Author’s Note: Over several trips, I’ve explored the incredible Neapolitan coastline and the areas north and south of this charming, charismatic city. A favorite moment was snorkeling off of Ischia in crystal clear water, before swimming back to the boat for Aperol Spritzes paired with melon and prosciutto skewers.
The beaches in Naples, Italy, like this vibrant southern city itself, are often highly characterful.
And as with the city, where history feels intertwined with the present day, the beaches in Naples, Italy, are frequently augmented by crumbling villas or sunken Roman curiosities. Here, your beach experience comes stacked with culture.
Within this whole area, from the Cape of Sorrento to the shining shores of Isle of Capri, there’s a cove or beach or swimming spot for all tastes.
Here are some of the best beaches near Naples, Italy.
Marina Grande, Capri
Marina Grande, Capri
Once a quiet fishing village, Marina Grande in Capri has since transformed into a lively port—the lone gateway for boats seeking entry to this near-mythic island off the coast of Naples.
Behind Marina Grande’s sun-bleached, bird-strutted breakwater, a line of houses the colors of sorbet look out over the anchored boats. Sleek sailing yachts and brightly painted fishing boats mix with the ferries and multi-story gin palaces all seeking a mooring at this jewel of the Tyrrhenian.
As such there’s plenty to watch from the island’s largest beach, found just the other side of the breakwater. While many immediately depart for the island’s hinterland, for those with less time, Marina Grande offers a superb base for settling into the vibe straight away.
Marina Grande, Capri
The beach is protected from winds by the cliffs, while the pebbles make way for sand the further you walk from the marina. Locals jump off the rocks into the glassy sea. Across the water, you can see the Cape of Sorrento and Vesuvius looming in the distance.
Having waded into an appetite, leave the beach and find Midici on via Cristoforo Colombo for delicious takeaway pasta and portions of fried octopus. Find a place to sit along the boardwalk, or stroll up to the higher part of town for an even more scenic outlook.
Duoglio Beach, Amalfi Coast
Duoglio Beach, Amalfi Coast
Duoglio Beach is located a mile west of the bustling pier of Amalfi, slotted into the feted topography of this magnificent stretch of coastline. Descend 400 stone steps from the Amalfi Drive to reach this piece of coastal heaven, or use the seasonal boat shuttle which offers rides every half an hour from Amalfi’s pier.
However you get there, you’ll be pleased that you’ve made the effort. This lovely shingle-and-sand niche in the cliffs, lapped by the crystalline breakers of the Tyrhennian, feels a world away from the top-down Maseratis zipping by above the cliffs.
Duoglio Beach, Amalfi Coast
Settle onto a lounge chair at one of the two stabilimenti operating here, or find some space on the free beach—it’s small, so arriving before 11 am is recommended. With its size and the element of effort required to reach it, you’ll find that Duoglio is a beach more for snorkeling couples than noisy families.
Rent a kayak and explore the sea cliffs before dining on Margherita pizza and spaghetti alla vongole at the beachside restaurant, I Due Scugnizzi. You’ll relish the down-to-earth air of Duoglio Beach—a slice of genuine Amalfi away from the crowds.
Spiaggia di Citara, Ischia
Spiaggia di Citara, Ischia
The largest island of the Neapolitan Archipelago, Ischia is a favorite with Italians on vacation. A laidback locale with casual trattorias catering to regional tastes, it also offers superb beaches at every point of the compass.
Poseidon Thermal Gardens
Another aspect of Ischia is its volcanic temperament. Happily, it eschews the smoke-spewing shenanigans of islands like Stromboli in favor of calm-inducing thermal waters. Its famous thermal spa, the Poseidon Thermal Gardens on Ischia’s west coast, has more than 20 naturally-warmed swimming pools to choose from.
Separating the Italian gardens from the sea is a golden ribbon of sand called Spiaggia di Citara, renowned as the best beach on the island for sunsets. This spacious beach, looking west towards Sardinia, is a hit with Italian families.
