Most Tourists Skip This Italian Beach Town — Italians Don’t

Most tourists skip Gaeta — but Italians don’t. Tucked along the coast between Rome and Naples, this stunning beach town is where locals go when they want beautiful water, incredible food, and a true summer escape without the international crowds.

Before our trip, we had barely heard of Gaeta. Now? It’s one of our favorite beach destinations in Italy. The beaches are wide and gorgeous, the resorts are surprisingly amazing, and the entire area feels authentic and relaxed instead of overrun with tourists.

In this guide, I’m sharing the best beaches in Gaeta, where to stay, and the top things to do so you can plan your own hidden gem Italian beach vacation. Trust me — this is one you’ll want on your itinerary

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Why Visit Gaeta, Italy

Like I said before, Gaeta Italy is not an international tourist site. You won’t find it in any guidebooks mainly because there is not a train station that connects this area to the main cities such as Rome and Naples.

We found that this is where the local Italians come to vacation. It is one of the best beaches near Rome.

Gaeta Italy Itinerary

There are so many reasons why you should visit Gaeta Italy. Let’s start with the fact that the beaches in Gaeta Italy are the best in the region.

There is also a beautiful town full of historical sites, amazing food, and the most friendly people you will ever meet.

Things to Do in Gaeta Italy

Visit 1 of the seven beaches
Explore historical sites in downtown Gaeta Italy
Try a local restaurant
Take a hike
Montagna Spaccata
Castello Angioino – Aragonese
Grotta del Turco
Riveria di Ulisse

Gaeta Italy Beaches

There are seven fabulous beaches located here. These beaches are the best beaches near Rome.

One of the best reasons to go to Gaeta is fewer crowds! The only exception to this is in August when locals and Italians from all over the country come for their summer holiday.

If you are looking to get out of Rome and Naples and cool off from the intense heat of the summer. You need to plan a Gaeta beach vacation.

More to Gaeta Italy

As a side note, Gaeta also has some amazing ancient ruins, historic museums, and a medieval castle. Seafood is the specialty so plan to include eating out.

Where is Gaeta Italy?

Gaeta is one of the southernmost cities in the Lazio region of Italy. It is a little over a two-hour drive from Rome to Gaeta and a little under a two-hour drive from Naples to Gaeta.

Best Time to Visit Gaeta Italy?

If you want to plan a visit to Gaeta Italy, the best time to enjoy outdoor beach activities is from June – to early September. We went in May and still loved it. The temperatures in the summer are around 87F as the highs.

How We Found Out About Gaeta Italy

We actually stopped by Gaeta because my husband’s family came to America from Gaeta, Italy. Our main purpose was to see if we could find any information for genealogy purposes.

Do You Love Genealogy?

We had a few genealogical clues that we were searching for. Manderino was the surname of my husband’s great-grandfather, but we knew he was adopted by a Simeon in the area.

Tour Cemeteries in Gaeta Italy

We planned to tour cemeteries in Gaeta and look for anyone that could be related.

We knew there had been a fire that destroyed many of the city records so we didn’t think that would be the best option plus, we do not speak Italian so reading records in another language would have been difficult.

When we arrived at the first cemetery it was locked. We headed to another one and found some Simeons but we weren’t sure if they were related to the family that adopted our ancestor.

Since we could not find any leads we decided to enjoy the area. We were not planning a Gaeta Italy beach vacation but ended up having one by surprise! What an amazing surprise it was!

We were shocked at how beautiful the area was and wondered why his ancestors ever left!

Plan a Gaeta Italy Beach Vacation

How Much Time Should I Spend In Gaeta Italy?

I would recommend a minimum of two days. There are seven beaches, resorts, and fun outdoor activities to do in this area.

It really depends on how much time you would like to spend at the beach. Locals like to spend the whole month of August in this area!

What Are the Best Hotels In Gaeta?

There are lots of resorts located in this area. Once again, we booked on Booking.com and really lucked out!

We stayed at the Grand Hotel Le Rocce. I was a little scared being so deep in Italy and not being able to speak the language but the hotel had staff who spoke English!

We also learned there were many resorts in Gaeta Italy, but only a select view will show up in US hotel search engines.

Staying In Gaeta Italy

This hotel was absolutely amazing. There is a private beach that only hotel guests have access to. We went in May and had the entire beach to ourselves. It is small, but it was perfect for us.

The pool was fabulous as well. The view from the pool overlooked the ocean. It was magical!

Our Experience at Le Rocce

To say this place was dreamy would be an understatement! I really do not know why my husband’s family left the area!

