11 best beaches near Rome, Italy

With an abundance of landmarks and attractions in Rome, I’m sure you don’t typically equate a trip to this Italian city with outstanding beaches.

However, soaking up reams and reams of history, pounding pavements along the way, and being fully immersed in sightseeing can leave you craving a slower pace.

Especially in a city known for its summer temperatures (believe me, it gets hot!), knowing that you can escape to a Rome beach is tantalising and welcome!

A refreshing dip in Italian waters, a sunbed with your name on it, and a day of wonderful sunbathing and relaxing awaits you at any of these beaches near Rome. 

I’m pleased to say that there is significant choice when it comes to the best beaches near Rome. Just remember that Italian beaches are rarely free but they can be crowded!

The plus side is that you’ll get your own space with a lounge chair or sunbed with shade as well as access to facilities like toilets and showers.

I would be aware that the fees and the facilities vary quite considerably. Sometimes it’s an expensive beach club and other times it’s a stabilimento balneare with a lower cost.

In my opinion, the beaches near Rome offer a wonderful escape from the intensity of the city. Read on to discover my personal favourite Rome beaches, as well as recommendations from locals and fellow travellers.

1. Sperlonga

Best for: Boat tours and snorkelling

By train: One hour – buy tickets here

By car: Two hours

Accommodation: Browse hotels in Sperlonga

Top tours and activities to book:

• Sperlonga: Boat Tour to Gaeta with Pizza and Drinks
• Sperlonga: Blue Cave Cruise with Snorkeling
• Sperlonga: Private Boat Tour to Gaeta with Pizza and Drinks

It will take you just under a couple of hours to reach from Rome, but I promise you it’s worth it!

In fact, I’d recommend tacking on a trip to Sperlonga at the end of your Rome trip, so you can stay here a few nights to unwind after the busyness of being a city tourist!

Sperlonga is a wonderfully attractive seaside town with bright whitewashed houses higgledy-piggledy winding their way down to the sea. There are two beautiful arced beaches with a promontory between.

I love that the water here is crystal clear and the beaches are tirelessly maintained, earning the area a Blue Flag which isn’t a given for the beaches around Rome. It is, understandably, one of the best beach towns in Italy.

Choose between Ponente beach sitting beneath the town or Levante which snuggles beneath the nearby hillside.

There are kilometres of sand to explore here, with some delightful little coves as well. The water at the beaches is shallow and warm and the sand is fine.

Missing the historic sights of Rome? I’d recommend checking out the Grotto of Tiberius!

I also consider Sperlonga to be one of the best day trips from Rome.

2. Anzio

Best for: Golden sand

By train: 53 minutes – buy tickets here

By car: One hour

Accommodation: Find hotels in Anzio

Top tours and activities to book:

• Ponza Island: Day Trip from Anzio with 5 Hour Boat Excursion

An hour from Rome by train or car, Anzio brings you golden sand and turquoise-azure waters. There are some gentle waves which make it a fun beach for jumping in and out of the water – perfect for kids.

With the coveted Blue Flag status, this is a popular beach with both tourists and locals.

The beach runs along the full length of the town. Backed by the ruins of Emperor Nero’s own seaside villa, I think it’s a nice reminder that Rome isn’t too far away!

When you get peckish, I’d suggest heading to the harbour where there are lots of seafood restaurants serving delicious Italian dishes. You can pick up a boat here too to take you to the Pontine Islands. 

3. Santa Marinella

Best for: Families

By train: 43 minutes – buy tickets here

By car: One hour

Accommodation: Browse hotels in Santa Marinella

In under an hour by train you can reach the beach at Santa Marinella. I would say that it’s not overly picturesque, but it has got gloriously fine sand which feels fabulous as you walk along. 

This is a popular Rome beach for families, because it has a very shallow entry to the sea and also the breakwater helps the beach to feel enclosed and safe. The lido offers plenty of shade.

Immediately behind the beach is the town. There are some good restaurants here, with a focus on seafood.

4. Ostia

Best for: Lively social feel

By train: Metro (line B) to Piramide, then Roma Lido train to Ostia Antica

By car: 40 minutes

Accommodation: Discover hotels in Ostia.

Best tours and activities to book:

• Rome: Ostia Antica Archaeological Park Entry Ticket & Pemcard
• Ostia Antica: Half-Day Tour from Rome by Train
• Ostia Antica Guided Tour with Local Archaeologist

If you’re looking for secluded, private and quiet, Ostia isn’t for you! However, if you want a Rome beach that’s just half an hour from the city and has a classic vibrant Italian beach feel with a cool vibe then I’m sure Ostia will deliver.

Ultra-popular, and bursting with Romans coming to get their fill of sand, sea and sun, I’d advise arriving early to buy your spot for the day.

The social scene here is energetic and enticing and it’s definitely a quick get-away spot from the hubbub and heat of the city.

Many people head here after work, so do expect it to fill up even more in the late afternoon and evening.

To get to Ostia beach from Rome, hop on a bus from Rome’s Porta San Paolo to Lido Centro. If you have a car, it’s just a 40 minute drive. Or you can get the metro and then a commuter train to Ostia Antica.

Insider travel tip: Crowds not for you? I’d recommend staying on the train and picking up a bus to Cancelli. This is a lovely beach which feels a bit more chilled and natural.

5. Fregenae

Best for: A young crowd

By train: 19 minutes – buy tickets here

By car: 35 minutes

Accommodation: Find hotels in Fregenae

Fregenae (or Fregene) is a Rome beach under an hour outside of the city. It’s not far from Fumicino airport.

This is a popular, vibrant and lively beach which draws a young crowd. There are various beach clubs and restaurants and as the evening develops, the patrons spill out onto the beach.