Dive into the clean, clear water for some snorkeling (the slope into the water is steep-ish so it’s not your ideal wading beach). Alternatively, just sit on the beach awaiting the caramelizing sky to announce aperitivo hour at one of the many bars fronting onto the sand.
Read: Best Beaches in Italy for Families
Santa Croce Beach, Amalfi Coast
Accessible only by boat—ideally a richly varnished Riva speedboat—Santa Croce Beach offers a true sense of that Amalfi dolce vita. Set within a lush cove in Vettica Minore, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it village two miles west of Amalfi, the beach is named for the ruins of an abandoned church set into the cliffs.
The Santa Croce beach experience is, like Romeo & Juliet, a matter of two houses: the blue parasols of Ristorante Da Teresa and the orange of Ristorante Santa Croce. Choose your colors by renting a lounge chair or dining at their establishment—think fried calamari and chilled peaches in white wine—and they’ll throw in a free ten-minute shuttle to and from Amalfi.
There is some free beach available, although it’s in the stonier section of Santa Croce. That said, much of the beach comprises a smooth pebble mix, while the sapphire shallows lap the boulders scattered along the shoreline.
Arch of Lovers, near Santa Croce Beach, Amalfi Coast
If that ruggedness sounds romantic, wait until you hear about the local tradition: whether you’re in a pedalo or a motorboat, if you pass beneath the cove’s natural rock arch then you must kiss your significant other. How perfectly Italian.
Maiori Beach, Amalfi Coast
Maiori Beach, Amalfi Coast
Famous as the longest stretch of sand on the storied Amalfi Coast, you’d imagine that Maiori Beach would be something of a poseur’s paradise.
Happily, amid the chic 20-something tourists, you’ll also find ordinary day-tripping Italians seeking that shot of old-school glamor blended with the Amalfi’s jaw-dropping good looks.
Maiori’s beach is itself something of a non-sequitur amid the Amalfi’s precipitous geography. It’s actually the result of a landslide in the 1950s that led to a re-shaping of the seafront.
It’s a wonderful beach for people-watching, whether you’ve rented a lounger or are in one of the free areas bookending the beach. This setup, incidentally, is typical of Italian beaches, which are a mix of private concessions on which you can rent a lounger and enjoy other facilities, and areas that are free to access. Maiori’s characterful knot of streets, a muse for director Roberto Rossellini, is also a fantastic place to wander with a lemon pastry in hand.
Minori Beach, Amalfi Coast
Minori Beach, Amalfi Coast
The name suggests it: Minori is a smaller beach than its neighbor, Maiori, but not the lesser destination by any other measurement besides square footage. Its south-facing aspect promises a good day’s browning for the sun-worshippers on its loungers, while there’s just enough free beach to extend the town’s authentic vibe right up to the aquamarine shallows.
Minori is the black sheep of the Amalfi towns. It doesn’t have that full wattage smile, instead offering a more easygoing vibe among its maze of pastel-colored houses. While they no longer hang the local scialatielli pasta to dry in the piazza, it’s still available on menus.
Also available is the must-have local specialty, torta ricotta e pere, a creamy, nutty sponge cake filled with pears, at top pastry chef Sal De Riso’s shop/bistro.
Marina del Cantone, Massa Lubrense
Marina del Cantone, Massa Lubrense
On the Amalfi side of the Sorrento Peninsula, Marina del Cantone is the main pebble beach of the coastal village of Merano.
Come here in the shoulder seasons—even as late as early October, as it sits in a sheltered situation—and you’ll experience something special, with views across the Tyrrhenian towards the sublime island of Capri.
Punta Campanella Marine Reserve
That glassy water washing your toes is the result of the Punta Campanella Marine Reserve. Besides the stunning water quality, another of the draws of Marina del Cantone’s is the wealth of dining options along its charming beachfront.
For something special, arrive by boat to eat at Lo Scoglio, or make your way to the vistas of Ristorante Il Cantuccio Nerano.
