Holidaymakers heading for some of Italy's most famous beaches this summer may not get onto the sand without a reservation. In parts of Sardinia, Sicily and Lampedusa, visitors are required to book their spot online well in advance, sometimes weeks ahead, or risk being turned away.
Several beauty spots are already showing as fully booked through to September. According to Spanish newspaper La Razón, the clampdown is being rolled out as Italy struggles with overtourism and record demand for its coastline, with authorities implementing daily caps, timed entry and QR-code checks at entrances.
La Pelosa and Cala Goloritzé
At La Pelosa in Sardinia, known for its bright white sand and clear shallow water, only 1,500 people are allowed per day. Visitors must pay a €3.50 environmental fee, and the beach is fully booked until September 15. Nearby, Cala Goloritzé, a UNESCO-protected cove reachable only after a 90-minute hike, has an even stricter cap of 250 visitors per day, with no availability left for the rest of July or the start of August.
Rabbit Beach's two-session system
On the island of Lampedusa, Spiaggia dei Conigli, better known as Rabbit Beach, operates a two-session system. Each morning and afternoon slot allows 550 people, and visitors must leave when their session ends. Online bookings are released in batches and restricted to one visit per week for up to two people. Italian tourism website SiciliaFan reported that the beach has become one of the most sought-after in the Mediterranean, with booking slots disappearing rapidly during peak summer.
Growing reservation models
Across Sardinia, booking systems are expanding quickly, with 15 beaches now using some form of reservation model this summer, according to regional news website Cagliari Today. Spots including Tuerredda, Cala Brandinchi, Lu Impostu, Cala Luna and Punta Molentis also require entry via local council websites or dedicated smartphone apps. Fees vary but are generally small, between €1 and €3.50 (85p-£3). In some cases, access remains free, but beachgoers still must reserve due to strict daily limits.
Overtourism and ecosystem protection
Italy welcomes around 185 million tourists each year. In the first three months of 2026 alone, the country recorded 71.6 million visitors, a 16% rise from the same period last year. Local councils say limits are essential to protect fragile shorelines and avoid closures. La Razón quoted Ancona mayor Daniele Silvetti as saying: “If we want to save these beaches and avoid having to close them, we must limit the number of visitors.” Environmental group Legambiente argues the restrictions are necessary to protect ecosystems worn down by mass tourism. Its spokesman Sebastiano Venneri warned that beaches such as La Pelosa are gradually losing sand because visitors unknowingly carry it away on towels, shoes and bags. Regional tourism official Pierpaolo Fois, also quoted by La Razón, likened the situation to overcrowding in the Dolomites, saying more travellers arrive seeking peace and quiet only to find the most picturesque places packed out.
