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Italy just gained 14 new Blue Flag beaches – here’s where to find them (and what makes them so good)

The total number of recognised coasts across the country is now up to an impressive 525

Liv Kelly
Written by
Liv Kelly
Travel Writer
The beautiful beach of Tuerredda in Teulada, south Sardinian coastline
Photograph: salva.tours / Shutterstock | Tuerredda beach in Teulada, Sardinia
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Italy is home to some of the planet’s loveliest coastlines, but they aren’t just pretty faces: a long list of the country’s beaches are holders of the impressive Blue Flag accolade (in fact, it’s home to 11.6 percent of the worldwide total). 

An awards ceremony was held in Rome last week to announce all the new entries, and according to euronews, along with 87 nautical tourist landings and 23 lakes, 14 beaches were added to the list, which now amounts to a total of 525 across Italy. 

What is a Blue Flag beach?

To be awarded with this accolade, a beach is assessed on water cleanliness (which needs to have been ‘excellent’ for the previous four years), waste management, accessibility, green mobility and the enhancement of natural areas. You can find a map of all Blue Flag beaches on the official website

Limone sul Garda beach with people at a beach swimming and sunbathing
Photograph: Audrius Venclova / ShutterstockLimone sul Garda beach has been awarded a Blue Flag

Where are Italy’s new Blue Flag beaches?

Below is a breakdown of Italy’s regions and how many Blue Flag beaches each one has, along with the new inclusions for 2026. 

  • Liguria – 35 Blue Flag beaches
    • Andora
    • Taggia
  • Puglia – 27 Blue Flag beaches
    • Morciano di Leuca and Tricase
  • Calabria – 27 Blue Flag beaches
    • Amendolara
    • Montegiordano
    • Falerna
    • Locri
  • Campania and Marche – 20 Blue Flag beaches
  • Sardinia - 17 Blue Flag beaches
    • Teulada
  • Sicily and Abruzzo – 16 Blue Flag beaches
    •  Ispica and Lipari
  • Trentino Alto Adige – 12 Blue Flag beaches
  • Lombardy – 4 Blue Flag beaches
    • Limone sul Garda

Rimini in Emilia Romagna and Argentario in Tuscany were also awarded Blue Flags this year. 

🏖️ Check out Time Out’s guides to the best beaches in Italy and the best beaches in Europe.

Did you see that you’ll soon be able to book an Uber Boat in these five European countries?

Plus: You can visit some of the world’s most incredible national parks for free this summer

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