Ladispoli is a small coastal town about 45 minutes from central Rome by regional train, popular with Romans looking for a beach day away from the more crowded Ostia. The town is known for its distinctive black volcanic sand, a reminder that this stretch of coast sits on ancient Etruscan territory shaped by volcanic activity.
The seafront has a pleasant lungomare for walking, and several stabilimenti (beach clubs) rent sun loungers and parasols at reasonable prices. The water is clean and the beach is wide enough that it rarely feels packed, even on summer weekends. Behind the seafront, trattorias serve fresh seafood and Roman classics at prices well below what you would pay in the capital. The town itself is unpretentious -- a working Italian beach community rather than a resort.
Just north of town, the Torre Flavia nature reserve protects a stretch of coast that is home to nesting shorebirds and the atmospheric ruins of a medieval watchtower standing in the surf. Ladispoli also makes a good starting point for visiting the Etruscan necropolis at Cerveteri, only about 10 kilometres to the north. The train station is a 5-10 minute walk from the seafront, making this one of the most convenient beach escapes from Rome.