Sperlonga is a lovely little town located about a hundred kilometers from Rome. Sperlonga offers beautiful landscapes, a whiff of history and excellent shallow sandy beaches. Sperlonga is an underrated gem among beach destinations.
The medieval town of Sperlonga is located at the tip of a rocky peninsula rising from the sea, guarded by Torre Truglia. The old town is small but very picturesque. In its whitewashed narrow and labyrinthine alleys and courtyards you can find small boutiques and casual bars, shaded by a terrace. The view from the old town to the sea is dazzling.
On the magnificent beach of Sperlonga, you can spend the whole day in a stabilimento. A perfect stabilimento has all the services to spend a day at the beach. Sun loungers and parasols can be rented, and lunch can be enjoyed in the restaurant. There is a beach street along the beach, where you can find restaurants and bars where you can enjoy an aperitif and dinner while watching the sunset.
Sperlonga is an excellent excursion destination for a couple of days visit. In a couple of days, you have time to wander around the old town, explore the cave of Tiberius and the ruins of his palace, the archaeological museum, enjoy the beach life and eat seafood well.
The journey to Sperlonga takes just over two hours by car. It is not possible to drive to the Old Town, but you must park your car in one of the car parks near the city centre.
Sperlonga can almost be reached by train, but at either Monte San Biagio or Fondi station you must change to a bus to Sperlonga via Terracina.
New Year's Getaway to Sperlonga: A Winter Escape on the Riviera di Ulisse
This year, we decided to take a New Year's trip to Sperlonga on the Riviera di Ulisse. With the weather forecast predicting a mild 17°C, a sunny weekend by the sea seemed like the perfect option. Even though the beach resorts are small villages that lie dormant during the winter months, we found the idea of exploring the coast without the usual crowds very appealing.
The weather was simply delightful, and we kicked off our day with a morning walk along the sandy beach. After a bit of strolling, we couldn’t resist popping into a café for a cappuccino and cornetto. The locals were also enjoying their morning, and the lively atmosphere added to the charm of the place.
In Sperlonga, you can enjoy lunch at a sunny beach bar or a seaside restaurant, with fresh seafood always on the menu. After recovering from lunch, we began to think about transitioning into the aperitivo hour. I highly recommend choosing a hotel with sea views; watching the Tramontana winds from the balcony with a glass of prosecco is a true luxury, especially when followed by a leisurely stroll through Sperlonga's charming boutiques.
The old town's narrow streets are perfect for finding a cozy spot to enjoy a small aperitif. In Italy, aperitifs are traditionally accompanied by snacks, which keep you going until dinner. Dinner in Lazio is typically served around 8 pm, and even later in the summer due to the heat, so having a small bite beforehand is always a good idea.
Sperlonga’s location between Rome and Naples influences the local food culture, and the town boasts some excellent restaurants. At Tropical Restaurant, we enjoyed a fantastic Neapolitan pizza – Pizza Vesuvio topped with spicy salame spianata. Two pizzas, a glass of wine, and a large beer came to 31 euros, which is slightly higher than what we’d pay in our home village, but that’s the price of a coastal resort!
After dinner, we headed back to our hotel to watch the arrival of the New Year from our balcony. Auguri!
Getting to Sperlonga is easy and convenient from Rome:
