Those who want to save money this summer without giving up the sea still have some options. According to a survey by Altroconsumo conducted on 222 establishments in ten coastal locations, the prices of Italian beaches in 2026 grew on average by 6% compared to the previous year, with a cumulative increase of 24% in the last five years. But not all destinations weigh on the wallet the same way.
The cheapest beach? Lignano Sabbiadoro
If you are looking for the Italian sea without spending a fortune, the destination to mark on your diary is Lignano Sabbiadoro, in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. With an average of 157 euros per week for a space in the first four rows, it is the most accessible location among those analysed. A significant figure, especially when compared with the 340 euros of Alassio, the most expensive destination in Italy.
The methodology of the investigation
The survey was conducted between April 20 and May 20, 2026, with anonymous telephone contacts to 222 establishments distributed across ten locations. For each destination, at least 20% of the beaches present were monitored, with a minimum of ten structures per area. The reference parameter is the average weekly rate in the first four rows of umbrellas.
The complete ranking, from cheapest to most expensive
- Lignano Sabbiadoro (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) — €157
- Rimini (Emilia-Romagna) — €158
- Senigallia (Marche) — €159
- Anzio (Lazio) — €179
- Palinuro (Campania) — €188
- Viareggio (Tuscany) — €232
- Taormina and Giardini Naxos (Sicily) — €237
- Alghero (Sardinia) — €274
- Gallipoli (Puglia) — €324
- Alassio (Liguria) — €340
In terms of individual rows, the first costs on average 238 euros per week, the second 229, the third 219, from the fourth onwards 210.
Free beaches: few, but something is moving
For many families, the equipped beach is now out of reach, but the free beach is not always a viable solution: the free beaches are progressively reduced in favor of concession areas. The Ligurian municipality of Spotorno is an exception, which has increased the share of free beaches, guaranteeing cleaning, rescue, showers and toilets at no additional cost.
What Italians want
A survey conducted between 27 and 30 April 2026 on a sample of 1,058 people photographed a divided audience: 37% prefer equipped establishments, 35% free beaches, over a quarter say they are open to both solutions. Those who choose the private beach do so mainly for comfort (80% of cases). Those who opt for the free beach do so for economic reasons (79%) or for the freedom to change places every day (63%).
The crux of concessions
The political background remains that of beach concessions. Among those familiar with the debate, 63% believe that a reform should result in a reduction in tariffs, and one in two consumers considers a periodic change in factory management to be no longer postponable. Altroconsumo reports a structural imbalance: the fees paid to the State by concessionaires are often low, while the rates passed on to tourists continue to rise. The organization has launched a national petition – already over 91,000 signatures – which calls for transparent and periodic tenders, a cap on the concessions that can be released and an increase in free access beaches.
