In a nutshell
- Italy is huge and has plenty of coastline — but where are the truly stunning beaches with crystal-clear water? Our Italy expert travels to the Italian coast every year and knows it well.
- We’ve focused on beaches that are both beautiful and have hotels and infrastructure nearby. For each spot, we share hand-picked hotel recommendations so you don’t have to guess.
- The best beaches in Italy are mostly in southern Italy and Sardinia — but the north has some great options too, especially in Liguria.
- In between, there are also some truly dreamy spots — like the island of Elba. Here are our 12 top picks for the perfect Italy beach vacation.
Our Map of Italy’s Most Beautiful Beaches
So you know right away where each beach in this article is located, we’ve put together a map of Italy’s beaches for you.
The Most Beautiful Beaches in Northern Italy
The beaches in Northern Italy are especially popular because they’re quick and easy to reach from Germany.
The beaches in the north are divided into beaches on the west coast, beaches on Lake Garda, and beaches on the east coast. The most beautiful ones are definitely on the west coast in Liguria and on Lake Garda.
Monterosso al Mare
Monterosso al Mare is one of the five fishing villages of the Cinque Terre and is located in Liguria. So you can not only enjoy a beach vacation here, but also do plenty of sightseeing.
The area around Monterosso is full of hiking trails. You can reach the other four villages in just a few minutes on the Cinque Terre Express train, and the sea here is simply gorgeous.
Perfect for snorkeling, boat trips, or treating yourself to the delicacies of Ligurian cuisine at a beachside restaurant.
How to Get to Monterosso
The nearest airport is in Pisa. From there, take the train to La Spezia and transfer to the Cinque Terre Express. All in all, it’s about one and a half hours by train from Pisa to Monterosso.
Alternatively, you can drive. From southern Germany, it’s about seven hours.
Our Hotel Recommendation in Monterosso
The Tibei Guesthouse is our favorite place to stay in Monterosso. It has only five rooms, four of which have their own terrace with sun loungers. The beach is just a few minutes away on foot.
Lies auch:
Beaches of Sirmione on Lake Garda
The beaches of Sirmione are among the most beautiful beaches on Lake Garda and are located at the very southern end of the lake.
There are grassy areas and pebble beaches, pedal boat and sun lounger rentals, and plenty of beach bars and restaurants. Add to that the stunning views of the surrounding mountain scenery.
In Sirmione, you can combine a beach vacation with sightseeing, as the town has some great attractions: the Scaliger Castle, which stands right on the water, winding little alleyways, and lots of restaurants and boutiques.
Around Lake Garda, there are also many great day trip options into the Alps or to Milan, Verona, or Venice.
How to Get to Sirmione
From southern Germany, you can reach Sirmione by car. From Munich, it’s about five hours. The nearest airports are in Verona and Bergamo, about half an hour and one hour by car away, respectively.
Our Hotel Recommendation for Sirmione
The Hotel La Rondine offers an excellent price-to-value ratio and is located right on the shores of Lake Garda, with its own pool.
Read our Lake Garda tips too:
Beaches of the Island of Elba
Sansone beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on the dream island of Elba, which lies about 10 kilometers off the coast of Tuscany.
But on Elba, practically every beach is a dream beach.
The island is a paradise for divers and snorkelers, with underwater caves and a vibrant underwater world.
Elba is the perfect island for an Italy beach vacation — except in August. That’s when it simply gets too crowded. But in June or September, you absolutely have to go!
How to Get to Elba
You get to Elba by ferry from Piombino; the crossing takes about one hour.
Our Hotel Recommendations on Elba
We love the Vistamare, an apart-hotel with bright, minimalist rooms right on the beach.
Read our Elba tips too:
Cala Violina in Tuscany
To describe Cala Violina, we can only call it a dream beach. This natural beach is a little off the beaten path and surrounded by dense forest.
The golden sand and the vivid turquoise of the water create a stunning contrast. The beach also has a special quirk: you can hear a violin-like sound when you walk through the sand or when the wind blows through it. This is caused by the tiny quartz particles in the sand.
How to Get to Cala Violina
Since the beach is a bit off the beaten path, you can get there by boat or on foot. The walk takes about half an hour through the forest. The parking lot is located about one and a half hours south of Livorno by car.
Our Hotel Recommendations for Cala Violina
From the Agriturismo Il Cerrosughero, the walk to the beach is about the same as from the parking lot. It’s cozy, affordable, and you can choose between double rooms and apartments with kitchens.
Read our Tuscany tips too:
The Most Beautiful Beaches in Southern Italy
Italy’s most beautiful beaches are in the south.
