5 beaches near Rome: Where to go for sun, sand, and surf

You don't normally think of Rome as a beach destination. The Italian capital is famous for its rich history, amazing art, incredible food, and outstanding architecture, but it's a solid 40 km or so to the nearest beach, so if you want to spend some time enjoying soft golden sand and the gentle waves of the Mediterranean, you're going to have to head out of the city itself and look for the best beaches near Rome.

Fortunately, you don't have to travel far. In summer, Roman locals know that there is no better place to be than nearby Italian beaches, and depending on how far you're willing to travel, you can easily find the perfect long sandy beach, a rocky cove, or a beautiful blue flag beach where you can spend some time and take a break from the city. And thanks to Italy's excellent rail network, it may even be possible to reach the best beaches near Rome by train or bus from Roma Termini.

The one thing you don't want to do when visiting the best beaches near Rome is to carry more than you need to. That's where Bounce luggage storage comes in. Drop off your unneeded bags at one of our luggage storage locations in Rome and bring only what you need to the beach. Bounce provides storage for any size of bag, so you can leave behind surfboards and beach toys as well as regular suitcases, and be sure your things will be kept safe and ready to pick up when you return.

Santa Marinella

As well as being one of the most accessible beaches from Rome, this is one of the most inviting. Often, beaches closer to the city can be overcrowded, and the water quality is not always what it could be. But Santa Marinella, which you can easily reach from the Eternal City via the central train station, offers the perfect Mediterranean escape from Rome. When you've had enough of the Colosseum and the other tourist attractions of the city and the crowds that come with them, this is one of the best beaches near Rome to enjoy the beautiful Mediterranean scenery without taking a long journey to get there.

Travel distance from Rome:

The town of Santa Marinella is around 73 km from Rome, and it will take you just over an hour to drive there. This is one of those situations where the train is actually faster since a train to Pisa or Civitavecchia will stop at Santa Marinella station and only takes around 40 minutes to make the same journey. Even better, Santa Marinella Beach is right outside the train station. You don't need to take a bus, and you can easily walk down to the rocky cove with your beach stuff.

Activity recommendations:

Enjoy the beach club: Like most Italian beaches, this Rome beach has both free beaches that anyone can use and private beaches that you have to pay for. If you have the budget for it, the beach club provides you with a lounge chair and umbrella that you can use all day and also gives you access to food and drink to enjoy under the Italian sun.

Swimming: Part of what makes this one of the best beaches near Rome is the water quality you'll find here. Whether you choose to spend your day on the free beach or make use of the many beach clubs here, you'll have the same access to the clear water and golden sand of the Riviera. Take advantage of it for the ultimate beach trip that's close to the city.

Summer is most definitely the busy season in Santa Marinella, when people flee the heat and crowds of Rome to enjoy their vacation. In the off-season, many of the restaurants and beach clubs shut down. However, this quieter time can also be a good time to visit if you just want a glimpse of the sea while visiting Rome. With fewer crowds and no beach clubs taking up all the space with their lounge chairs, you can take a walk on the beach and possibly have it all to yourself.

Santa Severa

Easily reached with a 40-minute train ride from Rome's San Pietro station, Santa Severa is another excellent beach to visit near Rome. Well-known to the ancient Romans, Santa Severa is notable for its historic castle that overlooks the beach and adds some historical interest to the picturesque town. Although Santa Severa definitely gets its share of escapees from the city, especially in the summer, it's usually quieter than some of the other beaches near Rome, so you can enjoy the small-town atmosphere and local life of the Italian coast here.

Travel distance from Rome:

It's only a 30-minute train ride from Roma Aurelia station on the western edge of the city to Santa Severa. And once you reach the station, it's an easy walk to the castle and the beach beneath. If you prefer to drive, you can expect to take about an hour from the heart of Rome to the beach itself.

Activity recommendations:

Explore the castle: Italy is packed with fascinating history to explore, but even here, it's not often you get to explore a beautiful castle on a beach vacation. The castle was built in the 14th century, but it occupies the site of the ancient Roman port of Pyrgi. Open to the public, this is a great place to learn more about the history of the region and enjoy spectacular views over the coast.

Use the free beach: Quieter than many of the beaches near Rome, Santa Severa doesn't have as many stabilimenti, or beach clubs, as other local beaches. That means you'll find fewer amenities but also more space to stretch out on the sand. Don't forget to bring a towel or even a lounge chair and plenty of sunscreen, plus an umbrella if you can manage it. That way, you won't need a beach club.

