7. Lido di Ostia
Almost solidly lined by stabilimenti, each marked by its own color of umbrellas, Ostia is not the place to look for a quiet stretch of sand. The free areas are few, and you’d be lucky to find towel space even on a weekday. But its location, a half-hour train ride from Rome, and the classic Italian beach vibe make up for its cost and less than-clear-water (although it is safe for swimming).
This is the place to go if you want to sample traditional beach culture and don’t mind paying for it. The scene is lively, boisterous, and more about the social life than swimming. Because the city is only half an hour away, this is the quick getaway choice for Romans, so it’s most crowded in the afternoon and into the evening.
Take the train from Rome’s Porta San Paolo station to Lido Centro for Ostia’s beach, or for quieter surroundings, stay on the train until the last stop and take the 07 MARE bus to Cancelli. Here, you’ll find a series of free public beaches with restrooms, and dunes give it a more natural feel than Ostia’s rows of tightly guarded beach clubs. The cancelli are numbered, and of them, 8 has a more natural feel, backed by dunes.
8. Terracina
Close to the beaches of Gaeta and Sperlonga, Terracina is a smaller town with a charming historic center of narrow lanes and colorful houses. The long sandy beach is backed by a row of palms that separate it from the row of seafood restaurants in the commercial area behind it. One end of the beach is punctuated by the steep rock slopes of Mount Sant’Angelo, topped by the ruined first-century Temple of Jupiter Anxur.
The beach is largely occupied by stabilimenti, but there are free areas. Energetic travelers can climb to the temple for views of the coast and mountains that on clear days include Mt Vesuvius. More Roman remains await in the picturesque town, including a segment of the Roman Appian Way. Ferries to the Pontine Islands leave from Terracina’s port.
