The Best Beaches in Italy
From the glam see-and-be-seen hotspots of Amalfi and Costa Smeralda to little-known stretches of sand in Lampedusa and Elba, the best beaches in Italy gamely welcome all types of travelers. Some of these spiagge (that’s Italian for beaches) are conveniently located resort-side, while others require a bit more grit and up to an hour’s worth of hiking. But all of them are worth the effort of making it to the gorgeous Italian peninsula.
Italy has 4,723 miles of coastline blessed by the bounty of the Mediterranean Sea, where you’ll find some of the most beautiful beaches and seaside towns in the entire world. Think bright white sand, dramatic limestone cliffs, and the bluest, clearest waters imaginable (and at a few beaches, scenery so tropical and palm-tree-tastic that you might mistake it for the South Pacific). It’s a nigh-impossible task to curate a comprehensive list of the most travel-worthy beaches in the country, but we’ve narrowed it down to this list based predominantly on novelty (sorry, Capri and Positano, not today). From Sicily to Liguria and everywhere in between, here are 17 of the best beaches in Italy—as well as how to get there and where to stay. Andiamo, amici.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Kris Fordham and Caitlin Morton.
GettyAtrani, Campania
Located along the Amalfi Coast, small picturesque Atrani is reminiscent of Italy's most famous coastal hot spots (think Positano, Capri, et al.)—just much less crowded. Aside from its beautiful churches, lively piazzas, and colorful cliffside perch in the province of Salerno, Atrani has a pale-sand beach flush against the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Get here by bus or ferry from Naples; both are two hour trips that end in with a stunning reward: The views of the water bookended by two cliffs are hard to beat. In need of a spot to bed down? Book the Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel, situated in a former monastery, and you’ll be treated to a truly religious experience.
GettyChiaia di Luna, Ponza
In the Neapolitan dialect, chiaia means “beach”—add that to luna and you get this crescent shaped sliver of sand at the foot of a towering, 328-foot volcanic rock cliff. It’s located on Ponza, the largest island in the Pontine Archipelago, which is dense with spectacular beaches, coves, grottos, and seafood restaurants.
Make your way here by taking the train from Rome to the comune of Anzio (itself a charming fishing port town), then the two-hour ferry from Anzio to Ponza. Stay a while at the epnoymous Hotel Chiaia di Luna, where the rooms, dining areas, and the pool provide panoramic views of the awe-inspiring landscape.
GettyLa Pelosa, Sardinia
Sicily tends to hog the spotlight, as far as big Italian islands go. But don’t forget about Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean with a vast diversity of landscapes, much of them undeveloped: forested woods, flat plains, rocky coasts, and—of course—beautiful beaches with powdery sand and bright blue waters. Situated on a flick of land on Sardinia’s northwestern corner, La Pelosa is beloved by those in the know for its ramshackle offshore castle, and the way you can wade out for seemingly forever just up to your knees. It’s almost like a huge saltwater swimming pool.
To get here, hop on the one-hour flight from Rome to Alghero (base yourself here and stay at the Villa Las Tronas Hotel & Spa), then rent a car for the 50-minute drive north along the strade provinciali to La Pelosa. Keep the wheels—they come in handy for town-hopping around the striking Sardinian coast.
GettyScala dei Turchi, Sicily
The Scala dei Turchi—Italian for “Turkish Steps,” or more literally “Stairs of the Turks”—is a rocky cliff on the coast near the town of Realmonte on the southern edge of Sicily. The name dates back to the Middle Ages, when Ottoman corsairs sheltered themselves here from the fierce sea winds behind the crags made of characteristically white marlstone. At the base of the Scala sits a beach that is striking in its uniqueness, with fiery bronze sands offering a gorgeous contrast against the azure ocean and the pale cliffs.
The area is about a two-hour drive from the city of Palermo (stay at the gorgeous Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel), but it’s a worthwhile trek, given that it’s one of the island’s most beautiful natural wonders. (Heads up that swimming-safe and -worthy waters here are actually rather limited, so this is more of a sight-to-see than a site-to-swim.)
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GettySan Fruttuoso, Liguria
The allure of Italian coastal living isn’t exclusive to the country’s southern sands and isles. Head up north to Genoa, and you can make the short drive to picture-perfect San Fruttuoso. Well, drive and hike: This secret bay can only be reached by hiking from Portofino or by ferry from Rapallo or Comoglu—but that seclusion is part of the appeal.
This beach hideaway takes its name after the graceful white abbey dedicated to Fructuosus, patron saint of those undertaking a fast. But a summer vacation in Italy isn’t the best time for such asceticism—too much temptation, surely—so why not indulge in a stay at the extravagant Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino? With its plush rooms and ravishing views of the Ligurian Sea, it’ll be like you made it to heaven anyway.
GettySpiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa
Just an hour-long flight from Naples. Lampedusa is the southernmost island in all of Italy; it’s closer in distance to the African mainland than to continental Europe. Adrift in the Mediterranean, it’s got a bounty of sun and surf—but perhaps the beast beach on the isle is the Spiaggia dei Conigli, which literally translates to “beach of the rabbits.” But don’t hold your breath for long-eared friends frolicking in the sand. The etymology likely comes down to mistranslation: The beach faces a nearby islet originally named Rabit Island, from the Arabic rabit referring to the strip of landing connecting it to Lampedusa. Still, the island boasts a fascinating ecosystem home to sea turtles and herring gulls.
Before going (get to Lampedusa via the short flight from Palermo or a ferry from Agrigento, Sicily), be sure to book access to both the beach and the islet. If you forgot to make a reservation, the pool at Cupola Bianca Resort can more than make up for it.
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GettyMarasusa, Calabria
Visit the physical “toe” of Italy’s boot and you’ll find so many delightful seaside landscapes it might even get boring. The antidote to such ennui might be the jewel of Calabria, Marasusa Beach. Located in the town of Tropea, it’s a place so awe-inspiring that it was christened la costa degli dei, literally “the coast of the gods.” It’s easy to see why deities would approve: Marasusa is home to scenic cliffs, pristine white sand, and calmly clear waters.
Those hungry for culinary experiences will find great food in the area: Calabria is best known for its chili peppers, and Tropea itself is renowned for its exceptionally sweet red onions (call them le cipolle degli dei). Get to Tropea by flying into Reggio Calabria and driving up, or by taking the high-speed train from Naples. Book a table (and a room) at Villa Paola, the 12-room convent-turned-luxury hotel for a trip worthy of the gods themselves.
GettyBaia dei Turchi, Puglia
Not to be confused with Sicily’s Scala dei Turchi, this sprawling beach is tucked away in a protected nature reserve in Puglia, just a ten-minute drive north of Otranto. The bay gets its name from a historical battle said to have taken place on its shores between the local people and Ottoman Turks in the 15th century. Its roughly one-mile stretch of white sands and crystal-clear waters happens to be one of the cleanest in the country, hence its Blue Flag status, an honor awarded to beaches that meet stringent environmental criteria.
The Baia is physically closer to Albania, across the Adriatic Sea, than to the Italian capital, so getting here is kind of a trek. For speed, fly into Brindisi, then make the drive down. For value and fewer carbon emissions, take the train and bus all the way to Otranto, where you can stay on the waterfront Hotel Palazzo Papaleo. (Bonus rec: There’s also the Masseria Prosperi, a six-room retreat on a working farm outside of Otranto, but just a ten-minute drive to the Baia dei Turchi.)
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GettyCala Goloritzé, Sardinia
Created by a landslide in 1962, Cala Goloritzé is located at the base of a ravine on Sardinia’s eastern coast. It’s tiny, but no less beautiful with its limestone cliffs, soft ivory sand, and access to the striking blue-green waters of the Gulf of Orosei. In fact, it’s so special that it was anointed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, and is best known for a two incredible rock formations: a towering spire and a natural stone arch.
Cala Goloritzé is accessible via car-and-foot (be prepared for a short though rocky hike) from Santa Maria Navarrese, home to the lush Lanthia Resort, which has a private beach for lazier days. To get here, drive up from Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital, which you can reach via plane from Rome or Milan, or overnight ferry from Naples.
GettyVendicari Nature Reserve, Sicily
On Sicily’s Ionian coast, less than an hour’s drive away from the historic and under-appreciated city of Siracusa (yes, the original Syracuse) sits the Vendicari Nature Reserve, a protected haven where flamingos, herons, and storks are more populous than humans and the pale aqua waters are calm and clean. The miles-long national park is home to little coves and beautiful beaches (special shout-out to San Lorenzo Beach and Calamosche) where you’ll have more than enough room to spread out for the day.
When visiting this side of historic Sicily, set up camp at the illustrious grand dame of Syracuse, the Grand Hotel Ortigia Siracusa. Get into the city from Catania, whose airport offers plenty of connectivity with Rome and Milan, and even major European hubs like Paris, London, and Barcelona.
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GettyCala Pulcino, Lampedusa
Not far from the Spiaggia dei Conigli on Lampedusa, you’ll find the scene Cala Pulcino, whose name is also animal-inspired: “Chicken Beach.” Unclear etymology notwithstanding, it’s perhaps an ironic moniker since getting here requires thirty minutes of hiking over rocks and through thick vegetation—and to make it through all that, you can’t be chicken, as it were. But upon arrival you’ll be rewarded with powdery sand, spectacular views, and the endless blue Mediterranean stretching into the distance.
As with Rabbit Beach, getting to Cala Pulcino on Lampedusa requires a short flight from Palermo or a ferry from Agrigento, Sicily. For another hotel option on the island, try Hotel Sole Lampedusa. The rooms are nicely-equipped, but the real draw here is the restaurant Sottosale serving up delectable seafood and indulgent Sicilian fare (ti adoro, pistachio cannoli).
