A Guide to Beaches & Beach Clubs in Capri | Maven Collection

On this little Italian island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, the sea is best enjoyed from a perch on a rock or the comfort of one of Capri’s renowned beach clubs. While it may have captivated visitors for centuries, the charm here isn’t long sandy beaches but the dramatic cliffs and sparkling water.

Here, days revolve around coves that can only be reached by boat, climbing down ladders into the deep sea and feasting on the finest seafood at a legendary beach club. 

For those coming to the island, we have put together our all-time favourite spots, including beach clubs to suit all moods and those more local-feel beaches and swim spots. If you’re heading to Capri, just remember that the best beach clubs can get booked up months in advance, and here at Maven we can help secure those all-important reservations. 

Capri’s dramatic coastline isn’t one that is flanked by long, sandy beaches. Instead, the beaches it does have are small and pebbly which means swimming is often done off the rocks or manmade decks.

This is where the beach clubs come in. Much like most of the Italian coastline, a big majority of access to the sea in Capri is via these spots that offer sunbed hire, swimming and a restaurant in one. In Capri, the beach clubs are legendary and at the heart of the island experience. Book your bed (and umbrella) and stay all day with dips in the sea and a break for lunch. Just remember that in the peak season the most popular clubs get booked up months in advance. 

While there aren’t any beaches in Capri that are entirely for public access, there are some beaches with a section without sunbeds that can be visited free of charge. Naturally these tend to get super busy in the peak summer months but in the shoulder season they are a lovely option for a swim and a lie on the sand. 

Capri’s beaches and beach clubs can be geographically divided into a few main areas. The northern coastline around the main ferry port, Marina Grande, is the most convenient to reach while on the south side of the island close to the Faraglioni sea stacks is where you find the most historic and well-known beach clubs. Head to the west of Capri to Punta Carena and the coast is more wild and the beach club offering is more relaxed. 

Our extensive exploration has led us to Capri’s best beaches and beach clubs. These are the ones to have on your radar for your next trip, chosen to reflect the varied landscapes and atmosphere on this magical island. On Capri, beaches and beach clubs are more or less interchangeable and this list reflects that. 

Starting out as a simple wooden beach shack in 1949, La Fontelina is arguably the most well-known beach club on the island with its signature blue-and-white striped loungers and location directly under the Faraglioni sea stacks. Unlike some other beach clubs, a day here always includes lunch. It’s a 25-minute walk from the Piazzetta but as the final approach is rather steep, most people arrive by La Fontelina’s boat shuttle. 

If you’re after a more low-key option, this small crescent-shaped pebble beach is your best public beach option. While there is a beach club here too (Bagni di Tiberio Beach Club), there is enough space to bring an umbrella and park up for the day. A good option for families, the water is calm in this sheltered cove and the small pebbles create the closest thing to sand you’ll find on Capri. It’s a 15-minute walk from Marina Grande or the Bagni di Tiberio Beach Club runs a shuttle boat for its guests. 

While this is not a beach in the typical sense, this is the swimming spot on the island that feels most local. On the south-west corner of Capri and accessed from Anacapri, here you will find a series of swimming platforms that slope gently towards the sea and ladders to climb down straight into the Tyrrhenian. Receiving sunlight until the very end of the day (many other Capri beaches are in shade at this point), it has a lively atmosphere in the late afternoon. 

Hidden in a small cove at the eastern end of Marina Piccola, Torre Saracena Beach Club has uninterrupted views of the Faraglioni sea stacks but a more relaxed vibe than the more famous beach clubs in this area. The family-run spot, which has been in operation since 1906 has lovely wooden decks built out into the sea, particularly clear water for snorkelling and an excellent seafood restaurant. Arrive by boat or it’s about a 20 minute walk from the Piazzetta. 

While not strictly a beach club, Il Riccio gets an honorary mention because this restaurant has a lovely bathing deck to enjoy either before or after lunch. Located just metres from the entrance to the famous Blue Grotto, there’s a small selection of daybeds and loungers as well as ladders down into the sea. As numbers are limited, it’s even more important here to book ahead. Most visitors arrive by boat but you can also take a taxi.  

Located beneath the island’s historic lighthouse at Punta Carena, this stretch of coastline feels the wildest in all of Capri and is one of the best spots for serious swimming with ladders direct into the deep ocean. Enjoying the sun all day, this is arguably the best point on the island for a sundowner cocktail.

the best beaches are the hardest to reach.

Nearly always in Capri, the easiest way to get to the beach or a beach club is by boat as this way you avoid the steep paths down to the water’s edge. If you’re spending a day at a beach club, they will offer a shuttle boat service at an additional cost. 

Having said that, there is always a way to reach these beaches and beach clubs on foot. This just normally means a long staircase or steep path down and packing sensible shoes.

While Capri is a very small island, it is not always easy to get around so your choice of accommodation location is important. 

In general, the beach club shuttles pick up guests from the main port, Marina Grande which is easily accessible from Capri’s old town by the funicular. Or, if you are walking down, it takes about 10-15 minutes walking. Therefore, staying close to old town Capri is an obvious win as this means you can easily reach the port and start your beach club day from there. 

At Maven Collection we have three spectacular villas, all within walking distance of Capri old town making them well located for reaching the island’s best beach clubs.  

Capri is very much a summer season island and the best time to visit is between May and October. Most beach clubs close from late October to early May and although you may find some locals swimming outside of this window, the rest of the island is very quiet in the off-season. 

Our favourite months to enjoy Capri’s beaches are June and September when the peak summer crowds have dissipated but the weather and water is still lovely.