Tuscany has a variety of coastlines – beaches good for lounging and socialising, beaches good for listening to the wind, coves that make for wonderful diving, and marshlands (if you'd rather be bird watching). Tuscany's coastline begins at Bocca di Magra, the mouth of the Magra River in the north.

Marina di Carrara

Sandy beaches popular with families, singles, and foreigners.

Forte dei Marmi

Wide beaches and elegant bathing establishments. The coastal scenes of The English Patient were filmed here, and the town is posh, with exclusive boutiques and fine restaurants. This is where Florentines come to spend the weekend, though during the week it's deserted until August.

Viareggio

Very wide beaches, was once the winter home of the Czars. Lots of nightlife, however, and dynamic. Also has a good small craft port, during the winter there's the Carnvale.

Torre del Lago

Genteel, has a turn-of-the-century feel to it. Is sandwiched between Lake Massaciuccoli and the sea, which makes it more humid. However, nice beaches (family oriented), and hosts the Puccini festival every summer – out-door operas on the lawn of Puccini's summer home.

Marina di Pisa and Tirrenia

Very quiet with sandy beaches at the mouth of the Arno .

Livorno

A port city. Continuing south the coastline becomes rocky, with lots of bays and coves that are fun to snorkel in when the water's calm. When it's rough, on the other hand, you sun where the spray from the waves can cool you off. There's a fine restaurant at Calafuria, called La Torre di Calafuria, which is famous for its cacciucco, a spicy fish stew.

Rosignano Solvay

The site of a bicarbonate manufacturer; has spectacularly white beaches with very fine sand (bi-products of making bicarbonate).

Marina di Cecina

Rocky coastal area.

Baratti

A little cove below the promontory of Populonia. Wonderful water, calm even when the sea is rough, with Etruscan ruins nearby, and a medieval fortress up above. A great place to rent a small boat and go exploring, with wrecks and such for divers. It's not far from San Silvestro, a fascinating mining town.

Piombino

The port that most people pass through on their way to Elba . It's also the town Napoleon gave his sister, who devoted considerable energy to transforming it into a small gem. There are some nice beaches and beautiful coves.

Elba

Spectacular, and in retrospect Napoleon was a fool to leave (he ended up at Waterloo ). Beautiful coastline, with wonderful diving, hiking in the mountains and more.