Best Beaches in Tuscany Italy
Did you know there are beautiful beaches in Tuscany, Italy?
When you think of Tuscany, it probably doesn’t bring to mind a beach vacation. But in addition to the rolling hills, wineries, olive groves, and medieval villages, this region of Italy also includes a beautiful coastline!
We’ve been coming back to Tuscany’s Etruscan Coast regularly now that we’re close friends and Cooking Club partners with Chicca of Cooking in Tuscany. Before staying with her, we had no idea there were such beautiful beach towns in Tuscany.
Our fellow North Americans tend to visit big names like Florence, Pisa, and Siena. But there are many more Tuscan gems to discover!
So far, it seems only Europeans know the secret of summer beach holidays in Tuscany. Beach resorts and beach towns in this area do get quite a few vacationers from the North during high season, yet we find these places remain relatively unknown to American travelers.
To help you find the best beaches in Tuscany Italy, we’ve gathered local advice, personal research, and tips from fellow travel bloggers.
Tuscany Beaches: Map of Tuscany Coast
As you can see from the map above, there aren’t really beaches near Tuscany’s capital of Florence or inland destinations like San Gimignano, Montepulciano, Cortona, or Siena.
However, it’s possible to take a day trip to the Italian coast. For example, Florence to the coast is less than 1 1/2 hours by car or train.
Pisa’s international airport is the fastest way to arrive to the Tuscan Coast from abroad.
7 Beaches in Tuscany Worth Visiting
Let’s dive in to discover Tuscany’s top beaches.
Marina di Castagneto Carducci – Best Beaches of Tuscany
Our friends live in Castagneto Carducci, which is a fertile wine and olive oil region bordered by the beach on one side and a medieval hilltop town on the other.
The beach town “suburb” on the coast is called Marina di Castagneto Carducci. It has quiet tree-lined neighborhoods of vacation homes, an historic fortress, a handful of hotels, campgrounds, seaside restaurants and cafes, paintball, and a small adventure park for families.
One of the best places on the Tuscany Coast, in our opinion, is the stunning hiking and biking trail called the Viale dei Cavalleggeri, lined with tall pine trees. This apparently used to be an old route to Rome.
Castagneto’s sandy beach is one of the longer beaches in Tuscany, which is great for both sun bathing and long walks. Our friends love to drive or cycle to town for a morning coffee at La Zattera.
Find more recommended restaurants and places to visit on Tuscany’s Coast with our map >
Where to stay in Marina di Castagneto Carducci:
Tombolo Talasso Resort – Beautiful beach resort in Tuscany with grotto and wellness spa
Casa Toscana apartments – Fully equipped vacation rental apartments above our friend’s farmhouse
Baratti Beach, Populonia
Baratti is one of the best beaches in Tuscany to visit for sightseeing. This sandy inlet sits below the historic Populonia castle and one of the area’s most significant archeological ruins, an Etruscan necropolis. The history of this area is quite interesting.
Baratti beach is roughly a mile in length with a handful of beach bars offering lounge chairs, umbrellas, bathrooms, and refreshments.
We had some delicious fried seafood and fried artichoke at a cute vendor stall called Il Polpo Marino next to one of the smaller parking lots. The breading was light and tasty, a great Mediterranean snack!
Immediately behind the beach is a scenic park with impressive pine trees. There is no town to speak of, though a short hike or drive up the hill will bring you to a tiny village with an archeological museum, boutiques, and a couple more places to eat.
Recommended accommodations near Baratti Beach:
Castello di Populonia – Guest apartments in the castle fortress overlooking the bay
Cala Violina – Violina Bay
Cala Violina is, according to locals, the most beautiful beach in the Tuscan Maremma.
There is one feature that makes it unique: the sand is composed of tiny quartz grains that play a melody with every step. Hence the name of the beach. There are about a hundred sound beaches in the world, and Cala Violina is one of them.
This Tuscan beach is located in the Bandite di Scarlino Nature Reserve and is bathed by a crystal clear sea. To reach the beach you have to walk an easy path (but it is best to wear comfortable shoes) through a Mediterranean scrub forest for about 2 km. Leave your car at the Val Martina parking lot (€10/day) and then continue on foot.
Visiting this beach and its surroundings is a way to experience Tuscany off the beaten path.
The nearest town is Scarlino, a small scenic village with the ruins of a medieval fortress.
Photo and recommendation contributed by Lisa of Travel Connect Experience.
