Take your pick from the best beaches in Italy, whether you prefer a secluded island cove or a buzzy beachfront where the lounge chairs seem to go on forever.

From wild, forest-backed sands to dazzling turquoise shores, Italy’s coast is notched with blissful beaches. Here’s a dozen of the best to inspire a coastal getaway.

We rank the 7 Best Beaches in Italy. See which places our readers like the best, and vote for your favorites.

With so much of Italy’s coastline coming at a price, it’s not easy to find good quality free beaches. Puglia and Sardinia have regulations that require 60% of beaches to be free to access.