From the coast of Tuscany to the white-pebbled beaches of Puglia, the best beaches in Italy are the stuff of dreams
I hail from Naples, the city of the sun and the sea, as the song goes. Growing up, I could glance at the sea from almost anywhere at any given time, usually against the breathtaking backdrop of Mount Vesuvius. My summers spent on the beaches of the Amalfi Coast made me intrigued by the marine world. Even after moving to Rome as an adult, I have maintained an obsession with the sea; whenever I go, I constantly gravitate towards the beach.
Italy’s coast is an expanse of over 8,000 km (approximately 5,000 miles), on four different seas. There is much variety, even in beaches facing the same mare; you can find large expanses of beach followed by a rocky coast even within the same region. Arguably, the most beautiful (and certainly most popular) is the west coast, facing the Tyrrhenian Sea. Think the Amalfi Coast, the Ulysses Riviera, and the crystalline waters of northern Sicily.
🏨 The best hotels in Italy
📍 The ultimate guide to Italy
Nardia Plumridge and Federica Bocco are writers based in Italy. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.
White pebble beaches and white-washed houses sum up this part of the Bari coastline with Cala Porto (also known as Lama Monachile), a popular slither of beach tucked between jagged cliffs in the village of Polignano a Mare. Named after the Roman bridge that borders the watery enclave, you can watch brave folks cliff dive at Grotta Piana right into the Adriatic Sea.
This picturesque town in Sicily’s north, just east of Palermo, is filled with quaint laneways leading to its watery edge. After exploring the streets and the 12th-century Duomo, swim along the golden sands at Lungomare Giuseppe Giardina. Cefalù is known as the scenic setting of the film Cinema Paradiso and is famous for its delicious seafood; post-swim, devour a plate of pasta con frutti di mare (mussels, clams, squid, prawns), a favourite choice among locals.
Situated in the south of Campania, Cilento is the region’s best-kept secret; its sandy coast has somehow managed to stay out of mainstream attention, perhaps overshadowed by the more popular Amalfi Coast to the north. Apart from a crystalline (and blessedly clean) sea, Palinuro’s beach has a scenic natural arch, which sets the perfect scene for a myriad of photos (and even a couple of famous films). The area around Palinuro also offers various marine grottos that you can visit through organized tours – there is even a Grotta Azzurra that can rival Capri’s blue grotto any day, except the one in Palinuro is significantly less crowded.
The island of Elba off the coast of Tuscany is a paradise for nature lovers. A microcosm of its own, Elba offers sandy, pebbly, and rocky beaches across its wide coastline (147 km). On the northern side, the white sands of Procchio, Biodola and Spartaia are well-equipped and perfect for families with children. Cavoli and Lacona, the south, are where the youth spend their days (and nights). Elba’s western coast, the one facing the French region of Corsica, is blessed with wholly wild and uncontaminated bays, like those of Chiessi and Pomonte; from here you can admire the best sunset on the island, and enjoy some peace. If you’re super lucky, you’ll even see some sea turtles.
The region is known for its historic cities – Florence and Siena – yet its coast is equally worth swooning over. Baratti’s crystal blue water and remote location make it a destination spot, and since it’s on the periphery of the Bolgheri region, you’ll discover incredible wines and memorable swimming spots. During the summer, nearby wineries like Petra host music events, and glamping within the vines at Tenuta Poggio Rosso makes for a fruity stay-over experience.
Capri is an island that doesn’t even need an introduction. The famous Grotta Azzurra is on plenty of travel bucket lists, as is strolling the island’s bougainvillaea-lined streets. Beachside Marina Grande offers the most spacious sunspots and is peppered with eateries serving breathtaking sea views for a tasty lunch break. Smaller Marina Piccola (to the island’s south) has a few small strips of beach that are free to access, where visitors can perch on the pebbles with the locals.
Down the coast from Amalfi on the road to Ravello, Atrani is one of the region’s best-kept secrets. A tiny fishing village (population: 832), it’s home to a small beach on the Tyrrhenian Sea with loungers positioned under the shadows of its hilltop houses. Post-sun lounging, enjoy a Spritz with the locals in Piazza Umberto I, the town’s main square, amidst the crumbling yet charming exterior decor.
Film set and ‘gram-worthy, bubble gum-coloured houses sit atop one another on a steep incline overlooking the waters of this cliffside village. Its narrow streets (and steps) take you to a pebbled beachfront popular with travellers. This is iconic Italian beach living at its finest and worth the stair descent to frolic in the waters after walking the famed Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods) hiking trail linking Positano to Bomerano.
On the west of Italy’s ‘heel’ is Puglia, spectacular around the limestone town of Gallipoli. To its north, the beaches at Porto Cesareo in the Gulf of Taranto rival the ones in the Caribbean, turquoise and clear with warm weather that lasts into late September. One of the largest protected marine areas in Italy, old torri (stone towers) used as lookouts to ward off pirate ships remain intact, enchanting the sea vista from your sandy location.
Southern Sicily is famed for its Greek temples in Agrigento and the nearby white cliffs of Scala dei Turchi (Stair of the Turks), which offer jaw-dropping views and pristine beaches near Porto Empedocle. Although two sandy beaches can be accessed by foot, the main event is the limestone rock weathered into the shape of a staircase, which can be climbed to secure the best spot for tanning between sea swims.
Discover Time Out original video
