Laghi Alimini
A long sandy beach north of Otranto where two coastal lakes meet the sea and the pine forest.
Overview
Laghi Alimini is a roughly 2 km sandy beach about 10 km north of Otranto, backed by pine forest and named for the two lakes just behind it - the saltwater Alimini Grande and freshwater Alimini Piccolo. It's known for shallow, clear water and for being one of Salento's best spots for windsurfing, kayaking and canoeing. The mix of long beach, lakes and pine forest makes it a good base for an active day rather than just swimming.
Good for
Public access
Free public sand runs alongside beach clubs along the 2 km stretch, with multiple access points from the pine-forest car parks.
Beach clubs available: Yes — sunbeds and umbrellas can usually be rented in season.
Several beach clubs operate along the stretch, renting sunbeds and umbrellas alongside free public sections; paid parking often bundles with club access.
How to get there
By train: There's no direct train station at Laghi Alimini; the nearest is in Otranto or Lecce, both requiring a car, taxi or bus for the rest of the way.
By bus: Seasonal buses connect Otranto and Lecce with the Alimini area in summer.
Parking: By car: From Otranto, follow the coastal road north for around 10 km (5-10 minutes); from Lecce, it's about half an hour. Several guarded paid car parks line the pine forest, generally around €5, with higher rates if bundled with beach-club sunbeds and umbrellas.
On foot: From the pine-forest car parks, it's a short walk to the sand; a scenic path connects the Alimini Grande and Alimini Piccola sections.
Facilities
Practical tips
More about Laghi Alimini
Laghi Alimini takes its name from the twin lakes tucked behind the dunes and pine forest: Alimini Grande, a saltwater lake connected to the sea and well suited to canoeing and kayaking, and Alimini Piccolo, a freshwater lake rich in birdlife and popular with birdwatchers spotting herons, egrets and cormorants. The beach itself runs for around 2 km, split into the Alimini Grande and Alimini Piccola sections and connected by a scenic path. The sand is fine, the water shallow and clear, and the combination of open sea, sheltered lake and pine forest has made this stretch of coast a genuine hub for windsurfing and other water sports - it's sometimes called the "kingdom of surfers" locally. Facilities are well developed for a natural setting: lifeguards, cafes, showers, sunbed and umbrella rental, toilets and pet-friendly sections, with grocery stores, bars and restaurants nearby. Parking is in guarded paid car parks along the pine forest, some shaded, generally costing around €5, or more if paired with beach-club sunbeds and umbrellas. The lakes and pine forest also offer hiking, biking and horseback riding trails beyond the beach itself. Laghi Alimini suits an active beach day - swimming, paddling, birdwatching or a walk through the pines - more than a purely lie-on-the-sand visit, and it's one of the longer, more spacious beaches on this part of the Adriatic coast.
Location
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