Sanremo is long and narrow: a strip of town between the sea and the hills, with the centre at sea level and residential neighbourhoods climbing up in terraces. That is why the area you stay in makes a big difference to your holiday. In the centre you do everything on foot; on the hillside you get more quiet and more view, but you need a car or the bus. And 10–15 minutes away there are two alternatives many people overlook: Bordighera and Ospedaletti.
In this guide you will find the areas one by one, with pros, cons and who they suit.
The areas at a glance
| Area | Atmosphere | On foot from the centre | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centre | lively, shops and bars | you are already there | first visit, the Festival, no car |
| Pigna | medieval quarter, quiet | 5–10 min | couples, keen walkers |
| Seafront | sea and cycle path | 5–15 min | summer, families, active travellers |
| Semeria | residential, spacious | 25–30 min or bus | groups, long stays, travellers with a car |
| Bussana | sea to the east, calmer | by car or bike | beach, cycling, families |
| Coldirodi | hillside, wide views | by car | quiet, panoramas, remote working |
| Bordighera | elegant small town | 10 min by train | relaxing, walks, gardens |
| Ospedaletti | small seaside village | 10–15 min by bus | sea, cycle path, peace and quiet |
Times are approximate. Each of our apartment listings shows the distance from the sea and from the Teatro Ariston.
Centre: everything on foot
The centre runs from the Casino to piazza Colombo and includes via Matteotti, the pedestrian street with the Teatro Ariston, via Palazzo and corso Garibaldi. Here you will find shops, bars, the covered market and the station, about 15 minutes' walk away.
- Pros: you do not need a car, you walk home in the evening, you are close to everything.
- Cons: more noise, especially at weekends and during Festival week; parking is difficult.
- Who it suits: first-time visitors to Sanremo, people coming for the Festival or for work, anyone travelling by train.
Pigna: the medieval quarter
The Pigna is the old town, which grew up around the year 1000. It spirals up from the market square to the sanctuary of the Madonna della Costa, through covered alleys, arches and stairways. At the top are the Regina Elena gardens, with views over the harbour.
- Pros: an authentic atmosphere, quiet evenings, a few minutes from the centre.
- Cons: slopes and steps everywhere, no car outside the door.
- Who it suits: couples and travellers who love walking. If you have heavy luggage, ask in advance how many steps there are.
Find out more in our guide to the Pigna, Sanremo's old town.
Seafront: sea and cycle path
The seafront runs from palm-lined corso Imperatrice to the lungomare Italo Calvino and the Capo Pino area to the west, and from Porto Vecchio towards Portosole to the east. The Riviera dei Fiori cycle path, built on the old railway line, runs along the whole coast.
- Pros: the beach on your doorstep, walks and bike rides every day, often a sea view.
- Cons: in summer it is the most sought-after area; some seafront homes are close to the road.
- Who it suits: families, people coming for the sea, anyone who wants to cycle.
The beaches are covered in the guide Beaches in Sanremo.
Semeria: space and calm
The via Padre Semeria area climbs the hill east of the centre. It is a residential neighbourhood with newer buildings, often with a lift, a terrace or a garage. You reach the centre by bus or with a downhill walk.
- Pros: larger apartments, easier parking, prices often lower than in the centre.
- Cons: you need the bus or a car to get to the centre, and the way back is uphill.
- Who it suits: groups, families with a car, work trips and long stays.
Bussana: the sea to the east and the artists' village
Bussana is the district east of Sanremo, towards Arma di Taggia. Down below is Bussana Nuova, rebuilt near the sea after the 1887 earthquake. On the hill is Bussana Vecchia, the village destroyed by the earthquake and repopulated by artists from the 1960s, now full of studios and workshops.
- Pros: wide beaches such as Cala degli Orsi, the cycle path close by, less traffic.
- Cons: it takes 10–15 minutes by car or bike to reach central Sanremo.
- Who it suits: people looking for sea and tranquillity, cyclists, families with children.
Coldirodi: the hillside with a view
Coldirodi is a village on the hill to the west, above Capo Pino. From the church square the view takes in the coast as far as Capo Nero. The village is home to the Pinacoteca Rambaldi, an art collection donated to the village.
- Pros: quiet, cool air in summer, sunsets over the sea, outdoor space.
- Cons: you need a car; the roads are narrow and winding.
- Who it suits: remote workers, people looking for rest, anyone who has already seen the centre.
Outside Sanremo: Bordighera and Ospedaletti
Bordighera
About 10 minutes west by train, Bordighera is the town of palm trees. It has the lungomare Argentina, a pedestrian promenade of about 2 kilometres, the old village on the hill and the gardens where Claude Monet painted in 1884. Its beaches have the 2026 Blue Flag. It moves at a slower pace than Sanremo and suits people looking to relax. Read the guide Bordighera: what to see and browse the homes at /bordighera.
Ospedaletti
Between Sanremo and Bordighera, Ospedaletti is a small seaside town with Liberty-style villas and a quiet promenade. It no longer has a railway station: the line was moved inland in 2001, and the cycle path now runs where the tracks used to be. From Sanremo you get there by bus, bike or car in 10–15 minutes. Read the guide Ospedaletti: what to see and see the homes at /ospedaletti.
Parking and getting around
Central Sanremo has many pedestrian and limited-traffic zones, and street parking is almost always paid. If you are coming by car:
- ask in advance whether the home has a parking space or a partner garage nearby;
- in the centre and the Pigna, consider leaving the car in a multi-storey car park for your whole stay;
- on the hillside, in Semeria and Coldirodi, a car is almost essential.
To get around without a car there are town buses, the trolleybus linking Sanremo with Ospedaletti and Ventimiglia along the coast, regional trains to Bordighera and Taggia and, of course, the cycle path.
How to choose: four questions
- Do you have a car? If not, choose the Centre, the Pigna or the seafront, or Bordighera near the station.
- Are you coming for the sea? The seafront, Bussana or Ospedaletti.
- Are you coming for the Festival or for work? The Centre or Porto Vecchio, within walking distance of the Ariston. Read Sanremo Festival: where to stay.
- Are you travelling as a group or for several weeks? Semeria or Coldirodi give you more space for the same budget.
When to book
Demand in Sanremo has three peaks: Festival week in February, July and August, and the spring bank holidays. At these times, homes in the centre and on the seafront are booked months ahead and often have a longer minimum stay. If your dates are flexible, May, June, September and October offer sea, mild weather and more choice. In winter, outside the Festival, you will find the best conditions for long stays and remote working: read Sanremo out of season.
Holiday home or hotel?
An apartment gives you a kitchen, more space and the option of separate bedrooms, which is useful for families and groups. A hotel gives you a reception desk and breakfast. If you are staying more than three or four nights, a kitchen and a washing machine make a real difference. You will find the full comparison in Holiday home or hotel in Sanremo?.
With Abitare you choose from apartments in all these areas, with the price for nights and cleaning shown straight away and online check-in, where you also pay the tourist tax. You can filter by dates, guests and town on Search, or start from the Sanremo page.