Things to Do in San Remo Italy

San Remo, Italy is a nice town on the Italian Riviera coast of the Ligurian Region. There are some cool sights to see and I will share with you all the things to do in San Remo Italy!

I discovered this new area during the first week of 2024. We were on a quest to find warmer, sunnier weather away from bitter cold Switzerland. The temperatures on the Italian coast at this time were 14-16 Celsius (57-60 Fahrenheit), and we had two sunny days to enjoy.

The first day we walked from our AirBnB to the town. There is a very convenient bike and walking path that stretches 24 kilometers on the coast between the towns of San Lorenzo al Mare and Ospedaletti. My partner brought his bike with us and took advantage each morning to ride on the long scenic path. 

Giardini Nobel

As we arrived into town by foot, we first saw the green park called Giardini Nobel, a pleasant garden established by Alfred Nobel when he lived in San Remo. There were huge trees and decorative water fountains in the park.

Santuario Madonna della Costa

One of the highlights that I definitely wanted to see was the Madonna della Costa church which is situated high above the town and reachable by a foot path. This church, dating from the 17th-century, is one of the most significant religious buildings in the city.

The inside of the church is worth a look to see the exquisite marble decor. There is a mosaic stone path leading up to the church lined by scenic trees. We took several pictures from this angle.

Depending on the path you take to reach the church, you will most likely walk through a beautiful park called Regina Elena Gardens (Queen Elena Gardens in English). Offering panoramic views over Old San Remo and the gulf, this park was dedicated to the beloved Queen Jelena of Montenegro, who visited San Remo quite frequently. She’s often referred to as Queen Elena of Italy because she served this role from 1900 until 1946.

La Pigna

The old town and historic area of San Remo is called Pigna and dates from the 11th century. This district is also called the ‘pine cone’ for its characteristic formation, a labyrinth of alleys, stairways, arches, and covered passages. You will walk under stone arches and through tunnels with small boutiques.

We came across an open courtyard that had a small restaurant with outdoor seating. It was the perfect place for a cozy lunch. The food in San Remo was delicious. They have all the typical Italian dishes. I especially enjoyed the ravioli and seafood dishes.

Ventimiglia

One day we chose to drive 40 minutes to the small town of Ventimiglia. We didn’t explore too much of the old town but instead chose to have a relaxing lunch on the beach. It was a mild day for early January (16 degrees celsius).

Summary

In summary, we enjoyed our few days in the San Remo area. My only recommendation would be to visit in the Spring or Fall when the weather is nicer to enjoy the city. It was very quiet for our time there in early January, and many places were closed for the winter months.

There is a popular flower festival and parade during March. There is also a well known music competition during the month of February. I’m sure there is more to discover of San Remo!

Other places worth visiting when in San Remo include:

• Village of Bussana Vecchia (we tried to get there but the roads were closed)
• Villa Ormond and Villa Nobel, near the Giardini Nobel park (we didn’t make time to go inside these villas)
• Russian Orthodox Church (very pretty on the outside)
• Casinò Municipale (we passed by the outside)
• Teatro Ariston where the annual music competition is held

I hope you’ve learned about the things to do in San Remo Italy. I was happy to see this part of the Italian coast as our first trip of 2024!

If you’re looking for other places to visit in Italy, check out my below posts!

• Verona Italy in Two Days
• 2 Day Itinerary for Bologna Italy
• Hidden Gems of Italy

If you are looking for assistance to plan your next trip, I am here for YOU! I love to plan travel itineraries for myself and others. For more details on how I provide this service, please check out my Itinerary Planning page and drop me a quick email at jan@janadventures.com to get started!