Let me set expectations first, because it saves disappointment: Capri is not a sandy-beach island. It is a mountain rising sheer out of the sea, so what you get instead is pebbly coves, rocky ledges, beach clubs on wooden platforms, and some of the clearest, bluest swimming water in the Mediterranean. Once you stop looking for sand and start looking for a place to dive off the rocks into that turquoise, Capri’s swimming is glorious. Here is where to swim on Capri, cove by cove.
Marina Piccola
The classic. Marina Piccola, on the sheltered south side below Capri town, is the island’s main swimming spot and the one with the view: the Faraglioni rise right in front of you as you float. It is a pebbly cove split into a free public stretch and several beach clubs where you can hire a sunbed and umbrella for the day. Go in the morning, because the sun slips behind the headland by mid-afternoon and the good spots fill early. Reachable by bus, taxi or a walk down from the Piazzetta, it is the easiest proper swim on the island.
Bagni di Tiberio
For something quieter and more atmospheric, Bagni di Tiberio is a small pebble-and-sand cove on the north-west coast, set among the ruins of a Roman villa once belonging to Emperor Augustus. It is reached by a little shuttle boat from Marina Grande (a few minutes) or a longer walk, which keeps the crowds down. There is a beach club and a restaurant, calm shallow water, and a genuinely romantic, away-from-it-all feel. It is also the most affordable of the clubs: entry is around €14 and includes changing rooms, showers and sea access, with a sunbed from about €8 and an umbrella another €8 on top. One of my favourites.
The Faraglioni rocks
Beneath the famous sea stacks, on the ledges around Da Luigi ai Faraglioni, you can swim in the deep, clear water directly under the towering rocks, with the boats gliding through the natural arch beside you. This is more a rocky swimming platform than a beach, reached by boat or by a long stairway down from the Gardens of Augustus side, but the setting, right at the foot of Capri’s icon, is unbeatable. Pair a swim here with lunch at the club above.
La Fontelina
Also below the Faraglioni, La Fontelina is the island’s most glamorous beach club, all sun-bleached loungers on the rocks with the sea stacks looming overhead. There is no sand; you swim off the rocks into deep blue water, and it is expensive and often booked out, but it is a bucket-list Capri experience. Come prepared for the prices: entry runs about €54, an umbrella around €24, a towel €14, and from mid-June to mid-September you must also reserve a table for lunch, so in practice a day here works out near €200 a head once you have eaten and drunk. Reach it on foot down the Pizzolungo path or, more stylishly, by boat, and reserve well ahead in summer.
Its neighbour beneath the rocks, Da Luigi ai Faraglioni, is a touch more relaxed but no less scenic, with a day running around €115 that bundles a sunbed with roughly €60 of restaurant credit, the pasta with its view of the arch being reason enough to go.
Swimming off a boat
Honestly, the best swimming on Capri is not from any beach at all; it is from a boat. A tour or private hire around the island drops you into hidden coves, beneath the cliffs, and through water so clear you can see the bottom far below. The Green Grotto and the coves on the quieter side of the island are reachable only this way. If you do one thing in the water here, make it a boat swim; it is Capri swimming at its purest.
La Canzone del Mare and the glamorous clubs
At Marina Piccola, La Canzone del Mare is the island’s most storied beach club, opened by the British music-hall star Gracie Fields and long a haunt of visiting celebrities, with a saltwater pool and a restaurant looking straight out at the Faraglioni. A day here starts around €100 for a sunbed with restaurant credit, less eye-watering than La Fontelina and with that lovely pool-and-sea combination. It is a slice of classic Capri glamour, and if you want the see-and-be-seen version of a Capri beach day, this is it, so reserve well ahead in summer.
Punta Carena for a sunset swim
For the opposite mood, head to the island’s south-western tip below Anacapri, where the Punta Carena lighthouse marks a rocky bathing spot that faces west. Because most of Capri’s coves lose the sun by mid-afternoon, this is the rare place to swim into the evening and watch the sun drop into the sea. There is a beach club and a bar on the rocks, and it stays far quieter than Marina Piccola. Bring water shoes, as it is all flat rocks and ladders into deep water, not sand.
Practical notes
Bring or wear water shoes, because the coves are pebbly and the rocks can be sharp. Most beach clubs charge for sunbeds and umbrellas, so budget for that or use the free public sections. Go early for the best light, the calmest sea and a spot before the crowds. And remember the water is at its warmest from June to September, around 22 to 26°C, ideal for long swims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Capri have sandy beaches?
Not really. Capri is a rocky, mountainous island, so its swimming spots are pebbly coves, rocky ledges and beach-club platforms rather than sandy beaches. The water, though, is exceptionally clear and blue.
What is the best beach in Capri?
Marina Piccola is the classic and most accessible, with a Faraglioni view. Bagni di Tiberio is quieter and more romantic, and the rocks below the Faraglioni offer the most dramatic swimming.
Can you swim at the Faraglioni?
Yes. There are rocky swimming platforms and beach clubs, La Fontelina and Da Luigi, right beneath the sea stacks, where you swim off the rocks into deep, clear water. Reach them on foot or by boat.
How much do Capri beach clubs cost?
It varies widely. Bagni di Tiberio is the budget option at around €14 entry plus €8 for a sunbed. La Canzone del Mare is about €100 with restaurant credit, Da Luigi around €115, and the glamorous La Fontelina works out near €200 a head once lunch is included in high season.
When is the sea warm enough to swim in Capri?
From June to September the water sits around 22 to 26°C, ideal for swimming. May and October are cooler but still pleasant on warm days.
What should I bring for the beach in Capri?
Water shoes for the pebbles and rocks, sun protection, and cash or a card for beach-club sunbeds. Go early for the best light and the calmest, least crowded water.
Planning the wider island? See my complete guide to Capri for getting there, where to stay and all the sights.
Read also: The Best Photo Spots in Capri | The Best Things to Do in Capri | The Complete Guide to Capri
