Italy’s 8 Most Beautiful Coastal Towns With MICHELIN-Level Hotels and Restaurants

Rome and Florence have their charm, but for a big part of the year life in Italy revolves around the coast — and luckily the options are as diverse as the country’s spectacular cuisine. From Liguria’s signature cheese-filled focaccia col formaggio and gamberi rossi to Amalfi’s scialatielli ai frutti di mare seafood pasta and Sorrento’s flaky, shell-shaped sfogliatelle pastries, Italy’s seaside towns are like a scene plucked out of Eat Pray Love. Whether you plan to island-hop to jet-set favorites like Capri or you’re looking for low-key luxury on the lesser-explored Tuscan coast, there’s an Italian escape suited to your style of travel. Here are the most gorgeous coastal towns in Italy — plus the MICHELIN-Guide approved hotels and restaurants to indulge in once you arrive.

Savor culinary artistry at Glicine, the One MICHELIN-Starred restaurant at Hotel Santa Caterina, where panoramic terraces overlook the Tyrrhenian Sea © Glicine

1. For a Road Trip to Remember: Amalfi, Amalfi Coast

With its pastel-hued homes spilling down to the sea and dramatic cliffs framing turquoise coves and unspoiled beaches, the 30-mile-long Amalfi Coast is a postcard-perfect vision of Italian summer. Cruising along the SS163 Amalfitana highway, which connects the string of coastal towns from Positano to Vietri sul Mare, near Sorrento, is the most popular way to explore the area, pausing midway in the namesake town. The former capital of a major maritime republic, Amalfi today is a different kind of hub — one for exploring the neighboring beaches and stylish cliffside towns like Positano.

At Hotel Santa Caterina (Two MICHELIN Keys), plunge pools are suspended over the Tyrrhenian Sea, and an elevator connects the property to the beach club below, where a saltwater pool is carved into the cliffside. The views are every bit as impressive from the panoramic veranda at the hotel’s One MICHELIN-Starred Glicine, as well as at nearby tasting-menu restaurant Sensi, housed in an opulent 18th-century palazzo.

L’Olivo, Capri Palace Jumeirah’s Two MICHELIN Star gem, pairs Mediterranean elegance with Anacapri’s stunning sea views © (L) Guido Fuà /L’Olivo / (R) Alberto Blasetti/L’Olivo

2. For a Slim Aarons-Inspired Stay: Anacapri, Capri

The glitzy island of Capri is one where you can see-and-be-seen and then retreat from the crowds in the surprisingly relaxed town of Anacapri. You’ll feel like you just stepped out of a shot by Slim Aarons — the American photographer famous for snapping jet-setting midcentury celebs at their most glamorous — when you hole up at Capri Palace Jumeirah. Hugging the hillside above the turquoise sea, the Two MICHELIN Key hotel is a design lover’s dream with its eggshell-colored rooms accentuated by subtle touches like handmade tile flooring and gauzy canopies draped over the beds.

The Two MICHELIN Star L’Olivo offers as much a reason to stay on-site as the swanky cliffside beach club. When you’re ready to venture out, take a seat on the terrace of Le Monzù, which overlooks Marina Piccola from its panoramic perch on the bay, a short stroll away from the island’s bustling central square, La Piazzetta. Here, Chef Antonio Pedana blends elements of Neapolitan and Caprese cuisine for tasting menus that highlight the best of the Mediterranean through dishes like caper-sprinkled risotto brightened by a simple squeeze of lemon.

At Otto Geleng, Taormina’s intimate MICHELIN-starred setting, Chef Roberto Toro reimagines Sicilian classics with views of Mount Etna and the Greek Theater © Belmond Courtesy / Otto Geleng

3. For Set-Jet Scenery: Taormina, Sicily

Once a must-visit stop on the 19th century Grand Tour of Europe, Sicily’s well-heeled cliffside town is as popular today for its medieval palaces and ancient Greek theater as its winding cobbled streets and hotels like San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel (Two MICHELIN Keys), which served as the backdrop for season two of The White Lotus. While set-jetters, who travel to famous filming locations, may flock to see the property in person, the 14th-century convent-turned-grand hotel has long been a destination in itself for everyone from Oscar Wilde to Audrey Hepburn.

Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina, which also holds Two MICHELIN Keys, is another spot that made a brief cameo in the acclaimed series. Its true claim to fame, however, is its history as the town’s first hotel, conveniently constructed near the Greek Theater, with views of Mount Etna’s foreboding peak visible from 16-seater Otto Geleng. There Chef Roberto Toro’s signature linguine with roasted pepper extract, shrimp and sesame shines as an example of a modernized twist on a Sicilian staple.

From La Minervetta’s nautical rooms to Gianni De Gennaro’s Il Buco, Sorrento pairs Bay of Naples views with refined Campanian flavors © (L) La Minervetta / (R) Gianni De Gennaro/Il Buco

4. For Cliffside Charm: Sorrento, Campania

Sorrento is often seen as a quick jumping-off point to explore the Amalfi Coast or island-hop over to Capri, but don’t discount the cliffside town hovering over the Bay of Naples. Considered Italy’s lemon capital, Sorrento’s groves spill down the hillside, perfuming the town with a subtle citrus scent — which is why the limoncello and gelato here are so fresh. From La Minervetta’s 12 nautical-striped rooms, you can peer out full-length windows over the bay and Mount Vesuvius — also on display from the rooftop pool of 19th-century stunner Bellevue Syrene 1820.

