Soggiorna
There is one thing about Sanremo's beaches that doesn't exist on other Ligurian coasts: they can all be reached by bike. Where the railway used to run, there is now a flat, traffic-free route, and the beaches hang just below it, one after another.
This changes how you plan your day. You don't need to pick a beach in the morning and stay there; you can take a bike or walk and stop wherever you see space available.
What kind of sea is it?
The coastline alternates between sand and pebbles, so it's good to know this before imagining white sandy shores: here you switch from sandy stretches to mixed areas within just a few hundred meters, with equipped sections coexisting with free-access spots.
If you're looking for fine sand and a gently sloping seabed, you'll need to move about fifteen minutes away — details below.
I Tre Ponti
This is the largest free-access beach in the Sanremo area, and it has something most free beaches lack: facilities, including toilets and showers.
That makes it the practical default choice. For the same reason, it's also the busiest on August weekends: if you want peace and quiet, go in the morning.
Capo Pino
Another name that always comes up when discussing Sanremo's sea, located on the opposite side from the center. It serves as an alternative when Tre Ponti is full, and it's the kind of spot you find by chance while cycling along the path without having planned it.
Bussana Mare
Bussana is Sanremo's main hamlet and is divided into three parts: Bussana Nuova, Bussana Vecchia — the artists' village, which is a different story and has its own guide — and Bussana Mare, the part with the beach, overlooking a bay.
It lies to the east, beyond the city, and can be reached by bike along the cycle path or by bus.
If you have young children: Arma di Taggia
We mention this even though it isn't in Sanremo, because it's the right answer to the right question. Arma di Taggia, just over fifteen minutes by car, offers Blue Flag waters with sandy beaches and a shallow seabed: it's the place where a child who can't swim can play in the water without needing to hold an adult's hand.
In Sanremo, the seabed isn't like that, and pretending otherwise would mean spending the day watching instead of relaxing.
The Cycle Path, and Why It Changes Your Day at the Beach
It's worth knowing what this is, because it's not a track built alongside a road. In 2001, the single-track railway running along the coast was dismantled and moved inland, and on its former route, the "Riviera dei Fiori" Coastal Park path was born: 24 kilometers between Ospedaletti and San Lorenzo al Mare, flat because they were rails, with no intersections and no cars. Between Imperia and Ospedaletti, following the 2023 works, you can ride for 28 kilometers.
The practical result is that the beach isn't a destination but a stop. You leave with your towel, pedal for ten minutes, get off where there's space, and if you don't like it, you get back on and continue — something you can't do on a coast served only by the Aurelia highway.
There's also an effect nobody mentions: the cycle path runs above the beaches, so from up high you can see how crowded they are before you descend.
How to Get There
- By bike or on foot, along the cycle path: this is how this coast is designed to be enjoyed.
- By bus, using local Riviera Trasporti lines, which connect the center to the beaches and nearby towns.
- By car, keeping in mind that in high season the problem isn't the road but finding parking.
Details on trains, highways, and parking will be covered in a separate guide, currently in preparation.
Which One to Choose
- First time, with facilities: Tre Ponti.
- With children who can't swim: Arma of Taggia, for the shallow seabed.
- For peace and quiet: early morning, wherever you happen to stop coming down from the cycle path.
- For a different kind of day: Bussana Mare, then head up to Bussana Vecchia in the mid-afternoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest beach in Sanremo?
The free-access beach at Tre Ponti, the most extensive in the area, and one of the few free beaches with toilets and showers.
Are Sanremo's beaches sandy or pebbly?
They alternate between the two: you switch from sandy stretches to mixed areas within just a few hundred meters, with equipped and free-access sections close together.
What is the best beach in Sanremo for children?
For a child who can't swim, the right choice isn't in Sanremo: it's Arma di Taggia, just over fifteen minutes by car, with sandy beaches and a shallow seabed. Within the city, Tre Ponti remains the most convenient for its facilities.
Can you go to the beach in Sanremo without a car?
Yes, and it's the best way: the cycle path created from the old railway runs above the entire coastline, and Riviera Trasporti bus lines connect the center to the beaches and nearby towns.
What is Bussana Mare?
The seaside part of Bussana, Sanremo's main hamlet, which is divided into Bussana Nuova, Bussana Vecchia, and Bussana Mare. It overlooks a bay and is reachable by bike along the cycle path.