors Queen Elena of Montenegro, wife of King Vittorio Emanuele III. They are located in the historic Pigna district, just below the scenic climb that leads to the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Costa, and offer a beautiful view of the old town of Sanremo and the gulf in which domes and bell towers emerge and stand out. A walk through the avenues of these gardens and a few moments of relaxation are very pleasant and useful to disconnect from the chaos and immerse yourself in their rich vegetation consisting mostly of palm trees .
- How to get there: they are located just outside the historic center and in fact can be reached in just 10 minutes on foot – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: free
9 – Walk of the Empress
The Walk of the Empress is none other than the promenade of Sanremo , so called as a sign of gratitude to Tsarina Maria Aleksandrovna, wife of Alexander II, who chose the city as her vacation spot by giving her the palm trees that they are still present in most of the Sanremo area. The promenade itself is a succession of palm trees that dominate the avenues, leaving room for numerous benches, well-kept flower beds and some elegant sculptures.
- How to get there: it is located not far from the historic center, and it is possible to get there and walk it in 13 minutes – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: free
10 – Beaches of Sanremo
Being Sanremo also a renowned seaside resort, it is right to open a parenthesis also on its two main beaches. The first is the Spiaggia dei Porti consisting of fine white sand that extends between Porto Vecchio and Porto Sole, therefore closer to the historic center, while the second is the Tre Ponti Beach, further away from the historic center, characterized by pebbles and rocks. and from several free stretches . Both beaches are super-equipped in terms of bathing establishments that provide umbrellas, changing rooms, games for children, rentals, sports activities and restaurants.
- How to get there: both beaches can be reached in a few minutes from the historic center, either on foot or by car – Get directions to Spiaggia dei Porti – Get directions to Spiaggia Tre Ponti
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: free
Sanremo itinerary in one day
Photo by Federica Ermete. If you are in Sanremo for just one day, here is an itinerary to follow that includes almost all the attractions that we have just listed. Due to the distance and the lack of time, we have excluded from the tour Villa Nobel which, as you have already read, is the only point of interest more dislocated from the historic center. So let ‘s see how to visit Sanremo in just one day :
Morning : in the morning start your tour starting from the historic center. Treat yourself to a nice breakfast at the Dolcenove bar and head straight to the nearby Cathedral of San Siro . Then continue with the visit to the Civic Museumthen move to the Ariston Theater which we remember is not possible to visit, so it will take you just the time to take some photos. Move now towards the outside of the historic center where you will find the Regina Elena Gardens where you can enjoy a nice walk, a little relaxation and a breathtaking view. In the meantime, it will be lunchtime and we recommend the nearby Chez Antoine restaurant.
Afternoon : after lunch, resume your journey and reach the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Costa, then return to the historic center and choose whether to retrieve the car or continue on foot because it is time to move towards the Promenade of the Empress .. Take your time to admire the boulevards, beaches and views, then stop and visit the Russian Orthodox Church .
Evening : for the evening we recommend spending some time at the Casino di Sanremo, but first a tasty dinner in the immediate vicinity of the La Vita e Bella restaurant.
One day itinerary at a glance
- Breakfast at Dolcenove – Get directions
- Cathedral of San Siro – opening hours: always open – ticket price: free
- Civic Museum – opening hours: from Tuesday to Saturday from 8:30 to 18:30 – ticket price: full € 5.00 – reduced € 3.00
- Ariston Theater – opening hours: depends on the show – ticket cost: depends on the show
- Giardini Regina Elena – opening hours: always open – ticket price: free
- Lunch at Chez Antoine – Get directions
- Sanctuary of the Madonna della Costa – opening hours: always open – ticket price: free
- Promenade of the Empress – opening hours: always open – ticket price: free
- Russian Orthodox Church – opening hours: always open – ticket price: free
- Dinner at La Vita e Bella Restaurant – Get directions
- Casino di Sanremo – opening hours: every day from 10:00 to 2:30 at night – ticket price: free
Where to eat in Sanremo
- Chez Antoine serves one of the best pizzas in Sanremo with the possibility of pizza by the meter and eating some classic fish-based dishes
Average price per person: € 20.00
Address and contacts: Via Francia, 26 – Get directions / tel: 0184 506650 - La Vita e Bella Mediterranean cuisine revisited based on fresh fish and genuine local ingredients
Average price per person: € 32.00
Address and contacts: Corso degli Inglesi, 9 – Get directions / tel: 0184 591481 - Cantine Sanremesi typical Ligurian cuisine with homemade fish-based dishes and fresh pasta in an informal setting
Average price per person: € 20.00
Address and contacts: Via Palazzo, 7 Get directions / tel: 0184 572063
What to do in the evening: nightlife areas and the best clubs
In a place like Sanremo you cannot miss out on nightlife and entertainment. The Sanremo nightlife is concentrated outside the historic center, mainly close to the beach , where there are many different clubs, from the most informal to the most elegant, with proposals for aperitifs, aperitifs, cocktails and music with DJs.
- Club Eagles : an alternative nightclub that offers Balkan music every day until late at night
Address: Via S. Francesco Get directions / Facebook page - Bar Pico de Gallo : cocktail bar on the beach offering creative drinks and DJ sets with contemporary music
Address: Lungomare Vittorio Emanuele II – Get directions / Facebook page - Victory Morgana Bay : elegant restaurant offering happy hour with excellent cocktails accompanied by DJ sets, Mediterranean menu or sushi
Address: Corso Trento e Trieste, 16 Get directions / Facebook page - Bay Club : since 2015 it has been the most beautiful nightclub in the entire Ligurian Riviera. The restaurant is located a few steps from the center, right on the seafront, adjacent to the Victory Morgana Bay.
Address: Corso Trento e Trieste, 12 Get directions / Facebook page
Plan your stay in Sanremo: info and useful tips
- How to get there: it is possible to reach Sanremo by landing both at Nice Airport, in France, which is 50 km away, and at Genoa Airport, 130 km away, and in both cases reach the city by car or by train. Arriving directly by train is very simple thanks to the multiple connections with Milan and Turin, different regional solutions that connect all of Liguria and other lines arriving from France and even Spain. By bus, on the other hand, it is possible to arrive from Genoa with several daily departures to Sanremo. Finally, by car, just take the A10 motorway and take the Sanremo Est or Sanremo Ovest exit.
- How to get around : the city is well equipped with urban public transport but the historic center and the immediate surroundings can also be visited on foot as all the attractions are not far from each other
- Where to park : the city has many free and paid parking lots. The most convenient is the Autosilo Colombo, very central but also very expensive (Get directions). Two other covered but cheaper car parks are located in Corso Garibaldi (Get directions) and in the parallel Via Volta (Get directions) where you can also find outdoor parking spaces but always for a fee. The free seats, on the other hand, are found mainly on the Italo Calvino seafront (Get directions) and near Porto Sole (Get directions)
- Where to sleep: Hotels and b & b from € 48.00 per room – see the offers
- What to see in the surroundings : they are equally interesting, for example you can visit the city of Imperia which is 42 minutes away by car (Get directions), or Bordighera (Get directions), the elegant village that inspires Monet, located at 21 minutes, or Ventimiglia (Get directions), with its mix of history and art located almost on the border with France and 27 minutes from Sanremo, and finally the medieval villages Dolceacqua (Get directions) and Apricale (Get directions) also known as terre oil and wine of the Ligurian Riviera which are respectively 43 and 47 minutes away.
