Gaiola

While Naples is a popular destination in its own right, it’s also a gateway to plenty of beautiful bays and islands for beach-going explorers. Our local insiders help us pinpoint the best ones. Read on for the best beaches the Gulf of Naples has to offer.
This rocky cove, on a secluded stretch of coast at the end of an old fishing village in Posillipo, can be reached by boat or on foot. Snorkellers are privy to shoals of rainbow-coloured fish flitting through rocky crevices, and sunbathers have wonderful views of Sorrento across the sea. If you’re waiting for the crowds to dissipate, consider making a pitstop at Villa Fattorusso, a beach club with views of the beach below. And if all that walking has made you work up an appetite, the creamy gnocchi and shellfish dishes are a hit. Recommended by local insider Matt Barker
Once the stomping ground of writer Oscar Wilde and composer Richard Wagner, this classic Italian seaside resort is a family-friendly spot where you can enjoy a dip in calm waters, or relax on the wooden sundeck. In Posillipo, half an hour’s drive from the city, Bagno Elena has dark, volcanic sand, with a 17th-century palace on one side and an ancient watchtower on the other. During the summer, it hosts aerobics, fitness classes and even wedding ceremonies. Recommended by local insider Matt Barker