The grounds were fabulous. Everything was clean and well taken care of. The atmosphere was beyond anything we expected. This place screams romance!

The pool and beach areas are incredible. The rooms are nice and the breakfast is fantastic. I would recommend staying here if you are planning a Gaeta Italy beach vacation

Plan A Gaeta Italy Beach Vacation!

Not interested in a resort stay? No problem. There are seven beaches in Gaeta Italy.

Beaches in Gaeta Italy

The beaches in Gaeta, Italy are:

Serapo
Fontania
Quaranta Remi
Ariana, Arenauta
San Vito
Sant’Agostino.

Let’s explore all of them. I am sad I do not have images to match up with each beach but I can guarantee you that everything is beyond beautiful in this area!

1. Gaeta Serapo Beach

Serapo is the main beach of Gaeta Italy. This is a family-friendly beach. It is known for its golden sand.

From the shore, you can see the Serapo Ship which is a cliff side that resembles a ship. So beautiful!

2. Gaeta Fontania Beach

This beach is reachable from Serapo Beach by swimming or foot. What makes this beach unique is that there are two grottoes and one actually has a natural spring.

It is called Fontania for this reason. This is a great area to scuba dive and snorkel. There are lots of ecosystems and ruins under the water.

3. Gaeta Beach of 40 Remi

One of the things that are unique about this beach is it is only accessible by boat or swimming. Its name indicates how many row boat strokes it takes to get to the beach.

In this area, there are more grottoes and beautiful rock formations.

4. Gaeta Ariana Beach

The beach is very small and more often than not crowded. One of the main reasons is it is an award-winning beach for the clearest water.

It also has a cliff located nearby that blocks the wind. It is an ideal beach in the area.

5. Gaeta Arenauta Beach

Also known as the nude beach so be aware! It takes 300 steps down a steep staircase to access this beach.

6. Gaeta San Vito Beach

This is another family beach located very close to the Grand Hotel le Rocce.

7. Gaeta Bay of Sant’ Agostino Beach

The most frequented beach in Gaeta Italy is the Bay of Sant’ Agostino. One reason this area is very popular is that the red cliffs located on the beach are great for rock climbers.

More Things to Do in Gaeta Italy

A Gaeta beach vacation may be the highlight or your trip but there are lots of other fun things to see in the area.

Best Boat Tours in Gaeta

8. Castello- Angioino – Aragonese

Castello- Angioino – Aragonese Gaeta Italy

The Castello has been closed to the public for years but recently opened for tours. This castle has been used throughout history. Mostly as a jail.

During World War II the term “you are going to Gaeta” meant jail! This beautiful prison, military base, an now historic site is worth a visit. In fact, it is located on top of a hill which offers some of the best views in town.

You can also get a great view from a boat tour!

9. Montagna Spaccata

Montagna Spaccata is a beautiful split in the moutain. Many believe this mountain was split at the exact time of Christ’s crucifixion.

It is one of the most beautiful views in Gaeta. You can walk down but there is not access to the water. It is located next to the Grotta Del Turco.

10. Grotta Del Turco

The Grotta Del Turco is a grotto that ends in the sea. During the IX century, it was a perfect hiding place for pirates.

To gain access you have to walk down 300 steps to get to sea level. You will be able to see the beautiful greenish/turquoise water reflecting on the grotto walls.

It is not only beautiful but is a great area for free climbers.

11. Riveria Di Ulisse

Riveria di Ulisse is a National Park in Gatea. It is a coastal area with forested trails and mountain hikes. There are some ancient Roman ruins in the park as well.

It is a fantastic area to visit!

Best Things to Do In Gaeta Italy

Many boat rentals are available in the area. Specifically, a romantic boat ride on the ocean. Ocean sport equipment rentals are available as well as scuba diving and snorkel gear.

Biking and hiking tours around the beach are also an option of more things to do in Gaeta Italy.

Ready to Plan a Beach Vacation to Gaeta, Italy

Hopefully, this post gives you enough information to plan a trip to Gaeta Italy. I highly recommend taking the time to go to the beaches and explore this area.

Plan Your Italy Trip

If you are planning your one week in Italy and want to include as many cities as possible be sure to check out our other posts.

We started in Venice with a Romantic Venice getaway. Then we headed to Florence, Pisa and Lucca, and Siena. After visiting Tuscany, we headed to Gaeta, Naples, Capri, the Amalfi Coast, and Pompeii.

In addition, if you are looking for another reason to visit Italy or some great Safety Travel Tips for Italy before you go, we have you covered.

If you need help deciding which Italian souvenirs or want to get an Italian gift for someone, we have you covered.

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