Owning a home by the sea is a dream for many people. Buying one, particularly in certain locations, is a luxury reserved for a select few.
In the third quarter of 2026, the most exclusive coastal municipalities in Italy confirm a clear trend: prime property shows no sign of slowing down, with prices in some cases rising by more than 40% over the past five years.
Capri: the dream island reaches €10,943 per m²
Capri takes first place in the ranking of Italy’s most expensive places to buy a seaside home. It comfortably exceeds the symbolic €10,000-per-square-metre mark, with an average of €10,943 per m².
This puts it 30% higher than five years ago, showing how the Neapolitan island continues to draw international capital and high-end demand largely unaffected by economic fluctuations.
Forte dei Marmi: the ranking’s strongest growth
The silver medal goes to Forte dei Marmi in the province of Lucca, with €10,082 per m² and the sharpest increase across the whole top 10: up 42% compared with the second quarter of 2021.
This well-heeled corner of Versilia, long associated with Italy’s elite and international high-end tourism, has seen its rise gather further pace and could compete with Capri’s prices over the medium term.
The Sorrento Peninsula completes the top three
Sorrento ranks third at €8,052 per m² (+28%), confirming the Sorrento area’s pull for discerning buyers.
Close behind, Anacapri — the other municipality on the island of Capri — takes fourth place at €7,636 per m², despite recording the smallest increase among Campania’s island locations (+10%).
Italy’s most expensive coastal locations for buying a home
The data refers to the second quarter of 2026.
Rank | Municipality | Average price (€ per m²) | Change since Q2 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Capri | 10,943 | 30% |
2 | Forte dei Marmi | 10,082 | 42% |
3 | Sorrento | 8,052 | 28% |
4 | Anacapri | 7,636 | 10% |
5 | Sperlonga | 5,943 | 22% |
6 | Arzachena | 5,661 | 25% |
7 | Santa Margherita Ligure | 5,561 | 14% |
8 | Alassio | 5,438 | 3% |
9 | Camogli | 5,318 | 26% |
10 | Laigueglia | 5,188 | 9% |
Source: idealista/data
The rest of the top 10, spanning Lazio and Sardinia
Fifth place goes to Sperlonga in the province of Latina, a prized spot along the Lazio coast, with €5,943 per m² and a 22% rise over the five years.
It is followed by Arzachena (€5,661 per m²), the gateway to Sardinia’s most exclusive stretch of coast, which remains a benchmark for luxury property on the island, up 25% on the second quarter of 2021.
The rest of the top 10 is made up of Liguria’s best-regarded municipalities.
A market with its own dynamics
This quarter’s figures point to a market that continues to move against the grain of wider macroeconomic uncertainty. Luxury seaside property in Italy remains a safe-haven asset, capable of retaining — and often increasing — its value over time.
The geographic concentration in the ranking, led by Campania, Liguria, Sardinia and Versilia, reflects international competition for an inherently limited supply: small municipalities, restricted building opportunities, iconic scenery and an appeal extending well beyond Italy’s borders.
For buyers investing at the top end of the coastal property market, the message is clear: the most exclusive markets continue to reward those already in them, while raising the bar for those hoping to enter.
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