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).
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.
