Driving in Imperia 2026: One ZTL, Two Separate Old Towns
Imperia, Italy · ZTL
Imperia — the city on the western Ligurian Riviera (the Riviera dei Fiori, the Riviera of Flowers), formed from two distinct towns: the working port of Oneglia, a centre of the Italian olive oil trade, and the picturesque hilltop old quarter of Porto Maurizio above its harbour — has a ZTL in parts of its centre, with fines around EUR 83-160. The old quarter and seafronts are walkable. Park outside the ZTL and walk; the flower-and-olive coast and the French border are nearby.
Locally the zone is called Zona a Traffico Limitato Imperia (Italy) — that is the wording on the boundary signs, on the official portal and on any penalty notice, so it is the phrase to search for once you are there.
Next
- Check your own car against Imperia — enter your fuel and Euro class, get a yes or no in one step.
- Ventimiglia has a zone too — the nearest one to Imperia, and the rules are not identical.
- If a fine arrives after you get home — who pays on a hire car, and what is actually enforceable across borders.
Imperia isn’t one town but two, merged in 1923 along the Impero stream, and its restricted-traffic zones cover parts of both centres separately: the workmanlike port of Oneglia, historic home of Italy’s olive oil trade, and Porto Maurizio, whose hilltop Parasio quarter is the more photogenic. Park outside whichever ZTL you’re visiting and walk; camera enforcement carries fines around EUR 83-160 for unauthorised entry.
This page covers driving around Imperia. For the zone boundary and emission rules, see the Imperia ZTL details.
Park outside, walk the hilltop old quarter
The ZTL restricts unauthorised cars; park outside and walk up the lanes of the Parasio in Porto Maurizio, or the olive-oil port of Oneglia. Italy’s limits: 50 km/h urban, 0.05% alcohol (zero for new drivers).
When the car helps
Keep it for the Riviera dei Fiori — Sanremo, the coastal villages, the flower-and-olive hinterland and the French border — driven from a car park outside the ZTL. The coastal cycle path is a fine car-free option.
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Full requirements, sticker info & exemptions
Renting a Car in Imperia?
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Winter tyres in Italy — 2026–27 season
Winter tyres are required in Italy whenever conditions are wintry — 15 Nov - 15 Apr (varies by region and road).
- Tread minimum: 1.6 mm — Italy sets no separate winter figure.
- Accepted marking: M+S / MS / M-S / M&S (3PMSF not required)
- Studded tyres: restricted
- Penalty: €87–345
In Italian the rule is pneumatici invernali, and snow chains are catene da neve — that is the wording on signs, in hire-car paperwork and on any penalty notice.
Verified against national legislation, August 2026 · Full Italy tyre law · Compare all countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Imperia has restricted-traffic zones in parts of its two centres (Oneglia and Porto Maurizio), camera-enforced, with fines around EUR 83-160 for unauthorised entry. Hotels inside can sometimes register your plate. For most visitors, parking outside the zone and walking is simplest — the hilltop old quarter of Porto Maurizio and the seafronts are best explored on foot.
Imperia was created in 1923 by merging two separate, rival towns on either side of the Impero stream: Oneglia, a workmanlike port and the historic heart of the Italian olive oil industry (home to famous oil and pasta brands), and Porto Maurizio, with a charming, photogenic old quarter (the Parasio) climbing a headland above its harbour. The two retain distinct characters, and visitors usually find Porto Maurizio's hilltop old town the more picturesque.
Use a car park outside the ZTL in whichever part you're visiting, then walk. For the picturesque old quarter, park below Porto Maurizio's Parasio and walk up its lanes. For the olive-oil heritage and the port, Oneglia's seafront is the focus. Parking outside the restricted zones and walking is the simplest approach, with the car kept for the coast and hills.
The Riviera dei Fiori (Riviera of Flowers) is the stretch of the western Ligurian coast around Imperia and Sanremo, named for its flower-growing industry (it's a major centre of cut-flower cultivation) and its mild, sunny climate. It has beaches, resorts, hilltop villages and the famous coastal cycle path on a former railway. A car is useful for exploring this coast and the inland olive-growing valleys, parked outside the ZTL when in the towns.
Not for the compact old quarters, which are walkable. A car helps for exploring the Riviera dei Fiori — Sanremo, the coastal villages and the flower-and-olive hinterland, and onward toward the French border and the coast — driven from a car park outside the ZTL centres. The coastal railway and the cycle path also serve the Riviera.
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