Sorrento beaches: where to swim

Sorrento stands on a tuff terrace high above the sea, which is why its beaches are not long stretches of sand: they are small coves at the foot of the cliffs, wooden piers built over the water and inlets reached on foot or by boat. If you know what to expect, you will find crystal-clear water, swims with a view of Vesuvius and, just a few kilometres away, some of the finest bays on the Gulf of Naples.

Marina Piccola: the piers below the town

This is Sorrento's harbour, where ferries and hydrofoils depart, but on either side of the moorings you will find a row of beach clubs: wooden platforms and stilt structures over the sea, with sunloungers, umbrellas and ladders for diving into deep water. Between one club and the next there are a few short strips of beach. From Piazza Tasso it is about a ten-minute walk down Via Luigi De Maio and the flight of steps leading to the port; alternatively, take the lift that starts from the Villa Comunale, next to the church of San Francesco.

Marina Grande: the fishing village

West of the centre, Marina Grande is the old fishing village: pastel-coloured houses, wooden boats pulled up on the shore, nets spread out to dry and trattorias on the sand serving fish fresh off the boats. The beach, made of dark sand and pebbles, is partly free and partly taken up by small beach clubs on piers. You can walk down from the centre along the ramps and steps of Via Marina Grande, or take the local bus. At the end of July the village celebrates the feast of Saint Anne, its patron.

The Queen Giovanna Baths

About two kilometres from the centre, at Capo di Sorrento, lies the most striking spot for a swim: a natural pool of turquoise water enclosed by rocks and connected to the open sea through an arch. All around are the remains of the Roman villa of Pollius Felix, from the 1st century AD, of which the pool was probably the private landing place. The name comes from the legend that Queen Joan of Anjou bathed here. It can only be reached on foot, along a path that descends from Via del Capo through olive groves and dry-stone walls. There are no facilities: bring water, water shoes and the respect due to an archaeological site. Full details on the page about the Queen Giovanna Baths.

Beaches around the peninsula

Looking further afield, the peninsula has beaches to suit every taste:

• Marina di Puolo (Massa Lubrense): one of the widest sand-and-pebble beaches near Sorrento, tucked between Punta del Capo and Capo di Massa, with a small fishing hamlet behind it.
• Marina della Lobra (Massa Lubrense): a tiny fishing harbour with a little beach, below the sanctuary of Santa Maria della Lobra.
• Bay of Ieranto (Massa Lubrense): a cove protected by FAI, the Italian National Trust, and part of the Punta Campanella Marine Protected Area, reached on foot from Nerano along a scenic path or by sea.
• Marina del Cantone (Nerano): a long pebble beach facing the Gulf of Salerno, known for its seafood restaurants.
• Meta: the dark-sand beaches of Alimuri and Marina di Meta, also convenient for families.

Keen walkers can continue to Punta Campanella, the tip of the peninsula facing Capri, where the sea is among the clearest in the area.

Practical tips

• In high season the beach clubs fill up early: arrive in the morning or enquire in advance.
• Many swims start from platforms and rocks where the water is deep straight away: take care with small children.
• Water shoes come in handy almost everywhere.
• Hiring a boat or joining an excursion from Marina Piccola lets you reach coves that are otherwise inaccessible.
• To choose the right beach club, see the list of Sorrento beaches and lidos; for lunch, the seaside restaurants.