LIDO STELLA MARIS – How (& Why) to Book This Beach Club in Puglia

I’ve been asked to include more guides on specific places, hotels, and activities (vs general guides) – so let’s take a look at an excellent beach club to book if you want to spend the day at the beach on the Ionian Sea in Puglia!

Porto Cesareo, Punta Prosciutto, and Torre Lapillo are some of the most gorgeous beaches on this stretch of coastline.  We love Torre Lapillo, and Lido Stella Maris.

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Why You’ll Love Lido Stella Maris

• The water in front of the lido is clear, clean, and turquoise
• The entry is shallow and stays shallow fairly far out
• The sand is clean and soft
• Stella Maris is large enough that making a reservation isn’t like entering the lottery, but small enough that you don’t feel like a number
• The staff is friendly and there is some English spoken (you can also use Google translate if needed)
• This is a biggie if you have kids – the front row of the umbrella/lounge chairs is really close to the beach.  This means you can sit in your lounge chair and watch your kids play in the sand.  Here’s a photo of me in the front row, 10 meters from the water:

Often, beach clubs are set further back, so you have to go sit in the sand all day to be with your kids.  It’s a nice treat to chill a bit, especially if you want some shade.  Please note that I’m not suggesting you leave your kids to play alone near the water. 

Here’s a photo of the other rows at Stella Maris.  As you can see, if you’re in one of these rows, you won’t be able to see your kids playing in the sand by the water.

• The price is right.  In June 2025, we paid €30 for a day pass that included a beach umbrella and two wide beach lounge chairs in the front row.  That’s a bargain.
• Porto Cesareo is right next door.  The town is a great spot for an evening stroll and dinner with kids. 
• The beach in front of Stella Maris is long and doesn’t feel as ‘crunched’ as some Puglia beaches that are ‘stuck’ in small areas.
• You can park at Stella Maris
• There are coin showers and (free) foot showers
• It’s easy to visit from nearby towns and cities, including Lecce (only 40 minutes away by car)

Why You May Want to Skip Lido Stella Maris

Read more about
Lecce with Kids
Driving in Puglia

Stella Maris may not be your spot if you’re not okay with crowded beaches.  I would definitely avoid Torre Lapillo beach during July and August.  Here are a couple of photos from a late June visit (taken in the late morning):

Stella Maris isn’t ‘fancy.’  There is a restaurant, but it’s casual. 

There’s not a kids’ play area or swimming pool. 

You can’t book far in advance.  I was able to confirm in early June for a late June visit.

So, Are You Ready to Book It?

There are a few ways to book Lido Stella Maris:

1. Reserve from the website.  It’s in Italian, but if you’re comfortable, you can click on ‘PRENOTA’ to start your reservation.  You’ll be directed to a beach club booking site that many bagni/lidi in Italy use. 
2. Write to the WhatsApp number (find the up-to-date number on the website).
3. Email the lido (again, check for the email on the website).

I booked using WhatsApp.

Tips for your booking:

• Book the 1^st or 2^nd row (fila).
• Know that you can only fit 4 people in one ‘spot’ (umbrella with 2 beach lounge chairs).
• Make sure you get a confirmation.  If you don’t get anything, follow up by WhatsApp or email.
• Try to avoid Saturday and Sunday, when the beach club will be at max capacity.
• Don’t stress if you can’t book your date.  If you try to book before the season starts (June), the website doesn’t work, and you may not get a quick response with email or WhatsApp.

On the Day of Your Stella Maris Visit

You can park at the Lido.  Just drive in, let them know you have a reservation, and pay the daily parking fee (€5 in June 2025).  There is ample parking, but it can fill up.  Even if you have a reservation, you don’t have reserved parking.

Check in at the main booth, and you’ll get a ticket that you can give to the staff members on the beach.  They’ll walk you to your spot.  Note that you need to check in between 8:30 and 13:00.

Enjoy the beach and the sea!

Take advantage of all of Stella Maris’s amenities:

• Hot/cold showers
• Toilets (with changing tables)
• Changing rooms
• Restaurant
• Bar/Caffè
• Food orders from your spot on the beach (use the QR code)

I hope this helps you book Stella Maris and have a fun and memorable day at Torre Lapillo Beach! 

Check out my Puglia beach guides
Torre Guaceto Beach
Torre Lapillo Beach
Lido Stella Maris (at Torre Lapillo)

Candice Criscione

Candice, a mamma of three, is an Italy trip planner and travel guide who has been living, traveling, and working in Italy for over two decades. She uses her extensive experience in Italy to help travelers plan their first (or tenth!) trip to bella Italia. She lives in Tuscany with her husband and three boys and when she’s not writing for Mom in Italy or The Tuscan Mom, you can find her cycling the Tuscan hills and exploring Italy with her boys!

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