Where to stay near Cala Violina:
Be Vedetta Relais & Glamping – A lovely adults-only boutique accommodation 5 minutes from the sea with breakfast included
Sonnino Beach and Bays of Quercianella
One of the most fascinating beaches of Tuscany can be seen from the train going South from Pisa around the town of Quercianella. While there are few sandy areas, the bays, Sonnino beach, and Sonnino castle on this coastline are incredibly scenic.
Though a bit rocky, the picturesque views and colorful architecture of this beach town attract summer vacationers and sunbathers.
Where to stay in Quercianella Tuscany:
Hotel Villa Margherita – Classy mix of modern and historic rooms with panoramic sea views
TIP: 🛏️ When it comes to accommodations, finding the right balance between cost, location, and comfort is worth getting right. But it doesn’t have to take hours of online searching!
I’ll teach you how to pinpoint your own perfect accommodations efficiently and avoid disappointing stays in my Smart Stay Finder course.
Feniglia Beach in Tuscany
Feniglia beach, in the southern part of the Tuscan coast, is one of the most beautiful beaches in Italy. This beach runs along one of the three isthmuses of land that connect the Argentario peninsula to mainland Italy.
In particular, Feniglia Beach connects the hill of Ansedonia with the slopes of Mount Argentario. The beach is almost entirely public, with a few beach clubs only at the ends.
Behind this long strip of fine, golden sand are pine forests and Mediterranean scrub; it is the Dune di Feniglia State Nature Reserve. In the reserve, it is possible to spot deer, turtledoves, owls, and pheasants.
The nearest town is Porto Ercole, with its picturesque little harbor and historic center with medieval and Renaissance houses.
Photo and recommendation contributed by Lisa of Travel Connect Experience
Recommended accommodations near Feniglia Beach:
3 Bedroom Apartment Overlooking the Sea – Well equipped apartment 1 mile from Feniglia beach
Bagno delle Donne
Bagno delle Donne, or the ‘women’s bath’ in Italian, is in Talamone, a town on the southern coast of Tuscany.
It has everything you need for a Tuscan beach holiday. The classic Italian beach look with umbrellas and lounge chairs for rent, toilets and a shower, a bar selling coffee, lunch and aperitivo, and sculptures in the sea.
Make sure to pack a snorkel so you can enjoy all the brightly coloured fish and big marble sculptures set around the cove to stop aggressive fishing practices.
And yes, there are even lifeguards.
Talamone is at the southern point of the Regional Park La Maremma, perfect for sandy wilderness beaches…one of which is owned by Prada.
The area around Talamone has amazing white wine, and many organic vineyards. Embrace the cowboy culture with a meal at one of the local agriturismo like Buratta, or Tenuta Agricola dell’Uccellina, who even offer trail rides into the park.
Grosseto is the closest city, the train station is in Fonteblanda, and there are many hotels and airbnbs around.
Photo and recommendation contributed by Katy of Katy in Umbria
To stay in Talamone, check out Da allegro al mare apartment.
Viareggio Beach Town in Tuscany Italy
One of the most gorgeous beach towns in Italy and of course an amazing place for a summer vacation is definitely Viareggio. It is located in western Tuscany, just 25 km from Pisa, where there is also an international airport.
Viareggio is one of the most beautiful seaside towns in Tuscany, known for its Art Nouveau style and its long beautiful coast. One of the highlights is Viareggio’s main beach, which is actually one of the longest sandy beaches in Italy!
Historic Bagnos, so-called beach resorts, line the coast, creating a very special atmosphere with their many colorful parasols.
Viareggio’s most beautiful attraction is the picturesque promenade, built in 1917, where you can admire numerous interesting buildings and impressive Art Nouveau villas. The colorful houses with their towers and bay windows, as well as their fine decorations, tiles and glass windows, create an unmistakable flair on the promenade.
Photo and recommendation contributed by Martina of PlacesofJuma.
Top recommended hotel in Viareggio:
Grand Hotel Royal – An elegant landmark in Viareggio with outdoor pool, steps from the beach, and breakfast included
We hope this helps you find the best beach in Tuscany for your Italy vacation. If you have a Tuscany beach recommendation of your own, please let us know in the comments below.
Read next:
Tuscany’s Hidden Gems
Most Beautiful Small Towns in Italy
Unconventional Accommodations in Italy
Our Guide to the Etruscan Coast
Hiking Cinque Terre Trail Tips
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