GettyCala di Volpe, Sardinia
This winsome beach occupies a teensy-tiny piece of Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda, one of the most beautiful—and most expensive—stretches of coastline in all of Italy; in the mid-2010s, real estate prices reached up to $40,000 per square foot. This sandy spot is famous for its Bermuda-blue water and the glamorous resort overlooking it, the Cala di Volpe, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda, but the waters are open to the public, and you don’t need to be a guest of the hotel to swim there.
If you can’t find a spot for your beach blanket though, there are molte altre spiagge in the area. Nearby Romazzino has a gorgeous bunch of them—and while you’re in the neighborhood, you can check into the newly reimagined Romazzino, a Belmond Hotel, Costa Smeralda is opening this summer. Get to the Costa Smeralda by flying or ferrying into Olbia, and renting a car to check out all the stunning resort towns that dot this end of Sardinia.
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GettyIsola Spargi, Sardinia
Located in the Maddalena Archipelago between Sardinia and the French island of Corsica, Isola Spargi’s coastline could almost be mistaken for tropical Tahiti. The beaches here are not flanked by dramatic cliffs like in most other coastal areas in Italy; instead, they are backed by palm trees and lush island plants. The shallow turquoise waters are perfect for snorkeling and the silvery sand is made for all-day sunbathing.
The best months to swim in the waters of Isola Spargi are August and September, when the sea is at its warmest. To get here, you’ll need to take private or rented boats from Costa Smeralda, Santa Teresa Gallura, or Palau (the comune on the northern tip of Sardinia, not to be confused with the fascinating Pacific nation). Also, there are no accommodations on the island, so nab a room at Grand Hotel Resort Ma&Ma in nearby La Maddalena.
GettySpiaggia delle Due Sorelle, Marche
This super-secluded beach on the spectacular Riviera del Conero—named the “beach of the two sisters” after two large rock formations nearby—is accessible only by shuttle or boat from Porto Numana. The shore is made up of fine white pebbles, which lead into the striking, emerald green Adriatic Sea. The best views are from the ocean itself, where you can admire the steep white cliffs of Monte Conero towering over the beach before you.
The nearest city is Ancona, a thirty-minute drive away, where you can stay at the waterfront SeePort Hotel. The area is best served by the Aeroporto di Ancona Raffaello Sanzio, Marche’s largest international gateway, with connections to hubs like London, Athens, and Munich, and of course the major Italian hubs.
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GettyBaia delle Zagare, Puglia
Accessible by land through its namesake hotel or via boat from Mattinata, Baia delle Zagare is as secluded and exclusive as they come. Sheltered by steep limestone cliffs, the half-mile beach allows just 30 visitors a day outside of hotel guests, keeping its shoreline pristine and perpetually uncrowded. Added bonus: The beach looks out toward some seriously photo-worthy rock formations, which jut out dramatically from the Adriatic.
To get here, grab a train into the city of Foggia and take a car one hour east. If the Hotel Baia delle Zagare is all booked up and they’re unable to permit guests due to capacity, drive along the coast for more spiagge facing the Gulf of Manfredonia. While you’re in the region, you won’t be at a loss for a place to stay with this list of the best hotels in Puglia.
GettyCala Tonnarella, Sicily
Fair warning: It’s a literal hike to get to sun-soaked Cala Tonnarella, a hidden cove in the Zingaro Nature Reserve on the Gulf of Castellammare. The beach is inaccessible by road, and it takes a little over an hour to get there on foot from the reserve’s southern car park. It’s worth the effort: Upon arrival, you’ll be met with a secluded and uncrowded paradise as a reward.
For comfortable proximity to both the beach and the nature reserve, book a room at the nearby Baglio La Porta by Geocharme. From this hotel, it’s still an hour’s hike to the northern entrance of the park (and a 15-minute walk from there to the beach), but checking in means you won’t have to deal with finding a parking spot. Driving to the environs of Zingaro just takes an hour from Palermo.
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Slow ImagesSpiaggia di Sansone, Isola d’Elba
Think of Tuscany and you’re more likely to dream of a bottle of Chianti Classico than of viridian-blue seas and bright-white sand. But the island of Elba in the Tyrrhenian Sea would like to introduce itself with a cheeky little ciao. As the third largest Italian island in the Med, it’s home to many contenders for this list, but Sansone edges out the competition. Its pristine shore—a mixture of sand and smooth white pebbles—leads you to calm, transparent water. It’s shallow, too, making it popular among families and snorkelers.
When visiting Elba, base yourself at the lovely Hotel Villa Ottone, which stands just outside Portoferraio, the largest city on the island. To get there, take the ferry from Piombino, which in turn is a two-hour drive from Florence; or take a ferry from Bastia, a city in Corsica, France.
Speaking of, here’s a fun fact: Napoleon spent a year in exile here during the Bourbon restoration. His home, purchased by the Russian aristocrat and Napoleon superfan Anatoly Demidov in the 19th century, still stands today and welcomes visitors.
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