Italy's beaches are changing: Entrance fees and visitor limits are looming!

Italy's beaches are changing: Entrance fees and visitor limits are looming!

Holidays in Italy are very popular with German travelers, but mass tourism is increasingly putting a strain on the popular seaside resorts. Residents complain about overcrowding, which noticeably affects the holiday experience. Municipalities are responding to this with strict regulations on access to beaches. Fewer and fewer parts of the coast are free and freely accessible; many are now in private hands or are subject to visitor limits in order to minimize the excessive impact on nature.

In Sardinia in particular, bathers now have to make reservations via an app to access beaches. From July 2025, access to the popular Tuerredda beach in Teulada will cost one to two euros. A maximum of 1,100 people are allowed to stay here every day, divided into 371 at the beach and 729 at the free beach. Once this limit is reached, bathers have to choose another beach, which complicates the situation for many vacationers.

New regulations and visitor limits

A large number of beaches in Italy have now introduced similar regulations. Beaches such as Cala dei Gabbiani, Cala Biriala, Cala Goloritzè, Cala Sisine, Santa Maria Navarrese and La Pelosa are particularly affected. The introduction of beach fees has already sparked criticism and protests among locals. The “Free Sea” initiative in Naples is calling for unrestricted access to the beaches.

2023 could be a record year for travel in Italy, putting additional strain on popular holiday destinations. Municipalities such as Baunei in Sardinia have already taken measures to limit the number of visitors. In Cala dei Gabbiani and Cala Biriala, only 300 people are allowed per day, while in Cala Goloritzè a maximum of 250 visitors are allowed access daily, combined with an entry fee of 6 euros. Up to 700 bathers are allowed to enter Cala Mariolu per day.

Fees and their use

Beachgoers are encouraged to reserve their spot 72 hours in advance via the Cuore di Sardegna app. Fees can be paid both online and in cash at the entrance to Cala Goloritzè. The income from these fees goes towards financing parking spaces, surveillance systems and maintenance measures. Similar regulations also exist on the Spaggia della Pelosa beach, where only mats have been allowed since 2021 and violators face fines of up to 100 euros.

Visitor limits are also currently being introduced in Sicily, for example at the Isola dei Conigli, where in future 350 visitors per morning and afternoon will have access for a fee of 2 euros. This measure is intended to protect the loggerhead sea turtles that nest on these beaches.