Local travelers believe that Fregene is a top choice for a beach day trip from Rome. The reasons are many:
- Fregene Beach is wide and long and has some of the best free beaches and beach clubs near Rome.
- The beach is only 30 km from the historic center of Rome and you can reach it by public transportation.
- Visit Fregene if you are looking for a place to stay outside of Rome where you can relax and breathe in the sea air. Fregene is a small coastal town near Rome a stone’s throw from the sea, with all amenities, and is also close to Fiumicino airport.
It’s impossible to live in Rome and not know Fregene Beach. This is the beach I love the most along with Santa Severa Beach.
I spent most of the summers of my childhood playing on that beach and cycling in the delightful boulevards of this small, quiet coastal town near Rome. Fregene is also home to 3 protected natural parks.
Even in winter, when the view of the sea might be not so inviting, Romans love to spend a few hours of their weekends walking along the beach and dining in the excellent seafood restaurants of Fregene.
Here is all the information you need to spend an unforgettable day at Fregene Beach. I’ll share with you how to get there, how to get around, and what are the best restaurants and hotels in Fregene.
You will have all the knowledge to enjoy to the fullest all that this destination has to offer.
Guide to visiting Fregene Beach and Town
When you are in Fregene, make sure to visit all these spots.
Waterfront – Fregene Beach
It is here that you will find one of the longest and most well-kept beaches near Rome, the reason why Fregene is a perfect summer destination in Italy.
Fregene Beach features 5 km of sand dotted with beach clubs and free beaches. Among Fregene’s beach clubs are some of the best beach clubs near Rome, like Albos Club or Kiosko Beach.
Please note:
The sea water that washes the beach at Fregene, although swimmable, is not crystal clear. Depending on currents, the water can sometimes have a dark green or brown color.
Best beach clubs in Fregene
There are more than 20 beach clubs in Fregene, so many that it is difficult to pick one. I recommend a few that suit the needs of different types of travelers:
- Albos Club | Here is an upscale beach club suitable for couples and families who want to treat themselves to a day of sophistication and relaxation. Read a book under the shelter of the blue beach umbrellas, take a dip in the pool, and sip espresso in the elegant café. What will give you the most satisfaction are the taste experiences. In fact, the Albos is home to one of the best seafood restaurants in Fregene. At lunchtime, choose what you want from the cafeteria buffet or a simple panini. At aperitif time sip a drink by the sea as you indulge in samplings of canapés with fish. At dinner time there is restaurant service, offering both classic Italian seafood dishes and crudité seafood.
- Point Break | for the lovers of all water sports
- Sogno Del Mare | best lunch spot (seafood and classic Italian cuisine). Other than the catch of the day, a vegetarian and gluten-free menu is available
- Oasi | It features two swimming pools, one for adults and one for kids
- Singita Miracle Beach | perfect aperitivo spot with tables, music, and a casual look. Recommended for young adults
- Kiosko beach | a large free beach in the northern part of Fregene with a kiosk-café. It also serves delicious fried fish at a fair price at the aperitivo hour. This is my favorite place on Fregene Beach: relaxed and simple, I come here with family with our own beach equipment and spend a whole day.
The Piazzetta (that’s what the locals call it)
One place in Fregene that you absolutely must know, a hub in the social life of locals and travelers alike, is the so-called Piazzetta.
This is the hub that unfolds around the intersection of Via Marotta and Viale Nettuno, halfway from Fregene’s Pinewood and Fregene beach.
Here you’ll find the excellent restaurant Lo Spuntino (our top-choice), the pizzeria “L’Archetto”, and the pastry and gelato shop Cafe Des Amis.
Here is also the post office and the bike rental shop Moto Ciclo Meccanica, where we usually rent bikes.
Fregene bicycle path
The best way to get around Fregene is by bicycle. The town is quite small and flat.
Also, without a bicycle you will not be able to enjoy the fantastic bike path that runs all along the beach.
Whether you want to take a bike ride at sunset or you want to reach the beach in the morning, this part of the beach reserved for cyclists will come in handy.
