Beaches in or near Sorrento

Sorrento is not a beach resort, it's built on a cliff. Some of the most expensive hotels are along the top of the cliff. It is an EXCELLENT location for low-budget travelers who want to make daytrips. Note that June is into the busy season.

I only know the beach at Marina Piccolo, which is at least made of imported sand (see below), but it is small and surrounded by diesel-engined motor boats. It's like a beach with a marina on both sides. But it's free (except for the optional 1 or 2 Euro elevator ride down the cliff, of course you can take the stairs or long car roadway sidewalk. Sorrento simply is not known for its beaches.

Although Positano (for example) is "known" for its beaches, I don't care for 100% "pebble" beaches, and they aren't very big either. I hear that there are two more secluded beaches than the one I saw at the main marina, which has the bustle of a boardwalk in Lewes, Delaware or something like that. It's also a tough bus ride (lines to board, traffic to get there), so it should be combined with the official (I mean, family) daytrip to, say, Positano and Amalfi. There are smaller towns on the AC, but they take more time to get to and from. You don't really even wish you had a car, because road space and parking are both SCARCE.

Thanks, Tim.

Sharon

The Sorrento Peninsula (Sorrento is on the northern side of the peninsula, the Amalfi Coast on the southern side) is a very rocky strip of land jutting out to the sea. More than beaches, they are cliffs with the occasional pebbly cove. The island of Capri is more of the same. So tell them that is the nature of the location. It’s a very mountainous area, so they won’t find the large sandy beaches which are characteristic of plain flat coastlines like Florida. Here is a selection of beaches in the area.

http://www.sorrentodreaming.com/what-to-see/beaches-of-sorrento/
http://www.positano.com/en/e/beaches-amalfi-coast
http://www.capri.net/en/e/beaches-on-capri

Thanks, Roberto. I appreciate the links. I saw the first one in one of your earlier replies and used it to narrow down their choices. They've been warned about the types of beaches to expect (we'll see if they are paying attention once we get there 😏). I'll take a look at the other links to give them a few more choices.

Thank you for your help,

Sharon

I've stayed in Sorrento and in Salerno on different trips. I used Sorrento as a base for Herculaneum, Pompeii and Naples. I used Salerno as a base for the Amalfi Coast and Paestum. Salerno is less expensive, has (IMO at least) more sights, and a relatively large, sandy beach, just a few minutes' walk from the historic center. You might consider staying in Salerno - you can get to Pompeii by train - a real Trenitalia train - and BTW there are fast trains between Salerno and Naples/Rome. It would take longer to get to Capri, but less time to the scenic parts of the Amalfi Coast.

You might consider staying in Salerno - you can get to Pompeii by
train - a real Trenitalia train

Yes, Chani, but Sharon should know that the Salerno/Pompei train lets you off at the Pompei-town station, which is really no problem except that it's a good mile walk to the southern entrance of the ruins. We were there on a 60's-ish day in March and really enjoyed the walk through town.

And I don't think the beach at Salerno charges anything. Seem to remember a cheap chair/umbrella kiosk on the promenade for rentals.

Chani and Jay,

Thank you so much for your help and information. It looks like we are set for a day trip to Salerno from Sorrento to satisfy the 18 year olds' request for an Italian beach day. Perfect for me because I get to explore a new town while they enjoy the day on the beach.

Sharon

Sharon, here's where I lower the boom...

Problem is, Sorrento isn't technically on the Amalfi Coast--it's on the other side, the northern coast--check a map for reference. Just because it 'looks' close doesn't mean it is. By bus it takes an hour to go across the peninsula just to get to Positano.

Thus, using public trans it's a real P.I.T.A. to get from Sorrento to Salerno. The fastest way is the Circumvesuviana train (65 min) to Napoli Centrale, then you catch the Trenitalia (37 min) to Salerno station. The whole thing will take you at least 2.5 hours. It is cheap, however, maybe 20-25 Euro apiece each way. I wouldn't recommend it.

A far better choice would be to hire a taxi or driver round trip--pick you up at Sorrento at a specific time, pick you up where you're dropped off in Salerno maybe that evening, an hour each way point-to-point. It won't be cheap, might cost you in the vicinity of 100-125 Euro, maybe even a little more. But on vacation, time is money, and you may have to save up and bite the ol' bullet on this one. Maybe your hotel can offer cheaper options, or others on this forum.

I would recommend one thing in Salerno, and this is cheap. Pizzeria Trianon is a true Napolitan dive pizza joint just on the edge of Salerno's Old Town. Trianon originally started in Naples in 1929, and it's the best pizza of that style without actually having to go to Naples. Pizza's are 5-9 Euro apiece.

Enjoy your planning!

The only true sandy beach on the Amalfi Coast is Maiori. By Sita bus, purchase a daily 24hr ticket for €6,80. You'll have 1 change in Amalfi and will have to take another bus from there to Maiori. Total time with change is 2:20. Free areas on each end of the beach. This should fit well into the girls budget. On the way back, try to take the second to last bus.