Paying for a dip in the sea? At some of Italy’s most popular beaches, the answer is yes. A new ranking by Holidu, based on Google Maps scores, places Spiaggia dei Conigli on Lampedusa at the top, while confirming Sardinia’s dominance among travellers’ preferences.
The method is simple and transparent: the rating comes first, with the number of reviews deciding any ties. The result paints a picture of a seaside Italy where limited access, small entry fees and targeted restrictions are becoming normal ways to keep overtourism in check.
How the ranking was compiled
To appear in the ranking, beaches need at least several hundred Google Maps reviews. They are then ordered according to their highest average score, with the destination receiving the most feedback taking priority when scores are identical.
This is an important detail because 25 of the 30 locations considered share a score of 4.7. At that point, the number of reviews makes the difference, pushing the most visited destinations higher up the list. This approach favours well-established places, but it also provides an up-to-date measure of visitors’ real experiences.
The 10 most popular beaches according to Google Maps
The top spot remains in Sicily, with an almost perfect score, but another island takes centre stage in the top 10. Here are the top 10 beaches, with their average ratings and number of reviews, which also give an idea of their popularity:
- Spiaggia dei Conigli (Lampedusa, Sicily) – score: 4.9; 3,134 reviews.
- Cala Mariolu (Baunei, Sardinia) – score: 4.8; 6,571 reviews.
- Spiaggia di Tuerredda (Teulada, Sardinia) – score: 4.7; 17,565 reviews.
- Spiaggia di Is Arutas (Cabras, Sardinia) – score: 4.7; 9,121 reviews.
- Spiaggia di Porto Giunco (Villasimius, Sardinia) – score: 4.7; 7,723 reviews.
- Spiaggia Su Giudeu (Domus de Maria, Sardinia) – score: 4.7; 6,492 reviews.
- Cala Goloritzé (Baunei, Sardinia) – score: 4.7; 4,013 reviews.
- Spiaggia dell’Arcomagno (San Nicola Arcella, Calabria) – score: 4.7; 3,884 reviews.
- Spiaggia di Mari Pintau (Quartu Sant’Elena, Sardinia) – score: 4.7; 3,739 reviews.
- Spiaggia di Cala Li Cossi (Trinità d’Agultu e Vignola, Sardinia) – score: 4.7; 3,488 reviews.
Sardinia takes it all: what it means for holidaymakers
Eight of the top 10 positions belong to Sardinia. It does not end there: 18 of the 30 beaches included in the ranking are on the island, confirming an appeal that holds up in the numbers.
Across the rest of the list, Tuscany is the best-represented region after Sardinia, with three entries. It is followed by Calabria and Liguria, with two each. Campania, Puglia and Sicily itself, despite being home to the number-one beach, appear just once each.
New entries for 2026: this year’s surprises
The list of favourites is not fixed. In 2026, there are four new entries compared with 2025, spread across Liguria, Sardinia and Tuscany. A place in the ranking points to growing attention and visitor numbers, with possible knock-on effects for local services and management.
The new additions are:
- Spiaggia di Varigotti (Varigotti, Liguria) – 14th place.
- Spiaggia della Torre Vignola Mare (Aglientu, Sardinia) – 16th place.
- Cala Mar Morto (Monte Argentario, Tuscany) – 18th place.
- Spiaggia di Fetovaia (Campo nell’Elba, Tuscany) – 24th place.
How much swimming costs at the most popular beaches
Free access remains the norm at many of the top locations, but not all of them. Some local authorities have introduced small entry fees or contributions to fund maintenance and conservation.
Other places have daily limits, compulsory booking systems and specific requirements, all intended to protect fragile ecosystems. These are the listed costs for beaches in the ranking:
- Cala Mariolu – €2
- Spiaggia di Tuerredda – €3; maximum capacity of 1,100 visitors; a beach mat is compulsory
- Cala Goloritzé – €7
- Spiaggia dell’Arcomagno – €4 for adults; €2 for children
The other beaches in the top 10 are free to access and do not have particular restrictions beyond normal environmental rules.
Rules and restrictions: protecting the balance of the most fragile bays
Limits on visitor numbers and targeted restrictions are not simply a whim; they are conservation measures. The aim is to protect beaches, dunes and habitats that often come under pressure during the height of summer.
Some of the most iconic places have set clear limits on entry and permitted behaviour.
- Spiaggia dei Conigli (Lampedusa): entry by booking only, with a maximum of 550 people per session; two sessions each day, morning and afternoon; sun loungers, parasols and animals are prohibited, as is smoking.
- Spiaggia di Is Arutas (Cabras): it is forbidden to remove quartz grains from the shoreline.
- Spiaggia di Porto Giunco (Villasimius) and Spiaggia Su Giudeu (Domus de Maria): walking on the dunes to reach the sea is prohibited.
These three beaches have free entry but strict rules governing their use. The reasoning is shared across them: supporting a high-quality experience while reducing the impact on distinctive environments, often squeezed between the sea, lagoons and dune systems.
Article seen on QuiFinanza: Spiagge più belle d’Italia, la classifica: quanto costa fare il bagno
