Sea baths were very popular in ancient Rome. βBut the Eternal City does not lie on the coast,β the erudite reader will object. Yes, it is, however, remoteness from the sea did not stop the patricians. Swirls of carriages headed to Ostia - a recognized Roman resort. It was necessary to leave Rome early in the morning and in the late afternoon reach the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, breaking about twenty-five kilometers. A modern person will need only half an hour to travel by public transport! So the claim that Rome is a mainland city is a thing of the past.
Now, going to Italy on a sightseeing vacation, do not forget to bring your bathing suits with you (unless, of course, your trip will be in the warm season). And in this article we will describe the best beaches in Rome and tell you how to get to them. We are sure that after a day full of new impressions you will want to get out of the city and plunge into the gentle waves of the Mare Tirreno. By the way, besides the sea, near Rome there are still plenty of lakes.
Beaches in Rome: how to get there
The seaside resort closest to the Eternal City is Ostia. There are a lot of beaches for every taste - paid and municipal, equipped and not. You can get to Ostia for just one and a half euros. So if you come in the summer for excursions to Rome (Italy), the beaches will be a good ending to a full day of impressions.
So, how to get to the coast as quickly as possible? We buy a ticket for the subway (1.5 euros). He acts a hundred minutes. Much earlier you lay on a sunbed warmed by the sun. You have to get to the Pyramid metro station (blue line B). On the platform you need to find a sign that says "Ferrovia Ostia Lido." He will lead you to the escalator. Going up, we turn left and get to the station of commuter trains. We need a second platform (binario 2). Our ticket is still valid - you do not need to buy any other. Electric trains run every ten to fifteen minutes. After half an hour, the train reaches the Lido Centro station. Leaving the building, we go along a straight street about two hundred meters. Here it is - the Tyrrhenian Sea! You can get off at the next stop - Ostia Stella Polare.
City Beach
The coast on which the ancient Roman patricians enjoyed the sea breeze now looks quite democratic. In Italy, in principle, there are few free beaches. Almost the entire coast is given to private companies. Entrance to the "Lido Stabilization" costs from twelve to fifteen euros. But the use of sun loungers, umbrellas or βboarβ (awnings) there is already free. Lido Stabilization is equipped with toilets, showers, changing cabins. Rescuers are on duty on them.
But in Ostia there are also free, municipal beaches of Rome. If you come to the sea on a weekday and during business hours, then you will be comfortable on them. But on weekends it is too crowded. In terms of cleanliness, the municipal beaches of Ostia cannot be called the best. But for ammunition you still have to pay. A sunbed will cost you five euros, the same will cost an umbrella.
To look at the recreation area of ββthe ancient Romans, you need to get to Ostia Antica. The promenade of this resort is full of cafes, the prices of which are significantly lower than the capital's. So here it is quite possible to dine.
The best beaches of Rome. TOP 5
Every year, the Italian Ecology and Tourism Association awards the Blue Flag (Bandera Blue) to the cleanest and most equipped coast. Last year, in the Lazio region near Rome, such resort towns as Anzio, Sabaudia, Sperlonga, San Felice Circeo and Terracina were awarded this honor. Well, let's start our review with the champion who led the top five.
Anzio
If Ostia is considered the most democratic resort, then here are the most glamorous beaches of Rome, stretching for twelve kilometers. Anzio boasts the same ancient history. In ancient times, this peninsula on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea was completely built up with villas of patricians and senators, it was an important port. In Anzio, Caligula and Nero saw the light.
Here, vacationers are waiting not only for the sandy beach and the azure sea, the purity of which is confirmed by the Blue Flag, but also for a lot of entertainment: water skiing, yachts, etc. Boats to the island of Ponza depart from here. Many Romans come to Anzio for fish dishes and wines served in the restaurants of this town. A distance of more than seventy kilometers is quite simple to overcome. Any branch of the Roman metro leads to the main train station - Termini. There you need to buy a ticket to the station of Anzio or Nettuno. It costs 3.6 euros one way. Travel time is an hour.
Along the way, in Anzio you can see the military and archaeological museums (the latter is located in a villa of the seventeenth century). If you want to stay in town for a few days, we can recommend the L'Approdo Serpa Hotel.
