Tuscany Beach Towns: 11 Best Coastal Places to Visit in 2026
☕ Reader-supported. Every guide is free to read, with no sponsored recommendations. If Isle Passport helps you plan better trips, you can help create the next guide.
I’ve visited the Tuscan coast on multiple trips across Italy and it surprised me more than inland Tuscany did.
Most people picture rolling vineyards, hill towns, and Florence museums when they think about Tuscany. That version is real and worth doing. But the coastline is completely different. Long sandy beaches, elegant beach clubs, hidden coves, colorful fishing ports, and laid-back tuscany beach towns where Italians actually go on vacation.
I made the classic mistake on my first trip to Italy. I spent the entire time fighting the crowds in Florence and driving through inland vineyards, completely oblivious to the fact that some of the country’s best beaches were just an hour away. Don’t make that mistake. The Tuscan coastline is a completely different world.
In this guide I share the best tuscany coastal towns based on real travel experience. Where I’d personally stay, which towns are overrated, where you need a car, and what’s actually worth your time.
If you want to mix your beach trip with that classic countryside experience, check out my complete guide on where to stay in Tuscany to find the perfect vineyard bases.
The Best Tuscany Beach Towns at a Glance
| Town | Best For | Beach Style | Need Car? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viareggio | First-time visitors | Wide sandy | No |
| Castiglione della Pescaia | Best overall | Clear water + old town | Helpful |
| Forte dei Marmi | Luxury | Beach clubs | No |
| Porto Santo Stefano | Scenery + boating | Rocky coves | Yes |
| Marina di Alberese | Nature lovers | Wild, undeveloped | Yes |
| San Vincenzo | Families without a car | Soft sand | No |
| Baratti | Quiet escape | Calm bay | Helpful |
| Marina di Pisa | Pisa day trip | Pebbly, flat | No |
| Porto Ercole | Upscale harbour | Small coves | Helpful |
| Capalbio | Hidden gem | Dunes + natural | Yes |
| Follonica | Budget option | Long sandy | Helpful |
A lot of people underestimate how spread out the Tuscan coastline is. The northern coast around Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi feels completely different from the southern Maremma around Monte Argentario.
If it’s your first trip to the coast, I’d split time between both. Two or three nights in the north and three or four nights around Castiglione della Pescaia or Monte Argentario in the south. That combination gives you the classic resort experience and the more scenic, authentic part.
If you’re planning a wider Italy coast trip alongside this, the Italy coastline guide puts Tuscany in context.
Alternatively, if you want a bird’s-eye view of how these spots stack up against the rest of the country, I’ve put together a complete guide to the top seaside destinations nationwide to help you choose a base.
Do You Need a Car to Explore the Tuscan Coast?
Short answer: usually yes, and it makes a significant difference.
You can visit Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi, San Vincenzo, and Marina di Pisa without one. All have train or bus connections. But the best parts of coastal Tuscany are often hidden beaches, scenic coastal roads, nature reserves, and small coves that simply are not reachable by public transport.
Traveler Tip: I use DiscoverCars for my Italy road trips. They aggregate local and international rental companies to find the best rates, and their full coverage insurance is incredibly affordable for coastal driving. Pro tip: Rental prices spike drastically after June, so book yours as early as possible.
If you’ve already decided that renting a vehicle isn’t in your cards for this trip, don’t panic. You can still experience the sea by focusing exclusively on the northern train lines. Or choosing a few spots that are easy to reach from Florence for a quick day trip by rail.
11 Best Tuscany Beach Towns Worth Visiting
1. Castiglione della Pescaia — Best Overall
If I could only choose one tuscany beach town, this would be it.
Castiglione della Pescaia has the right balance of everything. Beautiful beaches, a genuinely authentic atmosphere, a walkable medieval old town, good restaurants, and manageable tourism that has not completely taken over the place. Unlike some of the northern resort towns, it still feels like real Italy.
