Italy is a much loved seaside destination. Its fabulous beaches are known all over the world so much that every year, millions of people decide to visit them. Among these paradise-like oases, nature reserves, naturalist and nudist beaches are the favorites of gay travelers looking for relaxation and intimacy, while the nightlife beaches are more popular with single and fun-seeking LGBTQ+ tourists. Here is a guide to the top 50 gay beaches in Italy to consult wherever you are in our beautiful country.
Top Gay Beaches in Italy: Lombardy
Let’s start from Lombardy, which, although not a coastal destination, is very popular for its lakes that are home to renowned gay beaches.
Rocca beach – Manerba del Garda (BS)
The gay beach of the Rocca in Manerba del Garda is a naturist beach much loved by gay tourists on Lake Garda. It is characterized by an expanse of greenery and rocks, a pebble beach and clean, green waters. Even if it is not very easy to reach it, if you are in the area, a visit is certainly highly recommended.
Canneti Beach – Desenzano del Garda (BS)
Another popular destination on the shore of Lake Garda is Desenzano del Garda, with its Canneti beach, one of the most popular gay beaches in the area. It is easily accessible as it is located right on the lakefront that leads from Desenzano to Salò. Visitors to this beach often go full-nude.
Top Gay Beaches in Italy: Veneto
Let’s move to Veneto, where we have two of the most popular cities for gay travelers from all over the world: Verona and Venice. Take advantage of your visit by also discovering the top gay beaches of Veneto.
Punta San Vigilio
Considered the Portofino of Lake Garda, Punta di San Vigilio is a very well-known and well-kept location, and it is no coincidence that it hosts one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Garda. Take advantage of a day to visit the characteristic peninsula, visit the Baia delle Sirene beach and then go to the gay beach located between Punta San Vigilio and the Brancolino beach (on the right after about 500 meters from Baia delle Sirene).
Alberoni Beach – Lido of Venice
Located along the Lido of Venice, the Alberoni beach is certainly one of the best known gay beaches in the area, especially for gay get-togethers during the winter season. Even in summer it is very quiet and ideal for moments of pure relaxation.
Brussa Beach – Caorle
The naturist beach of Brussa, a section of the municipality of Caorle, is located inside the Naturalistic Oasis of Vallevecchia, it is a long beach with blue and clean waters where you can find peace and tranquility.
Other gay beaches to visit in Veneto are Laguna del Mort, Punta Meringa and Porto Caleri beach.
Top Gay Beaches in Italy: Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna is synonymous with fun, its gay beaches, especially in the Romagna Riviera offer every kind of comfort. But there are also quieter areas where you can take refuge if you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Community 27 – Rimini
In Rimini, we find one of the most welcoming gay beaches in all of Emilia-Romagna, Community 27. Here you will be greeted by a long rainbow walkway that will immediately make you feel at home.
Lido di Classe – Ravenna
Among the gay beaches not to be missed in Emilia-Romagna is Lido di Classe, a vast beach located in the thick pine forest of Classe. It is ideal for both activity and relaxation lovers, it is equipped with several bathing establishments, a pet-friendly area and nudism is allowed.
Lido di Dante – Ravenna province
A historic naturist meeting point known all over the world, Lido di Dante is an oasis of peace for lovers of nature and relaxation.
Also in Emilia-Romagna you can visit the gay beaches of Colonia Bolognese (Rimini), Lido di Spina (Ferrara) and Zona le Navi (Cattolica).
Top Gay Beaches in Italy: Liguria
Liguria is another destination that hosts wonderful beaches in beautiful characteristic villages. We advise you to organize a nice tour of the famous CinqueTerre to enjoy, in addition to its breathtaking views, the rich Ligurian culinary offering, from street food to typical local restaurants. Today we discover some of its best gay beaches.
Balzi Rossi – Imperia province
In the surroundings of Capo Mortola, we find a sequence of small gay beaches accessible through rather winding paths and crossing the railway but which once reached, are worth the whole route for their natural beauty.
Varigotti – Finale Ligure (Savona)
Among the most fascinating in Liguria, the gay beach of Varigotti, Punta Crena, can be reached by climbing for mountaineering experts or by swimming starting from the pier. It is a pristine bay with crystal clear waters.
Guvano – Vernazza
Among the most beautiful gay beaches of the CinqueTerre, there is Guvano in Vernazza. Even if you will have to cross a tunnel one kilometer-long to reach it completely in the dark and a staggering path, your efforts will be immediately rewarded in the face of such great wonder: clear blue / green sea in a rocky context.
Other gay Ligurian beaches not to be missed: Barbarossa, Villa delle Rose and Piani d’Invrea.
Top Gay Beaches in Italy: Tuscany
Let’s move now to Tuscany, a place full of gay and gay friendly beaches. If you have never visited it before, we advise you to organize a trip that is a mix between cultural cities and relaxation by the sea, for example, spend a couple of days in Florence and then move to Versilia.
