Thanks for coming back. We really appreciate you visiting Top Travel Content Europe. Need RSS?
Viareggio is one of the most popular beaches in Tuscany due to its proximity to Florence. However it’s not recommended as it becomes very busy, the water quality is dubious and there can be jellyfish. Maybe better to show off the body beautiful adorned in designer swimwear than actually have a dip in the sea.
Viareggio Beach, Tuscany by see.lauren
It can be a pretty pricey affair as well, with the beach bathing establishment entrance fee, loungers and umbrellas costing up to 70 euros for two people. Which brings me on to one of my pet hates, all these private beaches in Italy. It’s just too structured and expensive for my liking.
What do you think? Do you prefer to pay to have the facilities on hand and hopefully keep out the riffraff or do you agree with me that beaches should have public access, hopefully still with some basic facilities, (such as toilets and showers) provided by the local council?
7 responses so far ↓
1 Jack - eyeflare travel // Jul 2, 2009 at 5:11 am
Beaches should be free.
There is absolutely no way I’d go on a beach holiday and be prepared to spend even more money by getting access to some sand, and Italy really hurts itself by charging like this.
In this example, for me and my wife, we’d end up spending as much per day on beach access as we do for the hotel room… Ridiculous!
2 Karen Bryan // Jul 2, 2009 at 11:52 am
Jack – what you say about a hotel for two costing less than a bathing establishment is true as most of our rooms in Italy last May cost under 65 euro per night, including breakfast.
Overall I do find Italy quite expensive and that deterred us from going there again this Spring, much as I love Italy.
3 jessiev // Jul 2, 2009 at 1:00 pm
no way. i’d spend that money and go somewhere else, off the beaten path, where people are there to enjoy the beach and nature (and not so much people-watching). i am still surprised they can get away with this!
4 Karen Bryan // Jul 2, 2009 at 1:10 pm
jessie – I agree I’d rather go somewhere more natural and free. I suppose if no-one were willing to pay the fee paying bathing establishments wouldn’t still be operational?
5 Heather on her travels // Jul 2, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I think that it’s fair enough to pay something if sunbeds, showers and toilets are provided, and that’s probably just what you need if you have children, but €70 is just ridiculous.
6 Elba: The perfect Italian island beach destination // Jul 16, 2009 at 12:56 am
[...] at reasonable prices, unlike resorts such as Viareggio on the Tuscan Coast where you can pay up to 35 euro per person for entrance and beach [...]
7 Craig Martin // Jul 19, 2009 at 4:02 pm
I really can’t imagine paying ANYTHING to lie on a beach. Madness.
Leave a Comment