The medieval old town sits on a hill above the coastline with sea views that go for miles. Below it you find long sandy beaches and clear water that is genuinely good for swimming. I stayed four nights here, ate dinner in the old town every evening, and had consistently excellent seafood at prices that surprised me every time the bill arrived.
The beaches nearby are what make it stand out. Cala Violina is about 20 minutes by car through pine forest and is one of the most beautiful natural beaches in Tuscany. Get there early, it fills up fast. Spiaggia di Riva del Sole is right next to town and good for a relaxed day without effort. Punta Ala is nearby, more upscale, and worth a half-day trip.
Parking can be annoying in summer and August gets busy with Italian holiday-makers, but those are minor complaints for a town this good.
While Castiglione deserves a multi-night stay, if you are short on time and trying to sneak away from the Uffizi crowds for just a single afternoon.. You can find the fastest transit routes to the sand here to keep your logistics simple.
Where to stay: Hotel L’Approdo has an excellent location near both the beach and the old town.
2. Viareggio — Best Classic Resort Town
Viareggio is probably the most famous traditional tuscany seaside town and the easiest to reach from Florence or Pisa.
The Art Nouveau promenade running the full length of the seafront is genuinely beautiful. Ornate buildings, palm trees, rows of coloured beach club umbrellas stretching as far as you can see. It looks exactly like an Italian seaside resort should look.
The bagni culture here is worth experiencing properly at least once. You rent a sunbed, umbrella, and access to showers and a bar for the day, usually 25–40 euros for a pair of sunbeds in peak season.
I arrived on a Tuesday in late June. Quiet, easy parking, coffee for 1.50 euros at a promenade café. That same coffee would still cost 1.50 euros in August, which tells you something about Italy.
Some people love Viareggio, others find it too commercial. I think it depends what you want. If you want convenience, classic Italian beach atmosphere, and easy transport, it delivers. If you want hidden coves and wild scenery, southern Tuscany is much better. But for a first visit to the tuscany coast, it’s the most practical entry point.
Getting there: direct train from Florence (1h20) and Pisa (15 min). Book on Trenitalia. For official beach club and event listings, Viareggio Tourism has current seasonal info.
3. Forte dei Marmi — Best Luxury Beach Town
Forte dei Marmi feels wealthy. You notice it the moment you arrive.
Designer boutiques, polished beach clubs, expensive cars, upscale restaurants. This is Tuscany’s summer playground for people who spend seriously.
The beach clubs here are the most elegant on the entire Tuscan coast, with proper restaurant service on the sand and sunbeds that can run 60–80 euros per day at the top establishments.
Honestly? I think it depends entirely what you want. It is genuinely beautiful, very clean, and well-run. If you enjoy stylish beach towns, want luxury hotels, and care about the beach club atmosphere, Forte dei Marmi is worth it.
If you want authentic local vibes, are budget-conscious, or prefer rugged scenery over polish, skip it. Castiglione della Pescaia gives you a better overall experience for much less money.
Where to stay: Augustus Hotel and Resort has private beach access and one of the best locations on the Tuscan coast.
4. Porto Santo Stefano — Best for Coastal Scenery
Monte Argentario completely changed my opinion of tuscany beaches.
This area feels dramatically different from the rest of the coast. Rugged coastline, hidden coves, scenic drives, turquoise water, yacht harbors. Porto Santo Stefano is the main harbour town and the best base for exploring the peninsula.
I arrived on a September evening, walked the harbour front for an hour, found a restaurant, and had the best grilled sea bass I have eaten in Italy. That meal cost 22 euros. I still think about it.
The scenery around Monte Argentario feels far more Mediterranean postcard than people expect from Tuscany. It reminded me of parts of Sardinia and Liguria in places. It works best as a road trip destination since public transport is limited, but if you have a car the whole Monte Argentario peninsula is extraordinary.
