Can you swim in the sea in Rome? A surprisingly affordable summer destination
Are you looking for a cheap seaside holiday in Europe? Perhaps combined with sightseeing and city breaks?
You might not find it on a Greek island or in a Spanish resort.
Thanks to cheap flights, affordable hotels and beaches just a stone’s throw from the city centre, Rome could be one of the most interesting alternatives.
Why Rome can be cheaper than traditional holiday destinations
The reason is simple. Rome is a year-round destination.
People fly here for the sights, the food, the history, weekend breaks and business trips. Airlines therefore maintain a high number of flights throughout the year.
In contrast, typical seaside destinations are mainly dependent on the summer season.
As a result, during the summer holidays you’ll often find cheaper flights to Rome than, for example, to some of the Greek islands, smaller Spanish resorts or Sardinia.
The situation is often similar with hotels.
Rome offers thousands of hotels, apartments, guesthouses and hostels in all price ranges. You don’t have to pay extra for a resort, a private beach or a sea view.
What’s more, you can choose whether you want to stay in the historic centre or right by the sea.
Is it even possible to swim in the sea in Rome?
Yes.
The nearest beaches are about 30 to 40 minutes from the city centre and can be reached by regular public transport without the need to hire a car.
The best-known beach area is Lido di Ostia, which serves as Rome’s seaside district.
Here you’ll find long sandy beaches, beach bars, restaurants, a promenade and paid beach clubs.
Don’t expect turquoise waters like those in Sardinia or Greece. However, Ostia is more than enough for a spot of swimming and a few days’ relaxation by the sea.
The best beaches and sea in the area
I’d focus mainly on two locations, which are ideal for combining with a visit to Rome.
Lido di Ostia
The closest and most practical option.
You can get here from the centre of Rome by suburban train in about 40 minutes. The advantages are easy transport and a wide range of services.
- Beaches: long, wide, flat and sandy
- Who it’s for: those who want to combine a seaside holiday with a city break
Fiumicino
The coastline around Rome’s main airport, Fiumicino, tends to be less touristy than Ostia.
You’ll find several pleasant seafood restaurants here, as well as promenades perfect for a stroll.
- Beaches: a series of small artificial coves with breakwaters, sandy beaches
- Who it’s for: ideal for those with a long lay-over at FCO airport
Anzio
Anzio offers wide sandy beaches and a pleasant seaside town centre.
It has more of an ‘Italian vibe’ than Ostia or Fiumicino. It has a local feel, and in the centre you’ll find typical narrow streets.
There are also some lovely cliffs in the surrounding area.
If you’re tired of city beaches and fancy a day trip out of Rome, this is one of the best options.
- Beaches: long sandy beaches, partly man-made and partly natural
- Who it’s for: ideal for a day trip or even a 2–3-day trip from Rome
What are the beaches around Rome really like?
Perfect for a day trip, a 2–3-day break or even just an afternoon out.
Most of them have fine, grey sand, and wide promenades wind their way along them.
The sea isn’t as clear as elsewhere in Italy.
A seaside holiday near Rome is simply a case of trade-offs. Cheaper flights and hotels, easy access, but not as lovely beaches as, say, in Sardinia.
How to get from Rome to the beach
It is precisely the transport links that are the biggest advantage over many traditional holiday resorts.
You don’t need to hire a car, and in most cases you won’t even need to take a taxi.
The nearest beaches are about 30 km from the centre of Rome.
Ostia (the easiest option)
- Porta San Paolo / Piramidestation
- Metro line B from the city centre (e.g. the Colosseum, Termini station)
- Trams 3 and 8 (from Trastevere)
- Bus 23 (towards the Vatican, Castel Sant’Angelo)
- change to theMetromare “Roma-Lido” suburban train
- get off at Lido Centro or Stella Polare
- journey time approx. 35–45 minutes
The fare on the Roma-Lido line is exactly the same as on the metro, buses and trams in Rome.
You can also use a day ticket here.
A single journey from the city centre for 100 minutes (also valid on the metro, buses and trams) costs 1,50 eur.
👉 For detailed information on where and how to buy a ticket, and more, see the article Transport in Rome.
Fiumicino
Trains do not run to Fiumicino by the sea.
You can use Cotral buses. Although these aren’t part of Rome’s public transport network, tickets aren’t expensive and you can buy them at newsagents near the stops or via a mobile app.
You can reach Fiumicino by Cotral bus from the following locations:
- Fiumicino Airport: all services (approx. twice an hour), fare around 1,50 eur
- Rome EUR Magliana (Metro B): approx. 1–2 times an hour, fare around 3 eur
However, the journey to the centre of Rome takes over 75 minutes.
Anzio
Direct trains from Roma Termini to Anzio run once or twice an hour.
The journey takes about 70 minutes and costs around 3,60 eur.
Is it worth staying by the sea rather than in the centre of Rome?
If I were to give a recommendation based purely on my own opinion, I’d definitely say in the centre of Rome.
Living in the centre of Rome
If it’s your first time in Rome, I’d recommend this option.
Most of the main sights are concentrated in the historic centre and its surroundings.
If you’re staying near Termini station, the Colosseum or Trastevere, you’ll be able to reach most of the attractions on foot or within a few metro stops.
And it is from these locations that you can most easily reach the San Paolo suburban train station.
You can head to the beach on days when you fancy a break from the city.
Advantages
- the shortest distance to all the main attractions
- a wide selection of restaurants, cafés and bars
- The best atmosphere after dark
- a wider choice of hotels
- easier transport from the airport
Disadvantages
- Higher temperatures during the summer
- More tourists
- you have to travel to the beach every time (but Ostia is included in the Rome travel fare)
If you’re planning a week-long stay, two or three days by the sea can easily be fitted in as day trips.
Book a hotel in Rome during the summer
Staying in Ostia
Lido di Ostia essentially functions as Rome’s seaside district.
Instead of a morning view of the Colosseum, you’ll be just a few minutes’ walk from the beach. In the evening, you can enjoy dinner on the promenade, and the overall atmosphere is much more relaxed than in the city centre.
Ostia is particularly a good choice if you want to spend most of your holiday by the sea and only visit the historic centre a few times.
Advantages
- the beach is within walking distance
- a more pleasant climate on hot days
- a quieter environment
- hotel prices are often lower than in the city centre
Disadvantages
- daily commute to see the sights
- Fewer restaurants and less nightlife
- significantly fewer activities after dark than in the centre of Rome
- a smaller choice of hotels
- poorer access to airports
If your main aim were swimming and sightseeing were just a bonus, I’d consider Ostia.
Check out the range of hotels in Ostia
Combination: 4 nights in Rome and 3 nights by the sea
If you’ve got a week’s holiday, this option makes the most sense to me.
Spend the first part of your holiday in Rome:
- the Colosseum,
- the Vatican,
- Trastevere,
- fountains and squares,
- restaurants and bars.
You’ll then head to the coast and spend your final days relaxing on the beach.
The advantage is that you don’t have to worry about travelling by train between the city and the coast every day. At the same time, you won’t miss out on either the atmosphere of Rome or the chance to spend a few days by the sea.
It is precisely this combination that I would recommend to most travellers who have at least 6 to 8 days to spend in Rome.
My recommendation
| Length of stay | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| 2–4 days | Rome city centre only |
| 5–6 days | Central Rome + 1–2 trips to the coast |
| 7–10 days | 4 nights in Rome + 3–6 nights by the sea |
| 10+ days | Combination of Rome + Ostia/Santa Marinella |
For most visitors, the biggest advantage is that they don’t have to choose between the city and the beach. In Rome, you can have both during a single holiday.
Any questions left?
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