One of the advantages of staying in Sanremo is that France is just around the corner. The border is about twenty kilometres away, and in 30–60 minutes by car you are in Menton, Monaco or Nice. You can have breakfast on the Ligurian Riviera, lunch on the Côte d'Azur and be back for dinner, without changing hotels or packing your bags.
In this guide you will find how to get there, how long it takes and three tried-and-tested itineraries.
Journey times and distances
Driving times are approximate, in normal traffic; in summer and at weekends they can increase considerably.
| Destination | Distance from Sanremo | By car | By train |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menton | about 30 km | about 30–35 min | about 30–40 min, change at Ventimiglia |
| Monaco – Monte-Carlo | about 45 km | about 45–50 min | about 1 h – 1 h 15, change at Ventimiglia |
| Èze | about 55 km | about 55 min | train to Èze-sur-Mer, then bus or footpath |
| Nice | about 60 km | about 1 h | about 1 h 15 – 1 h 30, change at Ventimiglia |
Train or car?
By train
This is the most relaxed option. From Sanremo, take a regional train to Ventimiglia (about 15 minutes) and change there to the French regional trains on the coastal line, which run to Menton, Monaco and Nice several times an hour. From Ventimiglia it takes about 25 minutes to Monaco and about 50 to Nice.
Pros: no parking, no traffic, sea views. Cons: you depend on the timetable, and connections at Ventimiglia can make the journey longer. Always check the last trains back in the evening.
By car
Take the A10 motorway towards Ventimiglia, which continues as the A8 across the border. There are tolls on both sides of the border. A car is convenient for Èze and the hill villages, but in Monaco and Nice parking is expensive and difficult: use multi-storey car parks and get around on foot.
Documents
Italy, France and Monaco are in the Schengen area and there are no systematic checks, but there may be spot checks at the border. Always carry your identity card or passport. Monaco uses the euro, even though it is not part of the European Union.
Itinerary 1: Menton and Monaco
The classic route, and the easiest by train.
- Menton, in the morning. The first French town after the border: a colourful old town climbing up the hill, the basilica of Saint-Michel with its forecourt overlooking the sea, the covered market and the Jean Cocteau museum. In February there is the Fête du Citron, the lemon festival: check the dates if you are travelling then.
- Monaco, at midday. Head up to the Rock (le Rocher): every day at 11:55 the changing of the guard takes place in front of the Prince's Palace and lasts a few minutes. Arrive a quarter of an hour early to get a good view.
- Afternoon in Monaco. The Oceanographic Museum, on the cliff, is open every day (longer hours in summer). Then walk down to the harbour and up to Monte-Carlo to see the Casino square and gardens.
- Return by train from Monaco station, which is partly underground.
Itinerary 2: Nice in a day
- Morning: arrive at Nice-Ville station and walk down to the centre.
- Vieux-Nice: the old town, with narrow lanes, Baroque churches and the Cours Saleya, home to the flower and produce market (on Mondays there is an antiques market).
- Castle Hill: walk up or take the lift for views over the Baie des Anges and the harbour.
- Afternoon: a stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, the seafront of about 7 kilometres, and perhaps a swim.
- Return by train, changing at Ventimiglia.
If you like art, Nice has museums dedicated to Matisse and Chagall: consider setting aside half a day for them.
Itinerary 3: by car, Èze and the Moyenne Corniche
- Èze, a medieval village perched about 400 metres above the sea, with the Jardin Exotique at the top and views that stretch as far as Corsica on clear days.
- Villefranche-sur-Mer, a small bay with a fishing harbour and a citadel.
- Return along the coast, stopping in Monaco or Menton for an aperitivo.
On this itinerary a car makes all the difference: the hill villages are awkward to reach by public transport.
Practical tips
- Set off early. In summer, traffic between Ventimiglia and Monaco is heavy from late morning onwards.
- Avoid big event days, such as the Monaco Grand Prix weekend in May, unless you are going for it: the city is packed and roads are closed.
- Comfortable shoes. Menton, Monaco and Èze are all uphill.
- Eating. Prices on the Côte d'Azur are on average higher than on the Ligurian Riviera: Menton and Nice's old town have good options for a simple lunch.
- Phone. With a European plan, roaming in France works just as it does in Italy; in Monaco it may not be included: check with your provider.
Why Sanremo is the right base
Staying in Sanremo and visiting the Côte d'Azur on day trips lets you have your home in Italy, at Italian prices, with France an hour away. If you plan to go to France often, choose a home near Sanremo station, or consider Bordighera and Ospedaletti, even closer to the border. Read Where to stay in Sanremo and find your home on Search.