Best Beaches Near Milan for a Day Trip, How to Reach Them

best beaches near milan

Best beaches near Milan take as little as 1 hour, to as much as 5 hours to reach. That said, how are you coping with the summer ‘hotness’? I classify July and August as the still-air periods in Milan. It becomes so humid and as a friend described, you would literally sweat for just lifting a finger. Whenever I am yearning for a beach near me, I opt for lakes in Milan for a dip, and to spend a refreshing day.

Some people, like me, are stuck in Milan due to work and will only have the chance to get away during the Ferragosto holiday or weekend. Our only respite right now is in tons of gelato and cold baths.

One of the shortcomings of living in Milan during summer is the inability to enjoy the seaside. As the weather now gets more humid and hot, I wish I could relocate to a house just by the seashore. But oh well, in my dreams.

If you want to have a quick day trip to a seaside town near Milan, you will find car-sharing pools like BlaBlaCar and Train services like Frecciarossa helpful. They offer fast transportation options so you do not spend a lot of time commuting to the closest beach to Milan.

Rimini

Best Beaches Near Milan for a Day Trip, How to Reach Them - rimini 1
Rimini Beach by Italy on a budget Tours

Rimini in Emilia-Romagna region is well known for its shallow waters. It is the biggest beach resort on the Adriatic Sea. There are a lot of hotels located near the beach. For the privatised areas you have to pay to access them, but there is also a free public beach. The nightlife here is very vibrant.

How to get to Rimini from Milan

  1. By Train
  • Take the Frecciarossa train which takes 2 hours 30 minutes and costs about 60 euros
  • Take the Frecciabianca train which takes about 3 hours and costs about 30 euros
  • Take the Regionale Veloce, Trenord, or Regionale which takes 4-5 hours and costs about 25 euros
  1. By Road
  • You can drive down. It takes approximately 3 h 24 min (330.8 km) via highways A1 and E45.

Alassio

Best Beaches Near Milan for a Day Trip, How to Reach Them - alassio beach
Alassio by Siviaggia

Alassio is known for its natural and scenic views. The town centre is crossed by a pedestral cobbled road known as the Budello. Located in the province of Savona on the western coast of Liguria, Northern Italy, it is approximately 80 kilometres from the French border.

How to get to Alassio from Milan

  1. By Train
  • Take the Thello train which takes 3 hours – not always available.
  • Take the Intercity train which takes 3 hours and costs about 20 euros.
  • Take the Regionale Veloce or Regionale which takes 5 to 6 hours and costs about 21 euros.
  1. By Road
  • You can drive down. It takes approximately 2 h 31 min (219.8 km) via highways A7 and A10/E80.

Noli

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is alassio-beach.jpg
Alassio by Siviaggia

Noli is a small resort, and one of the more attractive to visit along the Riviera di Ponente due to its setting, the sandy beaches, the castle and defensive walls on the hill above the town, and the medieval towers that dominate the historic centre. The village is listed among the ‘most beautiful villages in Italy’. Popularly also known as the Fisherman’s Beach, it is a coast comune in the Province of Savona – about 50 kilometres southwest of Genoa by rail, about 4 metres above sea level.

How to get to Noli from Milan

  1. By Road

It takes just over two hours to reach by car: 2 h 9 min (186.7 km) via highway A7; 2 h 34 min (234.9 km) via highway A26; and 2 h 56 min (202.9 km) via highways A7 and SP334.

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre by Walks of Italy

Cinque Terre has the most famous and best beaches near Milan. It is usually swamped during summer. The colourful buildings that seem to be cascading down the hills and the untamed beauty of the city is what have won the hearts of many, and even mine. Cinque Terre means Five Lands. Hence it comprises five small coastal villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare.

How to get to Cinque Terre from Milan

  1. By Train
  • Take the Intercity train which takes 3 hours and costs about 15 euros.
  • Take the Regionale Veloce or Regionale which takes 4 to 5 hours and costs about 19 euros

Note that you have to input Monterosso, Manarola, Riomaggiore, Corniglia, or Vernazza in the search box of Trenitalia, not Cinque Terre. Once you arrive at one of the villages by train, you can visit the other four villages of Cinque Terre by hiking or train.

  1. By Road
  • You can drive down. It takes approximately 2 h 53 min (228.7 km) via highways A7 and A12.

Liguria

Genova
Genova from cmguadaira

Genoa or Genova and Savona are both in the Liguria region – the northwest of Italy. They have the most famous and best beaches near Milan and in the region. The unpleasant feeling of the stones by the shore is what makes some people shy away from the beach. You have to pay extra care so you do not cut your feet. Once you dive in, you soon forget the discomfort with the help of the soothing feel of the water – and just relax.

How to get to Liguria from Milan

  1. By Train
  • Take the Intercity train which takes 1 hour 30 minutes and costs about 15 euros.
  • Take the Regionale Veloce, Trenord, or Regionale which takes 2 hours and costs about 13 euros

Note that you have to put Genova or Savona into the search box of the Trenitalia website. Train costs are the same for the two cities.

  1. By Road
  • You can drive down. It takes approximately 1 h 51 min (145.9 km) via highway A7.

Other Best Beaches in the Liguria Region are:

Boccadasse

Best Beaches Near Milan for a Day Trip, How to Reach Them - bodacasse
Bodacasse by Il Secolo XIX, Liguria

This is a residential town that breaks out from the former fishermen’s village. It features pastel-colored houses with green shutters. Ice cream shops and relaxed bars skirt the small pebble beach and harbor, while trattorias with al fresco tables prepare fish and Genovese specialties. The terrace beside the Church of St. Anthony of Boccadasse offers views of the sea and the village.

Levanto

Best Beaches Near Milan for a Day Trip, How to Reach Them - levanto
Levanto by VRBO

The town is on the coast at the mouth of a river valley, between hills thickly wooded with olive and pine trees. Levanto is located in the province of La Spezia, located almost 90 kilometres southeast of Genoa and about 20 kilometres northwest of La Spezia.

Porto Vènere

Best Beaches Near Milan for a Day Trip, How to Reach Them - Portovenere
Porto Venere by Cooperativa Barcaioli

Porto Venere is known for Porto Venere Regional Natural Park, a protected area with trails and dive sites. The park encompasses Palmaria Island, dotted with beaches and caves. The Gothic-style Church of St. Peter sits atop a rocky headland. Nearby is the centuries-old Castello Doria, an imposing clifftop fortress with views of the Gulf of Poets.

Sestri Levante

Best Beaches Near Milan for a Day Trip, How to Reach Them - sestre levante scaled
Sestre Levate by Wikipedia

Lying on the Mediterranean Sea, it is approximately 56 kilometres south of Genoa and is set on a cape. Some top locations in Sestri Levante include Spiaggia del Silenzio – a small bay beach with umbrellas for rent; Baia del Silenzio -a protected bay with a beach & boating; and Punta Manara – a peak with a hiking trail & water views.

Varigotti

Best Beaches Near Milan for a Day Trip, How to Reach Them - Varigotti
Varigotti by Ai Pozzi Village

Varigotti is a frazione of the comune of Finale Ligure, in Liguria. Some top spots in the comune include Saraceni Bay- a scenic area for beachgoers & sea views; Punta Crena Beach; and Spiaggia del Malpasso – a quieter beach for sunbathing.

For me, the best beaches near Milan are the ones you would find in the Liguria region. There are some lakes are little beaches in the Lake Maggiore area but they are not as pleasant as the ones you would find in Liguria.

My survival tip at the moment is to stay hydrated. I always have a bottle of aqua frizzante (sparkling water) on my desk to sip at intervals.

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