Looking for the best beaches in Milan? You’ve come to the right place!
In this article I have outlined all of the best beaches near Milan, Italy. But I’m going to start with a spoiler alert; there aren’t actually any beaches in Milan.
Milan is a land-locked city, with no beaches directly lapping up on its shores. That said, there are a lot of beaches near Milan that you can easily reach for a day trip or weekend.
In this article I have included all of the best beaches near Milan, including details on how far they are, how long it takes to get there, what’s special about them, what to do and much more!
So what are you waiting for? Let’s dive in and discover the best beaches near Milan!
How to get to these Milan beaches
Milan is one of the easiest cities to base yourself to then explore Italy. From Milan you can easily travel to these beautiful beaches by train, plane or car.
The best way to get to each beach will ultimately depend on the beach destination you choose to visit.
For example the easiest way to get to Lake Como is by train, so that you don’t have to worry about parking, whilst for Sardinia you’ll have to travel via plane.
I usually recommend spending at least one day in Milan (but two days in Milan would be better) to see all the highlights.
However, if you’re planning on visiting these beautiful beaches, you’ll have to extend your Italy itinerary, so that you can experience both beach life and city life and tick off more sights from your Italy bucket list.
For each beach destinations I have included the best transport mode to get there, and how far it is in both distance and time to get there.
Best beaches near Milan
Lake Como
The glitter and glamour of Lake Como makes for the ideal day trip from Milan.
There are tons of cute beaches along the shores of the lake, so those on the search for the best beaches near Milan should consider a trip here.
By train, the journey takes just 48 minutes to cover the 39 kilometres between the city and the shores of the lake. There are many cities close to Milan by train, but Como is one of the most beautiful ones.
The best beaches here are Spiaggia di Lierna (the closest beach to Milan) and the Lido in Varenna. Here you can expect to find clear blue waters, picturesque towns and stunning mountain scenery.
You can visit on a day trip, but if you can stay in Lake Como and spend at least three days in Lake Como, that would be even better.
It would even give you time for a boat tour of Lake Como, which often includes trips to several beaches.
Sestri Levante
Around two and a half hours from Milan by train (just under 190km), located just north of Cinque Terre, Sestri Levante is one of the best beach towns near Milan.
It forms one of a trio of beach towns in this region, and is located on a tiny peninsula with two palm-lined beaches to its name. Because of that it’s been dubbed “the city of two seas”.
It may not be the closest beach to Milan by train, but it’s an enchanting spot in its own right and is a good base for a long weekend exploring the Ligurian coastline.
Monterosso al Mare
Monterosso al Mare is the largest of all the villages of Cinque Terre.
Most people come here because it’s the only one of the five towns to have its own sandy beaches, which makes it a good place to head if you’re looking for beaches near Milan.
It’s not that near Milan though, taking around 4 hours to reach by train, but by car it’s easier (and quicker, taking 3 hours). Many travellers visit Cinque Terre on a day trip, but I suggest staying in Cinque Terre instead.
A 6 or 8 hour return trip in one day is just too long, it would be tiring without giving you enough time to enjoy these beautiful beaches. Stay for one or two nights, and enjoy the Cinque Terre region as a whole.
Besides the beautiful beaches, make sure to add some hiking to your Cinque Terre itinerary. The famous Sentiero Azzurro is a stunning coastal trail, and an amazing way to spend your time here.
La Spezia
La Spezia doesn’t have any actual beaches. However, it is the main hub and biggest train station in the area.
Because of this, it makes for a good place to base yourself for a spot of beach-hopping near Milan for a few days. For example, from here you can hit up Cinque Terre, Lerici or Porto Venere for a slice of sun, sea and sand.
My dad is from La Spezia, so I spent my fair share of time in this lovely seaside city. I used to visit both in winter and the summer months, and even though summer is obviously better beach weather, it’s still fun also out of season.
There’s a direct train between Milan and La Spezia, taking around three hours. If you’re driving, it’s slightly quicker to drive 223 kilometres between the two destinations, taking around 2 and a half hours to do so.
Finale Ligure
The home of some truly amazing beach holidays near Milan, Finale Ligure isn’t exactly that close to the northern city.
It takes around four hours to travel the 159 kilometres between the two destinations, so you might want to make a weekend of it.
But why not? The classic Italian beach destination of Finale Ligure has it all. Think beach clubs, places to eat, a wide crescent of fine sandy shoreline and clean water to splash around in.
There’s plenty of accommodation options here, too.
Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore is a two-hour train ride from Milan Central Station.
Once you’ve reached the sparkling waters of the lake – the second-largest in Italy – you’ll have a number of beaches (two of which are Blue Flag certified) at your disposal.