The only downside is that it is not shaded, so remember to wear a hat. All in all, biking is one the coolest ways to explore one of the best beaches near Rome.
Fishermen’s Village – villaggio dei pescatori
Even if you only spend one day in this small town near Rome, be sure to visit the oldest part of the town, which has developed close to the beach.
Before becoming one of the top weekend getaways for the Roman summer, Fregene was a small village where fishermen and their families lived on stilts by the beach.
The Fishermen’s Village (Villaggio dei Pescatori) is located at the northernmost point of Fregene Beach. The stilts have now changed into gracious, low, and tiny white houses located right next to the beach.
The part of the beach that abuts this village is the most beautiful of all Fregene Beach, as it is very wide and more scenic. Here you will find the Singita and Kiosko establishments (the latter is my favorite).
Some of the low white houses in the Fishermen’s Village house excellent seafood restaurants.
Dinner at the Fishermen’s Village is a must on your visit to Fregene, the icing on the cake. Enjoy the catch of the day: fritture, mussels’ impepata, spaghetti with clams, and so on, while the salt still tickles your skin.
You’ll be spoiled for the choice of dishes, and there is more than one good restaurant. We often eat at “Il Pioniere”, where we loved the pasta with mussels and pesto and the fried anchovies, but others will be able to satisfy you too.
A truly unique and out-of-the-ordinary place in Fregene’s restaurant scene is the sea osteria Casa Carmen at the Fishermen’s Village. In the shade of a colorful veranda, you can enjoy Carmen’s creations. The catch of the day and ingredients from Italian cuisine are grafted with Spanish cuisine.
Castellammare Street
This is the commercial artery of Fregene, a street that cuts the town in half. Here you’ll find shops, cafes, restaurants, newsstands, and where to buy beach equipment and beach toys.
Fregene’s monumental pinewood
The pine forest of Fregene boasts 400 years of history. It a the pope who made the decision to plant the first pine trees in the 17th century, in order to dry soil that was too watery. Some pines in this forest are 200 years old, they’re among the oldest pines in Europe.
Fregene’s pinewood is named after Italian director Federico Fellini. In 1960’s, Fellini took Fregene around the world by shooting some scenes of La Dolce Vita, the famous film set in Rome, here.
The pine forest is the ideal place to find shelter in the torrid summer days: organize a picnic, a walk, or a bike ride, and collect lots of pine nuts for your homemade pasta al pesto.
The pine forest stretches along the eastern border of Fregene; you can get there easily by bike or on foot. One of the main entrances is along Via Castellammare, the commercial street of Fregene.
Adventure Park
And now a place that families with energetic and adventurous children will want to get to know.
In the southern part of Fregene is another pine forest where two local entrepreneurs have created an adventure park.
The trails offered are divided into categories (younger children, kids and adults) and take advantage of the presence of the many monumental trees.
In addition to the trails, the park offers other activities such as horseback riding, pedal go karts, archery, and an educational farm.
Admission is free, while there is a charge for activities.
There is also a restaurant.
Nature reserves near Fregene town
In Fregene there are 3 nature reserves protected by WWF:
- Macchiagrande Oasis (WWF)
- Mouth of the Arrone Oasis
- Basins of Maccarese Oasis
Until the 80s of the 19th century, these territories were marshy and impassable. After the reclamation, they became oases that are home to countless species of mammals, birds, and fishes. The nicest to visit is the Macchiagrande Oasis.
There are 3 hiking paths in the oasis, all flat, for a total length of 7km. This is one of the places to visit in Fregene if you are traveling with adventurous kids.
There are huts on the trail where you can wait to spot foxes, porcupines, fallow deer, beech martens, tortoises, cormorants, ospreys, buzzards, and herons.
You can visit both Macchiagrande Oasis and the Basins of Maccarese Oasis with the ticket you purchase at the entrance of the Macchiagrande Oasis.
Best restaurants in Fregene (and what to eat)
A typical day in Fregene Italy consists of quietly waking up, having breakfast, and then heading to the beach.
