The 20 Most Beautiful Italian Coastal Towns and Cities

Part of the Cinque Terre National Park (comprised of five villages) in Liguria, Manarola has been called the most colourful city in the world. The vibrant buildings are jostling for space, making the town resemble an artist’s palette. Every year, visitors flock here to hike between seaside villages, with numbers soaring in peak season. Don’t miss the Church of San Lorenzo, beautiful both inside and out thanks to some sweeping views of Manarola and neighbouring towns.

Thanks to some rustic charm and wisteria-draped hotels, Positano is widely regarded as the most photogenic town in Italy. As the most sophisticated resort on the central Amalfi Coast, it’s also the most expensive. The enviable location allows visitors to travel by boat to nearby Capri, Ischia and the Grotta dello Smeraldo. You can also choose to spend a day on Fornillo beach, a smaller alternative to the popular Spiaggia Grande.

Located where the mountain meets the sea and where citrus plantations alternate with deep valleys, Sorrento is set in an extraordinary landscape. Set within the province of Naples, the old town is known for producing lace and ceramics. Sip a glass of Falanghina, and soak up the atmosphere of Piazza Tasso – a people-watcher’s paradise. Beach options are limited: Amalfi Coast to the north, rolling countryside to the east and stunning Capri just offshore. But, luckily, the prime location of the town easily makes up for that.

Portofino and the distinctive half-moon harbour are located on the coast of Liguria, in the province of Genoa on the Italian Riviera. Having become increasingly upmarket in recent years, it’s popular with the rich and famous – you’ll notice plenty of luxurious superyachts adorning the horizon here. Hike up to Castello Brown, the 15th-century castle, for some spectacular views.

In the province of Bari, Polignano a Mare is perched upon limestone cliffs overlooking the azure sea. The historic old town features a maze of houses and narrow alleyways, as well as panoramic terraces offering views of the Adriatic Sea. Along with the rich history, Polignano is known for world-class cliff-diving opportunities, having previously hosted the Red Bull diving competition.

Part of the Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore is the largest and most easterly of the five villages. Sitting upon the unspoilt blue waters of the Gulf of Genoa, the spot is famed for the sweet wine Sciacchetrà, made from Bosco, Vermentino and Albarola grapes. The multi-coloured ravine of pastel buildings here is where the Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path) begins. You can embark on the first section between Riomaggiore and Manarola, which is also known as Via Dell’Amore (Lovers’ Path). It’s one of the most beautiful places in Northern Italy.

Amalfi lies at the mouth of a deep ravine at the foot of Monte Cerreto. Surrounded by dramatic cliffs and coastal scenery, it’s modestly sized: visitors can walk from one edge of town to the other in 20 minutes. Amalfi boasts sun-filled piazzas and small beaches; its many squares are connected by pedestrian streets flanked with souvenir shops, perfect for stocking up on cameo brooches and limoncello. Also, don’t miss a visit to the Duomo di Amalfi, a 9th-century Roman Catholic structure. Ascend the steps, then admire the beautiful mosaics and magnificent ceiling detail. Check into one of the best hotels in town.

Just two minutes away from the town, Atrani is the wealthy residence for the most powerful Amalfi families. Traditional houses climb up the valley from the beach, broken up by lemon terraces and colourful gardens. As the smallest town in Southern Italy, the ancient medieval structure remains incredibly intact.

Santa Cesarea Terme sits atop a rugged plateau overlooking the sea in Puglia, on the ‘heel’ of Southern Italy. The town is characterised by architecture typical of the early 20th century, while the coast is punctuated with thermal springs, situated within four natural caves. A pathway through the woods leads to the higher part of the town, which boasts beautiful views of the Salento coast, all the way up to the headland of Santa Maria di Leuca. Santa Cesarea Terme isn’t as popular with international tourists as it is with with Italians themselves, making it all the more authentic.

To get the best view of its golden-hued palazzi and domes dominating the horizon, make sure you arrive in Cagliari by sea. This location boasts the best of both worlds: a rich history (the town is peppered with Roman ruins) and a youthful atmosphere, as found on the stylish Poetto beach.There’s also a fantastic range of places to stay.

This town sits high above the sea along the Lattari mountain range, 365m (1,200ft) to be exact. The views from Ravello are extraordinary. Start at the Villa Rufolo and take the quintessential picture over the Norman and Moorish-style tower and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Wind through the town’s pedestrian-only lanes to the Villa Cimbrone to visit the well-tended gardens and walk the precipitous and sculpture-lined Terrace of Infinity. The two-hour walk between the town’s main square Piazza Duomo and Piazza Fontana Moresca is filled with 11th- and 12th-century churches, romantic crumbling villas and gleaming restored hotels where celebrities and royalty once stayed on their visits to this exclusive destination. There is probably no music venue quite as scenic as the stage at the Oscar Niemeyer Auditorium – suspended over the sea, international and Italian artists perform here on evenings in the summer months. Recommended by Gillian McGuire.

Blink and you will miss it while driving along the 50km (30mi) of the SS 163, the twisty Amalfi Coast road – Conca dei Marini is tiny. You will find this fishing village in between Amalfi and Furore. The most striking attraction here is the Grotta dello Smeraldo (Emerald Grotto). Luigi Buonocore, a local sailor, made this a popular tourist stop in the 1930s. Take the quick boat trip to this grotto inside a cave where the sunlight hits the walls to create a viridescent effect on the water. This is also the destination for the traveller with a sweet tooth. The sfogliatella Santa Rosa is a flaky, orange-scented, ricotta stuffed pastry, and was created in the 17th century by nuns from the Convent of Santa Rosa. Recommended by Gillian McGuire.

