The Ultimate Beach Getaway: Italy’s Best Coastal Holiday Destinations
Italy’s very shape, the iconic tall and slim boot stretching into the Mediterranean waters, means that you are never far from the coast when travelling through this magnificent country. With the fifth longest coastline in Europe (after Norway, Greenland, Greece and the UK) there are 7,600km of coastal delights to explore, nearly half of which stretch over sandy or gravel beaches. Italy beach holidays offer the perfect combination of relaxation, gastronomic delights and adventure, making them an incredibly popular choice for all who visit.
As with any holiday or travel adventure, you need to know where to go, when to go and how to get there. You’ve probably heard of the Cinque Terre beaches, the beauty of Puglia beaches, the turquoise waters of Sardinia and many other spots popular for Italy beach holidays. We are here to tell you a little more about them, alongside other favourite coastal spots of ours, and to give you some extra nuggets of knowledge to make sure you enjoy Italy’s stunning coast to the fullest.
1. The Italian Riviera
The northwestern stretch of coastline runs over the crescent from the French border, through Liguria, to the top of Tuscany. In terms of Italy coastal tours there is much to explore here. Tourists tend to make a beeline for the colourful, picturesque fishing village of Portofino, a celebrity hotspot of luxury boutiques, hotels and seafood restaurants, where super yachts now line the small harbour. The views from the 16th Century Castello Brown are stunning but this place gets busy. The cost of a parking space and an espresso could set you back the price of a three course lunch further down the coast, with less crowds but with just as much beauty.
Cinque Terre Beaches
Still popular with the tourists, but definitely worth a visit, is the National Park of The Cinque Terre, containing the five, timeless, historical seaside villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, recognized by UNESCO in 1997. A walking path connects each of the towns along this beautiful, rugged and wonderfully unique coastline from where I have witnessed some of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. It’s more of a hike than a leisurely stroll so I recommend alternating with the train, which follows the same route. You need at least three days to explore the area, relish the local pesto and enjoy the small and varied Cinque Terre beaches; the only sandy strip at Monterosso.
Golfo Dei Poeti
Continuing south past La Spezia, the slopes, bays and pretty harbours of Lerici, Fiascherino and Tellaro romance the visitor with views across the Bay of Poets (Golfo dei Poeti) and give a sense of what the Cinque Terre may have felt like before the influx of tourists. Possibly one of the less traditional Italy beach holidays, the narrow streets with quaint balconies wind down to quieter pockets of sea where swimming coves are aplenty. If you’re feeling adventurous, park along one of the winding coastal roads and try and find a set of steps leading down the cliffs to a sheltered bay.
Versilia
By contrast, the wide, soft, sandy beaches stretching further south towards Pisa offer THE perfect ingredients for family Italy beach holidays. Popular with Florentines, the Tuscan resort of Viareggio offers a strip of charmingly dated, Liberty style hotels overlooking the wide promenade, lined with seafood restaurants, gelato parlours, boutiques and ‘bagni’. For most of the summer, these privately owned lidos fill the beaches with sun loungers and umbrellas that can be rented (daily, weekly or monthly). As a customer you get access to changing facilities, showers, bathrooms, play areas and outdoor swimming pools, so the kids can happily wear themselves out on the shore or sand free, while parents can enjoy a calming aperitivo at the bar. Neighbouring Forte dei Marmi is a bit more glitzy where you may like to swap your flip flops for some heels at one of the fancy restaurants or night clubs on the beach and rub shoulders with the area’s local celebs!
2. Tuscany’s wilder shores
Tuscany may be more famous for its Rennaissance cities, medieval villages, olive groves, vineyards and world-class gastronomy, but it also boasts some of the country’s most beautiful, natural spots for Italy beach holidays. Heading south of Livorno towards Grosseto you will find plenty of great family beach resorts and camp sites around Castiglione della Pescaia and Le Rocchette, but drive (or cycle) a bit further afield and you will come across stunning, sandy bays like Cala Violina. The walk from the car park is worth the sheltered stretch of shore, where the warm sand literally squeaks like a violin. A little further south, the Parco Regionale di Maremma offers spectacular pine forests, wild, sandy beaches and nature reserves. Expect driftwood, an absence of sun loungers and cafés and maybe even some curious animals!
3. The Islands
When considering Italy coastal tours the islands are an absolute must. The three largest islands of Sicily, Sardinia and Elba (Tuscany) have long been favourites for Italy beach holidays both for locals and tourists alike. Sicily combines volcanic sand, hidden coves, secluded rocky platforms and sandy beaches with the stunning shores of its own island groups (including Eoile, Pelagie and Egadi). Read more about what Sicily has to offer here. The white sands and crystal azure waters of Sardinia are hard to beat when it comes to ultimate Italy beach holidays, hence the influx of Italian holidaymakers, especially in the month of August.
Elba
Regular ferries from Piombino can take you across to the beautiful island of Elba in an hour and a half. Time it right with a dawn crossing and you can be the first person to set foot on one of the secluded, sandy beaches before strolling to a bar for breakfast. Elba offers everything for a complete Italy beach holiday from water sports, hiking, fresh fish, stunning, sandy beaches, family resorts, camping and more, making it a popular destination for Italians. Being one of the lesser-known islands you can easily avoid the tourist crowds in April, May, June or September. The white sands of Cavoli in the south tend to be busier with a younger, party crowd whereas the beaches of Capoliveri are sheltered and shallow, ideal for families. The real beauty of Elba however is just taking off and finding a secret cove with crystal waters like the beach at Ripa Barata..
4. Puglia beaches
Heading right into the heel of the boot you can’t help get the feeling that you are leaving the large crowds behind. This is partly because southern Italy tends to have fewer connections, making the journey a bit more of an effort, but one you will never regret. Puglia beaches on the Salento peninsular are some of Italy’s loveliest and you will undoubtedly sense a more private feel to your holiday, off the tourist track. The historic seaside town of Otranto sits along the more dramatic, rocky, eastern coastal stretch, whereas the flat, white stretches of sand can be found on the western Puglia beaches such as Marina di Pescoluse, known as ‘The Maldives of Salento’. Very hard to resist!
Naturally, try and avoid August as a general rule when planning Italy beach holidays. Italians flock to the coast for most of the month pushing prices up and pushing peace and quiet out! Alma Italia Travel will be excited to help plan your trip, offering many Italy coastal tours to a variety of destinations. Contact us here today.
