The first "Rallye Internazionale di Sanremo" was held in 1928. The rally name's French word "rallye", as opposed to Italian "rally", was inspired by Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo.
Rallye Sanremo was originally a mixed surface event (tarmac and gravel) but from 1997 on it was organised as an all-tarmac rally. After being dropped from the WRC schedule (in favor of Rally di Sardegna in 2004), Rallye Sanremo has been part of the Italian Rally Championship. Since 2006, it has also been a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. In 2015 the organizers and FIA decided to include Rallye Femminile Perla di Sanremo (from 1952 to 1956) as a part of Rallye Sanremo. The purpose for this decision was to honor Women's Italian Rally Series driven in Sanremo in the 1950s. Due to these changes 57° Rallye Sanremo in 2015 turned into 62° Rallye Sanremo and will continue with this numbering system.