Cetara is a sweet sleepy fishing village at the Vietri sul Mare end of the Amalfi Coast. Anchovy and tuna fishermen repair their nets every day on the pier next to their painted fishing boats. There is a small beach across from the pier facing the beautiful Collata Bay. The Aragonese tower at the eastern edge of the beach once stood watch over the town from sea invasions of Saracen pirates – today, there are occasionally art shows inside. Ask for directions to Lannio Beach – after a long flight of stairs down to the water you will find a small stretch of sand instead of pebbles. Cetara is famous for its salted anchovy sauce called colatura, which dates back to the Roman era. Recommended by Gillian McGuire.

Another member of the Cinque Terre, Vernazza is undoubtedly one of the prettiest towns in all of Italy. It’s the only town in the Cinque Terre to have a natural harbour and is probably the best of the bunch if you want to spend slow afternoons dipping in and out of the sea, setting up camp on the town’s small stretch of sand in between. It’s also arguably the best point to start the Blue Path walk, especially now that erosion is beginning to make some sections of the trail troublesome. Recommended by Gethin Morgan.

One of the most beloved seaside day trips from Rome, Sperlonga lies around halfway between the capital and Naples to the south and offers everything you could possibly want from coastal Italy. There’s a mazy collection of charming old town streets to explore, a surrounding coastline dotted with pretty coves and a fabulous stretch of sandy beach right across town. The seafood is sumptuous and the sunsets even more so. It’s no wonder that the Romans loved it here, too. Find out more about that at the Villa of Tiberius and Archeological Museum, a lavish cave-turned-villa complex that once housed the Roman Emperor himself. The museum, opened in the ’60s, displays a series of remarkable sculptures found in the 20th century. Recommended by Gethin Morgan.

The Tuscan island of Elba, and its gorgeous capital Portoferraio, is most well known for being the place of exile to which Napoleon was sent in 1814. Well, Mr Bonaparte, you were one lucky fellow. The city dates further back than the Romans, but what you see today was mostly built by Tuscany’s Medici family. There are three imposing forts that offer splendid views of the coast, as well as a dash of historical insight. There’s more of that at Napoleon’s former residence, Palazzina dei Mulini, which you can visit. The best beaches in town are on the north side – where the water shimmers oh-so beautifully – but Portoferraio also stands as an excellent base from which to explore the rest of this lovely island’s coastline. Recommended by Gethin Morgan.

There’s no such thing as an undiscovered town in the Cinque Terre – there’s only five of them, after all – but if you are wanting to avoid the manic tourist vibes of peak season, Corniglia is undoubtedly your best best. While not quite as obviously beautiful as its neighbours – it’s a high bar, in fairness – Corniglia is just as delightful, with the same colourful houses and clifftop views that make this region of Italy so popular. Unlike the harbour towns nearby, this place is perched atop the cliff and the zig-zagging 400 steps you need to climb to get here from the station put many visitors off, but we think that’s part of the charm. Recommended by Gethin Morgan.

There are countless beautiful towns in Sicily but there are maybe none quite so instantly easy-on-the-eye as Cefalu on the island’s north coast. It’s an easy day trip from Palermo – just an hour by train or car – but we recommend calling this place home for a few nights. The crystalline waters along its long sandy beach are irresistibly inviting on a hot summers day, but it’s actually the gorgeous medieval architecture we love most. From rustic old houses along the seafront to the town’s striking Norman Cathedral and the castle, which stands proudly atop Rocca di Cefalù, the epic rocky mountain that towers over town. Recommended by Gethin Morgan.

Head to the eastern coast of Sicily, north of Catania, to find perhaps the island’s most jaw-droppingly beautiful town. With a spectacular backdrop courtesy of Mount Etna, Taormina is covered in remarkable works of architecture through the ages. There’s the majesty of Piazza XXV Aprile, the Baroque church of San Giuseppe and the crisp white beauty of Cathedral of San Nicolò di Bari, not to mention the quiet elegance of the house on Isola Bella, a tidal island right in the centre of Taormina’s little bay. The jewel in the crown of Taormina, however, is without a shadow of a doubt its Teatro Antico, the Ancient Greek amphitheatre, which is in remarkably good conditions today and offers utterly magical views along the Sicilian coast. Recommended by Gethin Morgan.

We’ll round off our list with the fifth and final town of the Cinque Terre, so special we simply had to include them all. Monterosso al Mare is the national park’s northernmost town, as well as its largest. There’s lots of sandy beach to relax on, kissed by crystal clear waters that make for a great afternoon spent snorkelling. Don’t forget to explore the beautiful old town, with the narrow medieval streets and multi-coloured buildings that the Cinque Terre is synonymous with. The culinary options here are incredible, thanks to its seaside position but also due to the abundance of lemons, olives and vines being cultivated on the town’s doorstep. Recommended by Gethin Morgan.

Dreaming of hazy summer days along the Italian coastline? Book the European adventure of a lifetime and join a multi-day tour of Italy. Whether you’re thinking of cruising around Sicily’s coastline, winding down the Amalfi or hiking along the Cinque Terre, there’s bound to be a trip here for you.