The boat trips from Porto Santo Stefano to hidden coves along the coast are excellent and worth booking ahead. Much of the best coastline is only reachable by sea.
For official tourism information about the peninsula, Monte Argentario Tourism has current ferry and local event listings.
Book a boat trip from Porto Santo Stefano. Morning slots sell out fast in summer.
5. Marina di Alberese — Best Wild Beach
This is probably the least developed beach on this list. And that’s exactly the point.
Marina di Alberese sits inside the Parco della Maremma nature reserve and feels completely different from any Tuscany resort town. Instead of beach clubs and umbrellas you get dunes, pine forests, wild coastline, and a natural atmosphere that is genuinely hard to find anywhere on the Italian coast.
Access is regulated during peak season to protect the environment, which is part of why it remains beautiful. I went on a September weekday and counted fewer than thirty people on a kilometre of sand. That kind of quiet on a genuinely good Italian beach is rare.
It works best for nature lovers, slower travel, and anyone who finds resort beaches exhausting. Bring everything you need. There are no facilities once you get to the beach.
Check Parco della Maremma for park regulations and the peak season booking system before you visit.
6. San Vincenzo — Best Without a Car
If you want simplicity and good logistics, San Vincenzo is one of the smartest choices on the Tuscan coast.
You arrive by train, walk to the beach, stay without needing a rental car, and still enjoy long, sandy, family-friendly beaches. That’s surprisingly rare in Tuscany, where most of the best coastal areas require a car to reach properly.
The town feels relaxed rather than glamorous. It’s a proper seaside resort built for beach holidays rather than a place that has accidentally become popular with tourists. Hotels are more affordable than Forte dei Marmi, the logistics are genuinely easy, and the beach is good without being extraordinary.
Getting there: direct train from Pisa (50 min) and Florence (1h30). Book in advance for summer dates on Trenitalia.
7. Baratti — Best Hidden Bay
Baratti is the discovery I mention every time I talk about the Tuscan coast and most people haven’t heard of it.
A small sheltered bay near Populonia. One of the most important Etruscan cities in Italy, the ruins sitting on the hill directly above the beach. You can swim in the morning and walk through a 2,500-year-old necropolis in the afternoon, which is a genuinely unusual combination.
The water is calm and clear, more sheltered than the open coast and noticeably warmer as a result. Good snorkeling around the rocky edges. A few beach bars that are reasonable without being remarkable.
The one thing to know: Baratti gets busy on summer weekends when Italian day-trippers arrive from nearby towns. Go on a weekday or arrive early and it’s a different place entirely.
8. Marina di Pisa — Closest Beach to Pisa
Let me be honest about Marina di Pisa. It’s practical, not beautiful.
It’s the closest tuscany beach town near Pisa and easy to reach by bus in about 35 minutes. It does the job if you have a free afternoon and just want to see the sea. It would not make my list of Tuscany’s best beaches on merit alone.
The promenade feels more like a car park with sea views than a Mediterranean escape, and the water is not particularly clear compared to the protected bays further south. But if you’re based in Pisa and want a quick coastal fix, it works.
For a proper beach from Pisa, Viareggio is 15 minutes by train and significantly better.
9. Porto Ercole — Best Upscale Harbour Town
I personally liked Porto Ercole more than Porto Santo Stefano. It feels smaller, prettier, and less hectic.
The harbour is genuinely beautiful. Spanish fortresses on the hills above it, a handful of excellent seafood restaurants on the waterfront, boutique hotels that justify the price. The whole place operates at a pace and quality level that makes it feel like the Italian coastal town you always hoped existed somewhere.
Caravaggio died here in 1610. I always think that’s worth knowing. Somehow it adds to the atmosphere.
It works best for couples and slower travel. Accommodation books out early in summer so plan ahead.
Where to stay: Bike and Boat Argentario Hotel is an ideal base for exploring Monte Argentario.
