If you travel to Italy during the summer, you may want to spend a day (or more) at the beach. Going to the beach is very popular with Italians, especially on Sundays, and Italian beaches can be very crowded in summer. If you plan to stay near the coast in August, you must book your hotel in advance.
What to expect on an Italian beach
Most of the beaches are not free, but are divided into private beach areas called stabilimenti that can be used for a daily price. Your rate usually gives you a clean beach, a dressing room where you can leave your things, an outdoor shower to rinse off, a good bathing area, toilets, and a bar, and sometimes a restaurant. At the stabilimetni, you can also rent a deck chair and a beach umbrella; You will be assigned a spot along the beach with your own chairs and umbrella. The locals buy season passes and therefore have the best positions.
If you plan to use the beach for a longer period, there is sometimes a weekly or monthly pass that you can buy. Lifeguards are usually on duty in private beach areas. The stabilizers usually close before sunset.
Free beaches are often at the end of private beach areas, but may not be as pleasant and will generally not have bathrooms (or a place to change) or lifeguards (although if there is a lifeguard in a nearby private area, he / she will respond to emergencies).
Sunbathing topless for women used to be common and some women still choose to bathe topless, especially in more secluded areas. You will rarely see women in one piece swimsuits, even older women usually wear a bikini or 2 piece suit.
The beaches are not always sandy, but sometimes they are pebbles or rocks. The lake’s beaches are not naturally sandy so they are rocky unless sand is brought in, as has been done in some popular areas of the lake. Sometimes there is little space for a beach, so the sea makes concrete platforms or terraces and uses them as beaches.
Where to go to the beach in Italy
Some of the most popular Italian coastal destinations are:
- The Amalfi Coast has some of the most impressive coastline in Italy with good beaches along the coast below the cliffs.
- The Italian Riviera, on the northwest coast, especially around Cinque Terre and Portofino. Here you will find beautiful landscapes and beautiful beaches.
- Rimini is one of the best coastal resorts on the Adriatic Sea with 15 kilometers of sandy beaches.
- The Versilia coast of Tuscany is a long stretch of beaches. Forte dei Marmi is one of the main seaside resorts in Tuscany.
- Calabria, the tip of the boot, has more than 500 miles of coastline with many unspoiled beaches.
- Puglia, the heel of the boot, has many good beaches, especially on the Salento peninsula, whose mild climate allows swimming from late spring to early fall.
- Italian Island Beaches: The Italian islands are known for their clear waters and good beaches. Here are five good beaches in Sicily and the best beaches in Sardinia. The island of Ischia is known for its thermal pools, often next to a beach.
- Going to the Beach from Rome: If you’re in Rome and want to spend a day at the beach, try these Rome Beach Day Trips.
- Go to the beach from Venice: Although there is a lot of water in Venice, there are no beaches or places to swim. If you are in Venice and want to swim, try the beaches of the Lido, which are reached by water bus from St. Mark’s Square or can also be accessed by car or bus from outside Venice.
Blue flag beaches in Italy
The blue flag is awarded to beaches based on strict criteria including water quality, beach code of conduct, environmental education and management (including beach cleanliness and availability of restrooms), and beach services. safety (including adequate lifeguards and wheelchair accessibility).
See Blue Flag Beaches to find Blue Flag beaches in Italy.
