Nice is an excellent choice for a day trip from Sanremo. The largest city on the French Riviera combines a beautiful Mediterranean waterfront with colorful old streets, markets, museums and an energetic café culture. You can spend a full day here without running out of things to see, and the journey offers an opportunity to experience both the Italian and French sides of the Riviera.
Getting from Sanremo to Nice
The train is usually the most convenient option. Travel from Sanremo to Ventimiglia, the Italian border town, and change there to a French regional TER train towards Nice. Depending on connections, the journey typically takes around one and a half to two hours each way. Nice-Ville station is a useful arrival point for exploring the city on foot or by tram.
Check timetables with Trenitalia and SNCF before traveling, particularly for the last connections back to Sanremo. Tickets for the Italian and French sections may be sold separately. Driving is possible via the coastal motorway, but parking, tolls and city traffic can make the train more relaxing.
Walk along the Promenade des Anglais
Start your visit with the famous Promenade des Anglais, which runs beside the sweeping Bay of Angels. Palm trees, grand hotels and the blue Mediterranean make it one of the best-known waterfront walks in Europe. Stop for photographs or a coffee and enjoy the changing views along the shoreline. The beaches are generally pebbly rather than sandy, so suitable footwear is useful if you plan to swim.
Explore Vieux Nice and Cours Saleya
From the waterfront, head into Vieux Nice, the old town. Its narrow lanes are filled with colorful buildings, small shops, churches and places to eat. The Cours Saleya market area is a lively place to browse flowers and produce when the market is operating. It is also a good neighborhood for lunch.
Try socca, a thin chickpea-flour pancake that is a specialty of Nice, or choose another traditional Niçois dish. A relaxed lunch in the old town is one of the highlights of the excursion.
Enjoy the views from Castle Hill
For one of the finest panoramas in Nice, visit Colline du Château, also called Castle Hill. Despite the name, the former castle is no longer standing, but the park offers sweeping views over the bay, rooftops and port. Paths and steps lead uphill, and lift access may be available depending on current operations.
More to see if time allows
Art lovers can explore the city’s museums, including those devoted to Matisse and Chagall, although fitting several museum visits into one day may feel rushed. Another option is to wander around Place Masséna and the central shopping streets before returning to the railway station.
Tips for your day trip
Leave Sanremo early to make the most of your time in Nice. Bring comfortable walking shoes, water and sun protection during warmer months. France and Italy both use the euro, so there is no need to exchange currency. Check the return train connections in advance, especially if you plan to stay for dinner.
A day in Nice offers a lively contrast to Sanremo: grand boulevards, a bustling old town and one of the Riviera’s most celebrated seafronts. It is a rewarding excursion whether you are visiting for the architecture, the food or simply the Mediterranean atmosphere.