Italy by the sea: choosing the right stretch of coast.
Italy has thousands of miles of coast and they are not the same. Dramatic cliffs, long sandy beaches, glamorous resorts and quiet coves all sit under the same flag.
A holiday by the sea in Italy can mean very different things. The vertical drama of the Amalfi Coast, the turquoise water of Sardinia, the white towns and clear sea of Puglia, the wild beauty of Sicily, or the elegant simplicity of the Ligurian coast. The trick is matching the stretch of coast to the holiday you have in mind.
Here is how the main options compare.
The Amalfi Coast and Capri
For drama and glamour, the Amalfi Coast is hard to beat, with towns built into cliffs and a famous, cinematic setting. It is steep, busy in summer and short on beaches, so it suits a romantic, scenic holiday more than a classic beach week. Capri adds even more glamour and even fewer beaches.
Choosing a coast?
We help you pick the right stretch of sea for your holiday.
Sardinia and the islands
For the best beaches and the clearest water, Sardinia is the answer. The Costa Smeralda is glamorous and expensive, but much of the island is quieter, wilder and stunning. It is best treated as a destination in itself, built around a coastal base, rather than tacked on to a mainland trip.
Puglia and the south
For a warm, relaxed beach holiday with white towns and good food, Puglia is a strong choice. Two coastlines give you cliffs and clear water on the Adriatic side and softer, sandier beaches in Salento. Prices are gentler than the headline coasts and the pace is slower.
Sicily and beyond
Sicily offers a larger, more layered seaside trip, with beaches, history, food and the drama of Etna and Taormina. Elsewhere, the Ligurian coast and Cinque Terre give pretty, low-key seaside towns best reached by train, and the Tuscan coast offers easy beaches within reach of the countryside.
Cliffs, sand or islands. Choose first.
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Good to know
Where is the best beach holiday in Italy?
Sardinia has the best beaches and clearest water. Puglia offers warm, relaxed beaches with white towns, and Sicily combines beaches with history and food.
Is the Amalfi Coast good for beaches?
Not really. The Amalfi Coast is dramatic and scenic but short on beaches. It suits a romantic, scenic holiday more than a classic beach week.
Where is the clearest water in Italy?
Sardinia is famous for turquoise water and white sand. Parts of Puglia and the smaller islands also have very clear sea.
Which Italian coast is best for families?
Puglia and the Tuscan coast are practical and relaxed for families. Sardinia is excellent for beaches if you base yourself on the coast.