Italy has 7,600km of coastline, 20 regions touching the sea, and approximately 47,000 arguments per summer about which beach is the best. Sardinia people say Cala Mariolu. Puglia people say Pescoluse. Sicily people say Spiaggia dei Conigli. Calabria people say Tropea. They're all right. This ranking groups Italy's 20 best beaches by TYPE — so you can find the one that matches YOUR definition of "paradise." Beaches near Rome →
Plan my beach Italy →1. La Pelosa (Stintino, Sardinia) — white sand, turquoise shallow water, a medieval tower on a tiny island offshore. Access limited to 1,500 people/day (book online May-September, €3.50). The closest thing to the Caribbean in Europe.
2. Cala Mariolu (Baunei, Sardinia) — white pebbles + turquoise water in a cliff cove. Accessible only by boat (€25-35 return from Cala Gonone or Santa Maria Navarrese). The most pristine water in the Mediterranean.
3. Spiaggia dei Conigli (Lampedusa) — voted world's best beach multiple times. White sand, loggerhead sea turtles nest here. Access by 20 min walk from parking. Africa-close (closer to Tunisia than to Sicily).
4. Cala Goloritzé (Baunei, Sardinia) — rock pinnacle rising from turquoise water, UNESCO monument. Boat access or 1.5h hike down (steep). The most dramatic single beach in Italy.
5. Tropea (Calabria) — white sand below a cliff town with a church on a rock. The best beach you can walk to from a town center. 6. Fetovaia (Elba) — crescent bay, sheltered, golden sand. 7. Porto Giunco (Villasimius, Sardinia) — twin beaches separated by a salt lagoon with flamingos. 8. San Vito Lo Capo (Sicily) — 1km of golden sand in a horseshoe bay below Monte Monaco. The best family beach in Sicily.
9. Scala dei Turchi (Realmonte, Sicily) — white marl clay cliffs sculpted by wind into a natural staircase. Swim at the base of the white cliff. The most photographed geological formation in Italy. 10. Piscinas (Arbus, Sardinia) — Saharan-scale sand dunes meeting the sea. Wild, empty, no facilities. 11. Arcomagno (San Nicola Arcella, Calabria) — natural rock arch framing a turquoise pool. Accessible by kayak or swimming from nearby beach. 12. Stromboli's black volcanic sand beach — swim with a volcano erupting behind you.
13. Santa Marinella (50 min train from Rome) — the best quick-access beach from the capital. 14. Bagni Regina Giovanna (Sorrento — natural rock pool, ruins of a Roman villa, free, 20 min walk from town). 15. Mondello (Palermo — city beach, 20 min bus, golden sand, Art Nouveau bathhouses).
16. Porto Selvaggio (Nardò, Puglia) — rocky cove in a nature park, pine forest shade, wild feel. 17. Cala Coticcio (Caprera, Sardinia) — "Tahiti" — accessible only by boat, limited daily visitors. 18. Baia delle Zagare (Mattinata, Gargano) — sea stacks + white pebble beach between cliffs. 19. Sansone (Elba) — white pebbles + turquoise water + white cliff backdrop. 20. Monterosso — Cinque Terre's only proper sand beach, village-front, crystal water.