To work off your abundant bowlful of spaghetti alla Nerano—the local zucchini-based specialty—pull on your shoes and walk the trail leading to the medieval watchtower above the beach. There is parking close by, although spaces fill quickly. It can be more convenient—and more exciting—to arrive by boat from Positano or Sorrento.
Spiaggia della Gaiola, Naples
Spiaggia della Gaiola, Naples
Located at the foot of the Posillipo district, Spiaggia della Gaiola is one of those beaches in Naples, Italy, that exemplifies what makes this fringe of the country so special.
Part city beach, part marine protected area, Spiaggia della Gaiola is a rocky piece of shore with small ribbons of sand for the fortunate early birds. With its topography unsuitable for rows upon rows of loungers, it’s entirely a free beach but be aware that it is correspondingly free of amenities.
But leave your towel and the shore behind. This is one of the city’s best swimming spots with water so clear that, on one of Naples’ 264 days of sunshine, you can easily see the reddish bristle of urchins on the seafloor below.
Spiaggia della Gaiola, Naples
It’s more likely that your eyes will be above the surface inspecting the Island of Gaiola. These two islets of wind-sculpted rock, joined by a fingernail of a bridge, sit just offshore. Two buildings with tragic histories sit upon what is now government land, connected to the submerged historical site located below the azure waves.
If you want to see more, it’s possible to take a glass-bottomed boat tour to see the ancient remains of sunken seaside villas below, picked over by damselfish and lugubrious bream.
Read: Best Things to Do in Naples, Italy
La Pignatella, Sorrento
When you’re in the orbit of vivacious Naples, finding a spot for a quiet swim can be tricky. Fortunately, there’s La Pignatella, close to the resort of Marina di Puolo.
It’s less a beach near Naples and more of a shelf of rock near Sorrento. Named for the stand of pines behind it, the shelf gently descends into the translucent waves. A rope and ladder here or three to help bathers into the water.
Another point of difference for La Pignatella among the many beaches here is that there’s room to park—in an olive grove, no less. Once you’ve found a shady space, walk for five minutes down one of two well-scoured paths to the beach.
Despite its raw quality, you can still find a lounge chair to rent, probably a good idea, given the unyielding nature of the rock beneath your back.
Author’s Note: Swimming spots like La Pignatella or Bagna del Giovanni are well worth seeking out, but it’s always recommended to wear water shoes to protect against the often scraggly rock. Limping around the lanes of Naples’ Spanish Quarter or exploring Pompeii with an injured foot can take away from a top tier experience. On the plus side, an injury does offer carte blanche for an abundance of gelato/limoncello/sfogliatelle to take the edge off the pain.
Marina Piccola Beach, Capri
Spiaggia della Chiaia, Ischia
Like a slice of lime wedged between weathered crags, Marina Piccola Beach is one of the best beaches near Naples, Italy. Besides its popularity, it’s also been immortalized in Homer’s Odyssey as the place where the sirens attempted to waylay Odysseus on his return to Ithaca.
More fool, Odysseus. Sheltered by cliffs with a natural limestone arch to swim beneath, Marina Piccola Beach is a magical spot, edged by a riddle of rocky nooks and low cliffs off which to dive into the turquoise waters.
From the pebbly beach, you have views of the Faraglioni, a trio of jutting limestone spurs that soar out of the Bay of Naples. They also make for nice points of interest while sitting at—where else?—Ristorante Le Sirene for a negroni and red seabream prepared all’acqua pazza; poached in a light broth.
Marina Grande, Sorrento
Marina Grande, Sorrento
The name “Marina Grande” refers less to its slip of beach and more to the wider context within which that beach sits. Named for being the main launching point for the boats of the fishermen of Sorrento, Marina Grande is less about launching nowadays, and more about lunching, as it’s become the epicenter of Sorrento’s beachside dining scene.
This handsome strip of sand is divided between stabilimenti and spiaggia libera. Day-tripping Neapolitans and local Sorrentini secure spaces on the sand-shale mix, while fishermen putter out between the breakwaters to catch the sea bream that you’ll have for lunch.