Sabaudia
These beaches of Rome are located ninety-five kilometers south of the city. But with modern transport this distance can be overcome easily and quickly. You need to take the blue line of the Roman metro (B) to the last stop "Laurentina". At the top there is a station with regular buses to Sabaudia. Travel time is an hour and a half. For such a long journey you will be rewarded in full. The sandy beaches of Sabaudia are located between the sea and the freshwater lake Paola. Nearby is the Circeo National Park.
An advantage of Sabaudia is the presence of a large number of free beaches that are not crowded even in season. Here, celebrities of cinema and showbiz love to relax. But along with beautiful hotels such as Il San Francesco Sharming or Casino Oasi Di Kufra, there are plenty of campsites with very affordable prices.
Sperlonga
This former fishing village is even further from the Eternal City than Sabaudia, one hundred and fifteen kilometers. And, alas, there is no railway station in it either. You need to get from Rome Termini Station to Fondi Sperlonga. A ticket costs seven euros. A bus runs from the station to the seaside resort for 1 Π. The whole journey will take an hour and twenty minutes.
Sperlonga is a white town that has clung to steep cliffs. There you will find many restaurants with terraces serving the freshest seafood, and, of course, the best beaches near Rome. You can go to the free stretch of coast. If you buy a ticket for fifteen euros, then you will have an excellent rest on the sunbed and under the umbrella on the golden sand of the equipped beach. Of the attractions in Sperlonga there is an archaeological museum, the ruins of an ancient villa and the Caves of Tiberius. The evening comes down, but do not want to leave the resort town? You can recommend Albergo La Sirenella, Corallo Virgilio Grand Hotel and Ganymede.
San Felice Circeo
These beaches of Rome are called reviews the most attractive for a busy vacation. The town of San Felice is located a hundred kilometers from the capital of Italy, at the foot of Mount Circeo. It occupies a peninsula far outstanding in the sea, so there are plenty of beaches here. But this is not the main thing. The coastal cliffs of San Felice are riddled with caves and grottoes. Boat trips to these places you will never forget. Some grottoes, such as the Blue, can only be reached with a calm sea, its size is three hundred square meters. There are also Goat Cave, Hanged Man, Bats. In San Felice there is a port from where boats and a ferry depart to the Pontic Islands. Of the historical sights, you should see the Templar Tower and the Baron's Palace.
To get to San Felice Circeo, take the metro to the Laurentina station already mentioned here. From there, buses leave every hour.
Terracina
This town is not inferior to Rome in age. In antiquity, the famous Appian Way ended here. The temple of Jupiter, erected in the first century BC, still stands proudly. Here, five kilometers stretch the best sandy beaches. Close to Rome!
Terracina is the second in Italy among places where the air is saturated with iodine. And the city is famous for mineral springs and healing mud.
There are two ways to get to Terracina. The fastest - by train and bus. At the main train station in Rome we take a ticket to Naples. It costs seven euros. You should get out in an hour at Monte San Biagio station. You will immediately see a bus (usually waiting for the train to arrive) with the words "Terracina Mare". You pay the fare (one euro) from the driver - and after a quarter of an hour you are in the coastal town. To avoid transfers, you can take a direct bus that leaves from Furmi Roman Station.
Freshwater beaches near Rome
The eternal city is surrounded by lakes. And many Italians prefer their fresh water to the sea. Very popular holiday in Bracciano. A trip there by regional train will cost three euros. Bracciano is famous for Castello Odescalci castle (the tour costs 7 Π).
Another freshwater pearl near Rome is Lake Martignano. It is located next to Bracciano. The beach at Martignano is beautifully equipped, shady. Rest on this lake has its own characteristics. Motorized types of entertainment are not allowed here - only sailboats furrow the water surface. There are no noisy bars, discos and other entertainments here. People come here to enjoy the virgin nature and silence.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the Pontian Islands, an archipelago located between Naples and Rome. They get here on ferries that depart from Anzio, Terracina and Formia. The best beaches of the archipelago are located on the islands of Ventotene and Ponza.