Crystal-clear water, white sandy beaches, and above all fewer tourists than in the north.
The beaches in southern Italy are also a paradise for snorkeling and diving.
The Beaches of Tropea in Calabria
Tropea is no secret — and for good reason. The beaches at the very tip of the boot are simply stunning, with turquoise water and towering cliffs.
The trademark of Tropea is the pilgrimage church of Santa Maria dell’Isola di Tropea, which sits on a steep cliff directly above the sea.
To the left and right of the cliff, the beaches of Tropea spread out: the Spiaggia della Rotonda, with white sand and steeply dropping cliffs all around; the Spiaggia del Convento, where you can snorkel or dive beautifully; or the hidden Spiaggia del Cannone.
Tropea is perfect if you want to snorkel or dive. However, the beaches aren’t particularly family-friendly, as the water gets deep quickly.
How to Get to Tropea
Tropea is less than an hour by car from the airport in Lamezia Terme, which you can reach with direct flights from many European airports.
Our Hotel Recommendations in Tropea
Tropea has long been a popular beach destination, so there are plenty of hotels to choose from. Since the town sits high above the beaches, none of the hotels are located directly on the sand — instead, they’re perched above it, so you look straight down onto the beach from your room. A particularly beautiful hotel with a stunning vista is the Palazzo Mottola.
The Beach of Positano on the Amalfi Coast
The beach of Positano lies south of Naples on the Amalfi Coast and is called Spiaggia Grande. It sits far below the town and, together with the surrounding steep coastline and colorful houses, creates the ultimate postcard image.
No wonder the beach has already served as a backdrop for various Hollywood films and, along with the entire Amalfi Coast, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It’s a pebble beach that is almost entirely paid access. Only in the northern section is there a small free area.
The prices for beach chairs are steep: in August, you’ll pay around 45 euros per person for an umbrella with two sun loungers. But you do get toilets, showers, and changing rooms — and maybe even a celebrity sighting or two.
How to Get to Positano
Positano is about an hour’s drive south of Naples. The drive along the coastal road is an attraction in itself: on the left, the mountains rise steeply; on the right, the land drops sharply down to the sea, passing through charming villages and lemon trees.
Our Hotel Recommendations in Positano
For accommodation in Positano close to the beach, we recommend the Covo dei Saraceni.
Read our Naples tips too:
The Beaches of Otranto in Apulia
In the deep south of Italy, practically at the very heel of the boot, lies the stunning little town of Otranto with its white houses and azure-blue sea. The town has fewer than 6,000 inhabitants, yet it’s known throughout the country for its beauty and the dream beaches surrounding it.
In summer, things get lively: the narrow beaches that hide between dramatic rock formations fill up quickly with vacationers from all over Italy. Even so, Otranto is ideal for a beach vacation, because in addition to sunbathing and snorkeling, you can also go on wonderful sightseeing tours.
Otranto itself, with its medieval fortress, white cathedral, and lively alleyways, is already a highlight in its own right, and from here you can take many day trips — for example to Lecce or Matera.
How to Get to Otranto
Otranto is about a two-hour drive south of Bari, where the nearest airport is located. Bari is well connected with direct flights from many European airports.
Our Hotel Recommendations in Otranto
Right on the beachfront promenade stands the charming bed & breakfast Lungomare Otranto, with balconies facing the beach.
The Most Beautiful Beaches on the Italian Islands
The Italian islands have the highest concentration of top beaches anywhere in the country. From Sardinia’s colorful underwater world to the most beautiful beach in the world on Lampedusa, the choice isn’t easy at all.
San Vito Lo Capo on Sicily
The beach of San Vito Lo Capo is one of the most beautiful beaches in Sicily. It’s located on the northwestern coast of the island, about one and a half hours by car from Palermo.
San Vito Lo Capo is a popular summer destination for Italians — and it’s easy to see why: the water is crystal-clear and you can wade in for yards before it gets deep.
That also makes San Vito Lo Capo very popular with families. The beach is spacious and mostly free, and in town there are plenty of restaurants, entertainment, and places to stay.
Umbrellas with loungers cost between 10 and 15 euros per day — quite reasonable by Italian standards.
How to Get to San Vito Lo Capo
To get to San Vito Lo Capo, fly to Palermo first. From Palermo’s airport, it’s then about an hour by car.
Our Hotel Recommendations in San Vito Lo Capo
San Vito lo Capo is a small town and doesn’t have a huge selection of hotels. A small, charming boutique hotel just a stone’s throw from the beach is the Hotel Perla Gaia.
Read our Sicily tips too:
Beaches of Favignana on Sicily
Favignana is still an under-the-radar pick among Italians. The small, almost car-free island in summer lies west of Sicily and can be reached in about 20 minutes by ferry from Trapani.