Marina Grande, Sorrento
It’s one of the best things to do in Sorrento for families, with shallow water and food on demand. Behind the beach, the 19th-century architecture is stacked like pastel-colored panettone boxes, and bars and restaurants spill out onto the promenade.
Choosing where to eat is the difficult part, with excellent seafood available at Ristorante Delfino, Trattoria Emilia, and Bagni Sant’ Anna, the latter set out on the pier. The views of Vesuvius across the bay encourage lingering until aperitivo hour at the very least.
Spiaggia della Chiaia, Ischia
Spiaggia della Chiaia, Ischi
Of all of Ischia’s superlative beaches, Spiaggia della Chiaia, with its meltingly soft, white sand slipping into a gently shelving sea, is perhaps the most warmly welcoming.
Breakwaters ensure ideal swimming conditions, and amenities are plentiful. The beach’s width means that, even with the Neapolitan clans descending in August, it doesn’t feel mobbed.
Once you’ve floated in the salty sea and watched the local teens throwing themselves around during heated games of volleyball, explore the medieval treasures of surrounding Forio. The town, the island’s prettiest, has a saintly white 14th-century church (Chiesa del Soccorso), ancient watchtowers, and fruity Biancolella wine to sample.
Read: Italy With Teens: Best Things to See & Do
Spiaggia di Capo Miseno, Bacoli
Spiaggia di Capo Miseno, Bacoli
Easily one of the best sandy beaches near Naples, Spiaggia di Capo Miseno—or just Spiaggia di Miseno—is found on its eponymous picturesque cape. It’s located at Bacoli—a popular seaside resort reached by a 45-minute car journey, or by train followed by a short cab ride.
Witnessing its high-season beach clubs arrayed in orderly formations across the sand, Bacoli’s military heritage is called to mind. This area was as popular in the time of the Caesars as it is today, with cisterns, ruined baths, and ancient theaters nearby for inspection. History buffs will also be drawn to remnants of WWII installations.
Capo Miseno, Bacoli
This broad ribbon of sand is bookended by a headland, Monte di Procida, and the cape itself, with its Monte Miseno promontory. A dormant volcanic cone, the promontory makes for an enjoyable walk, with groves of lemon trees and bijou vineyards lining the paths.
However, it may be hard to leave your lounge chair, especially with the beguiling silhouettes of Ischia and Procida lying far out beyond Miseno’s azure shallows.
Spiaggia di Miliscola, Bacoli
Spiaggia di Miliscola, Bacoli
Essentially part of the same beachy strip as Spiaggia di Miseno, Spiaggia di Miliscola is one of the beaches near Naples that’s worth the added travel time.
Miliscola includes the far end of Miseno Beach and has another section enclosed by a breakwater. The talcum-soft sand slips beneath the glassy water to form endless luscious shallows. Groups of teens bask on inflatables before heading to the top of the Miliscola for enthusiastic games of beach volleyball.
“Miliscola,” so it’s widely believed, is a compound of the Latin term “Militum Schola.” During the Roman Empire, this area was where future naval officers studied the art of oceangoing combat.
No doubt the young cadets of yesteryear would have appreciated the amenities now available—bars and restaurants for sunset aperitivi, followed by must-have mussels at beloved Da Vittorio.
Spiaggia di Castiglione, Ravello
Spiaggia di Castiglione, Ravello
The issue of beach clubs or stabilimenti can be a divisive one, among visitors to Italy and the Italians themselves. Close to the Italian city of Naples, club attendants can be curt when protecting their club’s sandy turf and it’s an experience that can push you firmly into the spiaggia libera camp.
However, should you visit Spiaggia di Castiglione, a beach quarried into existence to create the sinuous curves of the Amalfi Drive, you might find yourself warming to beach establishments. Close to the Amalfi Coast town of Ravello, this beach is reached via a zig-zagging staircase that drops you into a pear-shaped plot of coastal bliss.