I will talk about the best places to have breakfast in Fregene Italy at the end of this paragraph. First, I’ll share info about the more substantial meals.
Wherever you sit to dine, know that in Fregene you will enjoy the seafood dishes typical of the local Roman cuisine. The most popular are:
- Insalata di mare – A delicious appetizer made with octopus, shrimp, cuttlefish, and squid boiled, chopped, and then dressed with evo oil and parsley.
- Impepata di cozze – mussels sauteed with garlic, olive oil, white wine and then seasoned with black pepper.
- Spaghetti with clams – Spaghetti tossed with plenty of clams, evo oil, garlic, parsley, and chili peppers’ flakes.
- Risotto ai frutti di mare – Risotto with different kinds of fish and seafood.
- Baked sea bream with potatoes
- Fritto misto – Squid, shrimp, and octopus covered in batter and then fried in hot oil, served with lemon slices.
Lo Spuntino
Having been around Fregene for almost 30 years, I have been able to get an idea of the best places to dine.
So grab a pen and paper, because I’m now going to reveal which is the best restaurant in Fregene.
I’m referring to Lo Spuntino, which stands right in the heart of the legendary piazzetta, a terrace on the social life of Fregene.
At Lo Spuntino, in addition to excellent first courses, main courses, and appetizers of freshly caught fish, they also make excellent pizza.
Here you can pair your meal with beer (as the venue also houses a pub) or good wine.
Spuntino has been delighting Fregenese people’s palates since the late 1980s.
Best breakfast in Fregene
I guess you know that locals like to have dessert for breakfast, and I am no different.
In Fregene, the mainstay of breakfast is Il Dolce di Asia bakery. The owner, Asia, is a pastry chef who decided to establish her workshop-pastry shop right here on Via Cervia in Fregene Town.
As soon as you enter you will be attracted by the window displaying pastries as if it were that of a jewelry store. Asia’s pastries are not only good but also beautiful!
Order a creamy cappuccino, a croissant made by Asia (or the pastries of your choice), and sit on the veranda to start your day at the beach properly.
Best gelato in Fregene: Madagascar Shop
Another excellent pastry shop in Fregene specializes in two things: chocolate and gelato.
Let’s start with breakfast. Here you find excellent croissants to fill with different custards, such as the very tasty pistachio one. If you want to be won over by a typical Roman dessert, try the maritozzo, a soft bun filled with whipped cream.
One of the bakery’s specialties is chocolates, of countless varieties. Get a box of chocolates here to dedicate to your sweetheart.
But since you definitely visit Fregene in the summer, go all out for the gelato.
Pasticceria Madagascar‘s gelato is “natural gelato”. The ingredients of natural gelato are fruit, sugar, milk (in flavors that require it), with no artificial flavors, thickeners, or butter.
Grocery stores in Fregene
Like any other Italian vacation town, Fregene has many small grocery shops, where you will find almost anything you need.
Since they are small stores, the prices are higher than those in the supermarket.
If you want to shop like locals, head to the large Pewex supermarket, where you will also find fresh meat and fish.
The Tree House
Walking (or cycling) through the streets of Fregene you will see many residential houses, all in different styles, and no old buildings.
However, do not believe that this town does not possess something interesting in terms of architecture.
If you look closely, in the area where the large Pewex supermarket is located, you will spot a really peculiar, indeed strange, building.
Inside a low fence and surrounded by trees, you will see a house made of many overlapping volumes, round and square, made of calcrete and iron painted red.
This is the Tree House or Experimental House designed in the 1960’s by Italian architect Giuseppe Perugini.
He envisioned this building as a kind of “nest” in the midst of nature, and at that time it was supposed to have the effect of cutting-edge architecture.
Visiting this place is not easy, as the doors open only a few times each year, and without much notice.
You can admire it from the outside, though, by walking along 57 Porto Azzurro St.
Hotels in Fregene, apartments, and villas
Fregene is one of the best places to stay outside Rome and is also easily accessible from Leonardo Da Vinci Airport. I recommend relaxing in this coastal town for at least 2 days. From Fregene you can reach Rome center by train in about half an hour.
