While some of the best resorts in Tuscany sit inland in the romantic rolling hills of Northern Italy, other great hotels can actually be found on the coastline, by glorious beaches and offering so much more to do than simply sampling wine (although you can do this too!).
In this review, we pick the best beach hotels in Tuscany where you can have it all, sunshine, sand, sea, wine and Italian flamboyance.
1. A Point Porto Ercole Resort & SPA, Toscana, Italy
Set in one of the most stunning marine villages in Italy, A Point Porto Ercole Resort & SPA (pictured above) is a modern 5-star hotel and an idyllic location for holidays in the Argentario area.
Porto Ercole Resort & Spa 5-star hotel is just 1 km or 5 minutes by car, from Porto Ercole, a picturesque little port overlooked by sixteenth-century FortiSpagnoli (Spanish Forts) used to deter pirates. It is one of the best spa resorts near Rome.
The hotel features 65 spacious, comfortable rooms, including 4 huge suites that are spread over two floors which incorporate a magnificent balcony, spiral staircase and two bathrooms; one of which comes complete with Jacuzzi. There is a magnificent rooftop swimming pool with far-reaching views across Porto Ercole, perfect for a morning dip.
One of the highlights of this superb resort has to be the spectacular 300 sqm. Spa and Wellness centre which includes a Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, sensory showers and an indoor hydro-massage pool, small fitness centre and Jacuzzi. The exceptionally friendly staff will help you choose from an extensive range of treatments, perfect for total relaxation and regeneration of body and mind.
In terms of dining, the panoramic Tantoforte Restaurant combines the flavours of International and Tuscan culinary tradition whilst its modern and refined design is complemented by splendid views of the Forte Filippo fortress and the surrounding hills and the beaches of the Feniglia, making it a treat for the eyes as well as for the palate!
One “must do” highlight is a ferry trip to Isola Del Giglio, a beautiful island in the clear blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea, that is considered one of the seven jewels of the Tuscan Archipelago. Here, picturesque coves and little sandy bays are washed by the crystal clear emerald-green sea, which surrounds the island. Granite rocks shaped by the wind give away to green pine forests, which you can stroll through on coastal paths surrounded by Mediterranean scrub and offering views out to sea.
A Point Porto Ercole Resort & Spa is up there with the best; with its stunning location, excellent service and outstanding facilities, this resort is simply captivating and is sure to see you returning time and again.
2. Poggio ai Santi
Poggio ai Santi is located in Livorno, this family-owned farmhouse hotel is among the best along the Tuscan coastline. It also has one of the most outstanding restaurants in the region. With beautiful gardens, terraces and a dreamy 19th-century main house surrounded by modern buildings which are set among roses, this is the perfect Tuscan retreat.
Take breakfast on the magnificent terrace with its gorgeous sea views. Sleep in an Asian-chic bedroom and enjoy luxurious bathrooms. Parquet-floored suites have magnificent terraces and wardrobes opening to mini-kitchens. This is a wonderful hotel to sit and contemplate while looking across the sea to the Isle of Elba.
3. Torre di Baratti
This small hideaway in Livorno has the ruins of an ancient watchtower as its centrepiece and from here, pathways lead to the sea below. Torre di Baratti is situated in the enchanting Gulf of Baratti, in a wonderful, panoramic location by the sea.
Baratti and Populonia have so much to offer in terms of both history and culture. Torre di Baratti is a private Bio Resort where modern comfort meets a classic, elegant Italian style. Split across three levels, the resort is composed of three suites, two twin room apartments and an apartment suite located in the old tower with a stunningly beautiful sea view. The resort also boasts a private terrace with sea view, private parking, outside dining area, breakfast room and restaurant, sunbeds and a maze of private pathways through olive groves.
Rooms are historic but beautifully modernised, and still offer lots of original features, but the highlight is probably the private path from the estate that leads to a wonderful rocky beach, where our guests can enjoy swimming and admire the stunning beauty of the Gulf of Baratti.
4. Grand Hotel Palazzo Livorno- MGallery by Sofitel
Set on the waterfront, Grand Hotel Palazzo offers panoramic sea views from both of its restaurants and rooftop pool. This grand hotel epitomizes the glamor of Italy’s golden years, when the Tuscan coast attracted members of high society from all over the world and hotels were built like royal palaces.
The Grand Hotel Palazzo MGallery by Sofitel enjoys a privileged location on the outskirts of Livorno, just a stone’s throw from the picturesque Terrazza Mascagni, a charming and famous meeting place in the city.
The majestic facade of this historic 5-star hotel invites you to discover its splendid interior. After settling into your elegant room or suite, explore the halls and corridors that have welcomed many aristocratic and celebrity guests over the years. From the hotel’s rooftop terrace, you can soak up panoramic views of Livorno and the sea, while you take a dip in the pool or enjoy a drink at the bar.
