10 Activities
Road Trip to Sanremo on the Italian Riviera
Starts from
Nice
Transportation
By Car
Guidance
Self-Guided
Activities
10
Duration
12 hours
Length
21 mi
Guide details
Starts from
Nice
Transportation
By Car
Guidance
Self-Guided
Duration
12 hours
Length
21 mi
Emily Zanier
Blogger
- Cross the border to go explore a bit of Italy.
- Discover Sanremo, the Italian Monte Carlo.
- Visit some caves, gardens and Ventimiglia right after the border.
- Enjoy the Italian food and wines.
On this cross-border one day road trip, you will explore the best sites right after the French-Italian border. Ventimiglia is the first town you find in Italy, and it has a nice, colourful historical centre. It is also well-known for the Friday market. Sanremo is considered the Italian Monte Carlo, with its beautiful villas and casino Belle Epoque.
You will also enjoy the beautiful views of nature by the sea, and many gardens full of flowers. The climate is very pleasant in this area, and you will eat delicious Italian food with Ligurian specialities. Please remember your ID card or passport since you are crossing a border. You will also need it to enter the casino.
You will also enjoy the beautiful views of nature by the sea, and many gardens full of flowers. The climate is very pleasant in this area, and you will eat delicious Italian food with Ligurian specialities. Please remember your ID card or passport since you are crossing a border. You will also need it to enter the casino.
On this cross-border one day road trip, you will explore the best sites right after the French-Italian border. Ventimiglia is the first town you find in Italy, and it has a nice, colourful historical centre. It is also well-known for the Friday market. Sanremo is considered the Italian Monte Carlo, with its beautiful villas and casino Belle Epoque.
You will also enjoy the beautiful views of nature by the sea, and many gardens full of flowers. The climate is very pleasant in this area, and you will eat delicious Italian food with Ligurian specialities. Please remember your ID card or passport since you are crossing a border. You will also need it to enter the casino.
You will also enjoy the beautiful views of nature by the sea, and many gardens full of flowers. The climate is very pleasant in this area, and you will eat delicious Italian food with Ligurian specialities. Please remember your ID card or passport since you are crossing a border. You will also need it to enter the casino.
Emily Zanier
Blogger
- Cross the border to go explore a bit of Italy.
- Discover Sanremo, the Italian Monte Carlo.
- Visit some caves, gardens and Ventimiglia right after the border.
- Enjoy the Italian food and wines.
Day Itinerary
10 Activities
Day 1
21 mi3 mi
The Best Sites Right after the Border of Italy
You will drive across the border to Italy. You will visit some caves, gardens and the nice town of Ventimiglia right after the border in the morning, and then you will spend the afternoon and evening in Sanremo, the Italian Monte Carlo.
09:451 hr
Balzi Rossi Prehistoric Museum
Museum
Open Details
Right after crossing the border between France and Italy, you have this archaeological museum and caves. Two skeletons were found here in 1901, they are estimated to be 26000 to 22000 years old. The site is also located next to a nice small beach.
3 mi
10 min
11:001 hr
Hanbury Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Open Details
The Hanbury botanical garden is planted with 5800 botanical species from five continents with tropical plants like palm trees, citrus orchards, cacti, etc. It is located around the villa established by English businessman Sir Thomas Hanbury in 1867, the property has 18 hectares. It is now a protected area under the care of the University of Genoa.
3.5 mi
10 min
12:151 hr
Pasta & Basta
Italian Restaurant
Open Details
Have lunch at this nice restaurant near the seafront with local Ligurian specialities. They have house-made fresh pasta with all kinds of sauces, including a good pesto. Try the local wine Pigato with it.
0.3 mi
10 min
13:301 hr
Santa Maria Assunta
Church
Open Details
Walk around the historical centre of Ventimiglia which is a small medieval village on a hill. There are nice squares with olive trees, narrow cobblestone streets, photogenic churches.
The cathedral is a must-see, it was built in the 13th century and still has some elements from that time, like the columns, the portal, and the baptistry inside.
Ventimiglia is most well-known for its Friday market called Mercato del Venerdi, which happens every Friday morning across the river in the new part of town. You can find good bargains there. Don't miss it if you visit on Friday.
The cathedral is a must-see, it was built in the 13th century and still has some elements from that time, like the columns, the portal, and the baptistry inside.
Ventimiglia is most well-known for its Friday market called Mercato del Venerdi, which happens every Friday morning across the river in the new part of town. You can find good bargains there. Don't miss it if you visit on Friday.
14.9 mi
30 min
15:0030 min
Russian Orthodox Church
Church
Open Details
Visit this beautiful Russian church with its beautiful domes, it was designed by Alexei Shchusev, who also designed the Mausoleum for Lenin in Moscow. It was built in 1906 for the Russian community that followed Maria Alexandrovna the wife of Tsar Alexander II, who went to Sanremo.
0.5 mi
10 min
15:451 hr
The Civic Museum of Sanremo
Museum
Open Details
The civic museum of Sanremo is interesting to visit, even just for the building itself. It is housed in a 17th century Italian palace, Palazzo Nota. Take a look at the nice frescoes on the ceiling while you visit. It showcases local prehistoric and Roman archaeological finds, as well as paintings and sculptures. There are also some temporary exhibits.
0.2 mi
5 min
17:0045 min
La Pigna di Sanremo
Historic Site
Open Details
Walk up to the old town of Sanremo, it is located on a hill just above the city center. At the top, there is a nice terrace named Giardini Regina Elena with pine trees and beautiful views of the surroundings. Walk around the charming cobblestone narrow streets to observe the medieval houses.
1 mi
20 min
18:151 hr
Nobel Gardens
Park
Open Details
To get here, you can walk by the sea and along the port to enjoy nice views and a pleasant stroll. Then walk around these gardens to admire the very pleasant villas with beautiful architecture, like Villa Ormond and Villa Nobel. There is also a Flower Museum, as Sanremo is quite renowned for its flowers. Of course, it is more beautiful if you visit when the flowers bloom.
0.6 mi
15 min
19:301 hr
A Cuvea
Restaurant
Open Details
Have dinner at this nice restaurant with Italian specialities. Seafood is a great option here.
0.6 mi
15 min
20:4530 min
Casinò di Sanremo
Casino
Open Details
The casino of Sanremo is a beautiful building with Belle Epoque style architecture. It was built in 1905 and was designed by Parisian architect Eugenio Ferret. That is one of the reasons why Sanremo is called the Italian Monte Carlo. Inside, there are more than 400 slot machines.