Best Italian Beaches and Coastal Cities to Visit This Summer

Italy is one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations, with historic cities like Venice, Milan, Naples, and Rome enticing travelers from all over the world. However, located in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, Italy is also home to a large collection of coastal cities and beaches with crystal clear blue waters.

Italian coastal cities enjoy a unique location that makes for a comfortably mild climate. Whether for their warm sandy bays, their monumental views, or the quiet turquoise waves crashing on the shore, Italian beaches always seem to carry a special charm. If you are traveling to this wonderful country and feel like taking a dip at one of its incredible beaches, here is a list of the best beach cities where you are sure to enjoy a nice and pleasant stay.

Amalfi

One of the most popular of Italy’s beach towns, the Amalfi features a breathtaking coastal route with ancient ruins, small towns, and villages, as well as cliff-top vineyards. It’s a great destination where to enjoy natural wonders in a relaxed atmosphere.

These are some of the best beaches to visit in Amalfi:

Il Duoglio Spiaggia

This beautiful beach is in the middle of an unparalleled natural environment, surrounded by high mountains and huge cliffs. The quality of the water at Il Duoglio Spiaggia is excellent and perfect for swimming. The beach is accessible through a long staircase of around 400 steps and features plenty of services and amenities, ranging from restaurants to water sports equipment rental services.

Minori Beach

Offering stunning views and superb meals, this bay-shaped beach features gray sand and a beautiful rocky landscape. Minori Beach is usually a busy place, but the quality of its waters is nothing short of excellent. Visitors can rent boats to explore the sea up close and try fantastic seafood dishes at the many nearby restaurants.

Spiaggia di Maiori

Spiaggia di Maiori is a wide beach with strong waves and transparent waters. It’s located in an urban area but offers fantastic views of the surrounding mountains and cliffs. Moreover, it has a children's playground, a volleyball court, and endless sun loungers that allow visitors to have a relaxing time while listening to the sound of the sea. It’s a great option for visiting with the entire family and very easy to get to.

The Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel is a great option where to stay in Amalfi. Located just a 15 to 20-minute drive from these cool Italian beaches, the hotel is in a historic building that offers extraordinary views of the Amalfi coast.

Taormina

Taormina is one of the most beautiful corners of Sicily and one of the best choices if you fancy visiting one of Italy’s beach towns. With a Greek soul and a Roman heritage, in this city you will find cute streets with plenty of shops and restaurants, beautiful gardens, and beaches with limpid waters.

Some of them are listed below:

Playa de Isola Bella

Covered with thousands of gray pebbles, Isola Bella is a fantastic beach for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, or just laying back and relaxing while reading a book. It has been a nature reserve since 1990, being home to many species of birds and other animals. Moreover, its waters are very clean and sparkle in the sun.

Spiaggia La Pigna

With its easily accessible location, La Pigna beach is ideal for a walk, for resting, or for enjoying a cold drink at any of its many beach bars. La Pigna also features several terraces where you can try authentic Sicilian food products. In addition to this, the quality of the beach’s waters is excellent.

Located in the heart of the city and within a 20-minute drive from these two beaches, the NH Collection Taormina features amazing views of the Sicilian coast. Come and discover its fantastic facilities for yourself.

Savona

Savona is a unique destination in Italy, as it features a historical style captured in its many monuments and old squares that will not leave anyone indifferent. Also, as one of the best beach towns in Italy, you can enjoy a day at the beach without venturing too far.

Here are some of its best beaches:

Public Beach of Prolungamento

Equipped with urban bathing areas and all the advantages of having the city nearby, the Public Beach of Prolungamento is a gentle mix of golden sand, small rocks, and blue water in the city of Savona. Behind it lies the Prolungamento A Mare park, which offers panoramic views over the sea and a kids’ playground.

Spiaggia Fornaci

Located in the heart of the city and extending for around one kilometer, Spiaggia Fornaci is a beach that has received multiple Blue Flags and has all the basic facilities for an enjoyable beach day, including lively bars, tasty restaurants, and equipment for water sports. What’s more, the excellent quality of its waters and its golden sand make it one of our favorite Italian beaches.

Soleluna Beach

Also, within the Savona city limits is the Soleluna Beach, a brown sand beach that features warm waters and many bars, beach clubs, and restaurants, making it a great option if you’re looking to have a meal right by the sea. It’s also a fantastic beach to visit with your little ones as there’s a special children’s area available.

The NH Savona Darsena has a great location in the city port and is perfect for those who want to spend quality time at the beach. It will take you no more than 6 minutes by car to reach any of these three beaches from the hotel.

Genoa

Known as the capital of pesto and focaccia, Genoa is home to Italy's largest seaport and features a magical old town. The city also offers a wide variety of great bars and restaurants, suitable for all budgets.

Here are two of its main beaches:

Spiaggia Libera

With plenty of space and a straight coastline, Spiaggia Libera has everything you need to have a good time at the beach: bars, a spa, a football and a volley court, and an ideal location close to the city center. Thanks to the rocks covering the coast, the beach’s waters are almost always calm, making it an ideal option for going swimming.

