Italians Swap Crowded Beaches for Greece, a Warning for Liguria's Coast

Italians are increasingly trading their own beaches for those of Greece, according to a report from The Local Italy. The editor, Clare Speak, describes a visit to a lido that was anything but relaxing, highlighting the overcrowding, high prices, and rigid rules that are pushing Italians to look elsewhere in the Mediterranean.

The report is a pointed reminder for Liguria, whose Riviera coast has long relied on domestic tourism. The region's beaches, from the Cinque Terre to the ponente, are a magnet for visitors, but they also strain under the weight of summer crowds, and the experience can fall short of the promise.

The Local Italy's piece suggests that the frustration is not just about space but about the entire beach-day ritual, which can feel like a bureaucratic exercise. For Italians, the appeal of Greece lies in its more relaxed, less commercialized approach to the coast.