Beaches, Sorrento – Insider Tips

Things to Do in Sorrento, Beaches

You won’t find the beaches of Sorrento to be your typical white sandy beach experience. Before you go, know what to expect so you aren’t surprised by what you’ll find.

The Sorrento Coastline

The waterfront is probably one of the biggest draws in Sorrento because it is a great place to relax after a tiring trip to Rome or Florence. Yet, Sorrento is not noted for its beaches because it sits on a cliff top, high over the Gulf of Naples. Down on the shoreline there is not really much of a “beach” because, instead of soft sands, you’ll find a lot of rock. So the Italians did the next best thing along this gravel coast – they cleverly created several artificial beaches. These beaches, partly on piers made of wooden planks and concrete platforms, are constructed on the black sand. While not a traditional beach, there is nice ocean scenery, warm water, and it is an ideal spot to sunbathe. A warning though, there is a bit of an undertow, so be careful when you are in the water.

Tips for Visiting Sorrento’s Beaches

In Sorrento, there are free beaches and admission-based resort style beaches. The latter have showers, changing rooms, bathrooms, a bar and “sunbeds”. These beds (a separate fee) are lounge chairs with a visor to cover your face so the sun isn’t in your eyes. The beaches are typically crowded, especially the free ones, so it might be hard to find a spot.

Tips:

• You can rent a sun umbrella and deck chairs
• Food is pricier here than in town
• Don’t speak loudly if you don’t want others to hear
• You can sunbathe topless here if you prefer

Also, as a warning, there are narrow, steep lanes leading down to the beaches and harbor. Great going down, but dreadful coming back up! Remember to drink enough water and to dry off before leaving the beach. If you don’t, it’s going to be quite uncomfortable. If you prefer not to walk, depending where you are, there are some elevators you can take, but there is a fee to ride one up.

Enjoy the Scenic Views

While it is nice to get some beach time in, there might be more enjoyable places to hang out. Being along the cliffs, there are a number of spectacular viewpoints to look out at the sea. Travel along the famous Sorrentina highway, the Strada Statale 145, and also see the coast from Montechiaro and Vico Equense, other towns located along the cliffs. Along this road you will experience postcard perfect views, and you can take photos, videos and selfies of the beautiful and rugged Sorrentine Peninsula. You can even see the Island of Capri on a clear and sunny day. These vista points have a few temporary parking spots for people who want to stop to savor the wonderful views.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do at the Sorrento beaches.