Best Sandy Beaches in Italy

We rank the top 40 of 45 sandy beaches in Italy. Cala Brandinchi (Italy) comes first with 4.8 / 5, followed by Spiaggia dei Conigli, Cala Violina.

The sea reaches about 24 degrees C in season, and most of these beaches are at their best from June to September. 27 of the 40 have easy access, and 7 are hidden gems.

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1Cala Brandinchi

San Teodoro, Sardinia, Italy · 4.8 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A long bay of fine pale sand and very shallow, clear water backed by stone pines, with Tavolara island rising on the horizon.

2Spiaggia dei Conigli

Lampedusa, Sicily, Italy · 4.8 / 5 · Moderate access · about 25 °C

A sweep of pale sand and shallow turquoise water on Lampedusa, set inside a nature reserve and often counted among the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean.

3Cala Violina

Scarlino, Tuscany, Italy · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A crescent of fine pale sand inside the Bandite di Scarlino nature reserve on the Tuscan coast, said to squeak underfoot, which is how it got its name.

4La Cinta Beach

San Teodoro, Sardinia · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A long strip of soft white sand and shallow turquoise water just outside San Teodoro, with a lagoon behind it.

5La Pelosa

Stintino, Sardinia, Italy · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A shallow white-sand lagoon facing the Torre della Pelosa at the northwest tip of Sardinia.

6Porto Giunco

Villasimius, Sardinia · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A wide sandy beach in the south-east of Sardinia, with an old watchtower on the headland and a lagoon behind.

7Spiaggia Grande

Amalfi Coast, Italy · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

Nestled beneath the pastel-coloured cliffside village of Positano — one of the most dramatic and romantic settings in Europe.

8Tuerredda Beach

Teulada, Sardinia, Italy · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A crescent of fine pale sand and shallow turquoise water on the south coast of Sardinia, facing a small island just offshore.

9Cala Sisine

Baunei, Gulf of Orosei, Sardinia · 4.6 / 5 · Challenging access · about 24 °C

A remote cove in the Gulf of Orosei, where a green canyon opens onto pale sand and shingle.

10Calamosche Beach

Vendicari, Noto, Sicily · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °C

A small sandy cove between rocky headlands inside the Vendicari nature reserve on the south-east coast of Sicily.

11Li Cossi

Costa Paradiso, Sardinia · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °C

A small sandy cove on the north coast of Sardinia near Costa Paradiso, set between red granite rocks with green-blue water.

12Piscina Rei Beach

Muravera, Sardinia · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 25 °C

A long beach of fine sand on the south-east coast of Sardinia in the municipality of Muravera, with clear water and dunes behind the shore.

13Punta Molentis

Villasimius, Sardinia · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A small beach of pale sand and clear shallow water near Villasimius, between low granite rocks.

14San Vito Lo Capo

San Vito Lo Capo, Sicily, Italy · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °C

A broad curve of pale sand and clear shallow water at the tip of north-west Sicily, backed by the town and a rocky headland.

15Scala dei Turchi

Realmonte, Sicily, Italy · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A dazzling white marl cliff carved into giant steps above a small sandy beach on the south coast of Sicily, near Agrigento.

16Spiaggia di Piscinas

Arbus, Costa Verde, Sardinia · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A wild, long beach backed by some of the tallest sand dunes in Europe, on the Costa Verde of south-west Sardinia.

17Torre dell'Orso Beach

Melendugno, Puglia · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °C

A wide crescent of pale sand and shallow turquoise water in Salento, guarded by a watchtower and the famous Two Sisters rock stacks.

18Torre Guaceto Beach

Carovigno, Puglia · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °C

A long, flat, sandy beach inside the Torre Guaceto marine reserve on the Adriatic coast of Puglia.

19Tropea Beach

Calabria, Italy · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °C

A sweep of pale sand and clear blue water below the cliff-top town of Tropea on the Calabrian coast.

