Surrounded by the Mediterranean, the Adriatic and several smaller seas, Italy has a huge diversity of beaches that will satisfy even the most finicky of beach goers. From the crowded yet fashionable beaches where people flock to spot celebrities to tiny coves surrounded by steep cliffs that can only be reached by boat, Italy’s beaches are arguably some of the most beautiful in the world. Here are the best beaches in Italy.
Acquafredda di Maratea Beach, Basilicata
Acquafredda is a small village near Maratea and has some of the most beautiful beaches in the area. One of the best ways to see them and enjoy Maratea’s scenery is to take a drive along the coast, high up on the mountain road surrounded by dense pine forests and with some of the most spectacular views in the world. Calla di Mezzanotte, or Midnight Cove beach, is a small sandy beach at the foot of the Mezzanotte Channel.
Camogli Beach, Liguria
The charming little coastal village of Camogli in Liguria in northwestern Italy has a large pebbly beach that stretches along the length of the coast. It has all the Mediterranean beauty of the French Riviera but is far less crowded. Camogli Beach is divided into private sections that belong to resorts and beach clubs and other sections that are open to everyone.
Campo all'Aia Beach, Procchio, Elba Island, Tuscany
Campo all'Aia Beach is the longest beach on Elba Island. It is a fairly wide stretch of fine sand, sheltered from the wind and fairly shallow, making it perfect for children and those learning to swim.
Capreria Beach, Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro, Sicily
Capreria Beach is the first beach after the information hut and is snuggled in a cove, covered with smooth small pebbles and crystal clear water. There aren’t any facilities, but the snorkeling is spectacular - you can see all the way to the colorful fish on the seabed. There are a number of small coves and caves near the beach, all of which are easy to explore through a network of trails.
Fuili Cove, Dorgali, Sardinia
Sardinia's beaches are among the most beautiful in the world, ranging from fine sand to large flat rock slabs. Fuili Cove beach is a crescent-shaped and small - only 230 meters - secluded beach in a lovely cove protected by large, almost vertical cliffs covered with dense vegetation.
Gavitella Beach, Praiano, Salerno
The ancient and picturesque town of Praiano is perched high up on the cliffs that plunge down towards the clear Mediterranean waters. Its beaches are small, nestled in tiny coves, and often crowded. One of the most beautiful is Gavitella Beach, which is only 30 meters long and has two concrete piers that add more space for sun worshippers.
Goloritze Beach, Baunei, Sardinia
Goloritze Beach is a true Sardinian pearl. It is a stunning and tiny beach, only about 200 meters, hidden at the base of a deep ravine just south of Biriola beach and about nine kilometers from the town of Baunei.
Grotticelle Beach, Capo Vaticano, Calabria
The most popular, and indeed the most beautiful of these, is Grotticelle Beach, which has fantastic snorkeling in the crystal clear waters that are full of marine life. The whole area is very popular with tourists and it can get crowded, but the views are so spectacular that sharing the beach with other admirers is no great hardship.
Isola Bella, Taormina, Messina, Sicily
Isola Bella is a beautiful little island near Taormina, Sicily, called The Pearl of the Ionian Sea.
Marina del Cantone Beach, Massa Lubrense
Marina del Cantone Beach is lined with modest local trattorias and cafes where one can have an excellent meal and join the locals in peacefully enjoying the view and the warm sun. Lounge chairs and umbrellas can be rented at one of the local shops and the clear water invites for a pleasant, refreshing swim or snorkel.
Marina Grande Beach, Positano, Salerno
Marina Grande Beach is the main beach of Positano, where celebrities come to have their photos taken. It is the kind of beach people imagine a beach in Italy should look like.
Mezzavalle Beach, Portonovo, Ancona, le Marche
Located in the spectacularly beautiful Bay of Portonovo and surrounded by steep cliffs dropping dramatically into the blue Adriatic, Mezzavalle Beach is the first beach on the journey north from Ancona. The long and narrow smooth-pebbled beach has occasional stretches of sand.
Otranto Beach, Otranto
Otranto is a beautiful old town with a long and rich history, and has amazing stone houses, narrow cobblestone streets, a lively port, and an endless blue sea edged by a small yet charming beach.
Rabbit Island, Lampedusa, Sicily
Today Rabbit Island hosts a number of endangered loggerhead turtles and has been declared a marine reserve in order to protect their nesting sites. The beach on the island is one of the most beautiful in the world: small, fine white sand, washed by soft waves and surrounded by clear water that changes from pale green to deep azure as it gets deeper. The sea is full of marine life and great for snorkeling or diving. Reaching Rabbit Island is quite an adventure, but it is well worth it.
Spiaggia di Tuerredda, Cagliari, Sardinia
Tuerredda beach (Spiaggia di Tuerredda) near Domus de Maria in northern Sardinia is one of the most beautiful of Sardinia’s beaches. About 400 meters long, this V-shaped sandy beach is sheltered from the wind and great for swimming and snorkeling.
Scala dei Turchi, Sicily
Set against a spectacular backdrop of towering snow-white cliffs, Scala dei Turchi, Sicily is a narrow strip of golden sand which separates the stunning cliffs from the azure waters of the Mediterranean Ocean.
Spiaggia La Pelosa, Sardinia
Located on the northwestern coast of Sardinia, on the Gulf of Asinara, Spiaggia La Pelosa, Sardinia is one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe.
Levanto Beach, Cinque Terre
The small town of Levanto lies just a short distance from Cinque Terre, one of Italy’s most famous coastal towns, where it boasts one of the best beaches in the area. This is broad sandy beach which has been divided into free and private areas.
Tonnara di Scopello, Sicily
You will find this gem of a beach nestled in the Vendicari Nature Reserve, a protected part of the coastline in eastern Sicily. Tonnara Beach (Tonnara di Scopello) gets its name from the ancient tuna factory which was once on the site.