A large part of Favignana’s coastline is rocky, but here and there you’ll find sandy beach sections that you can reach by bike from town. The sea here is a dream: shallow, crystal-clear water, colorful fish near the shore, and plenty of opportunities for diving and snorkeling.
The most famous beach on Favignana is Cala Azzurra, which is made up entirely of rocks. You can reach it best by boat or on foot if you’re a strong walker. But it’s worth it: Cala Azzurra consistently ranks among the best beaches in Italy.
Favignana is great for a family vacation because the island is very laid-back. There’s hardly any traffic, and the most common mode of transportation is the bicycle — which you can rent at virtually any hotel.
How to Get to Favignana
You can reach Favignana by ferry from Trapani, on the western tip of Sicily, about a two-hour drive from Palermo. The crossing takes 20 minutes. You can leave your rental car at a parking garage at the harbor, since you barely need it on the island. During high season, only island residents are allowed to bring their car onto the island anyway.
Our Hotel Recommendations for Favignana
The selection of hotels on Favignana is fairly limited, since the island isn’t particularly large. A very charming B&B is the Casa dell’Arancio in Moroccan style.
Beach of Villasimius on Sardinia
The highest concentration of stunning beaches in Italy is definitely on Sardinia. You really can’t go wrong here: virtually every beach is a dream. White sand, turquoise water, gently sloping shores. Perfect for diving and snorkeling.
It’s not always easy to find a beach on Sardinia that also has enough accommodation nearby — most of the island’s towns and infrastructure are further inland. But not all of them: the small town of Villasimius, at the very southern tip of Sardinia, sits right on the coast and has a wide variety of stunning beaches.
Here, miles of free sandy beaches alternate with rocky sections, so you can easily relax on the sand and explore the species-rich underwater world around the rocks.
Particularly famous is the long Porto Giunco beach — essentially a narrow strip of sand between the open sea and the lagoon lake Notteri. The lake is home to hundreds of pink flamingos as well as other bird species.
How to Get to Villasimius
Villasimius is about an hour’s drive from the airport in Cagliari, which you can reach with direct flights from many European airports, including Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, and Hannover.
Our Hotel Recommendations in Villasimius
Villasimius has more vacation rentals than hotels, but there are a few very nice beach hotels — for example the Hotel Simius Playa with a garden and pool.
Cala Capriccioli on Sardinia
Located in the northeast of Sardinia, Cala Capriccioli beach is surrounded by rugged pine forests, dramatic rock formations, and tiny uninhabited islands. It’s the ideal spot if you want to relax in unspoiled nature.
Cala Capriccioli is divided into three beach sections by rounded, yellow-pink granite rocks:
- Spiaggia del Pirata with a boat dock and sun loungers,
- Spiaggia dei Capriccioli ovest, which is completely free, and
- Spiaggia dei Capriccioli est, which is the largest section. There are beach bars here and it tends to be a bit livelier.
The water is quintessential Sardinia: crystal-clear, with a gentle slope and white sand. From here you have a beautiful view of the uninhabited islands of Soffi and Le Camere, which are nesting grounds for sea turtles and rare bird species.
How to Get to Cala Capriccioli
Cala Capriccioli beach is about a half-hour drive north of Olbia, in the north of Sardinia. Olbia is easy to reach with direct flights from many European airports, including Cologne, Berlin, and Frankfurt.
Our Hotel Recommendations near Cala Capriccioli
Cala Capriccioli is right in the middle of nature. A nice apart-hotel close to the beach is the Residenza Capriccioli, just a few minutes’ walk from the beach.
If you’d rather stay somewhere with a bit more going on, head to the chic Porto Cervo, about 10 minutes further north. A charming boutique hotel there is the Valesmeralda.
Rabbit Beach on Lampedusa
In 2013, TripAdvisor named this the most beautiful beach in the world. Rabbit Beach is located on the southern coast of the island of Lampedusa, which lies about 200 kilometers south of Sicily and geologically already belongs to Africa.
The beach is simply stunning: a wide bay of white sand, crystal-clear water that gradually turns turquoise and then deep blue. The water is so clear that boats floating on the surface almost look like they’re hovering.
The Rabbit Island facing the beach is a protected nature reserve, as it’s a nesting ground for the endangered loggerhead sea turtle.
Lampedusa is the perfect island if you want a relaxing vacation away from the tourist crowds. The island has some lovely hotels and guesthouses, some of which are near Rabbit Beach.
Lampedusa also has other stunning beaches, such as the narrower Cala Croce or Cala Pisana.
