Summer Days At The Beach Lido
Easy Day Trips from Riposto to the Ionian Coast
Living in or visiting Riposto, you're already sitting on one of Sicily's most spectacular stretches of coastline — with Mount Etna looming behind you and the Ionian Sea glittering in front. But hop on a Trenitalia regional train heading north and within half an hour you'll discover two of eastern Sicily's most beloved beach destinations: Letojanni and Giardini Naxos. Both are easy, cheap, and deeply satisfying day trips, yet each has its own distinct personality. Letojanni is intimate, laid-back, and boutique where as Giardini Naxos is broader, sandier, and livelier, with a long sweeping bay, a proper promenade, and enough beach clubs to suit every mood.
Ah, the Beach Lido…
What is a Lido?
Before you go, it helps to understand what you're booking into. A lido (or stabilimento balneare) is Italy's beloved institution of the private beach club. Italy's beach clubs have been around for two centuries, with the first opening in Viareggio, Tuscany, in the 1820s — and today there are an estimated 27,000 of them clustered along the country's coastline. Think of a lido as your personal patch of beach for the day, fully kitted out. Wherever there is a lido you'll pay for the services — bathrooms, showers, changing cabins, sun loungers and sunshades, and a lifeguard — but the beach will be clean and there will be shade. Even the smallest lido offers full service, and in many of them you don't even have to get up from your sunbed — drinks and food are served under your umbrella.
Pricing follows a simple logic: you're renting two sunbeds and one large umbrella for the day. As an indicator, mid-level lidos typically cost around €10–15 for one bed and an umbrella. Book ahead in high season or arrive by 11am.
🚂 Getting There from Riposto
Your station is Giarre-Riposto, a short walk or taxi from the town centre.
To Letojanni: Board any northbound Trenitalia Regionale or Regionale Veloce service. Trains run approximately hourly, tickets cost around €2–5, and the journey takes about 29 minutes, arriving at Letojanni station. From the station it's a flat 5-minute walk straight to the beach.
To Giardini Naxos: Board any northbound Trenitalia Regionale or Regionale Veloce service. Trains run approximately hourly, tickets cost around €2–5, and the journey takes about 15 minutes, arriving at Taormina-Giardini station. From Taormina-Giardini station, the beach and promenade of Giardini Naxos are about a 10-minute walk downhill.
Buy tickets at the station machine or on the Trenitalia app — and always validate your ticket before boarding.
🏖 Letojanni — The Chic Little Secret
Letojanni is a collection of stylish beach clubs along a pink pebbly coastline, offering everything from serene relaxation with seawater pools to vibrant parties with DJs and sunset cocktails. The pebbly shore stretches for 2.3 kilometres with crystal-clear water, and the beach deepens gently from the shoreline. From June to September you can enjoy lots of events in the beach clubs. The vibe here is more curated and intimate than Giardini — fewer tourists, more style.
Top Lidos in Letojanni:
Paradise Beach Club — The most glamorous option on the strip. Paradise Beach Club boasts a Mediterranean garden, a seawater pool adorned with lava stone, and terraces submerged by olive trees and tropical plants. At the "Mojito bar" you can enjoy a cocktail based on fresh fruit, and the restaurant serves Sicilian and Italian specialties.
Golà Beach — Golà is a bathing establishment, lounge bar and restaurant — a cool and relaxed place where one could spend some pleasant hours at the beach. Great for those who want a mellower, less scene-y day.
Movida Beach — Movida Beach offers a luxurious beach club experience with modern amenities, gourmet dishes, and special events — a perfect blend of elegance and fun. Evening events can include live music and themed parties, adding to the lively atmosphere. S
Beach Flamingo — Located on the beach of Letojanni, it has a panoramic terrace with breathtaking views of the bay of Taormina and is equipped with all comforts.
Lido La Caravella — One of the best-regarded lidos in the area, offering sunbeds, umbrellas, bar service on the beach, free changing rooms, hot water showers, and a private terrace overlooking the sea.
Lido Beach Fly — Offers a full restaurant and beach seating at very reasonable prices — one of the better-value options on the Letojanni strip.
🏖 Giardini Naxos — The Lively Sandy Bay
Where Letojanni is pebbled and boutique, Giardini Naxos is sandy, sociable, and sprawling. Recanati Beach — the largest in Giardini Naxos — is well-known for its mix of sand and small pebbles with spectacular views of Mount Etna. It offers a mix of public areas and private lidos, with beachside kiosks, restaurants, and seaside clubs creating a lively atmosphere especially from sunset through the evening. The bay curves gently, the promenade is long and walkable, and there's a real town feel — good restaurants, gelaterias, and aperitivo bars.
Top Lidos in Giardini Naxos:
Sayonara Beach Naxos — One of the biggest and best-equipped on the bay. The beach offers 350 sunbeds and 150 yellow-green umbrellas, plus pedal boat, kayak and board rentals. You can order from the beach bar via smartphone lying under your umbrella, and they also organise yacht rentals, jet ski, and boat trips around the bay of Giardini Naxos and Taormina. Prices are around €15 for one chair and an umbrella — a bargain compared to clubs closer to Taormina.
Lido di Naxos — One of the largest and most well-equipped beach resorts in Giardini Naxos, catering to families, groups, and solo travellers. It offers ample space between sunbeds, entertainment and group activities including games, dances, and music, all on fine sand with crystal-clear water.
Lido Azzurro — Situated along the scenic Viale Jannuzzo near the Rotonda del Mare, Lido Azzurro is one of Sicily's most iconic seaside destinations. The beach features Malibu loungers, a bar serving Sicilian-inspired aperitifs, and organised boat excursions to Isola Bella and Grotta Azzurra. The animation team offers beach games and social gatherings throughout the day.
Lido La Romantica — A historic, cherished seaside destination in Giardini Naxos since the 1960s, founded by the Bosco brothers, with a sandy beach at Schisò. One for those who want old-school Sicilian beach charm.
Lido dal Pirata — A favourite for those who want to avoid the crowds — small, pebbly, and full of character. A more low-key alternative if the main bay feels too busy.
⛵ Bonus: Take a Boat Tour from Giardini Naxos to Isola Bella
Highly recommend for swimming, laughs and making new friends!
After a morning at one of the lidos, one of the absolute highlights you can add to a Giardini Naxos day is hopping on a boat tour right from the port. Departing from Giardini Naxos, you follow the coast northward past spectacular natural landmarks including the Grotta dell'Amore (Cave of Love), Capo Taormina, the Grotta delle Sirene (Cave of the Sirens), and the Scoglio dell'Elefante (Elephant Rock), before arriving at Isola Bella for a swimming stop.
What's normally included: The tour takes in the Bay of Naxos, the Cave of Love, Capo Taormina, the Cave of the Sirens, Isola Bella, Mazzarò Bay, Atlantis Bay, and the Elephant Rock, with a stop for swimming in the Isola Bella Marine Park and an on-board aperitif and prosecco.
Duration & Price: Tours last approximately two hours and cost around €30-55 per person. Some operators offer snorkelling equipment too — with guided snorkelling in the Isola Bella marine reserve, snacks and drinks on deck, and a visit to the Grotta Azzurra (weather permitting).
Where to board: The tour departs from the port of Giardini Naxos on Via Schisò. Street parking is available nearby, or there's a private car park about a 15-minute walk away — though if you've come by train, it's an easy walk straight from the station. Book ahead in summer.
The perfect day: Train from Riposto → morning at a Giardini Naxos lido → afternoon boat tour to Isola Bella → aperitivo on the promenade → train home. That's a full Sicilian summer day right there.
