Sanremo
Sanremo is 495 km from Geneva Airport, about 5 h 15 by road, with the route crossing the border into Italy, passing through Piedmont and reaching the Ligurian coast before heading west along the Riviera. Known as the city of flowers, it combines a belle époque seafront, a medieval hilltop quarter and a famous casino, all close to the French border. AirportsTransfers.ch drives you there directly, a comfortable alternative to several train changes.
- Distance from GVA: 495 km by road
- Drive time: about 5 h 15
- Border crossing: the route crosses the border into Italy
- Best for: seaside stays, winter sun, cycling, Riviera touring
- Getting there: private transfer, or train with changes via Turin or Genoa
Getting from Geneva Airport to Sanremo
The route crosses the Alps into Italy, often through the Aosta valley, and continues across Piedmont towards Turin and the coast. Reaching the sea near Savona, the A10 motorway runs west along the Riviera through tunnels and viaducts with glimpses of the Mediterranean. Sanremo lies near the western end of the Italian coast, not far from Ventimiglia and France.
A train journey generally means two changes, and Sanremo's station is underground, set back from the seafront, which complicates the last stretch with luggage. A private transfer avoids all of that and gets you to your hotel, apartment or villa on the hillside.
The city of flowers
Sanremo grew as a winter resort in the nineteenth century, when European aristocrats came for its mild climate. Elegant villas and the Corso Imperatrice, a palm-lined promenade named after Empress Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, recall that era, as does the onion-domed Russian Orthodox Church. The Art Nouveau casino, still one of the city's landmarks, stands near the main shopping street, Via Matteotti.
Flower growing has long been a major activity in the surrounding hills, giving the coast its name, the Riviera dei Fiori. Above the modern town, La Pigna is the medieval quarter, a maze of steep alleys, covered passages and stairways, rising to gardens and the sanctuary of the Madonna della Costa, from where the view over the bay is wide. Sanremo is also known in Italy for its annual song festival, and the Milan to Sanremo cycle race finishes in its streets.
The seaside and the cycle path
Sanremo's coastline mixes beach clubs, small free beaches and the harbour, where yachts sit alongside fishing boats. One of the highlights is the coastal cycle and walking path built on the old railway line. It runs for many kilometres along the sea, through former tunnels and past villages, making it ideal for gentle rides with children. Bikes are easy to rent in town.
Ligurian food is light and aromatic: pesto, focaccia, sardenaira, a local pizza-like bread, and dishes with olives from the Taggiasca variety, plus fresh fish and herb-filled vegetables. The covered market near the old town is a good place to discover local produce.
Where to stay and day trips
Hotels along the seafront and in the centre put you near the promenade, shops and casino. The hillsides offer villas and apartments with sea views, often reached by narrow, winding roads, where a private transfer makes arrival much easier. Families often stay near the cycle path, for easy access to the sea.
Bordighera, with its gardens and palm trees, is just to the west, and the medieval village of Dolceacqua, with its castle and humpback bridge, lies in a valley inland. The Hanbury Botanical Gardens near the French border are a popular outing, and Menton, Monaco and Nice are all close enough for a day trip. With a chauffeur by the hour, crossing between the Italian and French Riviera is effortless.
Practical tips
Sanremo enjoys a mild climate year round, which makes it pleasant in spring, autumn and even winter. Summer is the busiest period, with heavy traffic on the coastal road. Many streets in the centre are pedestrian or one-way, so give the exact address of your accommodation when booking.
If you plan to cross into France for the day, Menton is only a short drive away and the coastal road continues to Monaco and Nice. Some travellers combine a stay in Sanremo with a few nights on the French Riviera, and a transfer can be split into legs at fixed prices. For the return to Geneva, allow time for possible slowdowns on the A10, where roadworks in tunnels are frequent.
How to book
Booking with AirportsTransfers.ch is done online in a few steps: select the vehicle, see the fixed price and pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The chauffeur meets you in arrivals with a name sign and tracks your flight. Child seats can be requested, and the V-Class carries up to seven passengers with luggage. A return trip can be booked at the same time. Contact us around the clock on +41 78 346 56 77, by phone or WhatsApp.