That said, I love that the tone here is luxurious, as characterised by the stabilimenti where you can expect to enjoy the beach in style.

This is a lovely beach for ambling along, watching other beach goers, and letting the gentle waves lap over your feet.

6. Castel Porziano 

Best for: Unspoilt beach

By train: N/A

By car: 30 minutes

Accommodation: Browse hotels nearby in Castel Porziano

You might find it hard to believe but there is a Rome beach which retains its wild and natural feel and is free of the uniform grids of parasols that characterise so many Italian beaches.

However, I’m pleased to say that you can find such a beach at Castel Porziano and it is remarkably one of the closest beaches to the city. 

The undeveloped beach at Castel Porziano is part of the Roman Littoral State Nature Reserve. You can expect to find sweeping dunes and green lush bushes.

There’s one drawback to this wild beach though – you’ll have to walk about 2km to it! I do think it’s worth it though!

Of course, there aren’t any restaurants here, but often there are concession stands. However, I’d suggest packing up everything you might need and bringing it along just in case.

7. Santa Severa

Best for: Character and a castle

By train: 47 minutes – buy tickets here

By car: 50 minutes

Accommodation: Discover hotels in Santa Severa

Best tours and activities to book:

• Santa Severa Castle: Entry Ticket with Pemcards

Sitting within an hour’s journey-time of Rome, with direct links to the city’s San Pietro station, you will find Santa Severa.

I think this is a lovely gem of a beach, with a characterful 14^th-century castle adorning one end.

Much of the beach is free, so you can rock up with a towel and get on with the important job of relaxing. You can rent chairs at the stabilimenti if you prefer.

The water here is characterised by decent size waves, but generally throughout the summer months it’s plenty calm enough. 

I’d recommend wandering into the village to enjoy some impressive restaurants and dip into some unique artisan shops and boutiques.

8. Sabaudia

Best for: Uncrowded beach

By train: N/A

By car: One hour 15 minutes

Accommodation: Find hotels in Sabaudia

Jostling up under the imposing form of Mount Circeo, and stretching for miles with divinely white sand, there is Sabaudia.

One of the best beaches near Rome, you can reach it in about 1 hour and 30 minutes driving time. 

Secluded by the dunes on one side and the Sabaudi Lagoon on the other, it’s rightfully in possession of a Blue Flag.

Harder to reach by public transport, this is a wonderfully uncrowded beach and also most of it is free. If you prefer a more natural beach trip, then I think you’ll love Sabaudia.

If you want a change of scene, you can easily wander into Circeo National Park via the boardwalks.

9. Terracina

Best for: Those with a car

By train: N/A

By car: One hour 25 minutes

Accommodation: Browse hotels in Terracina

Best for those with their own car, I think Terracina is worth a visit if you can add on a few days either side of your time in Rome.

Terracina is a delightful little town shaped around its historic heart, with a mishmash of colourful houses and windy lanes. 

Head to the beach, separated from the town by the palm trees. The beach is characterised at one end by the rocky steep Mount Sant’Angelo with the ruins of the Temple of Jupiter Anxur.

If you’ve got the energy, I’d recommend climbing up for some wonderful views which stretch as far as Mount Vesuvius. 

Take your pick from the various stabilimenti if you want a dedicated spot, or hunt out the few free areas.

10. Gaeta

Best for: A stunning setting

By train: 64 minutes to nearby Formia – buy tickets here

By car: One hour 50 minutes

Accommodation: Discover hotels in Gaeta

Best tours and activities to book:

• Gaeta – Sperlonga: Four Hour Boat tour, Swim and Snorkelling
• From Gaeta: The Journey of Ulysses Cruise to Sperlonga
• Gaeta: Serapo and Montagna Spaccata Cruise with Snorkelling

One of the favourite beaches near Rome since Roman times is at the beautiful town of Gaeta. The setting is stunning, with the magnificent Aragonese 6^th century castle providing an impressive backdrop. 

There are actually a few different beaches to choose from at Gaeta. They are characterised by different beach clubs. Expect clearly laid out areas and wonderfully neat rows upon rows of sun loungers.

You’ll also be close enough to Sperlonga and Terracina to check them out too if, like me, you enjoy a spot of beach hopping. 

11. Civitavecchia

Best for: A chic and luxurious beach

By train: 38 minutes – buy tickets here

By car: One hour

Accommodation: Find hotels in Civitavecchia

Best tours and activities to book:

• Civitavecchia Port: Private or Shared Guided Tour of Rome
• Classical Rome: Full-Day Bus Tour from Civitavecchia
• From Civitavecchia: Full-Day Panoramic Bus Tour of Rome
• From Civitavecchia: Rome and Vatican Shore Excursion Tour

A popular, chic and luxurious beach within an hour of Rome, Civitavecchia is Rome’s seaside playground. You can get a direct train from the city and then find the beach in just a five minute walk. 

This is often a busy beach but I love the fun atmosphere. Have a good time wandering along the boardwalk, picking out a place to eat or a spot for some gelato.

There are some rides for keeping the little ones entertained too, if you’re travelling as a family. 

You may not expect to find a wealth of beaches near Rome but within a few hours of the city there are a number from which you can take your pick. Pop on the shades, pick up a gelato and enjoy!

Got a taste for the seaside? Discover my guide to the best Italian coastal towns for our pick of the bucket list beaches across the country. Or if you’re staying within the city, book a private sightseeing tour.

If you’re planning a trip to Rome, discover 15 amazing Rome landmarks & attractions to visit, read my guide to the best luxury hotels in Rome or browse the best Michelin star restaurants in Rome.