Best Beaches in Abruzzo: 5 Stretches of Coast You Need to See
June, 02nd 2023
Abruzzo has over 130 kilometres of Adriatic coastline. Here are the five beaches that earn their place on any list.
If you look closely at the logo of The City Next Door, you’ll notice the turquoise. It’s not a random choice. It represents exactly what Abruzzo is: the meeting point between the deep green of its mountains and the brilliant blue of its coast. A region where you can ski in the morning and swim in the afternoon, and where the beaches are, frankly, as good as anywhere in Italy.
Most people who discover Abruzzo come for the mountains. Then they find the coast. And then they wonder why no one told them sooner.
The Adriatic coast of Abruzzo stretches for mile after mile of clean, well-kept shoreline: sandy in the north, dramatically rocky and coved in the south, with windsurfing, diving, and sailing easily available throughout. In 2025, Abruzzo beaches were awarded 16 Blue Flags for water quality, a mark of distinction that covers three coastal provinces and even extends inland to the lakes of L’Aquila.
But the five beaches below are not the most famous. They’re the most worth it.
The Abruzzo Coast: Two Very Different Worlds
Before diving in, it helps to understand the geography, because the Abruzzo coast is not one thing.
North of Pescara, the coast is characterised by wide, sandy beaches popular with families and summer resort towns. South of Pescara, the landscape changes dramatically: rocky cliffs replace the sand, and the coastline breaks into small bays, coves, and hidden pebbly beaches ideal for snorkelling and diving.
This southern stretch is known as the Costa dei Trabocchi, named after the ancient wooden fishing platforms that rise from the sea like sentinels along the shore, their wires and ropes described by D’Annunzio as “colossal spiders” stretching into the water. Some of these trabocchi have been converted into restaurants, serving fresh Adriatic fish directly over the sea.
The five beaches below span both worlds, because the Abruzzo coast deserves to be seen in full.
5 of the Best Beaches in Abruzzo — The Ones We Know First Hand
Abruzzo has dozens of beautiful beaches. These are the five we know personally: the ones we’ve walked, swum in, and would recommend without hesitation.
1. Ripari di Giobbe
Ripari di Giobbe is not for everyone. And that, frankly, is exactly what makes it special.
The Ripari di Giobbe Nature Reserve consists of a narrow strip of rocky cliffs overlooking the sea, and getting to the beach requires descending 190 steps, which means you’ll also have to climb back up. The effort, as anyone who has made the journey will tell you, is richly rewarded.
The beach itself is composed of white pebbles, framed by cliffs, with water the colour of something you’d expect in Greece rather than central Italy. It’s part of the Costa dei Trabocchi and has been a protected natural reserve since 2007. If you want Abruzzo at its most raw and unspoiled, this is where you come.
A camping area and a restaurant are available nearby for those who want to make a day of it.
2. Punta Ferruccio
Just a few hundred metres south of Ripari di Giobbe lies Punta Ferruccio, a beach that most visitors never find, because most visitors don’t know to look.
A short path of approximately 500 metres leads down to the shore, where pebbles mix with sand along the waterline and the views back along the coast are genuinely panoramic. The water is clear and crystalline. There are no beach clubs, no sun loungers, no noise. Just the sea, the cliffs, and the kind of quiet that’s increasingly hard to find in Italy in summer.
It’s the perfect companion to Ripari di Giobbe. Do both in the same day and you’ll understand why the Costa dei Trabocchi has started appearing on international best-of lists.
3. Calata Turchino
The name says something. Turchino: deep turquoise. And the water here earns it.
Calata Turchino is a small beach of pebbles and sand, part of the Costa dei Trabocchi, named after the trabocco that stands just metres away. The waters are calm and shallow, not a place for waves and wild swimming, but for floating, contemplating, and watching the light change. It is not easily accessible, which keeps the crowds away.
Come at sunrise or sunset. This is one of those places where the quality of the light does something to you.
