Your Guide to Choosing the Best Beaches in Italy

Georgia Yuill

Andiamo al mare! For many Italians, the seaside is not just dear, but practically a necessity, as pivotal to life as a trip to the mountains in winter for a traditional “white week” get away.

Envision generation after generation setting off for multiple weeks (and for some, multiple months!) to their beloved shoreline to breathe in the subtly salted air, soak up the sunshine, sink into their beach chairs and fall into the stress-free rhythm that the summer season brings.

Beaches in Italy: An Embarrassment of Riches

While the living is easy, the choice can be difficult; Italy has the enormously good fortune of hundreds of kilometres of coastline, along with an attractive variety of islands to choose from. Beginning in the northwest, the Ligurian Coast is dotted with fabulous towns including Portofino, Sestri Levanti and the remarkable Cinque Terre towns Manarola, Vernazza, Corniglia, Monterosso and Riomaggiore.

Slightly south from Cinque Terre, chic and relaxed beach towns such as Forte dei Marmi pop up along a stretch of gorgeous Tuscan beaches, while family-friendly posts like Viareggio and Camaiore offer neatly organized beach clubs boasting that classic summer essential: the “chaise lounge plus umbrella” combination, found in bright orange, green, red and striped variations that distinguish each club from its neighbour.

Port towns like Punta Ala and Castiglione della Pescaia not only have impressive yachting inventories, but also parasol pine forests offering a shaded escape from the hot sands of the waterfront. For the sailing set, many attractive ports of call beckon, like the islands of Elba, Capraia and Giglio.

Sardinia offers a more ambitious ocean crossing, as nautical charts cross the wakes of overnight ferries bound for Olbia and Cagliari at opposite ends of the marvellous island. Sardinia’s powder-like sand and azure waters, quiet coves and relaxed vibe constitute a completely different Italy, making it extremely popular in August.