Sanremo food tour: 11 tastings through Medieval caruggi streets

The caruggi streets feed you the way locals have eaten for generations.

A 3-hour walking food tour through Sanremo's Medieval town (La Pigna) and its characteristic narrow caruggi streets, led by a local English-speaking guide with 11 food and wine tastings including focaccia, pesto, olive oil, two local wines, and gelato. Groups stay small, between 4 and 12 people, and the tour visits the city's fruit and vegetable market away from the main tourist areas.

The experience

The tour starts in front of the Sanremo Casino and moves through the caruggi (the tight, winding streets that define the Medieval quarter) stopping at vendors who have been feeding locals for generations. You taste your way through Ligurian specialties: focaccia, sardenaira (a traditional onion and anchovy tart), torta di verdura, and focaccia with cheese. At a local bakery, you sample bacio di Sanremo, a small cake that belongs to the town. The guide walks you through the fruit and vegetable market, where the rhythm of the city's food supply becomes visible.

Oil and wine anchor the tasting sequence. You try extra virgin olive oil DOP from the Riviera Ligure and Taggiasca olives, then move to pesto sauce, the ingredient that defines Ligurian cooking, and taste two local DOC wines: Rossese di Dolceacqua and Pigato, paired with local specialties. The gelato at the end is not a generic finish. The guide sources it from a maker who still makes it the traditional way. Bottled water is included throughout.

The group size caps at 12 people, which means the narrow streets stay navigable and the vendors can actually talk to you. The tour runs rain or shine, so bring an umbrella if the forecast looks uncertain, though the Italian Riviera rarely delivers much weather. Children from age 4 can join. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, and wine tastings are for those 18 and older.

What’s included

• 11 food and wine tastings including Ligurian focaccia, sardenaira, torta di verdura, focaccia with cheese, and bacio di Sanremo.
• extra virgin olive oil DOP and Taggiasca olives tasting.
• pesto sauce tasting.
• two local DOC wines (Rossese di Dolceacqua and Pigato) paired with local specialties.
• Italian gelato.
• bottled water.
• guided tour of the Medieval village La Pigna with a licensed local guide in English.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday, Friday and SaturdayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 90 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Sanremo Experience

Is this one for you?The 3 hours of walking through narrow Medieval streets means you cover ground on foot, so wear shoes you can move in all day. Small groups of 4 to 12 people keep the experience intimate enough that vendors actually talk to you and the guide can answer questions as you taste.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is sardenaira, and will I actually like it?

Sardenaira is a traditional Ligurian tart made with onions and anchovies, baked until the flavors meld into something savory and rich. You taste it on the tour as part of the street food sequence, and it is a signature dish locals grew up eating.

How much walking happens on this tour, and are the caruggi streets easy to navigate?

The tour is 3 hours of walking through the Medieval quarter, covering the narrow caruggi streets and the market. The streets are tight and winding by design, but they are pedestrian-only and all within walking distance of the starting point at the Casino. Wear comfortable walking shoes.

Does the tour include a visit to the Sanremo fruit and vegetable market?

Yes, the guide takes you through the fruit and vegetable market as part of the walking route, so you see where the ingredients for Ligurian cooking come from and how the market operates.

Is hotel pickup included, or do I need to get to the Sanremo Casino on my own?

Hotel pickup is not included. You meet the guide in front of the main entrance of the Sanremo Casino. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need them.