4. Torre di Cerrano
Moving north from the Costa dei Trabocchi, Torre di Cerrano offers something completely different, and equally unmissable.
Torre di Cerrano is within the first protected marine area established in Abruzzo, set up in 2010. Access to the beach runs through a surrounding pine forest, and the fine, light-coloured sand and shallow seabeds make it particularly popular with families. The beach is dominated by the Cerrano Tower itself, one of the most famous coastal towers in Abruzzo, an ancient watchtower of the Kingdom of Naples and one of the few to survive repeated Saracen attacks in the 17th century.
This is Abruzzo’s more accessible, more comfortable face: still natural and beautiful, but with the facilities to make a full day easy and relaxed.
5. Punta Aderci
There is a reason Punta Aderci appears on lists by The Telegraph, National Geographic, and every serious Italian environmental guide. It is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful beaches in Italy.
The Punta Aderci Nature Reserve, on the Vasto coast, is home to some of the most stunning unspoiled beaches in Abruzzo, including the pebble beach of Mottagrossa and Punta Penna, a wide sandy beach and one of the few places in Italy where you can watch both sunrise and sunset over the sea, with snow-capped mountains visible in the background.
The reserve is also a destination for active travellers, connected to the Adriatic Cycle Route, ideal for those seeking an experience between nature and outdoor activities, with canoeing, hiking, and guided bike tours available. For those wanting to stay longer, Camping Village Grotta del Saraceno is a great base, located adjacent to the Punta Aderci Nature Reserve, with a free shuttle service to the beach for guests.
And if you stand at the right point on the cliffs of Punta Aderci on a clear day, you can see La Maiella in the distance, watching over the coast. The mountains and the sea, together. That’s Abruzzo.
Which Beach Is Right for You?
| Best for | |
|---|---|
| Ripari di Giobbe | Wild, unspoiled, adventurous |
| Punta Ferruccio | Hidden, quiet, off the radar |
| Calata Turchino | Sunrises, sunsets, slow moments |
| Torre di Cerrano | Families, comfort, history |
| Punta Aderci | Everyone, don’t miss it |
When to Visit the Abruzzo Beaches
June and September are the sweet spots: warm water, fewer crowds, and a coast that breathes. July and August are peak season: lively, festive, and busy, especially at the more accessible beaches. If you want the wilder beaches like Ripari di Giobbe or Punta Ferruccio to yourself, a weekday morning in late September is your answer.
FAQ
What are the best beaches in Abruzzo?
In our experience, five beaches stand out along the Abruzzo coast: Ripari di Giobbe, Punta Ferruccio, Calata Turchino, Torre di Cerrano, and Punta Aderci. Each offers something different, from wild pebble coves to protected sandy shores. These are the ones we know personally and would recommend without hesitation.
Is Abruzzo good for beach holidays?
Absolutely. Abruzzo has over 130 kilometres of Adriatic coastline, with 16 Blue Flag beaches awarded in 2025. The north offers wide sandy beaches ideal for families, while the Costa dei Trabocchi in the south is one of the most dramatic and unspoiled stretches of coast in Italy.
What is the Costa dei Trabocchi?
The Costa dei Trabocchi is a 54-kilometre stretch of coastline between Ortona and Vasto, named after the ancient wooden fishing platforms, the trabocchi, that line the shore. Many have been converted into restaurants serving fresh Adriatic seafood directly over the water. It’s one of the most distinctive and beautiful coastal landscapes in Italy.
Practical information
- Getting there: The A14 motorway runs along the Adriatic coast. Most beaches require a car, as public transport to the wilder spots is limited.
- Best base: Vasto for the south (Costa dei Trabocchi and Punta Aderci), Pineto or Silvi for Torre di Cerrano in the north.
- Punta Aderci Nature Reserve: puntaderci.it
- Torre di Cerrano Marine Protected Area: torredelcerrano.it