Italian beaches have turned into a luxury for the rich, and a simple day in the sun now costs as much as a dinner at a restaurant! Forget cheap seaside fun — renting a sunbed and umbrella at commercial beaches, known as stabilimenti balneari, has skyrocketed to a dizzying 30 to 40 euros per day. Before the pandemic, a basic set cost less than 10 euros, but inflation has done its damage, and consumer protection groups are sounding the alarm. The most expensive sunbeds are in Alassio, Liguria, where a weekly rental of a front-row sunbed reaches astronomical prices, while average prices in other popular destinations like Sardinia and Tuscany range from 20 to 30 euros per week.
But wait, there’s more! Costs don’t stop at the rental. Showers, toilets, changing cabins, and even children’s play areas are charged extra. A day at the beach can easily exceed 55 euros. And if you thought you could cool off for free, forget it — wild beaches where swimming is free are a rare find, like Capocotta near Rome, which offers no infrastructure or amenities, just untouched nature.
Around 30 million Italians and countless tourists, including Austrians, plan to hit the sea this summer, but many young people and those on smaller budgets are left out because they simply can’t afford these prices. Inflation has hit vacations hard, and commercial beaches have become a symbol of luxury, not a place for everyone to relax. Is this the end of affordable holidays on the Italian coast? Or just the start of a new era where the sea is reserved only for those with deep pockets?
If you’ve already planned a trip to Italy, get ready to pay even for the air you breathe on the beach! What do you think about these prices? Is this normal, or is it time to take the beaches back for the people? Drop a comment, maybe together we can figure out how to survive summer without going broke!