La Lecciona – Torre del Lago
The most famous gay beach in Italy is located in Torre del Lago in Tuscany: La Lecciona. Due to its popularity, it is always very busy, especially on weekends. Here you can choose whether to relax in the wildest and freest beach of Lecciona, or if you prefer the comforts of an equipped beach go to Mama Dune Beach, the first gay beach on the peninsula always near Torre del Lago.
Sassoscritto beach – Livorno
South of Livorno is the gay beach of Sassoscritto, a well-known meeting point for naturists and diving enthusiasts.
San Vincenzo beach – Livorno
Still near Livorno we find the gay beach of San Vincenzo, a stretch of beach with fine sand and clear and clean waters. Immersed in nature, it is another famous naturist meeting point in Tuscany.
In addition to what we already listed, in Tuscany you can find more gay beaches: Oasi di Bolgheri in Marina di Bibbona, the Marina di Alberese in the Uccellina park, the Marina di Grosseto, Chiarone, Capalbio and the Acquarilli beach in Capolivieri on the Island of Elba.
Top Gay Beaches in Italy: Lazio
Lazio also offers some gay beaches you should absolutely visit if you are in the area.
Capocotta – Lido di Ostia (RO)
The gay beach of Capocotta is among the best known in Italy, together with that of Lecciona. Immersed in the dunes of a naturist oasis, it is the ideal place to make new acquaintances. It is easily recognizable thanks to the two large rainbow flags that fly at its entrance.
Sabaudia Beach
Sabaudia beach is characterized by a long strip of sand, high dunes, and thick vegetation. It tends to be always sparsely frequented and therefore an excellent location to relax and disconnect from everyday life.
Beach of the 300 Steps – Gaeta
In the southern part of the beach of 300 Steps, one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Lazio, there is the gay and naturist beach that we absolutely recommend you visit for its beauty. To reach it you have to go down 300 steps, that’s the reason for the name itself.
Top Gay Beaches in Italy: Puglia
Puglia is one of the most sought after LGBTQ + destinations in all of Italy also for its beautiful and welcoming gay beaches.
Punta della Suina Beach – Gallipoli
In Gallipoli you’ll find one of the best known gay and naturist beaches in Puglia, the Punta della Suina beach. It’s a wonderful expanse of white sand and crystal clear sea located within the Isola di Sant’Andrea in Litorale di Punta Pizzo Natural Park.
Alaya Beach
The beach of Alaya is a true heavenly oasis always very quiet and characterized by sandy dunes and a crystalline blue sea. It is a very popular destination for nudists from all over the world.
Lido di Siponto beach – Manfredonia
In Manfredonia you’ll find the gay beach of Lido di Siponto, a naturist beach very popular with the local population.
Top Gay Beaches in Italy: Sicily
In addition to being one of the most loved and appreciated gay destinations in Italy, Sicily is home to wonderful gay and gay friendly beaches.
Eraclea Minoa – Agrigento
Wild and unspoiled, the gay and nudist beach of Eraclea Minoa is one of the most beautiful in all of Sicily. It is located in the province of Agrigento and is located in an archaeological and naturalistic site.
Le Capannine – Catania
Known throughout Italy, the gay beach of the Capannine is the ideal place to relax during the day and let loose during the evening.
Marianelli Beach – Vendicari Wildlife Oasis
Inside the Wildlife Oasis of Vendicari we find the wild gay beach of Marianelli which has been voted as the ideal place by naturists and gays.
These are only three of the many and equally beautiful gay beaches in Sicily.
Top Gay Beaches in Italy: Sardinia
Sardinia is another fabulous island that offers breathtaking gay beaches for their natural beauty.
Mari Pintau – Cagliari
Near Cagliari, immersed in the typical Mediterranean scrub, we find the gay and naturist beach of Mari Pintau, a pebble beach and crystal clear blue waters ideal for relaxing.
Is Arenas – Oristano
A few kilometers from Oristano, the gay friendly beach of Is Arenas is characterized by white sand and very blue and clear waters.
Capo Comino – Nuoro
The gay beach of Capocomino, in the province of Nuoro, is a heavenly oasis characterized by white sand and blue waters so clear that it looks like a swimming pool. You will recognize it immediately thanks to the presence of an ancient lighthouse.
Other gay beaches that we recommend you visit in Sardinia are Poetto in Cagliari, Liscia Ruja in Costa Smeralda and Terra Mala beach in the province of Cagliari.
If you want to read an in-depth exploration of gay beaches in Sardinia, we invite you to click the following bold text: 11 Gay Beaches in Sardinia to Visit in 2023.
Here we are at the end of this trip with the gay beaches of Marina di Licola in Pozzuoli in Campania, Torre Mezza Praia between Pizzo Calabro and Lamezia Terme and Cupid of Sant’Andrea Apostolo in the province of Catanzaro in Calabria, Portonovo Oltre la Vela in Ancona in the Marche region, Lido Riccio in Chieti in Abruzzo and Liburnia Aurisina in Trieste in Friuli Venezia Giulia.
Did we miss any of your favorite gay beaches in Italy? Let us know!
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