Best Beaches in Italy: Where They Are, How to Get There and When to Go

Italy has 525 Blue Flag beaches in 2026, and Liguria leads the country with 35 of them. Many of the famous names sit on that list, among them Sanremo, Sestri Levante, Polignano a Mare, Vieste and Tropea. The water is a matter of season: near Venice it runs from 48°F (9°C) in February to 78°F (26°C) in August.

What are the best beaches in Italy?

The Blue Flag count is a handy way to group the coast. Liguria has 35 flagged locations. Puglia and Calabria have 27 each. Campania, Marche and Tuscany have 20 each, Abruzzo and Sicily 16 each, and Trentino Alto Adige 12. Lakes count too: 23 lakeside municipalities hold the flag.

• Sanremo and Sestri Levante: Liguria, Blue Flag towns · for a Ligurian coast trip
• Polignano a Mare and Vieste: Puglia, Blue Flag towns · for the Adriatic side of the south
• Tropea: Calabria, Blue Flag town · for a southern coast stop
• Forte dei Marmi: Tuscany, Blue Flag town · for a Tuscan beach day
• Cefalù: Sicily, a long town beach · for a seaside town with a beach
• Maiori: Amalfi Coast, one of the longest beaches there · for sunbathing and swimming
• Fiordo di Furore: a small beach at the bottom of the fjord · for a swim off the beaten path
• Bellagio: Lake Como, listed among beach towns · for lake days with lidos

New in 2026 are Rimini, Lipari, Ispica, Monte Argentario and Teulada. Calabria adds Amendolara, Montegiordano, Falerna and Locri. Some places left the list: San Felice Circeo in Lazio, Patù and Castrignano del Capo in Puglia, and Marina del Fezzano and Porto Carlo Riva in Liguria.

How warm is the water at the beaches in Italy?

Late spring through early autumn is the swimming window near Venice. The Adriatic reaches 65°F (18°C) in May, 73°F (23°C) in June and 78°F (25°C) in July.

Late summer and early autumn still work. September averages 73°F (23°C) and October 66°F (19°C). November drops to 60°F (16°C).

Winter is for walks. Near Venice the sea sits at 50°F (10°C) in January and 48°F (9°C) in February. Near Naples it is 59°F (15°C) in January and 58°F (14°C) in February, a little milder.

Where are the beaches in Italy, and how do you get to each one?

Sanremo: Liguria Blue Flag town

Sanremo is among the famous awarded beaches, in Liguria, the region with the most Blue Flags.

Polignano a Mare: Puglia Blue Flag town

Polignano a Mare is one of the famous awarded beaches in Puglia. Vieste, also flagged, is in the same region.

Tropea: Calabria Blue Flag town

Tropea is a famous flagged beach in Calabria, a region with 27 flags and four new ones this year. Locri and Falerna are among the new entries.

Cefalù: long town beach

Cefalù is an elegant seaside town known for its long beach in Sicily.

Maiori: long Amalfi Coast beach

Maiori has one of the longest beaches on the Amalfi Coast, good for sunbathing and swimming.

Vietri sul Mare: ceramics and beaches

Vietri sul Mare is known for colorful ceramics and beautiful beaches.

Fiordo di Furore: small fjord beach

A small beach sits at the bottom of the Fiordo di Furore, where visitors can swim.

Marciana Marina: La Marina and Crocetta

Marciana Marina offers excellent beaches, including La Marina and the more private Crocetta Beach.

Amantea: Coreca and Tonnara

The most beautiful beaches of Amantea are Coreca and Tonnara.

What should you know before going to the beach in Italy?

• Heat: High temperatures are common in the south in summer, so plan beach hours around them.
• Storms: Thunderstorms bring heavy rain, lightning and gusty winds, mainly in spring and summer.
• Earthquakes: Several major fault lines cross Italy, and earthquakes are frequent, according to the U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov).
• Venice: High tides can cause flooding.
• Winter: Snowstorms are common in northern and mountainous regions.