Travelling to Italy for a holiday might be filled with fresh pasta, enviable shopping and lots of Aperol, but it just isn’t complete without a visit to one (or a few) of the country’s many beaches.
Whether it’s one of the Mediterranean’s famously blue swimming holes below limestone cliffs or the Adriatic’s long stretches of sand, some of the best beaches in Europe can be found on Italy’s coastline. From crystal clear waters in Sardinia to the calm waters of Cinque Terre, the beautiful beaches of the Italian coast are definitely a good reason to get away from your desk and onto a plane, stat. Below, we’ve rounded up 10 of our favourites, complete with golden sand, sand beaches, blue waters and Instagrammable rock formations. You can thank us later!
1. Via Krupp Capri
The original hiking road might be closed, but the view from above is worth the trip.
2. Cinque Terre
Featuring five gorgeous seaside villages, Cinque Terre is famously photogenic — for a reason.
3. Positano, Amalfi Coast
The most famous of all Italian coastal towns, Positano has the views, the hotels and the pasta to make all your wildest Instagram dreams come true.
4. Polignano a Mare, Puglia
The new Positano, this tiny beach in Puglia has become something of an Instagram sensation. Get there early or miss out on a spot on the beach!
5. Chia Beach, Sardinia
Sardinia is known for its whiter-than-white sand and turquoise water, and Chia Beach combines it all.
6. San Fruttuoso, Liguria
Only accessible by foot, you’ve got to really work to get this shot.
7. Furore Beach, Amalfi Coast
One of the smallest beaches on the Amalfi Coast, this hole-in-the cliffs beach looks out over an old archway, making the perfect backdrop (or prop) for a photo.
8. San Vito Lo Capo, Sicily
Kilometres of white sand and low rocks make this one serious destination. Come at sunset for the ultimate photo.
9. Cala Goloritzé, Sardinia
So beautiful it was named an UNESCO site, this famous Sardinian beach is one for the bucket list.
10. Chiaia di Luna, Ponza
One of the most spectacular beaches in the Pontine Archipelago, Chiaia di Luna features a 328-foot volcanic rock wall, which makes for a spectacular photo.
