In a nutshell
- Classic Italian beach resorts with beachfront hotels are found mainly in northern Tuscany.
- The south of Tuscany is wilder, more beautiful, and largely protected nature — beachfront hotels are rare here.
- If you want to explore the beaches of southern Tuscany, you’ll need a car.
- July and August are crowded and expensive everywhere. June and September are the sweet spot for a Tuscany beach vacation.
Beaches of Tuscany on a Map
The most beautiful Tuscany beaches are mostly in the south and on the islands. If you want to combine the coast with the highlights inland, be sure to check out our route for a road trip through Tuscany.
On this map you’ll find all the beaches we describe in this article:
Cala Violina
- Perfect for: Relaxing, Snorkeling
- Best time to visit: June, July, September
- Distance from Florence: 2.5 hours
Let’s kick things off with a beach that even made it onto our list of the most beautiful beaches in Europe: Cala Violina.
This natural beach is a bit off the beaten path — you can only reach it after a half-hour walk through a forest or by boat. The upside? You get to enjoy the golden sand and turquoise water in genuine peace and quiet.
Even the name Cala Violina is magical. It comes from the sound the wind makes as it blows through the tiny quartz particles in the sand — apparently it sounds just like violins. Seriously, you have to hear it to believe it!
Note: Because Cala Violina is a protected nature area, only a limited number of visitors are allowed in per day. You need to reserve your spot on the official website.
Our hotel tip for Cala Violina: Agriturismo Il Cerrosughero
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Forte dei Marmi
- Perfect for: Relaxing, Nightlife
- Best time to visit: June, July, August, September
- Distance from Florence: 1.5 hours
Forte dei Marmi is especially popular with well-heeled vacationers — it’s not uncommon to spot Ferraris cruising by or an Italian soccer star strolling along the promenade.
There are several luxury hotels, clubs, and gourmet restaurants to choose from.
The water in this part of Tuscany isn’t as clear as in the south, but the beaches are perfectly set up with umbrellas, showers, pools, and playgrounds.
Free stretches of beach are hard to come by, so you’ll almost certainly need to rent an umbrella. They cost considerably more than elsewhere — between 70 and 100 euros per day.
If that sounds steep, head to the nearby towns of Viareggio or Marina di Pietrasanta. There, umbrellas run 30 to 40 euros.
Our hotel tip in Forte dei Marmi: Hotel Olimpia
Castiglioncello
- Perfect for: Nightlife, Snorkeling, Surfing
- Best time to visit: June, September
- Distance from Florence: 1.5 hours
Castiglioncello was already a fashionable seaside resort back in the 1930s. You can see that legacy today in the elegant Art Nouveau villas lining the coast.
The sandy beaches here are fairly narrow and rocky, so they fill up fast during peak season. We’d strongly recommend visiting Castiglioncello outside of July and August.
For water sports fans, though, it’s ideal: you can snorkel, dive, and sail here, and surfing is particularly popular.
Our hotel tip in Castiglioncello: Hotel Tirreno
Follonica
- Perfect for: Relaxing, Nightlife, Sightseeing
- Best time to visit: June, July, September
- Distance from Florence: 2 hours
Follonica sits along the beautiful Costa degli Etruschi, the most stunning stretch of coastline on the Tuscan mainland.
It’s a relatively modern town without the medieval charm of other beautiful towns in Tuscany — but it has everything you need for a great beach vacation: solid infrastructure with hotels and restaurants, a miles-long sandy beach, and some lovely day-trip destinations nearby.
From here you can easily reach the secluded dream beach of Cala Violina, or hop across to the island of Elba — just an hour away by ferry.
The beach is nice and flat, with both umbrella rentals and free sections available.
Our hotel tip in Follonica: nautilus b&b suite design
Golfo di Baratti
- Perfect for: Relaxing, Snorkeling, Sightseeing
- Best time to visit: June, September
- Distance from Florence: 2 hours
The Golfo di Baratti is widely considered one of the most beautiful places to swim along the best beaches in Tuscany.
The water is crystal clear and gets deeper only gradually, making it a fantastic choice for a Tuscany vacation with kids.
During peak season it gets really crowded — if that’s the case, head toward the southern end of the beach where fewer people venture. In the shoulder season, on the other hand, it’s absolutely magical.
There are a few beach bars and umbrella rentals. There are no hotels here, just the occasional vacation rental and some campgrounds — it’s very rural and all the better for it.
At the southern end of the beach you’ll find the Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia, with excavation sites from the once-great Etruscan city. A really worthwhile stop if history is your thing.
Our hotel tip at Golfo di Baratti: Torre di Baratti
Monte Argentario
- Perfect for: Relaxing, Nightlife, Sightseeing, Snorkeling
- Best time to visit: June, July, August, September
- Distance from Florence: 2.5 hours
Monte Argentario is an approximately 700-meter-high mountain on the peninsula of the same name in southern Tuscany. Out here you’re actually closer to Rome than to Florence.
Because the peninsula is a little out of the way, it’s also noticeably less crowded in midsummer than other beach destinations in Tuscany — a real bonus if you’re traveling in high season.
The two largest towns are Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole, both with charming harbors and historic old quarters.
The coastline is mostly rocky and perfect for snorkeling and diving. But there are sandy stretches too, including the 7-kilometer-long Feniglia beach.
There’s also excellent hiking here, with breathtaking panoramas over the sea from the scenic coastal roads.
Our hotel tip at Monte Argentario: Baia d’Argento
Island of Elba
- Perfect for: Relaxing, Nightlife, Sightseeing, Snorkeling
- Best time to visit: June, September
- Distance from Florence: 4 hours
Elba is Tuscany’s most popular vacation island — the largest of the Tuscan Archipelago, which consists of seven islands in total.
From the port of Piombino, you can reach Elba by ferry in about an hour.
The island is seriously stunning: countless hiking trails, secluded coves with crystal-clear water, and charming fishing villages around every corner.
The standout beaches are the white pebble beach Spiaggia del Sansone and the flat sandy beach Fetovaia. Spiaggia del Sansone even made it onto our list of the most beautiful beaches in Italy — high praise in a country with no shortage of competition.
Our hotel tip on Elba: Hotel Antares
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