20Baia dei Turchi

Otranto, Puglia · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 25 °C

A natural bay in Salento, a few kilometres north of Otranto, with fine pale sand, pines and clear shallow water.

21Baia del Silenzio

Sestri Levante, Liguria, Italy · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

A small sheltered bay of sand and pebbles beside the old town of Sestri Levante, with pastel houses and calm water.

22Cala Cipolla

Chia, Sardinia · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A pretty bay on the south coast of Sardinia near Chia, with soft sand, clear water and a rocky headland.

23Cala Pira

Castiadas, Sardinia · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °C

A sandy cove on the south-east coast of Sardinia near Castiadas, with clear water and Mediterranean scrub behind the beach.

24Costa Rei

Costa Rei, Castiadas, Sardinia · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °C

A long beach of fine white sand and clear shallow water on the south-east coast of Sardinia.

25Fetovaia Beach

Fetovaia, Elba · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A curved bay of golden sand and granite grains on Elba south-west coast, with calm clear water and a pine-scented hillside behind.

26Is Arutas

Cabras, Sinis Peninsula, Sardinia · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A beach on the Sinis peninsula in west Sardinia, known for sand made of tiny quartz grains in many colours that give the shallow water a clear, bright look.

27Portu Illixi Beach

South-east Sardinia · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 25 °C

A quiet sandy bay in south-east Sardinia with clear water, low scrub behind the beach and a wild, unhurried feel.

28Punta Prosciutto

Porto Cesareo, Salento, Puglia · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °C

A long sandy beach on the Ionian coast of Salento, backed by dunes and part of a protected area within the Porto Cesareo marine reserve.

29Sa Colonia Beach

Chia, Domus de Maria, Sardinia · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A sandy beach at Chia on the south coast of Sardinia, with a coastal lagoon behind it where pink flamingos sometimes feed.

30Torre dei Corsari

Costa Verde, Sardinia · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °C

A wide sandy bay on the Costa Verde in south-west Sardinia, with dunes and clear water along a long sweep of beach.

31Alimini Beach

Alimini, Otranto, Puglia · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °C

A stretch of fine sand and clear, gently sloping water on the Salento coast near Otranto, backed by pine woods and dunes.

32Cala Sinzias

Castiadas, Sardinia · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A wide, gently shelving bay of fine pale sand and shallow turquoise water in south-east Sardinia, with granite rocks and pines on both sides.

33Rena Bianca

Santa Teresa Gallura, Sardinia, Italy · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

A pale sand beach beside the town of Santa Teresa Gallura, with clear water and granite rocks at the end of the bay.

34San Pietro in Bevagna Beach

Manduria, Puglia · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °C

A long sandy beach on the Ionian coast of Puglia, near Manduria, with a wide open shoreline and gently shelving water.

35Scilla Marina Grande

Scilla, Calabria · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °C

A long town beach in the old fishing town of Scilla, with the Ruffo castle rising above one end and views across to Sicily.

36Sperlonga Beach

Sperlonga, Lazio, Italy · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

Long stretches of sand either side of a whitewashed hill town on the Lazio coast, between Rome and Naples.

37Spiaggia dei Maronti

Ischia, Campania · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °C

A long beach of dark volcanic sand on the south coast of Ischia, backed by cliffs, with views along the coast and plenty of space.

38Budoni Beach

Budoni, Sardinia · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A long sweep of fine white sand and clear shallow water on Sardinia north-east coast, backed by dunes and juniper.

39Cefalu Beach

Cefalu, Sicily, Italy · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °C

A sandy beach right below the old houses of Cefalu, with rocks at the edges and the town and cliffs behind.

40Levanto Beach

Levanto, Liguria · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A wide bay of sand and pebbles in Levanto, a short train ride from the Cinque Terre.

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How we picked these beaches

Included when the shoreline is mostly of this type, then ranked by our editorial score. See how we rate beaches for the full method.

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