Consider a honeymoon or romantic getaway on the Tuscan Riviera, which lies only a short drive away from the graceful Tuscan landscape of Renaissance cities and medieval hill towns surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and rows of cypress trees.
Sitting beneath the Apuan Alps and extending from the Bocca di Magra almost to the Arno, stretch a series of certified ‘blue flag’ beaches of soft golden sand and clean, clear water, offering all the ingredients you need for an unforgettable beach holiday in Italy.
The Tuscan Riviera (or Riviera Versilia) offers elegant old-world beach promenades, beautiful countryside and fashionable beach resorts such as Forte Dei Marmi, Marina Di Pietrasanta, Lido Di Camaiore and Viareggio.
Inland, discover cultural jewels such as Pisa and the medieval towns of San Gimignano (photo) and Siena, which lie surrounded by picture-perfect countryside that’s perfect for cycling and hiking adventures.
Although less well known, this 30km-long stretch of magnificent sun-kissed beaches is easy to reach by car or train from Tuscany’s world-class sights.
The Tuscany coastline offers a string of excellent public and private beaches that lie in front of and between several elegant beach resorts, with the most famous being the fashionable resort of Forte dei Marmi…
Discover the most famous and exclusive beach resort in northern Tuscany, offering a string of fine dining restaurants, trendy bars, haute couture fashion boutiques and elegant hotels such as the beachfront Hotel Mirabeau and the Hotel Mignon.
Relax on one of the wide golden-sand beaches, swim in the certified clean turquoise water and admire the natural beauty – behind the beach and boutiques is a landscape of dense green forest and rugged mountain peaks.
This low-key beach resort is marketed to wealthy Italians and was used for the coastal scenes in the film The English Patient.
Forte dei Marmi is also renowned for its weekly Wednesday market, where you can browse for designer labels at reasonable prices or buy cut-price reproductions of expensive designer clothes.
It is also well known for its marble fortress, built in 1788. Choose a public section of the beach or stay at a 3- to 5-star beachfront hotel that operates its own private beach.
And don’t be shy to remove your swimsuit top – Santa Maria beach at Forte dei Marmi was named one of the world’s ‘Top 10’ topless beaches by Forbes magazine (in 2006).
Facilities on these fashionable beaches – where you can people-watch the Italian glitterati – include sun umbrellas, deck chairs and peddle boats for hire.
Other great beaches nearby, include…
Unwind at one of the most famous resorts in the Tuscan Riviera, a tranquil seaside town lined with art nouveau and neo-classical buildings filled with boutiques, bars, restaurants and elegant hotels such as the sumptuous beachfront Grand Royal Hotel.
Choose a spot to sunbathe on the long sweep of white sand that shelves into clear shallow water perfect for children. Then stroll along the 3km-long palm-fringed promenade lined with chic cafes, art galleries and restaurants.
Or hire a bike and head to scenic Torre del Lago, where you can hire a sailing boat and see the Puccini Museum. Along the way, explore picture-perfect countryside dotted with medieval hilltop villages.
The largest beach town in Tuscany offers a lively nightlife and is famous for the Carnevale di Viareggio, which attracts a million visitors every February.
Pick your own spot to sunbathe and swim on this gorgeous 5km-long golden-sand beach backed by sand dunes, pine trees, mountain trails and the lively medieval resort town of Pietrasanta, which is crammed with narrow alleyways and picture-perfect squares lined with charming craft shops.
Relax in comfort at the Hotel Andreaneri or the Villa Tiziana. Facilities include sun umbrellas, deck chairs, golf, hiking and horseback riding.
Relax on this wide golden-sand beach that shelves gently into shallow turquoise waters.
Behind the beach stands a lively promenade lined with shops, bars, cafes, restaurants and a range of accommodation options. Try the beachfront Grand Hotel Riviera or the Hotel Picadilly.
Facilities include umbrellas, sun loungers and peddle boats for hire.
Relax on one of the gorgeous golden sand beaches here and enjoy the seaside promenade, restaurants and discos during summer.
Lecciona Beach is famous as a gay beach and nearby Torre del Lago is famous for its annual summer festival in July and August, dedicated to the famous opera composer, Puccini, who once lived here, composing many of his operas.
You can tour his former home, now a museum with a collection of memorabilia. The nearby Oasi di Massaciuccoli is a protected nature area offering boardwalks through the wetlands to spot native bird life.
Honeymoon couples have a wide choice of accommodation options in Forte Dei Marmi and elsewhere along the Tuscan Riviera.
The best time to visit the Tuscan Riviera is during spring and autumn in order to avoid the heat and crowds of summer.
Spring (March and April) sees an average high of 17°C (63°F) while autumn (October and November) experiences an average high of 22°C (72°F) but often climbs to 24°C (75°F).
Summer (May through September) sees bright, sunny days with an average of 23°C (73°F) climbing to a high of 30°C (86°F) in July and August and dropping to 26°C (79°F) in September.
For more information about Tuscany weather…
Tuscany lies in northwest Italy between the central Apennines and the Tyrrhenian Sea.
From overseas, the most convenient route to Tuscany is by air to Pisa International Airport (PSA), also known as Galileo Galilei Airport, located about 1.8km (1mi) south of Pisa, and about 43km (26mi) south of Forte Dei Marmi.
Pisa International Airport (PSA) is the main gateway airport to the Tuscany region.
Taxis and hire cars are available from the airport terminal, with a travel time of around 30 minutes to Forte Dei Marmi's beachfront hotels.
Alternatively, you could fly into Florence Airport, Peretola (FLR), located 5km (3mi) northwest of Florence, and around 100km (62mi) east of Forte Dei Marmi, around 1 hour 10 minutes by car.
For more information about How to get to the Tuscan Riviera…
Latest update: Tuscan Riviera Honeymoon Guide: 11 May, 2022
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