In stone-vaulted restaurant Il Buco, indulge in Campanian cuisine with spruced-up spins, like linguine with lemon-marinated scorpion fish, bottarga and dried tomatoes. Or take a seat on the panoramic terrace of Terrazza Bosquet, where you can sip regional wines stored in an ancient Roman cellar while watching the sun set over the sea.

Il Pellicano offers cliffside luxury, Mediterranean gardens, and Tyrrhenian Sea views © Il Pellicano

5. For Crowd-Free Beaches: Porto Ercole, Tuscan Coast

Despite sporting more than 4,500 miles of coastline, most summer travelers set their sights on only a handful of locales (Positano, we’re looking at you). Tuscany’s beaches feel like a well-kept secret with their crystal-clear water and low-key lidos.

For those in the know, Il Pellicano (One MICHELIN Key) has been the spot to slip away from it all — while still seeing and being seen — since the 1960s. Slim Aarons immortalized the region (and the hotel’s guests) in his photographs, and the cliffside spot suspended over the lounger-clad cove has hardly changed since. That’s the charm of Porto Ercole: The time-trapped town on the Monte Argentario peninsula is designed for days that revolve around long, late seaside lunches on the harbor or the veranda of nearby osterias like L’Oste Dispensa, where the menu is dictated by what fishers sourced that morning from the sea.

One secret Italians are less likely to share is the neighboring island of Giglio, fringed by white-sand beaches and crayon-colored harborside homes on prime display from La Guardia Hotel, where you can sip island-crafted wines alongside Tuscan-sourced fare and locally caught fish.

Frades La Terrazza’s Sardinian flavors meet Hotel Cala di Volpe’s iconic luxury on Costa Smeralda © (L) Tiziano Canu Frades/La Terrazza / (R) Hotel Cala Di Volpe

6. For Timeless Glamour: Costa Smeralda, Sardinia

Prince Karim Aga Khan IV can be credited with giving this sliver of powdery white shores its jet-set reputation, which the Costa Smeralda, or Emerald Coast, has held tightly to since the 1960s. Part of the reason the ritzy region became a sought-after destination is the sprawling Hotel Cala Di Volpe, designed to feel like a fishing village (albeit one where the boats are of the yachting variety) unfolding along the jewel-toned bay. With their whitewashed walls and trompe-l’oeil paintings, rooms embrace the island’s natural feel while spotlighting Sardinia’s artistic heritage.

For something on the more rustic side, check into Cascioni Eco Retreat (One MICHELIN Key), a former farmhouse converted into suites that open to private plunge pools and a spa with treatments inspired by Sardinian flora, local olive oil and sea salt. From its terrace suspended over Cala di Volpe bay, Frades La Terrazza shows off one of the best views of Sardinia’s coastline, complemented by the selection of tapas and local cheese and charcuterie boards.

The portside Italo Bassi Confusion Restaurant (One MICHELIN Star) also weaves local ingredients into its sophisticated plates that pair perfectly with a refined setting that’s dripping in marble and touches of gold.

Discover Puglia’s heritage with modern Italian dining © (L) Borgo Egnazia / (R) Brainpull/Pashà

7. For Showstopping Sea Views: Polignano a Mare, Puglia

Once you check into Borgo Egnazia, it’ll be hard to pull yourself away from the Apulian village-inspired resort, where everything from the design to the cuisine is executed to perfection. Vair is no ordinary spa — instead, you’ll be guided on a customized journey with therapist-artists and musicians leading the way.

The Cala Masciola beach club is just as elevated an experience, revolving around raw seafood sourced from local fishers — but if you’re after a more modern approach to Apulian cuisine, make your way to Pashà in seaside Polignano a Mare. The charm here extends from the jade-toned beach, tucked between two cliffs, to the whitewashed old town’s winding streets and panoramic terraces draped over the Adriatic.

Nearby in Monopoli, Chef Domenico Ungaro also pays homage to the sea at Radimare with simply prepared plates like pink prawn with watermelon and gazpacho sorbet and scampi with almond cream and fennel.

Savor the Dolce Vita in Portofino, Liguria – stunning seaside views, luxury dining, and timeless Italian charm await © (L) Splendido Mare, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino / (R) Benedetta Bassanelli/Da Vittorio

8. For Dolce Vita Vibes: Portofino, Liguria

Considered the crown jewel of crescent-shaped Liguria, Portofino’s sunset-colored buildings and high-end boutiques have made it one of the most popular seaside towns on the Italian Riviera. Our Inspectors say sister hotels Splendido Mare, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino and Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino are “la dolce vita in two ways.”

As its name suggests, Splendido Mare spills out onto the central, cobblestoned piazzetta, with private terraces overlooking the harbor. Cruise the coast and Cinque Terre in a traditional wooden gozzo, or fishing boat, or bask on a lounger on the nearby Bay of Paraggi that exudes retro, The Talented Mr. Ripley vibes. Splendido, meanwhile, has a history dating back to Benedictine monks in the 16th century, although its most recent reiteration is credited to modern maximalist Martin Brudnizki.

When you need a break from the iconic saltwater pool where silver-screen stars once brushed elbows, unwind in the flower gardens at Italy’s first Dior Spa. At the harborside DaV Mare, dine on freshly sourced seafood spotlighting the best of Liguria (Monterosso anchovies, Santa Margherita prawns) from the Cerea family, the same culinary royalty behind three-starred Da Vittorio near Bergamo, in the Lombardy region.

Written by
Lane Nieset

Lane is a MICHELIN Guide contributor. Originally from South Florida, she’s been based in France for almost a decade and calls Paris her home. A food, travel and wine journalist, Lane contributes to Vogue US, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Forbes and others.