A dip in the Mediterranean Sea and a seafood feast in Santa Marinella, less than an hour’s train ride from Rome.

Rome is wonderful, but with summer approaching it can be difficult to find relief from the torrid temperatures. This is before you know how easy, fast and cheap it is to switch from the sultry city scenery to the pleasure of a dip in the Mediterranean Sea.

In less than an hour you can reach Santa Marinella, one of the most welcoming and enjoyable of the small towns along the coast, for a day of swimming, sun and excellent seafood.

To get to Santa Marinella you can take the train from several stations in the city: Termini, Ostiense, Trastevere or San Pietro (final destination: Pisa or Civitavecchia). There are departures about every hour, and the ticket costs around 5 euros.

Once you arrive at Santa Marinella station, a five-minute walk is all it takes for the lungomare Marconi and the beach. And it will seem incredible that only an hour earlier you were in city sweating and with your feet on fire.

The beach of Santa Marinella is for the most part divided into stabilimenti balneari (bathing establishments), where you can access the beach and rent deckchairs and beach umbrella for about 10-20 euro.
There are also a few stretches of free beach, where you can place your towel or your beach umbrella. But, of course, these are the spots that get crowded the fastest.

To complete the trip, nothing beats a plate of seafood specialties. Restaurants, pizzerias and bars are numerous: a short walk along the lungomare or in piazza Trieste and surroundings is enough to have a wide choice.

Here are some suggestions.

Molo 21, lungomare G. Marconi 21
Refined restaurant with charming terrace overlooking the sea, cooking excellent fish dishes creative.

Tavola Azzurra 2, via Aurelia 111/B
Don’t be fooled by appearances: it’s not the coolest place you’ve ever seen, but underneath the great sign are cooked delicious fish (and not) dishes at a modest price.

Banzai Beach, via Umberto Nobile
Charming restaurant with a veranda close to the beach, with a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. Excellent, simple yet curated seafood cuisine with the sunset in the background.