Beach Day in Sorrento, Italy: Best Beaches & Beach Clubs

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If you’re picturing a traditional Italian beach with a wide stretch of sand, beach towels spread out along the shore, and kids running in and out of the water… Sorrento is not that...

And honestly? That’s part of what makes a beach day here so interesting.

I recently spent a day at Marameo Beach Club in Sorrento, and it turned out to be one of the most unique beach experiences of my Euro Summer.

Watch this video on what it’s like to enjoy a beach day in Sorrento, Italy…

Table of Contents

Sorrento Beaches: 3 Things to Know

1. They’re not traditional sandy beaches.
Most of Sorrento’s beach clubs are built on rocky platforms and decks, with loungers overlooking the Gulf of Naples and ladders leading directly into the water.

2. Marina Piccola is the easiest area for a beach day.
From central Sorrento, head toward Villa Comunale and take the elevator down to the waterfront. From there, you can choose from several beach clubs and spend the day by the water.

3. A beach club is an easy alternative to a private boat.
You can enjoy swimming, loungers, food, coffee, cocktails and the views without booking an entire boat charter. For an easy, relaxed day in Sorrento, it’s hard to beat.

I’m sharing more from my Mediterranean adventures — from beautiful beaches to food, hotels, cruise days and the experiences that make a trip to this part of the world unforgettable.

Follow along on Instagram @sipbitego for the full experience.

First: Sorrento Beaches Are Different

Sorrento doesn’t have the kind of sandy beaches you might expect from other coastal destinations in Italy…

Instead, the beach clubs around Marina Piccola are built onto platforms and decks along the rocky coastline. You choose your lounger, order a drink, and when you want to swim, you walk down a ladder directly into the sea.

It feels much more like a luxe day by the water than a traditional beach day.

And if you’re looking for an alternative to spending hundreds of dollars on a private boat charter, this is a really easy way to enjoy the water without committing to an entire boat day.

How to Get Down to the Beach

If you’re staying in central Sorrento, getting to the beach is surprisingly easy.

One option is to walk down toward Villa Comunale di Sorrento, where you can take the elevator (aka “lift) down to Marina Piccola…

The lift costs about €3 round trip, which is a pretty easy trade-off when you don’t feel like tackling the stairs back up.

You can also walk down the ramp if you’d rather save the money — just remember that what goes down must eventually come back up!

Here’s a look at what it’s like to walk down to the port in Sorrento:

And here is another look at the path from the side:

One thing I particularly liked about Marameo as a beach club is that it’s right next to the elevator, so getting back to the center of Sorrento was incredibly convenient.

It’s also walkable from the center of town, which was a big plus for us since we were staying at the Antiche Mura.

Spending the Day at Marameo Beach Club

We chose Marameo Beach Club and spent the day there.

My biggest takeaway? If you’re looking for an easy beach day with a decent beach club experience, I don’t think you can go terribly wrong with the clubs along this stretch.

They’re fairly similar in the overall concept, so I’d honestly look at the location, seating options and photos and choose the one that appeals to you most.

Marameo worked well for us.

The facilities were clean, and there was everything we needed for a relaxed day by the water — including coffee, drinks and food.

And yes, despite what you may have heard, you absolutely can get an iced coffee in Italy. I started my beach day with an iced cappuccino.

What We Paid

We paid about $40 per person for premium loungers at Marameo.

Ours were positioned along the end of the deck, which gave us a little more privacy and made the upgrade worthwhile for us.

Marameo’s pricing can be a little difficult to pin down because I wasn’t able to find a current official price list online.

I’ve seen various reports of different rates depending on where you sit, with additional charges for things like umbrellas and towels, so I’d recommend checking the current pricing when you arrive rather than relying on older prices online.

If you’re trying to decide whether the premium seating is worth it, I’d consider how long you’re planning to stay. For us, having a more private spot made sense because we were spending most of the day there.

One Thing to Know About the Food

The club has a kitchen, so you can order food while you’re there.

But check the kitchen hours when you arrive.

The kitchen takes breaks during the day, so don’t assume you’ll be able to order lunch at any time. If you’re planning your entire day around eating at the beach club, I’d ask about the kitchen schedule early.

You can also order drinks, cocktails and beer, which makes it very easy to settle in and stay awhile.

Go Early

This is one tip I’d definitely follow.

The area gets much busier around 11 AM.

If you want your pick of seating and a more relaxed experience, I’d get there earlier rather than treating this like a late-morning beach day.

By late morning, the platforms can get busy.

Bring a Float + Snorkel Gear

If you want to float in the water, bring your own float if you can.

The clubs have a limited number available, and if you’re traveling with kids, you may not want to count on one being available when you arrive.

I’d also bring your own snorkel gear if you have it.

Since you’re swimming directly in the sea rather than walking into a sandy beach, having snorkel gear can make getting in the water even more fun.

Is This a Good Alternative to a Private Boat Charter?

Absolutely.

A private boat charter is obviously a completely different experience — and if you have the budget, it can be an incredible way to see the coastline.

But it’s also a much bigger commitment in terms of time and money.

If what you really want is a beautiful day by the water, somewhere comfortable to sit, drinks, food and the ability to jump into the sea whenever you want, a Sorrento beach club is an incredibly easy option.

You don’t have to coordinate a boat.

You don’t have to spend the entire day on the water.

And you can walk back into town whenever you’re ready.

Was Marameo Beach Club Worth It?

For us, yes.

I liked the convenience, the clean facilities, the location and having a more private premium lounger for the day.

But I wouldn’t necessarily say you have to choose Marameo.

If you’re staying in Sorrento and want an easy beach day, I’d head down to Marina Piccola, take the elevator or walk down, and pick the beach club that looks best to you.

They’re all offering a relatively similar experience.

And that’s actually the best part: you don’t need to plan an elaborate beach day in Sorrento.

Just get yourself down to the water, claim a lounger, order an iced cappuccino, and enjoy the view.

Because this may not be the typical Italian beach you imagined…

but it’s a pretty fantastic way to spend a day in Sorrento.

Can’t wait to hear what you think!

I’d love to know how your version turned out! Drop a rating and leave a comment below to help the Sip Bite Go community. And if you snapped any photos, tag me on Instagram—I love sharing reader pics in my Stories!

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