Italian Coastal Town/ Beach Town that does not require a car

Posted by devon.reeves on 06/24/16 06:21 PM

I'm looking to use public transit only for my trip to Italy in Sept. We arrive Rome on Sunday, Sept. 4 and have until Thursday (4 nights) until we need to be in Umbria for a wedding.

We plan to spend our last 3 nights in Rome. I'm looking for a lovely beach towns that don't need a car to access and experience. The top 3 places I'm considering are:
1) Naples/Capri area
2) Porto Ercole area
3) Viareggio

Any tips on accessing via train and then walking/busing around the coastal towns would be ideal.
Arrivederci,
Devon

Posted by commila

06/24/16 07:38 PM

195 posts

I don't know if I'm qualified to answer, as we didn't make it to any of the places you mentioned during our trip to Italy, but we are considering a return trip and several people have told us that Sorrento (near the Naples area that you mentioned, though I'm not sure how far from Rome) is their favorite place in the whole world, so that might be worth considering. The Amalfi coast is also a very popular area for beach towns, though I'm not sure if that would take you too much time from Rome. Luckily, Italy has a great (and relatively affordable) train system to the major cities, so it shouldn't be a problem traveling without a car (I am also considering trips to other places that either charge a huge amount for trains or have very poorly organized trains, so it makes me appreciate Italy all the more in that respect!).

Posted by francoise

06/25/16 12:20 AM

616 posts

Viareggio is very accessible by train from Florence.
The port is rather big and there are many ship maintenance factories around it. I like it.
There are both free beaches and private beaches.
I like Porto Ercole (and all Argentario area very much). The Orbetello Laguna is wonderful. Orbetello is where you will arrive by train (slow train then bus to either Porto Ercole or Porto San Stefano) Porto Ercole and Porto San Stefano is very near the Tuscan Archipellago (main island being Elba). Would take at least 4 days. Talamone and Capalbio are also very nice. Argentario area is wilder than Capri, Amalfi coast or Viareggio

Posted by Laurel

Forest Grove, OR

06/25/16 03:41 AM

11852 posts

Viareggio and Porto Ercole are going to be easier to reach and quieter. Like Francoise, I like the Porto Ercole/Porto Santo Stefano area better. PSS is a bit like the Cinque Terre. From PSS ou can go out to Isola di Giglio (where the Costa Concordia ran aground) as well. Very nice beaches on the west side of the island.