Hotels in Santo Stefano al Mare

Santo Stefano al Mare

Santo Stefano al Mare is a small coastal town on the Ligurian Riviera, situated between San Remo and Imperia in the province of Imperia, northwest Italy. The town sits directly on the Via Aurelia, the ancient Roman road that still threads the coast here, and its shoreline faces the Gulf of Lions. Despite a population of roughly 2,500, it draws a loyal summer crowd to its long pebble-and-sand beach, the Spiaggia di Santo Stefano, which stretches almost the full length of the seafront promenade.

Most visitors arrive from Milan or Turin — both under three hours by road — seeking a quieter alternative to San Remo, 9 km to the west. The old village centre climbs slightly above the rail line and retains narrow caruggi lanes typical of western Liguria, along with a 17th-century parish church dedicated to the town's namesake saint. Watersports rentals, sailing clubs, and several trattorias serving fresh anchovies and trofie al pesto line the harbour area.

Trenitalia's regional service stops at Santo Stefano al Mare station, connecting directly to San Remo in about 8 minutes and to Genova Piazza Principe in roughly 90 minutes. Hotels in town are predominantly 2-star and 3-star seasonal properties; a handful of apartments and B&Bs supplement capacity during July and August.