How to Get to Lampedusa
There are no direct flights to Lampedusa from most European airports. You’ll need to connect in Italy — in Palermo, Milan, or Venice.
Our Hotel Recommendations on Lampedusa
There’s no development directly at Rabbit Beach. The nearest hotel is the very charming Hotel Macondo, halfway between Rabbit Beach and the town of Lampedusa.
If you’d prefer to stay in town with restaurants and entertainment nearby, we recommend the Bed & Breakfast Giro di Boa.
General Information About Beaches in Italy
Before you head off on your beach vacation in Italy, here are a few important things to know.
Paid Beaches in Italy: Where Do You Pay for Sunbathing and What Are the Pros and Cons?
About a third of Italy’s beaches are paid access. This is especially true of the beaches along the Adriatic. But in Liguria and Tuscany as well, there are many paid beach sections.
That’s not necessarily a disadvantage, though: paid beaches are cleaned and maintained daily, there’s always a beach bar, and you get changing rooms, showers, and lifeguards. Your beach fee also covers an umbrella, a beach chair, and a sun lounger.
In May, June, and September, prices are at their lowest; in July and August, they’re at their highest. In the most popular resort towns, you’ll pay around 25 to 30 euros for a full day during peak season. But there are also weekly discounts or reduced rates for guests from nearby hotels.
The further south in Italy you travel, the more affordable it gets: if you pay 30 euros per umbrella in Tuscany during high season, on Sicily it’s only 15 euros.
Free beaches are found mainly in the south — on Sicily and Sardinia — but Tuscany also offers some. Those, however, have no toilets or showers, and you’ll need to bring your own umbrella.
What Kind of Beaches Does Italy Have? Differences from North to South
A beach vacation in the north is not the same as one in the south. There are differences in both climate and prices. Here’s a rough overview of the most popular parts of Italy for a beach vacation.
Beaches in Northern Italy
The beaches in Northern Italy are especially popular with German and Austrian tourists. Well-known resort towns include Bibione, Jesolo, and Grado.
The beaches aren’t particularly special — rather, they’re miles of flat beach sections lined with beach clubs and hotels one after another.
Honestly, most Italians wouldn’t choose Northern Italy for a beach vacation either.
But there are exceptions: the beaches on Lake Garda are breathtakingly beautiful. Liguria also has many very attractive beaches, although they’re mostly narrow and short and always packed in summer.
Beaches on the Adriatic
The Adriatic coast — Italy’s eastern coastline — is characterized by miles of very gently sloping sandy beaches. Here too, one resort town follows the next, and there are countless hotels. A large portion of the beaches are paid access, but they’re very well maintained and fully equipped.
The Adriatic coast between Milano Marittima, Rimini, and Cattolica is considered Italy’s ultimate beach party strip. There are large clubs, and the beach bars keep the party going well into the night.
The Beaches on the Islands and in Southern Italy
You’ll find Italy’s best beaches on Sardinia, Sicily, and in Apulia.
The beaches on Sardinia, for example, are almost surreally beautiful and feel more like the Caribbean: snow-white sand, shallow water in every shade of blue, and an enormous diversity of underwater life.
That’s largely because Sardinia’s coastline hasn’t been built up with hotel blocks and cities, and the nature surrounding the beaches is protected.
Sicily also offers stunning beaches, with a mix of sandy and rocky shores. In the west and east of Sicily, you can also go kite- or windsurfing.
Also read: The Most Beautiful Beaches in Sicily
If you want picture-perfect Mediterranean beaches with as few crowds as possible, head to southern Italy. The beaches and the sea down there are far more beautiful than in the north — and it’s seriously underrated.
By the way, you can also perfectly combine a beach vacation with sightseeing in Italy. If you’ve planned a city trip to Rome, for example, tack on a few extra days — near Rome you’ll find some beautiful beaches that are worth a day trip or short getaway to the sea.
Also read: The Most Beautiful Beaches near Rome
What Does a Beach Vacation in Italy Cost?
That’s not such an easy question to answer, since region, season, and accommodation all play a decisive role.
The best value for money is in southern Italy. The beaches are gorgeous, mostly free, and accommodation prices are lower than in the north. On Sicily, during high season you can find a hotel room near the beach for 100 to 150 euros per night.
In the north, the beaches in Liguria and on Lake Garda are the most expensive: in Liguria, you won’t find anything under 200 euros a night in August.
On top of that, in the north you’ll likely also have to pay for the beach, unless you choose a hotel with a private beach.
If you want the most affordable Italy beach vacation possible and don’t mind mass tourism, the Adriatic is the place for you. There, you can find hotel rooms during high season starting at around 80 euros per night.
