If you've read the reviews about shopping in Sanremo, you've probably noticed that it's not advisable to go here specifically for shopping. However, shopaholics will find plenty to do here! Head for the main shopping streets, the pedestrianised via Palazzo and the parallel via Corso Matteotti. Here you will find Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tods Armani Collezioni, Promos, Magli, Sisley, Fernanda Zanotto and Max Mara (all of which are tax-free).
Prices, locals say, are exorbitant. On via Palazzo, among other things, you can find small Sanremo outlet stores where you can buy a pair of excellent leather shoes for 50-100 EUR. The shopping streets overlook Sanremo's main square, Piazza Colombo (in its vicinity you can find a lot of small shops with a wide range of items for 10-20 EUR, mostly made in China).
The biggest shopping centre in Sanremo is the COOP supermarket. Here you'll always find the freshest fish (although the prices are steep) and inexpensive seasonal fruit and vegetables. A more popular shopping mall amongst the locals is the town market in Sanremo. There's a clothes market on Heroes' Square (Sanremesi) on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10:00am to 1:30pm (mostly Chinese knitwear and jewellery and local cashmere), and indoor pavilions sell local farmers' and winemakers' products: olive oil, spices and seasonings, dried vegetables, liqueurs and liqueurs.
Tourists holidaying in Sanremo can take a shopping trip to Europe's largest outlet, the Serravalle Designer Outlet. This is a whole town of 180 boutiques with year-round discounts of 50-70% (during seasonal sales up to 80-90%). The outlet is located near Sanremo (about 2 hours by car).
