Sperlonga was our fourth stop on the Italy road trip – after Venice, Tuscany and the transfer day from Chianti. We stayed for 4 nights. And if the earlier stops had been about “seeing”, Sperlonga was about “stopping.” With a one-year-old baby who doesn’t talk yet, that was exactly what we both needed.
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Contents
- On the way from Tuscany to Sperlonga: what to see
- Orvieto (~1.5 h from Montespertoli)
- Civita di Bagnoregio (~30 min from Orvieto)
- The rest of the way to Sperlonga
- Why Sperlonga with a baby is perfect
- What to do in Sperlonga with a baby: our 4 days
- Days 1 and 2: Beach, beach, beach + Terracina
- Day 3: Sperlonga old town + the Villa of Tiberius
- Day 4: Gaeta – a day trip by car
- Where to eat in Sperlonga with a baby
- What to eat
- Specific places
- Practical tips: Sperlonga with a baby
- Accommodation
- Parking
- Baby's beach kit
- Safety
- How to reach Sperlonga by car
- FAQ – Sperlonga with a baby
If you’re reading in order – start with Venice with a baby 2026: is it worth it and how to cope.
On the way from Tuscany to Sperlonga: what to see
The distance from Montespertoli (Chianti) to Sperlonga is about 350 km, ~3.5–4 h without stops. With a baby, of course, we don’t drive without stops. And that’s a good thing, because there are a few places along the way worth pausing for.
Orvieto (~1.5 h from Montespertoli)
The first stop. Orvieto stands on a volcanic rock and looks like something out of a fairy tale. The cathedral (Duomo) is one of the most beautiful in Italy.
With a baby, an hour and a half is enough here. The main square, the cathedral façade from the outside, a coffee break. The streets are level, so a pushchair is fine. Parking at the funicular at the bottom (~€1.50/h), and the funicular takes you up (~€1.30).
Civita di Bagnoregio (~30 min from Orvieto)
The “dying town” on a rock, reachable only on foot across a long bridge. The view is incredible. BUT: with a one-year-old baby we DIDN’T go. The bridge is long (~300 m), steep, impossible with a pushchair; possible in a carrier, but you have to come back up the same bridge.
Our solution: we stopped in the town of Bagnoregio, looked at Civita from the viewpoint (free, a wonderful view) and drove on. With an older child I really would have gone. With a baby in a carrier – no.
Ticket to Civita: ~€5/adult (if you cross the bridge). From the viewpoint – free.
The rest of the way to Sperlonga
From Orvieto to Sperlonga is another ~2.5 h (via the A1 motorway towards Rome, bypassing Rome on the GRA ring, then A1/E45 south, turning off at Fondi). Motorway toll – ~€15–20. The last 20 km from Fondi to Sperlonga is a winding coastal road with a sea view. The baby slept. I couldn’t stop looking out of the window.
Why Sperlonga with a baby is perfect
Sperlonga is a small coastal town in the Lazio region, between Rome and Naples. Its old part is a labyrinth of little white houses on a rock (a bit like the Greek islands, only in Italy). Below the rock lies a long, wide sandy beach with very shallow water.
And here’s why, with a one-year-old baby, it works better than anything:
The water is only a few centimetres deep even a long way from shore. The baby can wade, sit in the water, splash – with no danger at all. It’s not the same as the Adriatic or the Atlantic. Here the water is gentle, calm and warm.
The sand is soft and clean. A Blue Flag beach. It’s a pleasure to be here, because everything around is clean and tidy.
The pace is slow. In Sperlonga there’s nothing to “see” in the classic sense. No list of museums, no ticket queues. There’s the beach, the white town with gelato, and dinner with a sea view. With a baby – it’s paradise.
Italians holiday here with their own babies. Sperlonga is an Italian family resort, not an international tourist spot. That means all the restaurants are family-friendly, the waiters bring a high chair without even being asked, and around you on the beach are other mums with children the same age.
What to do in Sperlonga with a baby: our 4 days
Days 1 and 2: Beach, beach, beach + Terracina
We visited off season, so we only walked along the beach, but I’m including the information in case you travel in season.
Spiaggia di Ponente (the western side) – the main one, below the old town. This is where you’ll find most of the beach clubs (stabilimenti / lidi), a sun lounger + umbrella ~€15–25/day (more in August). There are also free zones (spiaggia libera) – come in the morning, because in summer they fill up quickly.
Spiaggia di Levante (the eastern side) – quieter, fewer people, a long sandy strip running towards Gaeta.
Off season everything is very empty and calm, so it’s a great place to land after noisy tourist spots. No people, just a few locals strolling along the shore.
Terracina. This is the best place to watch the sunset. We went there twice. One time we visited the Temple of Jupiter Anxur – a great place to walk with a baby and hide from the sun among the acropolis ruins. The second time we watched the sunset from Monte Sant’Angelo – a superb panorama of the town and the sea.
Day 3: Sperlonga old town + the Villa of Tiberius
In the morning, while the baby was full of energy, we climbed up to the old part (centro storico). Little white houses, narrow lanes (in places only one person wide), stairs, cats, flowers on the windowsills.
Important with a baby: going up – carrier only. A pushchair physically won’t get through – stairs everywhere. But in a carrier – perfect. We climbed up in 15 min, had a wander, drank coffee in a square with a sea view, bought gelato and headed back down. The whole thing took ~1.5 h.
The Villa of Tiberius and the grotto – the remains of the Roman emperor Tiberius’s summer residence by the sea, with an archaeological museum. The museum is small and quickly seen. The grotto is impressive (giant sculptures, the sea right there). With a baby – doable, but don’t go if the little one is tired. Ticket ~€5/adult.