5. Hotel Plaza E De Russie
Situated in the heart of Viareggio’s seaside Art Nouveau district, Hotel Plaza e de Russie is a sophisticated 5-star design hotel affiliated with Relais & Chateaux. For over a century, it served as a refuge for prominent figures from the worlds of culture and high society, from Rilke to Toscanini, in the glorious tradition of luxury hôtellerie.
The hotel has now been completely redesigned, from the charming lobby to the trendy Michelin-starred restaurant and on to the luxurious elegance of the hotel’s 44 rooms and suites. With impeccable service that anticipates your every need, here you will experience the pleasure of living in an era that was steeped in both sophistication and welcoming ambience.
6. Grand Hotel Principe Di Piemonte
Grand Hotel Principe Di Piemonte is a prestigious Art Deco hotel in the heart the coastal resort of Viareggio, just 12 miles from Pisa. The hotel actually sits right on the sea front on Viareggio’s promenade, making it perfectly located for an evening stroll.
An impressive 1920’s façade, fronts five floors of themed accommodation with a 2 Michelin-starred restaurant, two bars and a stunning panoramic rooftop bar beside a heated outdoor pool.
Each one of the five floors has rooms in contrasting décor from International which is styled on 18th-century Paris, to Art Deco, Colonial with Indian Influences, Empire and Modern. All the rooms have views over the Apuan Alps or the Tyrrhenian Sea and beautiful marble bathrooms.
Enjoy gourmet cuisine at Il Piccolo Principe, inside or on the sea-view veranda. Visit the Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte’s wellness centre, an oasis of aromas, colours and music, and indulge in a moisturizing honey massage.
7. Argentario Golf Resort & Spa
Located in Maremma, a beautiful but still-unexplored part of Southern Tuscany, you’ll find the stunning Argentario Golf Resort & Spa; a 5-star resort with striking metropolitan design, an 18-hole golf course, a huge wellness centre and a gourmet restaurant. The resort lies 90 minutes away from Rome’s Fiumicino airport and more importantly, just minutes from the sea.
The resort is surrounded by cork-oak woods and centuries-old olive trees and set on sprawling greens. There are 73 guest rooms and suites as well as a cottage; the décor is minimalist with a glamorous feel and all rooms have heavenly terraces with incredible views of the golf course. Suites are worth the upgrade; they add sittings areas and some also include whirlpool tubs too; plus, the décor in the Suites is divine and totally Instagram-worthy!
The aesthetically-pleasing golf course is designed by former European Tour player Baldovino Dassù and architect David Mezzacane and features 18 panoramic holes for a total of 6,218 metres and par 71. When you’re not golfing, you can relax in the outdoor pools or book a treatment at the vast 2,700m² Espace Wellness Center, which includes a hi-tech fitness centre and heated indoor swimming pool; if you’re feeling active, there are also three tennis courts, a football field and jogging trails. The hotel embraces its location at meal times; their gourmet restaurant, Dama Dama, serves delectable, wholesome Tuscan cuisine using fresh produce grown on-site or on local farms.
8. Il Pellicano
Set on a cliff top in Porto Ercole, on the Monte Argentario Peninsula, the luxurious Il Pellicano offers a private rocky beach, a swimming pool and a Michelin-starred restaurant.
The preferred get-away of the icons of the golden age of cinema, Hotel Il Pellicano sparkles with timeless glamour, evoking the flair of La Dolce Vita. Magical views, romantic history and soulful staff come together in an atmosphere of understated luxury to make you feel like at home. Located among the peace and tranquility of Italy’s Argentario coast, the hotel offers an exclusive selection of suites and rooms located in either the villas or the main building.
From spectacular sea views over the Tuscan archipelago, to the tranquility of lush gardens through to sophisticated interiors, Hotel Il Pellicano will enchant you, whichever room you choose.
9. Hotel Ilio
The Boutique Hotel Ilio in Capo Sant’Andrea on Elba has charm and an unmistakable personality. It is located on a beautiful bay on Elba, on a small slice of paradise where granite rocks are washed by a crystalline sea.
Located at the end of the promontory which leads to the bay of Capo Sant’Andrea, and surrounded by the natural beauty of this peninsula, the hotel is set among the green vines and a perfumed Mediterranean woodland.
This boutique hotel has just 20 bedrooms, each one unique and inspired by four styles of interior décor. All are situated in buildings located throughout the grounds around a central building with a large panoramic terrace. In the vineyard more accommodation can be found, with sitting areas where you can enjoy the colourful hibiscus blooms.
If you like the Mediterranean lifestyle you’ll appreciate all the beauty of this stretch of Italian coastline, enjoying its perfumes, listening to the breaking of the waves.
If you love beautiful beaches, a low-key vibe, and stylish surroundings with warm personal service, all a short walk from the beach, book in at this gorgeous bolthole.
10. Relais Sant’Elena
Relais Sant’Elena in Livorno, is set back from the coast but the sea is not far away. The romantic gardens dotted with roses and pergolas and a pool are a wonderful place to spend the day and the stylish guest rooms welcome you home in the evening.
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