There are only 2 Hotels in Fregene, both beachfront and mid-range.
Hotel La Conchiglia is located in the central part of Fregene's long beach and offers its guests a private, fully equipped beach. Check availability and rates for Hotel La Conchiglia.
Hotel Corallo instead is located in the southern part of Fregene in a beachfront location and also features a swimming pool for guests. Check out the rooms at Hotel Corallo.
Another comfortable option for spending a few days in Fregene is to stay in private accommodation.
Villa Simonetta is located just under 1 km from the picturesque Fishermen's Village, where you will find some of the best restaurants in Fregene. The villa is furnished with fine materials and features two jacuzzi a Finnish sauna and fireplace. Check if Villa Simonetta is available on your dates
FAQs Fregene Beach
Should you visit Fregene Beach or Ostia Beach?
I prefer Fregene. Unlike Ostia Lido, Fregene Beach is not part of the city of Rome, but of Fiumicino instead. This makes Fregene quite off-track.
Fregene is quieter and has significantly fewer residents than Ostia.
Many lucky families from Rome choose to have a second home in Fregene to relax by the sea on weekends and during the holidays.
Some others decide to make Fregene their main residence and live at a slower pace all year round.
Finally, the beach of Ostia is much more crowded than Fregene Beach!
How to get to Fregene Beach from Rome by train
From Rome to Fregene by public transportation
From the Roma Termini train station, take a train FL5 and get off at Maccarese/Fregene. then, take the bus 11 to Fregene Beach (Viale Viareggio).
Fregene is an accessible destination from Rome by train.
Rome to Fregene Beach by car
If you are traveling by car or motorcycle, take Via Aurelia from the ring highway (GRA), and then follow the directions to Fregene.
The best way to get around in Fregene town
The most pleasant way to explore Fregene and discover this lovely small town near Rome is by bike.
Slowly, ride through the shady and fragrant streets bordering the pine forest and stop to look at the holiday homes that offer an alternative to the traffic and stress experienced in one of Europe’s largest metropolises.
Take a bucket with you to pick blackberries if you visit Fregene in the summer.
Once you reach the beach, you can take the bike path that stretches along the entire promenade of Fregene.
There are more than 20 beach clubs (the Italian “stabilimento“), and many free beaches to explore.
Ride from the southernmost beach club “Point Break” to the northernmost one, the Singita, until you reach the Fisherman’s Village “Villaggio Dei Pescatori”.
And don’t forget to ride through the pine forest “Federico Fellini” as well!
Where to rent a bike in Fregene Italy
Try “Moto Ciclo Meccanica snc” at the crossing between Viale Nettuno and Via Viserba. Here you’ll find both bikes and scooters for rent. And they’ll be able to fix yours too.
Wrap-up – Fregene Beach and Fregene Town
Fregene Italy is the perfect place for an off-the-beaten-path beach day trip from Rome. You will reach the beach in about an hour with a short train plus a bus ride.
If you have a bicycle (you can also rent it in Fregene town), you will be able to explore both the waterfront and the town in no time.
There are many beach clubs where you can relax and eat excellent seafood dishes at the buffet for lunch. If you want to take a trip to Fregene on a budget, head to the free Kiosko beach, where you can find sandwiches and drinks and a very relaxed, casual atmosphere.
If you want to spend time in an upscale setting with an elegant restaurant, choose the Albos Club.
The only drawback of this beach is that the water is not super clean. If crystal clear water is a priority for you, then I recommend traveling a few miles north and reaching Santa Severa Beach.
If you are not too tired after spending a full day under the sun at Fregene Beach, stop by for dinner as well. The small restaurants in the picturesque “Villaggio dei Pescatori” neighborhood will know how to satisfy you.
This should be enough to make you desire to visit Fregene Roma as soon as you can. I would not be surprised to know that you have decided to spend your summer vacation in Italy right in Fregene.
Further readings
Make sure to read these posts if you want further inspiration on places to visit near Rome in summer:
