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Italian most beautiful beaches

Guide to the most alluring places along the Italian coastline

Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, Liguria, Gulf of Naples... There are so many paradise-like places in Italy that a stop at these beaches is a must. Admiring them from the deck of a sailboat will be a unique experience!

Which are the most beautiful beaches in Italy? Compiling a ranking of Italy's most beautiful beaches is practically impossible; there's truly an embarrassment of choices!

Along the over 7,000 kilometers of coastline, there are true corners of paradise: pristine stretches of sand and pebbles, bays surrounded by cliffs, hidden gems reachable only by boat... in short, nothing to envy the postcard-worthy Caribbean beaches! From the expansive shores of the Adriatic coast to the rocky beaches of Liguria or the Tyrrhenian coast, finding the perfect beach is incredibly easy. If you're unsure which ones to include in your itinerary, in this article, we recommend the most beautiful beaches to see at least once in a lifetime.

Vacation highlights

Italian most beautiful beaches

Cala Rossa, Favignana (Egadi Islands)

Cala Rossa, Favignana (Egadi Islands)

 

In the Egadi Islands archipelago lies a small paradise: Cala Rossa, a beach of rare beauty among the most famous locations on the island of Favignana. This small bay is known for the azure sea that perfectly complements the white tuff walls, creating a picturesque setting. The beach can be reached by walking along a small path, but the real beauty is arriving there on a sailboat, to fully enjoy the scenery.

Porto Giunco, Sardinia

Porto Giunco, Sardinia

Also known as "the beach of the two seas," it is located at the foot of a promontory on which stands an ancient Spanish watchtower, the Torre di Porto Giunco. This beach is located in Villasimius, on the southeast coast of Sardinia very close to Cagliari. The beach is made of very fine white sand with pink shades due to the tiny debris of granite rocks. The water is clear and crystalline, especially on days with the Mistral wind. Framing this enchanted place is the typical Mediterranean vegetation that lines the entire beach. Its peculiarity? Moving away from the coast, the colour of the sea changes, showing an infinity of azure shades, clearly visible from the boat!

Cala Marilou, Sardegna

Cala Marilou, Sardegna

Cala Mariolu was acclaimed a few years ago as the most beautiful beach in Italy. It's a fantastic cove characterised by white and pink pebbles mixed with sand that can be reached in two ways: through a challenging trek or by sailboat. One of the most distinctive beaches on the island. Its panorama strikes with its infinite shades of blue, emerald green, and azure, and with the pebbles that look like snowflakes. It is located on the central-eastern coast of Sardinia, and it's a gem of the beautiful Gulf of Orosei. It is surrounded by a high cliff of 500 meters that falls sheer into the water and is characterised by a shallow seabed that deserves to be explored with a mask and fins. If you are particularly lucky, you may even spot dolphins offshore!

Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa

Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa

Another Italian gem is undoubtedly the Spiaggia dei Conigli in Lampedusa. Characterised by crystal-clear waters, with all shades of azure, and a unique panorama with the homonymous islet of Conigli. Here you will also find an incredible marine fauna and the royal seagull, which has chosen this island for nesting.

This beach has also been named among the most beautiful beaches in Europe, a true marvel, in a dreamlike scenario, immersed in an enchanted atmosphere.

Chiaia di Luna, Ponza

Chiaia di Luna, Ponza

A moon diving into the sea, that's how the beautiful Chiaia beach appears on the western part of the island of Ponza. Its name comes from the colour of the tall white tuff cliffs, which reach almost 100 metres, that of the gravel of the beach, and its crescent shape. This natural inlet of the island was frequented since the time of the Greeks and Romans as it was used as a safe natural harbour, sheltered from the winds. In recent years, access to the beach by land has been closed due to repeated landslides. Unfortunately, access by sea is also not allowed, as all boats are required to stay at least 200 metres from the shore. You can admire the beach in all its fragile beauty, only from a proper distance, but it will be worth it!

Spiaggia La Pelosa, Sardegna

Spiaggia La Pelosa, Sardegna

La Pelosa Beach is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia and is considered by many to have the most enchanting water unmatched anywhere else in Italy. It is located in the Gulf of Asinara, at the extreme north-western tip of Sardinia in the municipality of Stintino. It is protected from the open sea by a natural barrier formed by the cliffs of Capo Falcone, the island of Piana, and Asinara; therefore, the water here is always calm even when the Mistral wind blows. The turquoise and transparent water and the very fine white sand make it resemble a tropical beach rather than a Mediterranean one.

Opposite the beach is the islet of La Pelosa with the characteristic Aragonese tower defending the coast, which gives the beach its name. It can be reached on foot from the coast by following a natural ford at a point at the northern end of the beach.

Is Arutas, Sardegna

Is Arutas, Sardegna

A crescent moon with colourful quartz grains embraced by two rocky cliffs, this is the splendid landscape that Is Arutas will offer you in the Gulf of Oristano, in the centre of the Sardinian west coast. It is a perfect beach for those who love to relax in a dreamlike nature. The fairly deep seabed takes on an intense green and blue hue with blue shades. The clarity of the water allows you a clear view even from the boat. In some coves along the long beach, instead, you can admire stretches of coastline with very fine white sand and clean, crystalline water. This part of the gulf is one of the wildest corners of Sardinia and is one of the most frequented places by wind and kite surfing enthusiasts.

Due Sorelle Beach, Marche

Due Sorelle Beach, Marche

A few miles from Ancona, in the shadow of the imposing Mount Conero and reachable only by boat, lies Due Sorelle Beach. Its name comes from the two white sea stacks that rise from the azure sea just a few steps from the shore and dominate the entire landscape. The beach is a beautiful cove with a wild charm, also reachable on foot via a rather challenging path.

Close your eyes and imagine the sun setting behind the horizon as you sip an aperitif at the stern, lulled by the waves of the sea... is there anything better? 

Baia del Silenzio, Liguria

Baia del Silenzio, Liguria

A perennial source of inspiration for literary men, writers, and scientists, Baia del Silenzio, in Sestri Levante, is considered one of the most enchanting places in Liguria and beyond. Characterised by crystal-clear water and fine sand, the beach is protected to the west by the promontory of Punta Manara and surrounded by the typical Ligurian houses with pastel tones interspersed with historic buildings. A romantic beach, an ideal destination for a lovers' escape and to admire the sunset together from the bow of the boat.

Cala Bianca, Campania

Cala Bianca, Campania

This beach located in Marina di Camerota in the Cilento region is one of the most beautiful places for swimming, where you can find a bit of tranquility. A small corner of paradise with the whitest sand, surrounded by lush vegetation where you can find calm and peace. This cove has remained intact and unspoiled over time, also thanks to the fact that it can only be reached by sea.

Between Cala Bianca and the nearby Baia del Pozzallo lies the Source of Santa Caterina: in a patch of emerald water near the rocks, a spring of freshwater flows, which according to doctors and experts, contains healthful virtues.

Other Unmissable Beaches

  • Spiaggia della Calcara, Panarea (Aeolian Islands)

    It is the most characteristic stretch of coast on the island. It rises on the crater of a very ancient, now harmless volcano, of which the fumes and gases with their particular smells are still visible and perceptible. It extends for a short distance with golden sand and pebbles, bathed by clear waters, completely immersed in nature. A completely wild, unspoiled beach, not equipped, therefore excellent for enjoying moments of peace and tranquility. Very suggestive to arrive by boat to admire all its beauty.

  • Cala Goloritzè, Sardegna

    A small bay with transparent seabed surrounded by cliffs 500 meters high and covered with fragrant Mediterranean vegetation, located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Orosei. Its distinctive features are the smooth white pebbles, transparent and turquoise waters, marble rocks, and shallow seabed. A magical place where sea and mountains meet in perfect harmony, a must-visit during a sailing holiday in Sardinia.

  • Spiaggia del Cannone, Calabria

    It is one of the beaches of Tropea, among the smallest and least frequented, thanks to its hidden location behind the tourist port and the San Leonardo rock. A secluded, small beach ideal for relaxing away from the crowds.

  • Cala San Francesco, Toscana

    Located in Capraia, a wild island just a few hours' sail from the coast, Cala San Francesco is one of the many coves on the island that can only be reached by boat. Located near the homonymous convent.

  • Scala dei Turchi, Sicily

    A very characteristic beach, located near the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento. The bright white of the rocky wall extends towards the sea creating a unique scenario. The rock is an ideal diving board for bathers.

  • Tonnarella dell’Uzzo, Sicily

    In the heart of the Zingaro Nature Reserve, it is the most beautiful of the 8 coves in the reserve. Here, the natural spectacle is unparalleled. The beach can be reached not only on foot but also by sea. Particularly suitable for families and diving enthusiasts.

Guides & tips

Maddalena Archipelago (Sardinia) by sailboat

Maddalena Archipelago (Sardinia) by sailboat

 Sardinia on a sailing boat

 Sardinia on a sailing boat

The Aeolian Islands on a sailboat

The Aeolian Islands on a sailboat

 Ponza, Palmarola and Ventotene by sailboat

 Ponza, Palmarola and Ventotene by sailboat

The Amalfi Coast by sailboat

The Amalfi Coast by sailboat

Liguria by sailboat

Liguria by sailboat

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