Beaches

Best Family Beaches in Abruzzo

Abruzzo's best beaches for families, from the shallow sand and rose gardens of Roseto degli Abruzzi to the cycling-path stretches of Lido Riccio and Silvi Marina, plus resort-ready Giulianova, Tortoreto Lido and Francavilla al Mare.

Abruzzo's Adriatic coast is mostly gently shelving sand, which makes it an easier match for families than some of Italy's steeper, rockier coastlines. The beaches below share a few things in common: wide sandy stretches with room to spread out, shallow water close to shore, and enough beach clubs (stabilimenti) nearby for sunbeds, showers and a lifeguard on duty in season. None of these require a long detour off the coast road, and most sit within walking distance of a historic old town or a seafront promenade, so there's somewhere to go once the kids are done building sandcastles.

Roseto degli Abruzzi

Nicknamed the Lido delle Rose, this wide Blue Flag beach on the Teramo coast is backed by rose gardens rather than traffic, and its shallow, gradually deepening water is about as reassuring as Abruzzo's coast gets for small children. - Best for: families with toddlers who need a long, shallow shelf to paddle in. - Good to know: the beach has held Blue Flag status continuously since 1999, and several concessions run dedicated children's play areas.

Giulianova

A wide golden-sand Blue Flag beach with a Renaissance old town at its back and a palm-lined seafront in front, Giulianova has enough beach clubs to make sunbeds and shade easy to find without booking ahead. - Best for: families who want Green Flag-rated, paediatrician-endorsed facilities. - Good to know: several concessions hold Italy's Green Flag designation for child-friendly beaches, on top of the town's Blue Flag status.

Lido Riccio (Ortona)

This long stretch of golden sand below Ortona's cliffs is one of the flattest, most family-friendly beaches on the Costa dei Trabocchi, with a cycling path running along the back for scooting between the beach and gelato. - Best for: families who want proper sand rather than the pebble coves further south on this coast. - Good to know: the cycle path follows an old railway line, making it flat and safe enough for kids to ride themselves.

Silvi Marina

Seven kilometres of fine golden sand give Silvi Marina room to spread a family's worth of towels without crowding, and the clifftop old town of Silvi Alta is a short, shaded detour if the kids need a break from the sun. - Best for: larger families or groups who want space without fighting for a spot. - Good to know: the beach's length means the free public stretches at either end are usually less crowded than the middle.

Tortoreto Lido

A wide sandy beach on the Riviera delle Palme, with a medieval hilltop old town rising behind it and enough resort infrastructure — playgrounds, gelaterie, beach clubs — to fill a full family day. - Best for: families staying multiple days who want a reliable resort routine. - Good to know: the seafront cycle path connects directly to Alba Adriatica and Giulianova for easy day trips.

Francavilla al Mare

Abruzzo's oldest seaside resort has had well over a century to get family facilities right: 8km of fine sand, a lively palm-lined promenade, and enough beach clubs that a sunbed is rarely hard to find. - Best for: families who want a full-service resort town with plenty to do off the sand too. - Good to know: book a beach concession ahead for July-August weekends, since the most convenient sunbed spots go quickly.

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