10. Capalbio — The Bohemian Hidden Gem
Capalbio is one of those places most international travelers completely miss. And that’s exactly what makes it worth going to.
The beaches nearby are quieter and less developed than anything further north. The inland hilltop village has an artistic, bohemian feel. A small piazza, one genuinely good restaurant, evening aperitivo that involves actual locals rather than tourists. I stayed two nights here and felt like I had found something genuinely mine.
The beach landscape around Capalbio is dune-backed and natural in a way that most of the Tuscan coast simply is not. Less polished, less touristy, more local. And for some travelers that combination is exactly right.
11. Follonica — Best Budget-Friendly Option
Follonica doesn’t have the prestige of Forte dei Marmi or the beauty of Monte Argentario. But it’s honest about what it is and that’s worth something.
It’s a practical, affordable beach resort with a long sandy beach, lower hotel prices than most of the Tuscan coast. Easier parking than the more famous towns, and family-friendly facilities that work without complications. If you want two weeks on the tuscan coast without spending Forte dei Marmi prices every night, Follonica makes real sense.
Finding affordable accommodation right on the water in Italy is becoming increasingly difficult. If budget is your primary constraint for this summer, I’ve rounded up a few other budget-friendly seaside areas that offer incredible local food prices and pristine waters without the resort markup.
Which Coastal Town is Right for Your Trip?
| Travel Style | Best Town |
|---|---|
| Best overall | Castiglione della Pescaia |
| Luxury | Forte dei Marmi |
| Most scenic | Porto Santo Stefano |
| Hidden gem | Capalbio |
| Families | San Vincenzo or Castiglione |
| Without a car | Viareggio or San Vincenzo |
| Nature lovers | Marina di Alberese |
| Budget | Follonica |
| Couples | Porto Ercole |
Best Time to Visit Tuscany Beaches
June is probably the best overall balance. Warm weather, fewer crowds, lower hotel prices than peak season.
July has excellent beach weather but is noticeably busier, especially at weekends.
August is Italian holiday month. The coast is at maximum capacity, beach clubs and hotels get expensive fast, and parking becomes genuinely stressful. If you can shift your dates even slightly, do it.
September is my personal favourite. Warm sea temperatures from a full summer of heat, softer light, fewer crowds, and a more relaxed atmosphere across all the towns. The southern Maremma coast specifically feels like a different place in September compared to August.
The Tuscany Beach Town I’d Personally Choose
If it were my first trip to the Tuscan coast, I’d split time between Castiglione della Pescaia and Monte Argentario. That combination gives you the best of both sides of coastal Tuscany. Classic beach town atmosphere and swimmable beaches in Castiglione, dramatic scenery and harbour charm in Monte Argentario.
Viareggio is easier and Forte dei Marmi is more luxurious, but southern Tuscany feels more memorable. Especially if you like scenic drives, slower travel, and places that still feel distinctly Italian rather than built entirely for tourism.
Ultimately, splitting your time between Castiglione and Monte Argentario gives you the most authentic taste of the region. However, if you are still on the fence about whether this specific region fits your style, take a look at my advice for first-time visitors to see how the Tuscan Maremma compares to iconic heavyweights like the Amalfi Coast or Liguria.
Before You Book: The Tools I Actually Use
I only link to tools and platforms I’ve personally used and would use again. If you book through my links I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — which helps me keep writing these guides.
Sort by guest rating above 8.5 and check the map view before confirming.
Book as soon as you confirm flights. Summer prices in Italy rise fast.
Routes sell out in July and August. Book early for Italian islands.
Boat tours, kayaking, guided hikes. Morning slots go first.
I never travel without it — covers illness, cancellations, and lost luggage.
The easiest way to move between coastal towns without a car. Prices rise closer to departure.
💛 Loved this guide?
If it helped you plan your trip or discover somewhere new, you can help me create the next one. Every guide is free to read, independently researched, and made with travellers like you in mind.