Spiaggia di Castiglione, Ravello
The water is emerald, the beach pebbly. However, despite its plum spot on the Amalfi, it seems to have somehow missed the attention of the high-season armada that likes to anchor offshore the Amalfi’s best stretches. This maintains the pristine quality of the crystal clear water, and the view, which includes that silver screen darling—the bell tower of Atrani.
While taking in the view, you’ll probably be looking out from beneath the blue and white parasols of the Lido di Ravello Beach Club. The owner, Lorenzo, runs the club with the very best of boisterous Italian hospitality, and prices that almost feel as if you’re not on the Amalfi.
This is particularly helpful as, due to the cliffs, the beach is shady in the afternoon, so it’s time for a chilled bottle of local Fiorduva wine.
Spiaggia Libera Pozzano, Castellammare di Stabia
Spiaggia Libera Pozzano, Castellammare di Stabia
Of the many beaches in Naples, Italy, Spiaggi Libera Pozzano has one of the city’s most iconic outlooks.
Across the clear waters of the Gulf of Naples, the cone of Vesuvius dominates your view as the water sizzles through Pozzano’s shoreline shingles. It’s a remarkable sight to contemplate as you swim in this popular locals’ spot, especially as the original Castellammare di Stabia was decimated by the same eruption that sealed up Pompeii.
The stretch of coast has a series of beaches like Pozzano, with the better known ones—such as Stone Beach and the poetically named Famous Beach—dominated by private clubs where you can rent a lounger. As such, Pozzano’s unregulated, free-of-charge approach is a breath of fresh salty air.
Marina di Puolo, Sorrento
Marina di Puolo, Sorrento
One of those places that feel like somewhere you’ll return again and again, Marina di Puolo is a seaside hamlet just west of the tourist hotspot of Sorrento.
Despite neighboring one of the region’s most storied towns, Marina di Puolo remains relatively uncrowded, even during summer in Italy. This is all the more extraordinary considering its good-sized beach of volcanic sand—a rare treasure on the pebbly Massa Cape.
Marina di Puolo, Sorrento
The beach is also enclosed within limestone cliffs softened by tumbling bougainvillea flowers and the deep shade of umbrella pines. There are sweeping views across the Bay of Naples and orange-bottomed pedalos parked at the north end of the beach. Fishing boats pull up on the sand, unloading the catch of the day to the restaurants on the beach.
The locals love their little slice of paradise, and you’ll sometimes see litter-picking groups maintaining its cleanliness. If you’re based in colorful Sorrento and like the idea of some exercise, it’s an hour’s walk (mostly easy, with some steeper sections) from Sorrento’s Marina Grande via lemon-scented groves to Marina di Puolo.
Bagni della Regina Giovanna, Sorrento
Bagni della Regina Giovanna, Sorrento
On the Cape of Sorrento, the Bagni della Regina Giovanna is a secluded swimming hole offering minimal sand and maximum romance.
Named for a medieval queen of Naples who was rumored to have used the spot for romantic trysts, today the Bagni della Regina Giovanna is not just reserved for cheating royalty.
Bagni della Regina Giovanna, Sorrento
Reached after a 20-minute walk through the aromatic coastal scrub, Bagni della Regina Giovanna’s limpid waters await you at the bottom of a flight of stairs. As you wade out into the shallow water, you’ll spot the natural stone arch at one corner of the cliffs. Swim through it to reach a sea-facing cove.
Overlooking this timeless spot are the ruins of Villa Pollio, dating from the first century BCE, to explore. You should also summon your courage to tackle the rickety-looking walkway that takes you to Lido La Solara. This is a bare-bones bar resort that sticks to the basics and does it well.
Marina di Praia, Amalfi Coast
Marina di Praia, Amalfi Coast
Sequestered between two walls of rock, the beach at Marina di Praia is all about timing. With its dramatically blinkered setting, the sun only warms the pebbles here for a few hours every day.
Once the direct sun has moved on to focus on another exquisite stretch of the Amalfi Coast, It’s time to get exploring. Head up the cactus and palm-lined path on the right side of the beach to explore the medieval Torre a Mare defensive tower. Just east of Positano, Praiano makes for a perfect, less overwhelmed base during high season on the Amalfi.