Day 4: Gaeta – a day trip by car
Gaeta is ~20 min by car from Sperlonga. Another coastal town, but bigger, with an old centre, fortresses and a beautiful beach (Serapo beach – also shallow and sandy, suitable for babies).
What we managed: a walk through the old centre (level, easy with a pushchair), Serapo beach (~1 h), and lunch – tiella (a Gaeta speciality, a kind of pie with squid and tomatoes, very tasty, ~€3–5 a slice).
Bonus along the way: between Sperlonga and Gaeta there are several small coves (cale) where you can stop if you’ve brought a swimsuit and the courage to climb down a steep path. We didn’t stop (with a baby the descent was too risky), but the beauty through the window was incredible.
Another place worth visiting is the Santissima Trinità sanctuary, set on the Montagna Spaccata (the “split mountain”). Founded by Benedictine monks, it is built into a rock riven by huge fissures. It has a chapel, a flight of 33 steps and the legendary “Turk’s hand” imprint in the rock, drawing pilgrims with its dramatic sea views.
Where to eat in Sperlonga with a baby
What to eat
Sperlonga is seafood territory. But with a one-year-old baby, seafood doesn’t always suit (allergy risk, texture). What worked for us:
Pasta al pomodoro – everywhere, always, cheap (~€8–10). The baby ate it with his hands.
Pizza – thin, crispy, good in Sperlonga. The baby chewed the crust, I ate the rest.
Bruschetta – toasted bread with tomatoes. Simple and perfect. From ~€3–4.
Tiella di Gaeta – if you go to Gaeta. The spicy version is too strong for a baby, but there’s a mild one too (with vegetables).
Gelato – after every meal. This is Italy. It’s the law.
Specific places
Gli Archi (old part, by Torre Truglia) – a restaurant with a sea view. Fresh seafood, but it also has pasta with tomatoes. Prices: primi ~€10–14, fish ~€15–20.
La Piazzetta (old part) – smaller, cheaper, very local. Good pizzas (~€8–12). There was a high chair.
Beach bars – you can have lunch right on the sand: panini, cold salads, fruit. With a baby – the most convenient format. Prices: ~€5–10/dish.
Important: in Sperlonga, restaurants open for dinner at ~19:30–20:00.
Practical tips: Sperlonga with a baby
Accommodation
Our choice: an apartment outside town. For us that was convenient, but you need a car. A quiet spot with a big house and a garden.
What to look for:
- The lower part of town (the bottom, not the old centre on the rock) – closer to the beach, flat, and convenient with a pushchair
- A kitchen – for preparing baby food
- A washing machine – after a day of sand and sea you need to wash every day
- Parking – in Sperlonga, parking in summer can be chaos
Price guide: apartments – from €80–130/night (more in summer, especially August). B&Bs – from €60–100. Sperlonga isn’t cheap at the peak of summer, but cheaper options appear if you look early.
Parking
In summer – a headache. Sperlonga’s centre is small and parking spaces are limited.
Tip: if your accommodation has parking – use it, and walk to the beach. If not – arrive early in the morning (before 9:00) or use the larger car parks on the edge of town.
Some beach clubs (lido) have parking for customers – ask when you book your sun loungers.
Baby’s beach kit
What you really need in this town:
- A pop-up tent with UV protection – a lifesaver.
- Swim nappies – essential.
- SPF 50+ cream – the Italian sun is strong.
- Water shoes – the sand at midday is hot.
- Plastic buckets and spades – hours of fun for €3.
Safety
The water in Sperlonga is very shallow – that’s the biggest advantage with a baby. But even so: never leave a baby unattended near the water.
The beach clubs (lidi) have lifeguards – that’s extra peace of mind. The free zones have no lifeguards.
How to reach Sperlonga by car
| From | Distance | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montespertoli (Chianti) | ~350 km | ~3.5–4 h | Via Orvieto (a stop!) + A1 |
| Rome | ~130 km | ~1.5–2 h | A1 + Via Flacca |
| Naples | ~130 km | ~1.5–2 h | A1 heading north |
| Florence | ~380 km | ~4 h | A1 via Rome |
The route from Chianti: the A1 motorway southwards, bypass Rome on the GRA (Grande Raccordo Anulare – Rome’s ring road), then the A1 towards Naples, turning off at Fondi. The last stretch is the coastal Via Flacca road – winding but beautiful. Motorway toll: ~€15–20.
FAQ – Sperlonga with a baby
Is Sperlonga suitable with a one-year-old baby? It’s one of the best places in Italy with a baby. Shallow water, soft sand, a calm pace, a family-friendly atmosphere. Italian paediatricians have awarded Sperlonga’s beaches the “Green Flag” – meaning it’s officially recommended for families with small children.
Are 4 nights enough? Yes. 2 days on the beach, 1 day for the old town + the Villa of Tiberius, 1 day for Gaeta. If you only want the beach, even 3 nights is enough. If you want to really relax, 5 nights would be ideal.
Do you need a beach club (lido)? With a baby, I’d recommend it for at least a few days. Sun loungers, an umbrella, a shower, a toilet, a bar to hand. ~€15–25/day. The free zones are fine too, but they have no facilities and in summer they fill up early.
Can you manage with a pushchair? In the lower part (the beach, the main street) – yes. In the old centre on the rock – no (stairs everywhere). There it’s carrier only.
Where can you buy baby supplies? Sperlonga has a pharmacy and a small food shop. Bigger supermarkets are in Fondi (~15 min by car). Nappies, purées and formula – you’ll find them.
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