Capocotta

Located conveniently close to Rome, Capocotta is part of a regional park, the Litorale Romano State Nature Reserve. Famous for its sand dunes, this seaside location is also famous for its beach, where people let it all hang out - quite literally.

Travel distance from Rome:

Located south of Ostia, Capocotta is only 30 km from Rome itself. Reachable by car in less than 50 minutes, it's important to note that there is no train station here, so getting to the beach will require a combination of train and bus and could take more than two hours.

Activity recommendations:

Naturist beach: Italians, and Europeans, more generally, tend to have a more relaxed attitude to public nudity than North Americans do. Going topless on the beach is very common everywhere in Italy. If you want to go further, though, visit the naturist beach at Capocotta, where clothing is very much optional. The abundance of rainbow flags fluttering in the breeze will also tell you that this beach is LGBTQ+-friendly, and there's a lively and anarchic vibe to this beach that makes it worth a visit if you're looking to avoid tan lines.

Kite surfing: This beach is one of the windier beaches in the area, and that makes it a great location for kite surfing. You may need to bring your own equipment, as part of the charm of this beach is that it isn't overly developed. Still, it's a great way to enjoy this fabulous location.

The wild charm of this beach makes it a good destination to visit year-round. Although you may not want to swim during the winter, the natural park has plenty of hiking trails to explore, and this seemingly remote place will make you feel like you've traveled much further from the city than you really have.

Fregene

Almost startlingly close to the city, this huge beach offers kilometers of free sand along with plenty of beach clubs, excellent seafood restaurants, and a charming small town to explore. Well-known and loved by Roman families, this is one of the most popular beaches to visit from the city during the summer season.

Travel distance from Rome:

Located just north of Fiumicino International Airport, you can reach the beach within an hour of driving. You can also get there by taking the train from Roma Termini to Maccarese-Fregene Station. From there, frequent local buses connect train passengers to the beach.

Activity recommendations:

Fishermen's Village: Before Fregene became the tourist hotspot it currently is, it was a working fishing village. That past has left the town with a legacy of charming old fishermen's cottages and some truly excellent seafood. Good seafood restaurants are just about everywhere here, so explore Fishermen's Village after a day on the beach to enjoy some incredible meals.

Parco Avventura Fregene: This adventure park is an excellent place for families. Explore the treetop walkways and climbing apparatus among the pine forest that overlooks the ocean, and you will have earned some relaxing time on the beach.

Sperlonga

Sperlonga is nowhere near being the closest beach to Rome, and it will require a fairly lengthy journey to get here. However, if you really want a Mediterranean beach fix, this is the place to come. Frequently awarded blue flag status for the stunning clarity of its water, Sperlonga offers fascinating history, incredible scenery, and everything you want from an Italian beach vacation.

Travel distance from Rome:

It's around 130 km from the center of Rome to Sperlonga. You can expect to spend around two hours in the car to get there, or you can take a train to Fondi-Sperlonga Station, then take a bus or taxi from there to the beach. It's a long journey, but if you want to enjoy one of the very best beaches in the region, it's worth it.

Activity recommendations:

Villa of Tiberius: Sperlonga is so beautiful that even Roman emperors vacation here. The Villa of Tiberius was a holiday home built for the Roman Emperor Tiberius right on the edge of the Mediterranean. Exploring this villa and the archaeological museum will give you a sense of what life was like in Roman Sperlonga 2000 years ago.

Explore the Old Town: The ancient streets of Sperlonga are a fantastic place to wander. Lose yourself in the network of whitewashed houses, and you'll be treated to breathtaking views of the sea wherever you go. You'll also find plenty of great restaurants, bars, and quaint shops where you can immerse yourself in the local atmosphere.

The beach: Sperlonga Beach is the town's main attraction, and it's easy to see why. The clear, clean water is shallow, meaning it's warm in the summer and a great place for a leisurely swim. This popular beach has plenty of beach clubs, but if you want to save some money, it's also possible to find a free area where you can just lay out a towel and enjoy the sunshine and the scenery in this classic beach town.

Conclusion

Sandy beaches and crashing waves may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Rome. But you really don't have to travel very far at all from the city to experience Mediterranean beach destinations. And in a city that can be an expensive place to visit, these convenient beaches provide some awesome free things to do if you're visiting Rome on a budget.

Plus, the perfect Mediterranean beach makes a great location for a day trip or a weekend trip from Rome. Leave your bags behind in a Rome luggage storage and explore some of these excellent beach destinations for yourself.