You’ll find pebble-strewn coves and sandy shores alike here. Regardless of whether you visit on a day trip from Milan, or end up spending longer here, Lago Maggiore is a must on any Italy itinerary.
Lake Garda
For more lake beach goodness, head to Lake Garda. Set around a two-hour drive from Milan, the famous lake is where you’ll find potentially the closest beaches to Milan by train.
It only takes 57 minutes by train to reach the shores of the lake.
But even though it’s close, you may want to stay here longer. From Spaggia Sabbioni in the northern part of the lake, to Jamaica Beach in the south, there are a whole load of coves and swimming holes to discover.
Santa Margherita Ligure
Possibly home to the best beach near Milan, Santa Margherita Ligure (112 kilometres away) is a picture-perfect spot close to Portofino. Actually, this lively coastal resort town has not just one, but several beaches to its name.
These vary from pebbly locales to sandy shorelines. One of the most beautiful beaches in the area here is Baia di Paraggi – a tranquil spot for swimming and sunbathing.
It takes around two and a half hours by train to get there, making it possible on a day trip even if you don’t have your own set of wheels.
I’ve been to Santa Margherita Ligure a few times, as it’s the popular beach destination for Milanese locals. Besides the pretty beach, you can expect to find a glamorous town centre, worthy of the Italian Riviera.
Forte dei Marmi
Just under a three-hour drive from Milan, Forte dei Marmi is 350 kilometres away from the Lombard capital. But getting there is worth it. This seaside town is famous for its beaches, which are some of the best near Milan.
Lapped by rolling waves, the public beach is strung with beach clubs, with a few private sections of the coast here if you feel like splashing out for a high end day out (or few days) by the sea.
Porto Venere
The additional sixth terra to the Cinque Terre (literally “Five Lands”), Porto Venere is a beautiful place to visit.
The village itself is colourful and features clear water, beaches and a rocky bay popular for diving and lounging around. The array of swimming spots here makes it a great place to hunt for beaches near Milan.
Note that it’s around 3 and a quarter hours to get here (165 kilometres away), so you may want to spend the night to make the trip worthwhile.
Sardinia
Definitely not feasible on a day trip, Sardinia is still close to Milan for beaches: it’s less than a one-hour flight to Olbia from Milan.
And internal flights from Milan to Sardinia can be pretty cheap out of season, although they tend to skyrocket in summer (especially August). Once you’re there, get ready to explore!
La Maddalena (also a national park) is a beautiful archipelago in the north, while there are a string of beautiful beaches and coves along the much-loved Golfo di Orosei on the east coast of the island.
Whether you want to go on a boat trip amongst crystal clear waters and some of the most popular beaches in Sardinia, or if you want to go kayaking below dramatic limestone cliffs, Sardinia can give you that. It’s a popular destination also for water sports.
In my opinion, the beaches of Sardinia are amongst the best beaches in the Mediterranean Sea, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that.
Sardinia is ideal for a weekend destination in Italy once you’re already in the country, with plenty of history to discover here alongside its gleaming coastal destinations.
Where to stay to visit these beaches near Milan
There are lots of cool places to stay in Milan. However, if you want to use it as base to explore beaches near Milan, you’re better off staying close to Milano Centrale, so that you can easily get outside of the city.
From here you can also easily get around Milan, so that you can explore a bit of Milan nightlife after your beach day trips.
Whatever your Italy travel budget, here are some cool places to stay that won’t break the bank.
Budget:Ostello Bello – There are two hostels of this chain around Milan and both are good budget options, with a lively atmosphere, spacious dorms and convenient central locations, perfect for exploring Milan by night!
Click here to book your stay at Ostello Bello in Milano!
Mid-range:Ibis Milano Centro – Part of the Ibis chain, this is a good mid-range hotel, with a guaranteed standard of room set up and a great central location.
Check out prices and availability for Ibis Milano Centro here!
Luxury:Galleria Vik Milano – If you’re looking to splurge a bit, this is the place to do so. Located in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, it couldn’t get any more central than this, with beautiful views over the galleria just outside your window.
Don’t miss out, book your stay at Galleria Vik Milano here!
Final thoughts on the best beaches in Italy near Milan
There you have it, the ultimate compilation of best Italian beaches near Milan! Have you been to any beaches near Milan before? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!
In Italy you will find some of the best summer beach destinations in the world, and many of them are within easy travel distance from Milan.
Obviously if you visit Milan in winter or at Christmas, you won’t be heading to the beach. But beyond Christmas, at any other time of year, these beaches are a great getaway from Milan.
Some people might suggest visiting also Sicily and the Amalfi Coast, and while these are without a doubt some of the top beaches and most beautiful villages in Italy, they’re not that close to Milan.
So what are you waiting for, add a swimsuit to your Italy packing list, and head to one of these beautiful beaches near Milan!