Boccadasse Beach

The gorgeous Boccadasse beach features perfect spots where you can go sunbathing. Its clear waters are also ideal for swimming freely since it’s not usually very busy. Boccadasse is without a doubt one of the top Italian beaches. It’s located in a fishing village of the same name and, with its picturesque landscape, it’s a great spot where to watch a sunset.

The NH Genova Centro is centrally located, about 15 minutes by car from these two beaches. It’s a great option where to stay with family, friends, your partner, or alone at one the best beach cities in Italy.

Catania

Located in the east coast of the island of Sicily in Italy, Catania is a lively and historic tourist destination. Visitors enjoy its baroque architecture (including the world-famous Piazza del Duomo), its delicious seafood dishes, and its natural beauty, which includes gorgeous beaches.

These are some of the best beaches in Catania:

Le Piramidi Beach

One of the most beautiful beaches in the region, Le Piramidi Beach boasts of a fantastic location just three kilometers away from Catania’s historic center. It also offers equipment like umbrellas, chaise lounges, and showers. You’ll also find several bars at the beach as well as a restaurant serving typical Sicilian fare.

Playa di Catania

With golden sand and gorgeously blue waters, Playa di Catania is one of the most emblematic beaches. It stretches for 18 kilometers and offers plenty of amenities, ranging from umbrellas and sun beds to tennis courts and restaurants. The beach is also home to many beach clubs and water parks and is a major center of the city’s nightlife.

For a convenient accommodation from where to reach these beaches, book a stay at the NH Catania Parco Degli Aragonesi. This four-star hotel is located just a two-minute drive away from both these beaches and offers comfortable rooms, all of which feature private balconies.

Naples

Full of life, culture, history and nature, Naples is the most populous city in southern Italy and the third-largest city in the entire country. As one of the most famous Italian coastal cities, Naples is also home to some wonderful beaches.

Here are some of the top beaches in the city:

Spiaggia Comunale

Spiaggia Comunale is a beautiful small beach in Naples that boasts of clean waters, smooth sand, and a picturesque small pier. The beach is also easily accessible, as free parking is often available. It’s suitable for the entire family, as visitors of all ages will be delighted in its lovely promenade and breathtaking views.

Bagno Ideal

Very popular and offering stunning views, Bagno Ideal is a vibrant local beach that’s very easy to access whether by car or by public transport. The beach offers crystal blue waters along with plenty of services, including a refreshment area and a solarium. Recreational activities like football and beach volleyball are often taking place at this lively beach.

Bagno Sirena

Bagno Sirena is a very wide beach where you can enjoy a peaceful atmosphere and the amazing restaurants available in the area. In addition, its facilities are well-maintained, and its waters are very clean. It’s located in a historical site, very close to the famous Palazzo Donn'Anna, which dates to the 15th century.

The NH Napoli Panorama is a well-located hotel, within a 16-minute drive from these three Italian beaches and offering fully equipped rooms with privileged views of the city. Come and visit us to discover it.

Palermo

Palermo, the capital of the lovely island of Sicily, displays stunning architectural landmarks (like the 12th-century Palermo Cathedral), offers amazing Sicilian dishes, and is home to some of the most sought-after Italian beaches. What’s not to love?

We leave you with some of the best beaches to visit in Palermo:

Spiaggia dell'Arenella

With gorgeous clear turquoise waters and brown sand, Spiaggia dell’Arenella is a very popular urban beach in Palermo. The services available include loungers, umbrellas, and a beach restaurant. There are many restaurants and bars located near the beach and there’s also a convenient parking option in the area.

Spiaggia Vergine Maria

The ample Vergine Maria beach features crystal-clear waters and light sand with pebbles. It has a very picturesque location, as it’s surrounded by cliffs, and is very easy to access, with parking available right at the beach. If you’re looking for a convenient option where to go swimming or sunbathing in Palermo, you don’t need to look further than Vergine Maria beach.

The NH Palermo hotel is a fantastic choice for an accommodation if you’re interested in visiting these beaches. It’s located within a 20-minute drive from either of them. Its rooms also offer incredible views over the Gulf of Palermo.

La Spezia

La Spezia, a major Mediterranean port city, is one of Italy’s most charming cities. This is due to its historical sites and incredible natural beauty. The sea is a large part of this allure, as the city features a gorgeous harbor and is home to some spectacular Italian beaches.

Here are some of the best beaches in La Spezia:

San Terenzo Beach

Thanks to its fine white sand, San Terenzo Beach is a lovely spot where to lie down and take in the sun. Its clear waters are also a joy to swim in. The beach is also bordered by two cliffs, making it a great spot for underwater excursions. There are many amenities available in some of its areas, including deckchairs, sunbeds, pedal boats, and canoes.

Baia Blu

Baia Blu is one of the region’s most well-known and popular beaches. Featuring sand and gravel along its gorgeous waters, the beach is very accessible and suitable for visiting with the entire family. Plenty of services are available, including parking, lounger rental services, and restaurants. There are also many restaurants in the area where to enjoy local dishes.

The NH La Spezia hotel is located right in La Spezia’s city center, in front of the harbor and around a 15-minute drive away from both these beaches. In addition, the hotel also features sea views from most of its rooms, a fully equipped gym, and a fantastic hotel restaurant.