With its buildings set into the cliffs, this fishing village’s history is (quite literally) embedded into its surroundings. Crumbling seaside churches, the cheesy Il Pirata bar serving Captain Hook cocktails, and the fact that this is still, at heart, a fishing village make Praiano a nice blend of quirk and class.
Positano Beach, Amalfi Coast
Positano Beach, Amalfi Coast
When you’re looking for beaches near Naples, Italy, it’s hard not to think about visiting Positano Beach, one of the best things to do along the Amalfi Coast.
As you can imagine, Positano Beach—like the famous pastel-print coastal town adorning the surrounding wisteria-fringed cliffs—is a busy spot in the warmer months. Needle-nosed speedboats anchor offshore, while the striped umbrellas of the beach clubs with their color-matched loungers are full of sun-tanned physiques.
There’s space in the beach’s mid-section for those not looking for the facilities of the beach clubs, and usually a table for drinks at Rada at the beach’s eastern edge (be sure to book well in advance for the restaurant with its wonderful balcony-over-Positano perspective).
Read: Best Things to Do in Positano
FAQs
Does Naples, Italy, have good beaches?
Naples
There are a wide selection of beaches near Naples. The ones you’ll find listed here are the best in the area, taking into account things like the scenic nature of the location, water quality, and facilities.
It is important to note that the best beaches near Naples are generally not the largest swathes of sand. Many are swimming areas, occasionally rocky, and sometimes without any facilities. What makes for a good beach, of course, is highly subjective.
What are the best family-friendly beaches near Naples?
Ischia
The island of Ischia is the best family-friendly beach destination near Naples. A testimony to this is the multitude of Neapolitan families that descend on Ischia during the summer school vacation, ready to enjoy the island’s easygoing allure.
Beyond its charming small towns equipped with swiftly serving pizza joints and traditional trattorias, Ischia offers Italian beaches such as Spiaggia di Citara and Spiaggia della Chiaia that have plenty of space as well as gently shelving shallows ideal for short legs. If you’re vacationing in the Amalfi, meanwhile, the best family-friendly beach there is the spacious Maiori.
Are there any free beaches in Naples?
Mappatella Beach
Unless you’re in a more rustic, off-the-beaten-path part of Italy—such as Tuscany’s Maremma region—you’re unlikely to come across an entirely free beach. Naples does have Mappatella Beach, however, it’s not recommended due to its cleanliness and water quality.
The tradition of the stabilimenti, or beach clubs has become deeply ingrained into Italian beach culture, and for each person who dislikes these commercial empires, there is someone who adores the service.
With the beaches near Naples, you’ll tend to find that there’s an area of spiaggia libera, or free beach slotted in between the beach clubs or at one end of the beach. It’s only at unusual destinations such as Spiaggia della Gaiola, situated within a marine protected area, where you’ll find no beach clubs.
How can I reach the beaches from the cruise port?
Naples
Your best option for reaching many of the beaches near Naples is by hopping in a taxi.
When you emerge from the cruise terminal, you’ll find taxis lined up. Head first to the taxi stand where you’ll arrange your trip and its cost with the cab company before stepping into the car. It’s also possible to book a taxi online in advance and meet them outside.
Ischia
Alternatively, hop on a ferry and head to the island of Ischia. The ferry costs around €30 or, if you’re in a hurry, the hydrofoil cuts the travel time to around 50 minutes, about half that of the ferry. Expect to pay roughly double the price for the faster service.
Author’s Note: If there’s an opportunity to take a boat to a beach instead of the car, take it. Unless there’s plenty of parking promised, things can get tricky. Sometimes parking for beaches can appear to be little more than a roadside verge. Situations like this, as I’ve experienced in Italy more times that I’d like, leave your otherwise delightful Italian beach experience underscored with insecurity.
Visit the warm sand and glimmering sea of the beaches in Naples, Italy, on a cruise to the Bel Paese. Discover its wind-sculpted cliffs, sunken historical sites, and beachside aperitivo bars.
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