San Remo’s two main thoroughfares are Via Roma and Corso Matteotti. Corso Matteotti runs between Piazza Colombo, with its flower market, and the casino, passing through the heart of the bustling, pedestrian-only business district. Here you can shop, sit in cafes, and do a bit of true Italy people-watching. Midway along Corso Matteotti, turn north on Via Feraldi to reach the charming older precincts of town. From Piazza Mercato, Via Montà leads into the medieval quarter, La Pigna, set on a hill shaped like a pinecone (la pigna in Italian). Aside from a few restaurants, La Pigna is a residential quarter, with tall old houses overshadowing narrow lanes that twist and turn up the hillside, with the park-enclosed ruins of a castle at the top.
Visiting the Casino
San Remo’s white palace of a casino (www.casinosanremo.it; (tel) 0184-5951), set intimidatingly atop a long flight of steps across from the old train station and enclosed on three sides by Corso degli Inglesi, is the hub of the local nightlife scene. You can’t set foot inside without being properly attired (jacket for gents Oct–June) and showing your passport. You must be 18 or older to enter. Poker tables start at 2€ games, but the more serious tables attract high rollers from the length of the Riviera. Gaming rooms are open daily 2:30pm to 2:30am (Fri and Sat nights 3pm–3:30am). Things are more relaxed in the rooms set aside for slot machines, where there is no dress code. They are open Sunday to Thursday 10am to 2:30am and Friday and Saturday 10am to 3:30am.
A Day at the Beach
The pebbly beach below the Passeggiata dell’Imperatrice is lined with beach stations, where many visitors choose to spend their days: It's easy to linger here, because most provide showers, snack bars, beach chairs, lounges, and umbrellas. Expect to spend up to 15€ for a basic lounge, but more like 20€ for a more elaborate sun-bed arrangement with umbrella. Note: As is standard at most European resort towns without “public” sections of beach (which are usually not very nice anyway), you cannot go onto the beach without paying for at least a lounge chair in high season.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
