Italy has introduced mandatory booking systems for some of its most popular beaches this summer in an effort to combat overtourism. From Sardinia to Lampedusa, beaches are capping the number of visitors allowed at a single time, with many requiring advance reservations online. The system aims to reduce overcrowding and environmental pressure.
How the Booking System Works
Visitors must go to their chosen beach's local website to book a spot online. Many systems provide a QR code to present upon arrival, so travelers are advised to ensure their phones are charged. Some beaches require booking 48 hours in advance, while others allow same-day reservations. Slots are snapped up quickly, so planning ahead is essential.
For example, La Pelosa beach in Sardinia, known for its white sand and shallow waters, caps visitors at 1,500 and charges €3.50 (£2.99) to enter. As of mid-July, it is fully booked until September 15. Similarly, Cala Goloritzé, a UNESCO-protected beach requiring a 90-minute trek, allows only 250 visitors per day and costs €7 (£6). It has no available slots for the rest of July or early August.
Time Slots and Additional Restrictions
Some beaches also enforce time slots. Spiaggia dei Conigli on Lampedusa, a cove-style beach that won the 2013 Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award, operates two sessions: morning and afternoon, each allowing 550 people.
Why These Measures Are Necessary
Italy welcomes over 185 million tourists annually, making it one of the top five most visited countries globally. In the first quarter of 2026, the country recorded approximately 71.6 million tourist arrivals, a 16% increase compared to the same period in 2025.
Daniele Silvetti, the mayor of Ancona, told The Times that beach capping and booking are 'inevitable' to save beaches. 'If you want to save these beaches and avoid closing them to the public you have got to cap the number of visitors,' he said.
Sebastiano Venneri, a tourism official with Italy's Legambiente environmental group, said the reservation scheme aims to encourage travel during shoulder seasons. 'Something has to be done since the number of tourists globally is jumping from one billion in 2000 to an expected two billion in 2030,' he told The Times. Referring to La Pelosa beach, he added: 'The Pelosa beach in Sardinia risks vanishing just by virtue of visitors removing sand on their towels.'
Sardinian regional official Pierpaolo Fois warned that the 'coast is facing the same kind of problem as Italy's Dolomite mountains. You get to the top of a mountain to find peace and nature and all you find is other people.'
The Broader Debate on Beach Access
The booking systems come amid a wider debate over beach privatization in Italy. Private beach clubs, known as 'stabilimento,' charge fees for sunbeds, umbrellas, food, and drinks. Their numbers have risen by 12% in recent years, sparking protests from locals demanding free public access.
Antonio Decaro, the Governor of Puglia, recently called for tourists and locals to be allowed to bring their own food and drinks to beaches, highlighting tensions between public access and private clubs.
Tamar Miller, founder of Italy Awaits Travel, noted that post-Covid, Italy has been 'bombarded with tourists,' and 'what was once considered off the beaten path is now the new trend.' She cited Puglia as an example, which 'is now a Mecca for Italian tourism, but because of its location, was historically not as frequented as other destinations like the Amalfi Coast. Its charming beaches are now being capitalised on by business owners.'
Famous Italian Beaches with Booking Systems
- La Pelosa — Sardinia
- Cala Brandinchi and Lu Impostu — Sardinia
- Cala Goloritzé — Sardinia
- Cala Violina — Tuscany
- Spiaggia dei Conigli — Lampedusa
- Baia del Silenzio — Italian Riviera
- Due Sorelle — Ancona (protected, accessible only by sea; ferry and beach must be booked in advance)
